We are 4 ladies traveling from Bellagio to Levanto in Cinque Terre On October 2nd. It seems too time consuming to travel by bus and train then taxi. Does anyone have suggestions for a car and driver-and some idea of the cost? Divided by 4, I hope that it is not too much more than public transportation. Thanks-

If you are talking about a private driver -- I think the costs would be astronomical. To get from the Milan airport to Bellagio is 100e or more. It's a several hour drive to le Cinque Terre from Bellagio.

Or were you thinking of hiring a rental car?

As far as I know, you will have to travel from Bellagio to the town of Como to pick up your rental -- and at that point, I'm not sure you're saving all that much time driving. You might as well get on the train.

Have you explored the option of taking the ferry to Varenna (a 15-minute ferry ride from Bellagio), and then taking the train from there to le Cinque Terre?

You will have to change in Milano if you take the train from either the town of Como or Varenna, so try to time your trip so that the train you take out of Milano doesn't require changes in Genova. There are some that go through Genova that don't require changes. There are also some trains from Milano that go to La Spezia, and there you must change for le Cinque Terre, but it is a smaller train station and a shorter trip from there to your Cinque Terre town.

I am mystified by your comment that you are presently faced with traveling "by bus and train then taxi." If you are getting off the train in on of the five towns of le Cinque Terre, there are no taxis there. There are no cars there.

If you are thinking about renting a car, be aware that (a) car rental companies sometimes require minimum 3-day rentals and (b) there is no place in le Cinque Terre to return a rental car. You will have to take the car either south of le Cinque Terre to La Spezia to return it, or north to Rapallo to return it -- or keep it to drive to your next destination. (Which is?)

You can look at this website to get some idea of the cost of a private driver:

http://www.travelsbooking.eu/booking/

I would estimate the cost to be between 600 and 700 euros for the four of you, or at least 150e per person

Taking public transportation (ferry to Varenna plus train to Monterosso al Mare)

3e for ferry plus 40 euros first class train seat -- max 50 euros per person

A 3 day car rental (do any of you drive stick shift?) is likely to run about 50-75e per day, including road tolls, gas, parking...

Oh, I'm sorry! I just noticed you are traveling to Levanto, rather than one of the towns in le Cinque Terre. You probably will be able to walk from the train station to your hotel. No need for a taxi at that end.

But that makes me want to add:

Levanto is not in le Cinque Terre, although it is only a 4-minute train ride from the first of the five towns that make up le Cinque Terre (and a small part of the national park of Cinque Terre is located in Levanto).

What might appeal to your group is to split four-ways the cost of a 120e taxi from Bellagio to Milano Centrale, and then each of you buy a ticket to Levanto for 20e. The direct trains that require no changes take 3 hours. There's one that leaves around noon usually, another at 2pm. Be sure you get one of those trains rather than ones that make you change trains along the way.

Your Bellagio driver can tell you how long to allow for travel to Milano, but remember you'll need time to buy a ticket.

Oops, sorry. Looking again at that private car website, I see that the cost from Bellagio is 160, not 120.

Once you get to Varenna by ferry, then it is 4hr20min to Levanto for 23.60€ by train on 2nd class with change of train at Milano Centrale.

Where is the bus involved? And is 4hr20min too much time?

For convenience, I like the idea of the car to Milano Centrale and train from there to destination.

(My 4 sisters and I divided the cost of the private car Bellagio to Milano Centrale, and as I recall it was indeed in the neighborhood of what Zeppole is quoting. There was a car service recommended here on Fodor's but they were booked (book ahead if possible), so the hotel ordered one for us. It was just simpler than the boat--train--train in our case (luggage, etc.)

But that train from Varenna is a solid option as described above.

One needs to be aware that taking the ferry from Bellagio and making one's way to the Varenna station involves a longish walk from the dock to the train station, all uphill in my recollection. (There are taxis at the dock.) If you are certain you'd rather have a taxi for the journey to Milano, book ahead (but have your hotel confirm the pick-up), but if you think the ferry-train might do just fine, I think you are not running too much risk in October by waiting until you are in Bellagio and letting mood and weather decide. Your hotel should be able to arrange a taxi with 24 hours notice.

You might consider staying in Varenna to avoid the extra time getting to docks, waiting and getting to the train on the morning of your departure. I actually preferred the town of Varenna to the town of Bellagio, and if you want to have lunch in Bellagio or tour there, it's only a 15-minute ferry ride away from Varenna.

Wow !
7 replies to one question--good job Zeppole.

And not one of them a cut-and-paste as if everybody should take the same trip!

Since I live here, it's not uninteresting to find out how much a taxi costs to Bellagio.

I just love to watch your mind work---amazing.

Oh, this is not even a fraction of it. I don't think you could handle the whole thing -- but maybe I'm wrong!

I really appreciate all the feedback-especially from Zeppole! I think that we will end up hiring a car and driver after all is said and done but it will be a group decision-I am just the facilitator!
barbara

Have a great trip!