Wht is the best way to travel from Venice to CT? Appreciate any info either by train or car travel(amount of time to travel also appreciaated). I understand once in this area you can travel to each of the towns by train quite easily. Planning to base in Monterosso, but nothing definite yet. <BR> <BR>Thank you, <BR>Denise

Denise, As I have mentioned, it is not easy going that direction. I still suggest you go counter-clockwise for your itinerary, doing the Lakes and then the CT--that makes more sense.

What about traveling from the Cinque Terre to Venice? I will be traveling from S. Margherita Ligure. It looks like I am going to have to travel up to Genoa and then over to Milan and then to Venice. Does that sound right or is there a better way? Thank you for your insight.

- <BR>Denise: <BR> <BR>You can look at train schedules on website: http://www.trenitalia.it/ <BR> <BR>To get from Venice to the Cinque Terre (Monterosso, specifically) will take about 6 hours via train. The difficulty is that the fastest & nicest trains, the EuroStar, do not have a direct run between these two areas. Your best option is on the InterCity (IC) --- there are only 2 IC trains per day that can get you there without having to stop & change trains along the way. An IC departs Venice @ 10 am and arrives into Monterosso @ 4 pm. Later train leaves Venice @ 3 pm, getting in at 9 pm. Now there are several other choices during the day between these times; however they all would involve train changes in at least one, sometimes two spots. <BR> <BR>Another option might be to split up the day. This is what I'd done when traveling from coast to coast last October. Left Venice on the early morning EuroStar (6:30 am) that goes to Florence. It arrives in Florence just before 9:00 am. Checked my luggage at train station in the 'Deposito Baglio' and headed out to see a few sites. Continued on my journey, taking a 3 pm train to the coast --- From Florence, I think I had to make one connection along the way before reaching my final destination of LaSpezia.

- <BR>Sarah: <BR> <BR>As I suggested to Denise, you may want to consider one of the two direct runs on the InterCity. Going the other way (FROM CT, or in your case, from Portofino) TO Venice, here's what I found on train site: <BR> <BR>S.Magherita/Portofino to Venice: <BR> -- 14:45 (2:45 pm) with duration of 5 hrs 21 min, arrival @ 20:06 (8:06 pm) <BR> <BR> OR <BR> <BR> -- 18:45 (6:45 pm), duration 5 hrs 12 min, arrival @ 23: 57 (11:57 pm) <BR> <BR>IC trains are the next tier below EuroStar -- not as plush, but perfectly serviceable for getting you from one side of country to other. I would opt for first class; and also might bring along a sandwich or snack. Don't think the IC has a food car, rather a man w/trolley off which you can get drinks & snack items.

Bob, <BR> <BR>I am trying to accomodate our cousin in Pistoia(located by way of the internet!). She had menningitis last year which left her in a wheelchair. I am a therapist and wanted to check on her. Her time frame for next year may mean we have to go this way or not see her at all. I would feel badly about that. I am just seeing what it would take to go to Venice first. <BR>To Robin and Helen-thank you for the information. If indeed, I have to take this route (I have checked the train schedule on the net), how would I get up to Lake Como by train? by car? Someone told me it takes 2 hrs. 45 by car to Milan. And then I would guess another hour. Is that correct? <BR>Working around relatives is indeed more difficult. <BR>Thanks again, <BR>Denise

Robin, Thank you for the information. I have found the web site for the train schedule and will plan from there. I appreciate your response.

Denise, <BR> <BR>This is what my husband and I are doing in a couple of weeks: <BR> <BR>- rent a car in Venice in the afternoon. <BR>- visit Palladio's villages on the way to Vicenza and in Vicenza. <BR>- spend the night in Verona <BR>- visiting Verona the morning after, and, if we have time, Sirmione in Lake Garda. <BR>- continue our trip bypassing La Spezia and spending the night in Portovenere. <BR>- the morning after, take the ferry to 5terre. <BR> <BR>We made our itinerary with mapblast.com. Great website, with a lot of info. Seemed very easy. Now I'm wondering why Bob the Navigator says it's not easy. Bob, am I missing somethin?

Marta, <BR> <BR>If you don't mind me asking, what rates do they charge to rent a car? <BR>Have to check out mapblast site also. <BR> <BR>I see Bob's point but I also have the relative problem. <BR> <BR>Denise <BR>

Denise, <BR>If you check the train schedule again, <BR>you will find an IC train direct from Monterosso to Milano, about 3 hrs if I remember correctly. Then a short train ride to Como. <BR>Happy travels.

Thank you all for the info. <BR> <BR>Denise <BR> <BR>TTT for Marta

Denise: <BR>I ran by chance into this web site and, being a local who knows very well the area, I've decided to contribute my opinion. <BR>If money is not an overconcern, I'd definetly recommend a car as this will allow you to see a lot more along the way. <BR>One of the Palladio Villas and Verona are not to be missed. Sirmione makes for a nice stop but it will add at least a couple of hours by the time you exit the highway, get there, visit the Catullo ruins, sip a drink and get back to the highway. <BR>Do not come through Milan on the way to LaSpezia. From Brescia follow to Piacenza, then Parma and la Spezia which you will have to cross from part to part if you are heading to Portovenere or Monterosso. <BR>You may decide to drop your car in La Spezia and visit Cinqueterre by train or by foot. <BR>Enjoy your visit. <BR>Delio

Delio, <BR> <BR>Mapblast shows an itinerary similar to yours. However, I have a huge map in front of me, and there is a more direct way to reach La Spezia from Verona, which is to go from Verona to Mantova on A22, then from Mantova to Parma on S 420 and continue to La Spezia on A15. <BR> <BR>Is it S420 that bad that is better to take such a detour to reach La Spezia? <BR> <BR>Denise, I paid $440 for a 10 days car rental (compact) with Europcar.I think the week was $ 280. We've used this company before and never had a problem. <BR> <BR>Bob, I'm still worried about your comments. Could you please give more info? <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR> <BR>

We did the same thing a few years ago. Took an overnight train from Venice to Genoa. We left Venice after dinner having reserved a sleeping compartment on the train before leaving the States. We arrived in Genoa about 5:00 am and caught another train going to Santa Margherita Ligure. The train stopped in Milan, but we did not have to change trains there. As I recall, the ride appeared better in the planning stages than it actuality. We were fortunate that our hotel in SML let us have a room at 8:00am as we were exhausted from the trip. The train ride was so rocky that neither of us got much sleep. If I were to do it again, I would take the train, but do it in daytime and get a good night's sleep in a hotel.

Delio, <BR> <BR>I can't thank you enough for your detailed advice. I feel more confident that this can be done. I asked my daughter who just returned from 8 months living and working in Siena to run my itinerary by her Italian boyfriend, but she is too depressed being home in the U.S. to even think about Italy. I really appreciate having a "local's" view point. <BR> <BR>Marta, thank you for the car price info. Not that bad a price. <BR>Hope Bob gets back to you, <BR> <BR>Denise

ttt

Hello Marta, I have no problem at all with your itinerary--that is very doable. I was commenting in the context of Denises itinerary and suggesting that she do the Lakes and CT first, then to her relative in Pistoria and then to Venice. You have a nite at Verona in your trip--all the difference. <BR>A-15 from Parma to La Spezia is great. I have never taken S-240 from Mantova. <BR>Have fun !

Thanks, Bob. That's a relief.