I am planning a 2 week trip in May to Paris, Provence, Nice and the Amalfi coast. My husband and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and we wanted to do something special. I am seeking advice on the logistics of transportation. I was planning on flying from San Francisco into Paris and then taking the TGV to Provence and local transportation into Nice/French Riviera. Is that the best way to do it? Do I have to reserve TGV in advance from Paris to Provence? Then I considered flying from Nice into Naples and then flying back to the states from Naples. Again, is this the best way to do it? Do you recommend renting a vehicle in Naples to drive around the Amalfi coast ( Positano). Any advice will be extremely helpful since it is our first time visiting these areas. Thank you in advance.
Posted by
Monterey County, CA (formerly Verbania Italy-Lago Maggiore)
1626 posts
You do not need a car on the Almalfi Coast.
1) there are buses from the airport to downtown Sorento. Or you could schedule a car service to pick you up (we did thus back to the airport and I think it was 60 euros)-have your hotel arrange.
2) recommend staying in Sorento. We spent 5 nights and enjoyed lots of great restaurants and wide variety of day trips. Capri, Pompei, Sorento, Almalfi Coast and Paestum.
3) we hired Monetti taxi for our Amalfi Coast drive and trip to Paestum. ( RS recommended)
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Fly to Paris (4 nights)
TGV to Avignon (3 nights)
TGV to Nice (3 nights)
Fly from Nice to Naples - easyjet fly direct on Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun
Sorrento or Positano (4 nights)
Fly home from Naples
Book ahead for your TGV journeys ... http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/
Easyjet for Nice - Naples ... http://www.easyjet.com/EN
If Pompeii and Naples are on your wishlist then I would choose Sorrento.
If you are purely after a beach escape then I would choose Positano.
Personally I would prefer not to be burdened with a car, but listen to others with experience.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7313 posts
Driving inside Naples is much worse than L.A. or New York. If you insist on a mighty steel steed of freedom, rent at the airport or in Sorrento. You will find traffic on the two-lane road to Positano to be unbearable, and no place to park (unless you pre-arrange with your hotel.) Note that few hotels in Positano are actually "on" the single road. There are, literally, hundreds of "steps" to get around Positano on foot.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you ALL so much for the fantastic advice. It is all extremely helpful. If I may ask another question. Would you recommend renting a car in the Provence area or it is better to use public transportation?
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I used public transportation in Provence, but would have been happier and more efficient with a car. My budget just wouldn't permit it (solo traveler).
As for staying in Sorrento, it is not on the Amalfi Coast - stay in Positano or Praiano. If you think you will need a car in the Amalfi Coast area, stay in Praiano near the sea - there is a small, lovingly run hotel (I'll look up the name for you) with onsite parking (your car will also have a sea view). Praiano is halfway between Amalfi and Positano, so you miss half the traffic.
Edit: The hotel is La Maurella, only a few rooms, gracious staff.