I'm looking in the Archives but don't see any recent posts (maybe I'm looking in wrong placenew at this!). We'll be in Paestum for the night next June and want to take a train/bus (whichever works best) back to Salerno, then catch a ferry up the Amalfi Coast (our final destination for the night is Rome). We understand more than one ferry company will be involved getting us from Salerno to Positano to Sorrento, and possibly to Naples in order to catch a train to Rome (or maybe a ferry from Naples to Rome if possible). We don't care how long it takes as long as the ferry connections are reasonable and we can accomplish the trip by ferry from Salerno to (at least) Sorrento in a reasonable amount of time (within 4 hours). We were really looking forward to it! (We'll have already done the overland Amalfi Coast route and want to see the coast from the boat.) We've been told by a local that taking the ferries is no longer a viable option as it will take too long and is "too difficult." Has someone done this in the last couple months? Or is there some problem not discussed in Rick's 2011 Italy guidebook that currently exists? (We've heard rumors that one of the companies (the state-run system, I think) is no longer in service due to financial problems and without it, one can't get from Positano to Sorrento...or something like that. Not sure. Thanks for any help you can give-
Cheryl
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
You can find your ferry options here: www.metrodelmare.net Click on "orare, tratte e tariffe" to see the actual schedules. So in one day you're looking at Paestum to Salerno (bus or train), Salerno to (probably)Sorrento (ferry), Sorrento to Naples (bus, train, or ferry), Naples to Rome (train). Be sure to tell your hotel in Rome that you're going to be a late check-in, and to have a large bottle of wine ready for you.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, Canada
40 posts
Thanks- tried to post a response but it seems lost in never-never land... Anyway, I'll have a look again at the website you mentioned. Couldn't get it to work but maybe that was just a fluke. Sounds like the plan is way too long, as our Paestum person thought. Coming into Rome in the wee hours isn't our idea of fun...
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
The Metro del Mare is not state run but is state subsidised. This year, because of a in the amount of subsidy, none of the boat companies put in a bid for the routes. After some to-ing and fro-ing a service was agreed and started in June. Who knows what will happen next year! The Alicost service from Salerno will get you as far as Capri from where you could catch a boat to Sorrento or Naples. Winter timetable only available at the moment. http://www.lauroweb.com/alicost.htm Also, nearer the time, see whether the Coop Sant'Andrea is running a service Salerno to Sorrento. http://www.coopsantandrea.com/it/servizidilinea/servizi.asp Edit - won't let me insert "drop" in my second sentence?!!
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, Canada
40 posts
Okay, Thanks, Linda-
That straightens out the rumors I was hearing and (possibly) why I was having trouble getting the info off the website earlier this year. Will look at the links you provided--much appreciated.