Hello, I have 7 days in July to spend in Rome and hopefully somewhere closer to pompeii. Day one includes travel from Milan to Rome or Milan to an Amalfi Coast town. We would like to spend most of that time in Rome, but want a couple days around the coast to at least see pompeii and whatever town you suggest. So what should be our base? Naples, Sorrento, etc.? Also, not sure if I should get a rail pass and which one to get. The plan so far is to take the train from Milan to maybe, lets say,Naples. Spend a couple of days then to Rome for a few days. The 7th day is a travel day to Venice, where we are catching a cruise. So should I get a Eurorail pass or another Italy only pass? Rome and the amalfi coast are not booked yet, so I'm flexible on what city/towns should come first.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I'll answer the easy part. You do not want a train pass (either Eurail or an Italian Pass) for your itinerary. Trains in Italy are inexpensive; from Naples to Pompeii to Sorrento, you take a local (and very inexpensive) train not on any pass; and from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast, you take buses or boats, also not on a pass. What you want to do is buy tickets in advance online. As long as you can accept non-refundable and non-exchangeable tickets, these will be very cheap. Even last minute tickets will be cheaper than a pass. Here's a great introduction to the process of buying tickets online: http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/booking-online-using-the-trenitalia-website-updated. You want to register with Trenitalia, and become familiar with the website, now. That way, when they release the cheapest tickets, you will be ready to buy right away (they disappear fast). You can also see the full price; if you don't mind paying this, you can just wait until you arrive to buy your tickets.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11848 posts
Good advice from Harold. I'll handle the harder part. :-) Is it 7 days or 7 nights. Makes a difference. With 7 days maybe something like this: Day One - Milan to Sorrento via fast train to Naples; sleep Sorrento Day Two - Pompeii; Sleep Sorrento Day Three - Amalfi Coast via bus; Sleep Sorrento Day Four - to Rome, early in the day; arrive by noon; Sleep Rome Day Five - Rome Day Six - Rome
Day Seven - Travel to Venice via fast train If I have miscounted and you have one more night and day, spend it in Rome. If all you want to see is Pompeii, cut Sorrento to two nights and head to Rome earlier. You cannot "do" Pompeii and the AC in one day.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
2 posts
Harold/Laurel, Thank you very much! Just the info I was looking for. Laurel: You were correct. It will be 6 nights/7 days with the 1st and 7th being travel days.