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Itinerary and Logistics Validation

Posted by on

Hi-

We'll be heading to Italy next week for an anniversary. It will be a quick trip (~8 days) and wanted to validate some of the itinerary and logistics- I've been using ChatGPT for a lot of this and wanted to make sure nothing was getting Hallucinated. Well aware this is a 'sampling', but trying to make sure we aren't missing anything major.

8/26 - Land in Rome mid-day. We're staying near Pantheon and intent is to leave afternoon evening for Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona with dinner near Trastevere

8/27 - 8:30a Vatican Museum Tour / 3p Colosseum Underground/Arena/Forum/Palatine Hill - The Colosseum tickets were quite confusing, but wanted to confirm that Arena and Arena Floor are the same? I was able to purchase the Colosseum Full Experience Underground Ticket

8/28 - Sorrento - Planning to take early train from Rome to Naples - is there any real preference or guidance between the two major providers? from there was looking at a Private Driver to take us from Naples Train to our hotel in Sorrento with ~3hr stop at Pompeii. I know the Private Driver is the more expensive route, what are my other options? Are they reasonable knowing we'll have luggage etc? It sounds like guides can be hired in Pompeii for tours, what's a 'standard' rate? If we go the driver route, any recommendations?

8/29 - Capri - Planning to take Ferry from Sorrento to Capri and explore for the day - I don't know what I don't know here. Anything to keep in mind or know?

8/30 - Amalfi - Planning to hire Private Driver to take us from Sorrento to Positano/Amalfi/Ravello, is that the right approach? Is there better/cheaper ways to do this? Any recommended drivers companies that hit a good 'value' standpoint if not? Any other towns we should be doing along there instead?

8/31 - Early transfer to Naples Airport, Flight to Prague - again looking at Private Driver, but are there better options? International Flight at 10am and not sure hours of public transit.

9/1 - Day in Prague

9/2 - Fly home

Posted by
8337 posts

You might consider Mondo Guides for Capri and Amalfi
Well reviewed and affordable
www.sharedtours.com

They also offer some transfers

For that early flight out of NAP I would stay in Naples night before
Transportation in this area is too chaotic to risk missing flight

Private driver recommendation
www.topexcursionsorrento.com

Posted by
42 posts

Hi there,
The fast trains on Italo and Trenitalia are both great. The difference for you may be in the cost/service level. Looking today at morning trains leaving Roma Termini for Napoli Centrale, Italo offers two tickets in Business Class for 49.90 euros (non-refundable). Two tickets on Trenitalia are similar price, but in Economy class. It will depend on what time you want to go and whether refundable tickets are important to you. Prices tend to be a little cheaper if you book in advance.

It's a long time since we visited Capri, but I do remember we stupidly walked past the funicular thinking we could just walk from the ferry terminal up to Capri center. Bad idea.

Trains back from Sorrento to Naples start at 5:30 am and take about an hour (schedule here: https://www.visitpompeiivesuvius.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule?route=sorrento_napoli). You could take the train and then an airport bus or a taxi from Naples Garibaldi. It's a whole lot less expensive than a private driver. But that would also depend on how much luggage you have and your comfort level with public transport. Some people find the Circumvesuviana trains hard to take. But at that hour of the day they shouldn't be crowded.

Best of luck with your trip.

Posted by
3394 posts

A very ambitious first day in Rome. After a flight (from the US?) and checking in to your lodgings, you’re taking on rapid jaunt around Rome. Don’t force yourself to see all of those sites that day. Italy is a country to be savored not rushed.

Getting to Sorrento, you could take the Circumvesuviana from Naples but then you’d have to make other arrangements to see Pompeii. Or you could take a ferry from Naples. I personally feel that the best way to see the Amalfi Coast is by ferry from Sorrento. Positano is beautiful when viewed from a distance but unless you’re part mountain goat or want very expensive stores, I’d avoid it. The ferry would go to Amalfi and then you’d could take a bus or cab to Ravello.

There are direct buses from Sorrento to the Naples airport.

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you!

We know day one is ambitious, and will largely be whatever we can 'handle' - part of why we aren't doing tour or anything that day, and just at our own pace. Hoping to be well rested on flight.

Thank you for all the details on public transit in Sorrento. Looks like the train down there doesn't allow for buying tickets online. Is it reliable? Would the roads really be that bad that early in the morning? How is the NAP airport? Do we need to be 3hrs in advance, or does it move fairly well? We'll be flying EasyJet to Prague (only option) and will have 'priority' passes.

Posted by
907 posts

A flight to another European country doesn't need 3 hours, but if you are taking public transit, I would aim for 3 hours and hopefully get there in time (though if you were staying in Sorrento the night before, I would rely more on a driver than the train). The train from Sorrento (the circumvesuviana) is more like a "subway for the countryside" in the fact that it has no advance tickets, it is cheap, it stops a lot, and it can get SUPER busy (or not really) depending on which way the wind blows.....

You can take the train to Naples, hop on the Circumvesuviana and then there are luggage storage places nearby the main entrance (if not right there), and you can meet your guide. I have heard of some people here that have had a guide meet them with their car at Napoli Centrale and take them to Pompeii to give them a tour.

Capri, I would go right away upon arrival (unless you have a tour that is managing logistics) up to the top of the island at Anacapri to do the chairlift, poke around, visit the church with the painted floor, and then have lunch in a relatively uncrowded tiny town before the masses invade as you are headed back down the hill. That is, unless you want to see the blue grotto, which is apparently best in the AM. Yep, you gotta have a plan.

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