Misc questions-5/1, Salerno to NAP airport, internet, strikes

I'm not aware of a Sorrento to Salerno train, unless you're going back thru Naples. Have you been in the AC before? Moving about is slow and frustrating- there is no fast or efficient mode in the AC- things just don't work as well as in areas north of Naples.
You could go from Rome to Salerno with decent train service.
We were in the AC May, 2023 and it was already very crowded. Just be prepared for the realities on the ground, adjust your itinerary for the time-consuming travel, and you'll have a great trip!

I'm not aware of a Sorrento to Salerno train, unless you're going back thru Naples. Have you been in the AC before?

I should have clarified Sorrento via Naples. Yes, we stayed in Sorrento last august and last years trip was our first where we experienced significant train delays, cancellations and even a surprise schedule change. It was the trip of many minor issues, and just thankful it was all just that and nothing that significantly impacted our trip.

We chose to do Sorrento as our second base this trip in an attempt to make the transfer to NAP airport easier by staying our last leg of Italy in Salerno.

I use TMobile for the 5 months that I am here in Italy and it is better now than a few years ago. I use it for messaging, whatsapp, skype etc and have no problems.

May 1st is a busy day here... people will be out and about for sure and many have extra days off so they will be traveling.

There is a strike planned for the beginning of May. Salerno is very walkable... I spent 3 weeks there and traveled back and forth from other cities/towns.

Do not misunderstand my answer, I agree with everyone who is enraptured by Capri. But this is not a remote, undeveloped place. There are asphalt, pedestrian-only paths everywhere, which Google Maps has hiked and plotted. There are a few unpaved trails, which we did not walk. If you want to approach the Blue Grotto by land, for example, you'd need to do some map study. But you don't need a printed hiking book.

Especially long, fully paved walks (I mean like Villa Jovis or the Phoenician Steps) involve height changes and long distances. I presume the unpaved trails are also not level. Sun protection and water.

Did you mean Circumvesuviana to Naples and then Trenitalia Naples to Salerno? Most people would first choose a ferry, budget travelers two long bus rides via Amalfi, but some carsickness has been reported. It's a much longer walk, to the Amfiteatro entrance from Trenitalia, but some people visit Pompeii from Salerno. (Have not done this.) I presume you're going to Paestum.

I can't comment on actual regional signal coverage, but we use included T-Mobile in Europe and Asia all the time.

Montestella is in a great location, right along the Corso! I can't seem to find an "official site", the one I found was

You could ferry from Sorrento to Positano or Amalfi and then get another one to Salerno, that would be a VERY pleasant transfer compared to via train (or if non existent for scioperi haha) because ferries can't really be "standing room only" HAHA

I would agree that a transfer to NAP from Salerno is at least a LITTLE easier (I know there used to be a bus that went from Salerno to the airport too) than from Sorrento

Are you going to Paestum on your day in Salerno?

I use TMobile for the 5 months that I am here in Italy and it is better now than a few years ago.

Last year while on the train stopped for an hour between rome and Naples, I attempted to use my T-Mobile phone as a hotspot to do some work on the laptop. The connection was horrible, and very well could have just been the poor luck of location we were stopped in. And for some reason I was unable to connect to wifi on the train.

There are asphalt, pedestrian-only paths everywhere, which Google Maps has hiked and plotted. There are a few unpaved trails, which we did not walk.

Thank you! Not looking to hike unpaved trails. I’ll poke around google maps.

I presume you're going to Paestum.

Yes! That is part of the reason for choosing to stay in Salerno

@katherine - thank you! Yes I did find a bus schedule from Salerno to the airport so will look at that option and have it on hand if we need to switch plans but it doesn’t look like the trains should be an issue on the day we depart. We are planning to go to Paestum so I will check our options for transportation. I thought I saw an option for a bus but initially paid it no attention since we generally have relied on trains in the past. For our transfer from Sorrento to Salerno, I’ll look at ferry options and maybe our host in Sorrento will be able to help.

The bus from Salerno to the Naples airport is my favorite because it doesn't require any changes like the train to Naples to then get on the Alibus, which makes it very nice. I like as few changes as possible. I took the EARLY (4am I think?) bus to the airport a few times when I lived there and it was way easier than navigating Napoli Centrale to wait on another bus.

Paestum trains are usually hourly-ish in the morning with midday becoming a tad more spaced out and then coming back they get back to hourly-ish in the afternoon. I would buy your tickets in the tabacchi in the Salerno station because there isn't one in Paestum (though I bet there is an automated kiosk that I never needed to use since I already had my regionale tickets)

(I realized I didn't finish my thought in the earlier post, I found a montestella "website" but it seemed like a consolidator website, or maybe just an independent hotel partnership website? I wanted to see pictures and other information and it wasn't what I wanted, but if it looks ok to you and good for what you desire, sounds like a good plan!)

Help? I am in Naples now and want to go to Paestum Sunday May 5, the day of the train strike. Any suggestions as to rideshare or ?

Another happy TMobile customer, but it has been years since I used it in Italy. When in Spain in 2022, we found we had to upgrade our speed, and spent something like ten dollars a day to do so.

The SITA airport bus is what I would choose for Salerno to NAP--easy, direct!

For your Sorrento to Salerno transfer, it depends on how fast you want to get there. I'd splash out for a driver for this.

I would expect robust crowds in all places, but it is Italy!

We are also braving the circumvesuviana this time in order to do a
morning food tour in Naples. This will be on a Saturday morning.
Should we expect the circumvesuviana train to be lighter than
weekdays?

I don't know about return from Naples- probably more crowded.
The trip TO Naples will be fine as the train starts from Sorrento so it wil be empty when you board.
Don't forget to validate your ticket!

On 5/4 we were planning to take the train between Sorrento and Naples
but it looks like there may now be a national strike impacting the
trains. If I’m reading this correctly the strike will start in the
evening. Any idea how or where we would find out if the
circumvesuviana or the campania express would be impacted?

Not sure if Circumvesuviana is affected as it is really a local commuter train. Campania Express as well.
I would take ferry from Sorrento to Naples- then taxi to where you need to go

On 5/5 we were planning to transfer via train from Sorrento to Salerno
but I’m not sure if we may be impacted here too. Ughhh. I guess I need
to start researching the ferry options as a backup ..

I would ferry the whole way OR as suggested above- spend the money for a driver.
We used this company while in area in 2019- very satisfied
www.topexcursionsorrento.com

Has anyone stayed at Hotel montestella?

Yes we stayed there 2019. I believe it had just reopened after complete renovation. I remember noting that the rooms were very modernized. The rooms were on small side but very efficient- I remember they were very well appointed and had excellent lighting. We had 2 very comfortable nights- so bed must not have been too hard or too soft.
The location was great. Short easy walk to train and ferry, historic center, waterfront, etc.
Step out the door and you were right in the midst of the most delightful passegiatta.
It was rainy one of our nights and they did provide nice big umbrellas (FYI)
They are listed on Booking.com- lots of info and pictures there.

Help? I am in Naples now and want to go to Paestum Sunday May 5, the
day of the train strike. Any suggestions as to rideshare or ?

mando53lin- Please post your question in your own new thread. it will hardly be seen here!

I am pretty sure there is a bus.

No Uber or Lyft in Italy.