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Please help decide on transportation!

Posted by (San Francisco) on

My 60 year old mom and I are planning on a trip to Italy next month and are having a difficulty deciding what to do with the last half of our trip. Here's our plan so far:

Day 1: Venice
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: Florence
Day 4: Florence & Rome (split a day)
Day 5: Rome
Day 6: Sorrento (by Marrozi bus from Rome) and Pompeii
Day 7: Capri (take Marrozi bus back to Rome)
Day 8: Leave Italy from FCO

We are wondering whether taking a train to Sorrento from Florence via Naples and spend the last 1.5 days in Rome may be a better option for us as it may save us some time. On the other hand, we (2 females) are a little bit concerned about taking Circumvesuviana at night (probably around 7 or 8 p.m.) because I see some negative comments about it at this website and some other articles I came across.

One more thing. Does anyone know if there is luggage storage at or near Circumvesuviana station in Sorrento?

I'd very much appreciate your input.

Thank you!

Posted by
16 posts

Ann,
I've taking a train from Florence to Naples and than had a driver pick us up and we stayed in Positano. Sorrento is a little closer and I was quoted 55E to have a driver bring you to your hotel in Sorrento. I would recommend getting reserved seats on the Eurostar,it's much nicer and easier to store your luggage. Enjoy your trip.

Posted by
8700 posts

Ann,

Just in case you aren't aware of it, there is a Marozzi bus from Rome to Sorrento that departs at 07:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; but on all other days of the week there is only bus which departs at 15:00.

IMO, since you want to visit both Pompeii and Sorrento on the same day, it would be better to take a Trenitalia train from Rome to Naples, the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Pompeii, visit the ruins, and then take the Circumvesuviana on to Sorrento. There are left luggage facilities at Pompeii.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you so much for your kind response. Valerie, do you happen to remember the name of company who offered to take you to the hotel in Positano for 55E? We've heard about the perpetually broken escalator at the Naples station (my mom has bad knee) and how Rick warns about theft around the Naples station but wonder how bad really is.

Tim, in fact we were planning to leave Rome on Friday and take the bus at 7 AM. However, what I did not know was that Marrozi offers bus service that departs at 17:00 from Sorrento to Rome only on Sundays, which will not work for us. So, our alternate plan is:

Day 4: Florence and then take trains to Sorrento via Naples (I am still worried about Circumvesuviana train)

Day 5: Capri and Sorrento

Day 6: Leave Sorrento, visit ruins in Pompeii, and go to Rome by train

Day 7: Fly out of FCO

Somewhere in Rick's book, he said you would need at least 3 hours in Pompeii but do you think 2-hour is doable?

Thank you so much again for your valuable advice!

Posted by
1449 posts

Note that it is NOT dark at 7 or 8pm; here is the sunset calendr for May

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/calendar.asp?comb_city_info=Rome,%20Italy;-12.5;42;1;2&month=5&year=2010&time_type=0&use_dst=2

As for danger, if you're traveling like a RS traveler with a single bag odds of any problems are slight. On the other hand if you're dragging an array of suitcases, then there is a chance of attracting some unwelcome attention. I have taken the Circumvesuviana many times and never had a problem or seen anyone else hve one.

Posted by
3 posts

Mark, thank you for your advice. That's good to know. Thanks again.

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