I will be traveling from Positano to Vernazza with 2 kids and a senior and I'm trying to find the least stressful way to do it. This is not appealing: bus from Positano to Sorrento. Train from Sorrento to Naples. Another train from Naples to Rome. Another train from Rome to La Spezia. Another train from La Spezia to Vernazza. It pains we just to think about it! If possible we would love to rent a car for one day in Sorrento and drive to Vernazza. But, I don't think you can rent a car in Sorrento? I don't see it as a p/u point? If not, I think we will take the bus from Sorrento to Rome (instead of two trains). Once in Rome, I would love to take another bus from Rome to the CT area, but I can't find one. Does anyone know of a bus from Rome to CT. Supposedly there are lots of buses from other regions that come in/out of Tiburtina bus terminal. I just want to minimize all the steps in the process (getting on/off trains with luggage,kids, and elder) is nerve wracking!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17444 posts
There is indeed a train from Naples to L Spezia without changing in Rome, the IC 518. It does go to Rome but you stay on the same train. If you could get a car service to drive you from Positano to the Naples train station, then you would have just one train change left, at La Spezia. But it is going to be a long day no matter how you do it.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
There may be trains that will take you from Naples to la Spezia without changing trains. I took such a train a few years ago. I think the train terminated at Genoa (Genova).
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Can you get from Positano to Salerno by bus in time to catch the 09:02 train to Rome? If so, you could go Salerno-Rome-La Spezia-Vernazza by train, arriving in Vernazza at 16:21.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
Buses journeys are not really feasible and are uncomfortable. Think of a worsened version of Greyhound... Changing trains is not really difficult. You can reduce the stress doing this: - bus to Salerno - ES*AV Salerno-Firenze (high-speed "bullet" train en route to Milano), running few times a day only - local train to La Spezia - local train to Cinqueterre This will save you time and make most of the journey one long stretch.
Posted by
OP
Tinton Falls, NJ
792 posts
Thank you for all your input; I think I have it figured out now, finally!
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
Have to agree with Tim. Take the bus from Positano to Salerno and take the train from there. The train station and city are far easier to handle than Naples and the surrounding area. For me, train travel is so much easier, faster, and safer than taking the bus.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
The other option is to break up your trip from Positano to Vernazza and make stops at destinations in between. Personally I would rather deal with several train changes as opposed to renting (and parking) a car - especially in Cingue Terre!
Posted by
OP
Tinton Falls, NJ
792 posts
It's not the time to get from CT to Vernazze that bothers me; it's all the getting on/off that bothers me. As I mentioned I'll have kids to worry about and my mother, and luggage. Plus, when you have a lot of people, public transportation is no longer the most economical choice, a rental car may be cheaper. Renting a car would be easy and I would drop it off in La Spezia; I wouldn't keep it while I was in CT. My question is, where is the nearest pick up point (other than Naples - don't want to drive in Naples).
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17444 posts
If you go on the AutoEurope website for Italy, you'll get a drop-down menu for pickup locations. Sorrento is on the list, or there may be other possibilities. The problem you may have is that they won't do a one- or two-day rental, or maybe won't have the size car you need. But give it a try.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17444 posts
Actually, it looks like Hertz will let you do a one-way, one-day rental, with pickup in Sorrento and dropoff in La Spezia. But check the opening and closing hours of the offices carefully to make sure you can get there (the La Spezia office) in time.
Posted by
OP
Tinton Falls, NJ
792 posts
Thanks Lola, I will check.
Posted by
Grass Valley, California
506 posts
We always go to a travel agent in Italy for our train tickets the first day in Rome. They don't charge you to make your reservations and when I have looked on line from home, I have never seen the easy connections that they seem to have. They will really be helpful. The people that run the hotels will tell you where the closes one is.