I will be in Naples for several days in October and would like to visit the neighborhood my parents lived before coming to the US. It is called Bitritto and is outside Bari. I would like to do this as a day trip. I know that it is about a 3hour drive and looks like it could be pretty easy once I get out of Naples. I have contacted AAA about getting an international drivers license but wonder wHat other concerns should I have? Is it easy to purchase gas? Is there a better way to get to Bitritto without spending a fortune? Do I need to purchase insurance and if so, is this offered through the rental agency?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
I'll bet the train takes longer, only gets you to Bari where you'd have to find a bus, then how do you get around Bitritto? That's only a guess and I've never been to Bitritto. To get out of Naples, all you have to do is braille yourself to either a northbound or eastbound artery, press on until you bump a freeway, then follow your nose. There will be gas stations all along the freeway. You can make it one way on a tank. I'd buy gas on the freeway since the stations are attended and will be able to take your credit card for sure. Tolls will stiff you about twenty euro each way - - I'd carry cash for them. Your credit card won't cover the cdw insurance for Italy. You can get it from the rental agency. You can shave a buck or two by getting it from a third pary, but it's not worth the trouble for just a day or two. You probably won't have time, but you might think you'd want to snoop around in Bari since it's a fair-sized city - - don't bother. I'm not a blanket recommender of a gps, but getting back into Naples is a bear if you're unfamiliar with the city. Rent one, take your own - - do something.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
A number of travelers here have reported that driving and route-finding in the Naples area were more challenging than they thought it would be--another reason why a GPS would be a good idea for you on this one.
Posted by
Catadupa Alamere, CA
515 posts
I rented Hertz in Naples and drove south past Bari. Getting from central Naples to the freeway was easy for me because my hotel was on the waterfront. If yours is in Chiaia or up on the hill then getting to the freeway may or may not be as easy. I expected holy hell drinving into and out of Naples, but it was less difficult than driving to the beltway from Wisconsin Ave & M (I lived in DC). Foolishly, I did not know that Hertz has more than one office in central Naples so when I booked it from home I paid no attention. Big mistake. Next time I will make sure that my rental pickup office is close to my hotel. October there is like October here. Later in the month = cooler and wetter. The freeway climbs over the Apeninnes so the potential for adverse road conditions in the mountains is something to keep in mind. There are rest stops along the freeway that provide fuel for your car and for you. Same as here except that the panini are way better there. The gas pumps are self serve or full. Because you will be driving in the countryside you should read Slow Travel's site on how to work a self service pump. It is less than rocket science. Sorry: "freeway" should read "Autostrada", a toll highway like the NJ pike, not at all free. From my experience in Puglia having a car is the best (only?) way to see the sites outside of the major cities like Bari.