My husband and I are planning a trip in June this year.
We have never been to Italy before and are really struggling to find cheap transport between towns. Please could we get some help/recommendations with the following questions? We are staying in Sorrento, and need to get to our ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik. However the train prices between Naples and Bari are very pricey. Are there other options? Which website can we get this info on? Is it perhaps better to fly? In terms of the ferry, is it okay to sleep on deck? Or is it advisable to get a cabin? How safe will our baggage be if we just get deck chairs? In Rome, are there any cheaper tours? They are all going at more than 40euros which seems very expensive. Has anyone stayed at hostels in Rome and Sorrento that you can recommend? We have found this one: Villaggio Campeggio Santa Fortunata Campogaio in Sorrento. Is this a recommended place to stay at the hostel there? * We want to see the Amalfi Coast, but have heard that traveling on buses there is hair-raising as there are steep cliffs. What is the best mode of transport to see the Amalfi Coast? Simply walking? *Can anyone recommend a day hike around the Sorrento area? Thanks in advance!
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
When you say that trains are pricey, are you by any chance getting your information from RailEurope? If so, stop immediately. They do not have all trains, and often mark up the tickets they do sell trains for. So, use www.trenitalia.com. Here's a very detailed tutorial on how to use it: http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/booking-online-using-the-trenitalia-website-updated. Register on the site and get familiar with it, so you can book discount tickets as soon as they are released (they sell out fast). These are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Or, if you want full flexibility and the full price is not too high for you, you can wait to buy tickets in Italy. I don't think Trenitalia's website has trains between Naples and Sorrento, because these are run by another company. But this is a commuter line, with ~2 trains an hour and no reservations, and tickets are cheap. If you want to research flight options, use http://www.skyscanner.com
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Well the train from Sorrento to Naples is less than 10 euros and then from Naples to Bari you can find tickets for 19.40 up to 42.40. The trip will take over 4 hours. I can't help you with the ferry. In Rome which tours are you looking at? Most sites offer their own tours for very little money. Tell us what you're interested in and we can help you with websites. Donna
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1898 posts
You cannot "walk" the Amalfi coast line. If you really want to enjoy the sights, take a ferry from Sorrento to Amalfi. On the boat you get to see the shoreline, which I think is the entire reason to go to the region. Make sure you take the FAST ferry, or expect to spend hours on the water, with stops. I can recommend taking the ferry to Amalfi, then walk over to Atrani and do the 1,000 step walk to Ravello. The walk is not difficult, it is well marked and Ravello is a joy to visit. (nice ceramic shops there!) On the walk up, you get a great view of the water. This would be your "day hike around Sorrento". On overnight ferry rides you will get a cabin. Go for the interior one to save money - you can't see anything at night anyway, and you can go up on deck in the morning when you approach port. You will be really cold if you think you can sleep on deck. I certainly don't remember any deck chairs on the ferry we took from Palermo to Naples. Do use the Trentalia website to prebook your trips. Other option is to just buy tickets at the station. YOu might also consider using a travel agency in the towns you are visiting. We used one in Sorrento to book a great day tour of Pompei and Vesuvio. In Rome there are a few free tours with Angel Tours (well there were a few years ago) I used them for a tour of the Vatican museum and St Peters. Small group, and we got to skip the lines (but NOT the crowds!) I believe they offered free tours in the Forum and some other locations. You do have to buy any entry tickets and you should tip your guide.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2195 posts
Alanna, flying from Rome to Dubrovnik would save you about a day in travel time compared to the train/ferry, and could even be cheaper. Try Skyscanner.com or Kayak.com for flights; if your dates are flexible, compare different dates to find the lowest price. If you can move your trip into July, EasyJet will be flying that route for around 70 euros. How are you getting back to Munich from Dubrovnik?? Will you be flying? Check for those flights too. Adding Dubrovnik into your trip is making it a more complicated and expensive. There are lots of wonderful places to see in Italy that you haven't mentioned ... Florence, Venice, plus all of Tuscany, Sicily & Puglia. Since it's your first visit, perhaps you might want to simplify by concentrating on this beautiful country and save Croatia for another trip? The Amalfi Coast is a must-see, and the hair-raising bus ride is part of the fun. And it's so inexpensive. Don't worry, these drivers make this trip multiple times a day. Perhaps you could take the bus to Amalfi and take a ferry back to Sorrento, to see the coast from both perspectives? I don't think you must pay for a tour in Rome. Buy a good guidebook; most of them have walking tours that you can easily follow on your own.
Posted by
oakland, california
61 posts
Alana, With respect to the hair-raising bus ride... I'm guessing that someone in your group has a fear of heights, cliffs, drop-offs, etc. as I do! I was horrified by the idea of taking the bus so...we took the ferry over and took the bus for the ride back. The bus is on the "inside" of the road going back to Sorrento and not on the the "cliff-hanging side" as it is going over. For someone who is fearful of such things this makes a big difference! I have to tell you that I actually enjoyed the ride after the first 5 minutes or so. It really was beautiful. My fear of heights and drop-offs is really overwhelming so if I can do it, most anyone could!