Hey guys! My first post here, but a huge Rick Steves fan. My girlfriend and I are going to France this summer and as a surprise to her, we are going to end our trip in Cinque Terre in Italy (our favorite place we have ever been to). As it stand nows, we will get into Manarola from Nice mid-afternoon on the 5th, spend the night and then spend the whole day and night of the 6th. My issue, however, comes with the 7th and the 8th as it relates to our flight home. We fly home from Genoa on a flight that leaves at 8:20 am. Herein lies the debate. Option one (the safe one) is to forego a night (the 7th) in CT and instead go to Genoa a night earlier and just get a hotel near the airport. Option two (the more appealing one) is to catch the earliest train to Genoa (4:42 am - 6:27 am) on the 8th and catch the 15-20 minute bus to the airport, arriving about 90 minutes prior to our flight. Do you guys think option 2 too risky? I really hate to leave a night early, but I don't want to end up missing my flight home! Any thoughts?
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
In my opinion it's too risky to take the train the morning of the flight. If your trains or buses are delayed or canceled you run the real risk of missing your flights home. I would take option 1 to be on the safe side and start planning your next trip to Italy. Donna
Posted by
Long Beach, CA, USA
359 posts
it would be too risky for me and who wants to get up that early when on a vacation
Posted by
TN, USA
2114 posts
Another vote for "too risky." Should the unlikely (but it does happen) train strike/rock slide, etc. occur, you'd be out of luck.....maybe delayed just when you really would not want to be delayed. And, if you are like me, you would not be able to sleep well the last night, worrying that you might sleep thru the alarm you set, etc.
Posted by
OP
Iowa City, IA, USA
3 posts
Thanks you guys for the thoughts! In regards to sleeping, I actually try to stay up the entire night before a long flight so I can sleep easily on the plane (to make it go by faster). Haha I'm crazy, I know. Anyways, I think you guys are right. I think we should just wave goodbye to CT one night early and catch a train to Genoa on the 7th. Considering we have a tendency to miss trains (we use railpasses), waiting until the 8th would probably be dumb (since the next train wouldn't get into Genoa until 60 minutes prior to our flight). Everyone that I've asked has said basically the same thing. Thanks again for your help!
Posted by
Poulsbo, WA, US
223 posts
As someone who has caught a late train out of Manarola that messed up my travel plans, I would advise against it. I have only been through Genoa but would imagine there would be an interesting afternoon/evening there.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23301 posts
Wise decision. You have no margin of error should anything go wrong. Since it is mostly likely a domestic flight so the 90 mins for check in is fine. However, it is really 45 mins since some Italian airports have a very rigid 45 min cut off for checkin. Miss it by a minute and your finished. Beside Genoa is an interest town and view a reproduction of Columbus's home built in 1592.