stay on Amalfi Coast or return to Rome evening prior to flight?

Posted by Ruth (Ithaca, NY, USA) on 12/27/19 05:45 PM

We'll be staying on the Amalfi Coast (either in Salerno or Sorrento, most likely) at the end of our RS Southern Italy tour. We have a return flight departing from Rome at 1:00 p.m. on a Wednesday. I'm trying to decide whether we should take a train to Rome on Tuesday (airport area hotel? Rome hotel?) or stay on the coast and take an early morning train to Rome on Wednesday. I tend to err on the side of caution most of the time, but with so many early morning trains and a 1:00 pm departure it seems like staying the night on the Coast would be okay??? Unless, of course, there were a train strike....

What would you recommend?

Posted by Tim

Wyckoff, NJ, USA

12/27/19 05:53 PM

7327 posts

Not to be picky, but Sorrento is not on the Amalfi coast. I say that not to correct you, but to warn another reader that Positano or Amalfi can have a DIFFERENT answer than the question for you!

You have to check in for the flight at 10:00AM and physically present your passport to the airline. Are you a coach passenger? Is it summer? You may have 50 or more people ahead of you in line. As Clint Eastwood used to ask, "Do you feel lucky?" Can you walk to the rail station from your hotel? Do you know that you have to take the Circumvesuviana (or a private car service) from Sorrento to Naples, to get the train to Rome (but not, the train to the Rome airport.)

Are you going to have an advance-purchase, non-changeable, non-refundable Frecciarossa ticket? Even then, you will have to walk over to the Airport Express train with your luggage and (maybe) buy a second ticket. Will you have to skip a hotel breakfast you paid for, one way or another? Will you have a seat assignment?

I would not stay on or near the Amalfi Coast. You certainly don't have to stay at an airport hotel. Some people choose to do their Rome stay at the end of their vacation, instead of the beginning - but that doesn't work for everyone.

Posted by RJean

New York, NY

12/27/19 06:16 PM

1582 posts

Ruth - It's wiser to return to Rome in the evening prior to flight next day. Don't take any chances and sometimes you have no control over delays when it comes to public transportation.

Posted by ChristineH

Gettysburg PA

12/27/19 06:23 PM

6116 posts

Go to Rome night before- too many things can go wrong. No need to stay at airport hotel though.

Posted by Frank

Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

12/27/19 06:26 PM

23297 posts

...Unless, of course, there were a train strike.... Or ????? Staying in either Salerno or Sorrento provide few if any reasonable options should something, anything goes wrong. I would return to Rome in the afternoon, stay in the Termini, have a nice, final evening in Rome, and catch either the train or a taxi to the airport around 9.30 to 10.00. You would have a relaxing morning and plenty of options for getting to the airport on time. Go to Rome.

Posted by lnbsig 🌍

North Carolina

12/27/19 06:37 PM

2457 posts

This post appeared recently: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/stay-in-ostia-to-visit-ostia-antica
If you’re interested in visiting Ostia Antica, it looks like a really good option.

Posted by joe32F

Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂

12/27/19 06:44 PM

11195 posts

What would you recommend?

Go to Rome the night before

You could stay someplace like this ( we did) . http://www.hotelrivierafiumicino.com/en/home-page.aspx

Just a couple blocks to the beach, for a final sunset in Italy, and close enough to airport to have a relaxed morning and get to airport by 10AM

Posted by Ruth OP

Ithaca, NY, USA

12/27/19 06:53 PM

674 posts

Thanks everyone! Joe and Inbsig, I like both of your suggestions and will investigate further!