Trying to piece together a trip for wife & cousins, maybe 6 of us, for next April. Taormina across the train/ferry at the Strait of Messina, then up through Calabria into Campania, stopping for 3 nights in Salerno. We've been there and love it, before we head on to Florence and Rome on the Frecciarossa. Anybody done this in the past few years, especially the southern leg? (FYI, reason it ends Florence/Rome instead of vice versa is that we're doing a Boston/Rome/Boston round trip.)
Trenitalia quotes a 930A departure from Taormina/Giardini and a final arrival at Salerno at 334P. I know there are at least two changes plus the train/ferry, and that part I have to admit is intriguing. We're all mobile--successful hip replacement in January--YAY!--and in our late 60s. I would think the key for all of us will be to pack very light with all the changes. Got a great piece of advice from acraven--when traveling as a group boarding a train, have one person climb on and have the bags for everyone handed up to him/her, as that first step is most often a doozy, but I do remember at times wooden stairs being placed on the concrete to help alleviate that.
Past train trips I've bought about 3 months out to get the big discounts, but no flexibility with changes. But haven't done it since 2017, wondering if this practice has changed any. Will also consult the 'Man In Seat 61' website for more info, but this forum does the deep dive!
Thanks in advance!