Transportation question

The last 3 daily SITA buses from the Sorrento train station leave at 20:50, 21:50 and 22:50. (You can practice your coverting). I can't see a timetable for the Circumvesuviana train but you should set aside 90 minutes to catch the train in Naples and get to Sorrento in time to catch the SITA bus. Thus, you need to be in Naples by about 7:00pm to get to Sorrento in time for the first of the 3 buses. Add an hour for each of the other two buses.

To back track further, I would suggest being in the Venice train station by 11:30 and to catch the 11:54 Eurostar to Naples with a train change in Rome. This will put you into Naples at 18:12.

There's a bit of slack in there to make sure that you get to Sorrento by 7:30pm. You certainly can take a later train but you do this at the expense for placing yourself onto later Circumvesuviana trains and SITA buses. I certainly wouldn't push it and go for the last bus. Too many uncertainties.

Barbara - trains are leaving all day, say after 2:30 PM, almost hourly on this route. The Eurostar takes about 2:39 hours to get from Florence to Venice. Vaparettos usually run until about midnight...

You can check the trenitalia site at :
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

and the ACTV (vaparetto site):
http://www.actv.it/english/home.php

for more information!

Good Luck! Ciao,
Ron

Once you get to Venice, walk out of the train station and get a great view of the Grand Canal. It's really something. Then, you want the No. 1 or No. 2 (formerly the No. 82) vaporetto that comes in from your right and departs to your left. The No. 2 is faster as it skips many smaller stops. The No. 1 is the local and stops at all stops. San Zaccaria is 15 stops down the canal on the No. 1 vaporetto. It's the 8th stop on the No. 2. Don't take the No. 41 or No. 42. It will get you there but it will take much longer as it doesn't go directly down the canal.

Thanks guys! I've checked train and bus sites that you have given to me previously....but difficult for me to read and understand.

Another question still bothering me is my trip from Venice to Positano. How late in the day can I start this trip. Train from Venice to Naples, then to Sorrento, and a bus to Positano? As you all have advised me...it is a long trip. Our hotel, Le Sirenuse, will provide a driver if needed from Sorrento. I guess if I travel late in the day I miss the scenery...but can I see it on the way back to Rome? How late does the bus run? I'm sorry I am a dufus reading the schedules partly in Italian and military time. I appreciate your help. -Barb

The last Circumvesuviana train for Sorrento departs at 22:44, but that's too late to catch the last bus to Positano. The trains from Naples to Sorrento depart twice hourly throughout the day at approx :11 and :41 after the hour. There's a schedule at www.vesuviana.it, but I think it's only in italian. Even so, you should be able to find the schedule by following the "orario" and "ferrovia" links. I saw a 12:43 train from Venice Santa Lucia arriving in Naples at 19:20 (change in Rome). That's probably the latest train you could take and still allow adequate cushion for the Circumvesuviana and bus.

Thank you for the good info. This is the only part of the trip that I don't feel too comfortable about. I printed out your suggestions and am waiting for a reply from the hotel which suggested a driver pick us up in Naples. We plan on following your advice, though. I really appreciate this site and people like you who take the time to help.
Thanks, Barb

I will be traveling from Chiusi to Praino by train and have been told that Naples then the buses to Sorrento is the best way, but the train websites seem to have a quicker timeline going to Salerno then to Praino instead. It's about an hour and two buses quicker. Any suggestions?

Ann, I would post your question on the "Italy - Boot" traveler helpline. I received so much good information from there. I leave tomorrow for Italy and am quite excited. Hopefully the trains and bus schedules won't be a problem for a novice traveler like me!

Enjoy your trip! -Barb