Transportation Questions Milan-Lugano-Piacenza-Sorrento

Only you know if you need a rental car in Lugano and Piacenza, as we don't know where you party is located. Close in to the city or well out of town? Certainly it will be quicker to get from Malpensa to Lugano with a rental car. Just don't go on any Swiss highways, like the A-2 without first picking up a Swiss vignette (toll sticker).

Returning a rental car in Piacenza on a Sunday will certainly be an issue. You might be able to arrange to drop the car and leave the keys in a drop box. You will need to confirm this in advance with the rental car agency. There is a Europecar agency walking distance from Piacenza station.

Trains from Piacenza to Naples are frequent and fast. Trains are about once an hour, more in the morning, with a train change in Bologna. It takes 5 1/2 to 6 hours. In Naples,change to the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento.

You can buy nonrefundable, non-changeable tickets for the Piacenza-Naples and Naples-Milan for relatively cheap if you can commit to specific trains.

You could also do this all by train, but only you can determine if a rental car is necessary in Lugano and Piacenza. Also, why not fly home from Naples?

Sam,

I wasn't sure how much detail to put in my initial post.

We are going to Lugano to pick up my daughter who attends Franklin University Switzerland. We are then going to a family confirmation in Piacenza before heading to Sorrento/Capri/Ravello for 10 days. We are then heading back to Lodi for two nights before flying home from Linate.

We are not flying home from Naples for two reasons. Flights into Milan and out of Naples were twice the price. Also, we are taking advantage of the savings to see family in Lodi before flying home from Linate.

We have not made reservations yet in Lugano (or Piacenza). My daughter has business in Lugano on a Saturday morning and we would like to be in Piacenza by 4:00 that same day for a cousin's confirmation ceremony. Given the time constraints, I am thinking my only option is to rent a car (which I prefer not to do).

Therefore, our options (as I know them) for getting from Piacenza to Sorrento and then back to Lodi are:
1) Pick up rental car when I arrive - drive to Lugano, then Piacenza, then drop the car off at Linate and fly round trip to Naples.

2) If I can drop of rental car in Piazenza same as above but instead of flying to Naples, we would take the train to Naples or Sorrento and then take the train back to Lodi 10 days later.

Any other suggestions would be welcome.

Patrick