We will be in the area of Avignon France for about a week and then will travel to Vernazza Italy. We thought about renting a car just because the travel time would be less but we don't know the area or the language well and it seems that there is an additional rental car fee if you go from France to Italy. Is that true?
Our other option is to take a train from Avignon to La Spezia station and then take the regional train to Vernazza. It is about a 12 hour trip. If we go this route should be purchase our tickets before we leave the states or can we easily get them once we arrive in Avignon?
Thank for any help and suggestions you can provide.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15266 posts
There are extra rental drop off fees if you pick up in one country and then return the car in another. Where are you flying out of? Are you driving back to France or flying out of Italy?
Another option would be to rent a car from Avignon to Nice and then take the train from Nice. The drive from Avignon to Nice is less than 3 hours. Then the train from Nice to the Cinque Terre is a 6 hour trip. Unfortunately that rail line is very slow. It is one track only in some sections and the train goes through some spectacular cliffs where speed is limited. From Nice to the Cinque Terre it will be some of the most spectacular train trips of you life, so the 6 hours will go fast. Make sure you travel during daylight.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32222 posts
sherry,
Yes, there is usually a hefty fee if you rent a car in one country and drop in another. In some cases it can be quite substantial.
Regarding travel from Avignon to Vernazza, I'd have to spend some time looking at the options but there is one that comes to mind. Is there any possibility you could spend one night in Nice on the way from Avignon to Vernazza? That would make the transportation a lot simpler. It's about a three hour trip from Avignon to Nice, and you might enjoy having a short look at Nice.
The trip from Nice to Vernazza will be about 6.5 hours with 1 - 4 changes, depending on which train you choose. You'll be travelling from the north, so you won't necessarily be passing through La Spezia. One of the easiest trips will be a departure at 06:22, arriving Vernazza at 12:45 (time 6H:23M, 1 change at Ventimiglia). The last leg will be via Regionale, so DON'T forget to validate your ticket prior to boarding the train. Some of the trips on that route involve a Bus as well as trains, so you'll have to decide which will be easiest. You can see all the details on the bahn.de website.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you. We are flying to Marseille and then will depart for home from Florence. I like the idea of renting a car and driving to Nice then take the train the rest of the way. When searching the train schedules what station should I use as our destination from Nice? We are staying in Vernazzo.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32919 posts
Nice Ville is the main station in Nice. There is also a small station to the west by the airport and a small station east of the centre.
Parking in Nice is difficult.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
If you choose a train that doesn't stop in Vernazza, go first to Monterosso al Mare and then take the 5 minute train ride from there to Vernazza. Going to La Spezia, which is 2-4 stops past Vernazza, and then coming back could add up to an hour to an already long trip.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32222 posts
sherry,
Your departure station on the trip to Vernazza will be Nice Ville and your arrival station will be Vernazza. I've found that the ticket agents in Nice may only be able to sell you a ticket as far as Ventimiglia, which is the border crossing point in Italy. When you arrive there, it's easy enough to go inside the station and buy tickets from there to Vernazza, either at the ticket window of from a Kiosk.
It's likely that at least some of the trains you'll be using from Ventimiglia to Vernazza will be Regionale, so it will be difficult to buy tickets for those in advance. I'd suggest checking the bahn.de or Trenitalia website to determine the specific type of trains you'll be using for the departure time you choose (*Note: the Trenitalia site will only show departures from Ventimiglia onward - to see the entire route, use the bahn.de site).
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you. I think I've got it now.
Posted by
Ann Arbor
22 posts
I like the idea of you taking the train from Nice to Italy, beautiful scenery. We flew into Bologna, stayed overnight and then took the slow train to Vernazza. You are going to love Vernazza!
I don't speak a lot of Italian and could get by at the train stations. If you are nice, they try to speak some English and we try to speak some Italian!
There is a wonderful restaurant in Vernazza which I have forgotten the name but it is at the top of the hill (top of the town area) right next to the laundermat. Great food and the two brothers that own it speak English and are hilarious!
Enjoy your trip,
Nancy
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thanks Nancy. I'll look for the restaurant. We are getting excited.