We will be traveling from Rome to Sorrento in just over a week. Back when we planned our trip, we did a lot of research and looked at our options for getting from one place to another. We will be traveling with our 2 year old, and of course, the large amount of luggage that entails (including car seat, travel crib, etc.). As I've been to Italy before and have experienced the trains, I was thinking it would be hectic, especially with the transfers, and then having to get to our destination from he train station. We'd considered a private car, but that was out of our budget. So we finally decided on renting a car (our place has free parking). I was feeling good about it, but now I'm worried we are making the wrong choice. Are we making a terrible mistake? Can someone tell me how they managed to do it by train with all the stuff, watching all of our bags, etc.? Thanks!!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12063 posts
Why do you feel you are making a mistake?
Yours may be the rare case where a rental car is better than taking a train. Just be sure to make yourself familiar with the road restrictions ( ie ZTLs etc) and have a good GPS.
Once in Sorrento, leave the car parked at the hotel.
Never traveled with a 2 year old in your kind of situation, so cannot offer any advice on how to do your train trip.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for your response! I've just been posting on various websites about other questions, and people have advised us and others strongly against driving. I was just hoping to find someone on one side or the other (doing the drive, or doing the train transfers with luggage and toddler) who was successful!
Posted by
Carmel, CA, USA
2456 posts
Between you, can you actually carry all your stuff at one time? If not, you have troubles and would probably need your own car throughout your trip, maybe not during your actual stays in larger cities.
If you can carry things for a while, another possibility would be to take the train from Rome to Naples, then once you arrive at the Naples train station, get a taxi or car service to take you directly to your lodging in Sorrento. Should be in the vicinity of 100 euros, maybe extra if you have oodles of baggage. Such a ride should be able to take you right to the door of your lodging, without the hassle of dealing not only with the Circumvesuviana trains but also then of getting from the Sorrento train station to your lodging. If you need guidance on this, perhaps the people at your hotel in Sorrento could refer to a driver or service that they know.
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1005 posts
No you are not making a terrible mistake! I think you are making a very good choice with all the "stuff" you will have. On our (+ 2 kids elem & jr. high age so no car seats needed) first visit to Sorrento in July 2006 (here when Italy won the World Cup! So fun!) we drove from Montepulciano and it was no problem. Drove very easily to our hotel on Via Capo (Hotel Settimo Cielo) where we had free parking. We did not use the car while here but used the train, buses and boats to get around. On different days we took the boat to Positano and Amalfi town and the bus back to Sorrento. The traffic was crazy so we didn't attempt to drive the Amalfi Coast but I think the drive we had earlier in our trip from the Provence region in France to Vernazza was the most hair raising! I was hugging the door the entire time once we got past Monterosso! When we left Sorrento we were heading to Rome and had no problem dropping our car at the airport before heading into Rome and flying out of here several days later. Have been back to Sorrento 2x since then and have used the trains but sans kids and I can't imagine navigating trains particularly the Circumsuviania train with lots of stuff and a toddler. Plus if you do take a taxi from the Sorrento train station to your hotel they are a major rip off--think we pd $20 Euros. On our last trip upon leaving Sorrento we did splurge for a private transfer to Naples train station and was 100 Euros. We are headed to Sorrento again in October after visiting the Puglia region and can't wait! Buon Viaggio!!
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks to everyone who responded! Some good options as well as support for our decision! Much appreciated!
Posted by
Boston, MA
1832 posts
We always travel with our daughter, now 4 1/2 so can hopefully help answer some questions / ease some fears you may have.
Went to Rome this summer with her and last fall we went all over Italy and rented a car for a couple of weeks,
Easy to drive in Italy just so things you need to be aware of in advance, have you gotten your International Driver's License at a AAA office yet, if not you need to. Don't have to be a AAA member.
Your internary is not clear or potential problems either.
When we stayed in Sorrento a few years back (without our daughter) our hotel had free parking included. Parking lot was actually the front door entrance at street level and you actually took an elevator down to get to the lobby and rooms which were all built into the Cliffside. One of the most unique and coolest hotels I have seen.