Venice/Naples: Can the train compete with the plane?

(continued) TRAIN OPTION: Trenitalia has one daily direct Frecciargento train (and many others with a connection), as well as one daily direct Intercity (IC) train. Travel time: 5 hours, 13 minutes on the direct Frecciargento; 8 hours, 32 minutes on the direct IC train. Cost: As low as 39 Euros with the lowest "MINI" fare on the Frecciargento (beginning January 24, 2011); as low as 21 Euros with the lowest "MINI" fare on the IC train. Depending on travel date and advance purchase, other "MINI" fares can be higher, and in any case the regular "base" fares are much higher (94 Euros for the Frecciargento and 52.50 Euros for the IC). ASSESSMENT: Unless you're able to get the one of the low "MINI" fares on the Frecciargento train by booking well in advance, flying is the objectively preferred option between Venice and Naples. If you are not pressed for time, the IC train is a good budget option (especially with the "MINI" fare). If you want to see the scenery or experience more of a "feel" for the locals, or be "environmentally conscious", take the train. Some people also find flying more stressful than taking the train.

(continued) If you're taking the plane and ... GOING TO SORRENTO? Take the Curreri airport bus for 10 Euros between Sorrento and the Naples Airport. From Sorrento, there are SITA buses to Positano and Praiano. If arriving or departing Naples by train, take the Circumvesuviana commuter rail. GOING TO SALERNO? Take the SITA airport bus for 7 Euros (daily except Sundays) between Salerno and the Naples Airport. If these schedules are not convenient, take the Alibus to Piazza Garibaldi in Naples, then the Trenitalia regionale train to Salerno. From Salerno, there are SITA buses to Amalfi. GOING TO PAESTUM? Take the Alibus to Piazza Garibaldi in Naples, then the Trenitalia regionale train to Paestum. GOING TO CAPRI OR ISCHIA? Take the Alibus to Piazza Municipio in Naples (last stop), then the hydrofoil to Capri or Ischia from the Beverello Dock. NOTE: There may also be somewhat more limited hydrofoil/ferry connections (outside of the winter months) to the Amalfi Coast from Naples-Beverello Dock and/or Salerno-Concordia Dock. www.alitalia.it www.easyjet.com www.ferroviedellostato.it www.curreriviaggi.it www.sitabus.it www.vesuviana.it www.metrodelmare.net www.coopsantandrea.it

This all depends on whether or not you can afford to have your luggage lost or "like" going through airport security. For me, it's a no-brainer. I like the easy on, easy off aspects of train travel, no lost luggage or luggage charges, the scenery and "fresh" air of a train coach over a sealed aluminum tube, and the fact that the train will plop you smack into the middle of town instead of the outskirts. The train may be slower overall, but is far more convenient.

And we should also note that Trenitalia has been installing electronic hookups not only on the high-speed Frecciarossa and Frecciargento trains, but also on the Frecciabianca (ES-City) trains, some modernized Intercity (IC) trains, and even the spruced-up regionale trains between Rome and Florence. So travellers will be able to use their PC/s, DVD players, and other electronic gear for much of their trip by train. My own rough "rule-of-thumb" is: any trip of 5.5 hours or less is usually better done by train. This happens to include Venice/Naples. Better still if you can book one of the "MINI" promotional fares. If you look at Trenitalia's high-speed rail routes, you'll note that the LONGEST route (Milan to Salerno) is just under 6 hours. For train trips of over 6 hours, the plane becomes more attractive, although there are several other perfectly valid reasons to use the train even in these cases. Some travellers quite simply enjoy looking out of the train's big picture window to admire the scenery, or watching the locals board and exit the train. Others prefer to avoid planes, airports and security controls whenever there is a good alternative. Some find travel by plane to be stressful. Others don't like the idea of taking public transportation to and from two airports, in addition to the plane itself. A few years ago, the low cost airlines were putting pressure on Trenitalia on routes such as Milan/Rome and Venice/Rome. Now Trenitalia is fighting back with faster, more frequent, and even economical, train service between the major cities of mainland Italy. Is Trenitalia-Ferrovie dello Stato-F.S. trying to reclaim it former motto: "F.S." or "Fiducia e Sicurezza"???