You may remember my post from a few months ago about asking my sister-in-law to go on the RS South of Italy tour in May. When I didn't get a commitment, I booked everything as a solo. She now plans to go which I am very happy about. She signed up for the tour and bought her plane tickets.
It changes my plans a bit but everything is working out great. Except -- we need to go to her grandparents' home town of Mongrassano Calabria on May 18 when the tour ends in Naples. It's only for overnight so we can return to Naples on the 19th, then be in Venice on the 20th.
Here's where I need help: We can take the train to Paola and rent a car from the small rental agency there who doesn't have a website. Guess I would have to email them to reserve a car? It's an hour drive to Mongrassano. OR on a post a few months ago, Roberto recommended to someone to take the train to Salerno, rent a car there and make the longer 3 hour drive. The problem I'm having is that I need to return the car on Sunday and the rental agencies either close early at 2pm or are closed on Sunday. The only place I find open on Sunday is the Naples airport. I really don't want to drive from Naples to Mongrassano. Maybe change of opinion - see edit below. Any ideas what I should do?
Secondary question to all of this: I think it would be best to take the train from Naples to Venice on the 20th. (We fly out of Venice on the 23rd since when I booked the flights I had planned on five days in Venice with a side trip to Lipica. It's not changeable.) We can see some of the Italian landscape as we whiz by. If we flew, we'd have to check luggage because we'll be oversized for discount airlines and spend time pre-board going thru the airport. I don't think we'd really save that much time. Any thoughts?
Edit: I might be wrong about the flights. I just looked at EasyJet. It's only $78 each with all the baggage fees. If we stayed next to the airport on the 19th, after renting and returning the car there, we can get an early flight out to Venice on the 20th. Sorry if I'm making this more complicated than it is. I just had one agenda on my mind and now I'm rethinking it.