Positano to Cinque Terre - easier/less expensive to train or drive?

Julie, especially as you have "a time constraint", I would most DEFINITELY recommend trains for that route! Travel by car from Positano to the C.T. is going to be a LONG trip! ¶ There are several options you might consider. The most direct would be to use either Bus or a Car Service to reach Napoli Centrale (I don't have info at hand regarding the cost of Car services, but believe there's info in the Guidebook). A slightly longer method would be to take a SITA Bus to Sorrento and then Circumvesuviana to Naples. Depending on time of year and weather, using a boat from Positano to Naples might also be an option, and then Taxi to the rail station. The Bus and then Circumvesuviana will probably provide the most flexibility in terms of departure times. ¶ I WOULDN'T recommend air travel on that route. By the time you get to & from the airports, check-in, security, etc., the trip will likely be longer and much more stressful. ¶ From Napoli Centrale, use the EuroStar Italia / Alta Velocita to La Spezia. The trip is about six hours (depending on which train you choose), usually with one change at Roma Termini. I specified La Spezia as it's the southern "gateway" to the C.T. You can reach your destination from there. ¶ WHERE to visit in the Cinque Terre? How long will you be there and at what time of year? If you have the time, why not visit all of the five villages? It's somewhat of a "ritual" for most visitors there to hike the trails between the villages. Which town to stay in will depend on your preferences. Do you prefer more "conventional" Hotels, or is a small B&B acceptable? The "Italy" Guidebook has great information on each of the five villages, so you'll get some ideas from that on which place to stay. Good luck with your planning!

First of all, I would never suggest driving in that part of Itay unless you have a local who will be behind the wheel. The cost, including insurance, for a oneway rental would be pretty high. Probably the easiest would be to take the bus to Sorrento which drops you off at the train station, then take the Circumvesuviana train to Naples, change to the regular train lines (same station) that will route you to Cinque Terre. This will take a good part of a day. Flying would be more complicated and probably take longer because of transportation to/from airports. Are you going to Rome or Florence? It would be more efficient to visit those cities in between AC and CT. Also, when you go to CT you can easily see all 5 villages. Part of the experience is the hike between villages. Also, they are connected by a train just a few minutes apart. If you search this website you will find various opinions on each village. They are all wonderful but each has its own personality. My favorite to stay in is Vernazza.

Could take the bus the other way, to Salerno, train to Roma, wait 70 minutes, train up the coast to La Spezia, total train time (not including Amalfi coast bus) under 7 hours. There's one around 9 am.

Thank you both for your recommendations! The train it is! Do either of you have a few hotel suggestions in Vernazza? Any suggestions for Santa Margarita? We are looking for something that we could take a group of 16-24 people to in the future for a workshop. Cozy, quaint, breakfast included, views, in the 100 to 175 euro per night range. Many thanks!!!

Hmm, for a group that size finding rooms in Vernazza may be a bit tricky. You'll see what I mean when you get there. Most of the lodging is a combination of apartments and/or rooms rented out privately, not like traditional hotels. If your group could be scattered about a bit, this would work fine. There are lots of good recommendations in Rick's guidebooks. For larger options you could try Tratoria Gianni which, according to one of the guidebooks, "rents 23 small rooms just under the castle" www.giannifranzi.it, into@giannifranzi.it. Albergo Barbara, on the harbor square, has 9 rooms that share 3 public showers - telephone 0187-812-398. Keep in mind that at many of these places very little English is spoken and they accept only cash. But, for a group, you can probably make special arrangements ahead of time. Nothing much is over $100 euros in Vernazza and usually is much less. The Cinque Terre is quite rustic and a bit tattered around the edges, wherein lies much of its charm. Hopefully your group isn't looking for an American-style conference type hotel. The northernmost town, Monterosso al Mare, is the largest and most resort-like of the Cinque Terre. You may have better success in finding larger, group accomodating lodging there. Try Hotel Villa Steno www.pasini.com, or a convent run Convento dei Cappuccini which rents 16 rooms telephone 0187-817-531, monterosso.convento@libero.it Google it for some photos. Hopefully other posters with more experience with needing to accomodate larger groups will respond. Good luck! Wish I could go to a workshop in Cinque Terre!

Thank you, Sherry!!!

Thank you so much!! I appreciate all three of you getting back with me. Your information is extremely helpful! Windermer - a special thank you as well!! Ciao!!

Julie, For accommodation in CT for your group size, I would recomment Monterosso al Mare. On our RS Best of Italy Tour, our group of 26 was divided between Albergo Pasquale and Villa Steno, both owned by the same family. Lovely rooms and hosts plus our group was treated to a Pesto making demonstration and fabulous dinner at the Albergo Pasquale. It might be possible for your group to arrange something like that. All villages are very easy to visit by train, only minutes away from each other and of course you can hike the trails between the villages if you have the time. Best of luck with your plans. Sherry

Throw the small group thing out the window. Where would you recommend to stay in Vernazza? A hotel with charm at a resonable price? Someplace that you would definitely stay at again? Many thanks, in advance! Julie

Julie, are you definite about staying in Vernazza, or would you consider one of the other towns? You might also consider Manarola. Have a look at * www.torrettas.com * for one suggestion. It's a bit pricey, but very nice. There's a better selection of both Hotels and restaurants in Monterosso, so you could look at that also. Cheers!

Julie, Our favorite place to stay in Vernazza is in one of Elisabetta Carro's little rooms. The one we like is at the top of the town and overlooks Vernazza and the coast with one of the most amazing views I have ever enjoyed. Her email is (carroelisabetta@hotmail.com). Her website has a few pictures that give you some idea of the view but don't do it justice www.elisabettacarro.it . She has several rooms, some with a view, but all have access to the rooftop patio. The rooms are not large but very comfortable and clean. We like the room shown as #2 Via Carrattino, 62 on her website. It is just big enough to fit a bed and the built-in cupboards that surround it. The windows/doors are french doors that have inside shutters that close for privacy and security at night, so you can sleep with the sea breeze coming through. Her rooms are reserved by email (unless things have changed since last year) and she will send a confirmation email with a phone # to contact her when you arrive. Elisabetta will meet you and escort you to your room. Be prepared for lots of steps up from the main road through town. She had us leave cash payment in the room the last day. All is a little unusual but we thought it only added to the charm of the stay and enhanced the feeling of truely "getting away from the ordinary".

Vernazza doesn't really have much in the way of real hotels, with a reception desk, lobby, breakfast room, etc. If you look in Rick's book you'll see he lists three "pensione", which have multiple rooms but are pretty basic. The rest of the accommodations there are "affitta camere" or rented rooms. These may be scattered i a building or clustered around a terrace; some have kitchens and are more like small apartments, some have fantastic sea views, and almost all of them require some stair climbing! Many of them have websites with photos. If you would like something more akin to a real hotel, I can highly recommend La Torretta in Manarola, which Ken also mentioned above. The place is so beautiful, peaceful, and charming I didn't want to leave. The host and his staff are very welcoming, and they offer activities like wine tasting or afternoon guided walks through the vineyards. It was wonderful luxury without a lux price. . . And FWIW, we much preferred Manarola to Vernazza, which was too crowded. with daytrippers and souvenir shops. It was the one place in all of Italy where we encountered rude shopkeepers, probably stressed out with all the people, but the attitude seemed to be "just give me your money and leave".

Ciao everyone! Thank you for the additional information on Vernazza! Take care and I appreciate all of your assistance!

Julie, In Vernazza, try : www.elisabettacarro.it/ for the best view in town as long as you don't mind a LOT of steps!

Ciao! I will! Thanks, again, to all!!