I am traveling with my daughter, mom and daughter, in May. She's too young to drive a rental car. My trip consists of arriving in Florence and taking train to Cinque Terre for 2 nights, back to Florence 4 nights and train to Perugia 4 nights, where I would rent a car for that time to get around Tuscany/Umbria. This part I'm pretty sure about. Then comes the next part that I'm not too sure about. Perugia to Rome 4 nights, Rome to Bari(?) 2 nights, because that's where my family is from though I don't know anyone there I thought it would be good to go; then over to Sorrento for 4 nights and leave out of Naples Airport 7:20 a.. Most of the flights I saw were all early and I didn't know what that was about but I booked one of them. Now I have accomodations in Sorrento at a B&B but I'm not sure where to skim one night off to stay in Naples overnight because of the early flight. Advice? Also, next question is whether or not to even go to Bari since it's kind of a long drive/ride on train. I could just have more time in Sorrento but not sure if 6 nights is too much or? Other question looming is whether or not to get a car at all once I leave Rome. It seems a little daunting to drive, park, pay tolls, all that when I don't even speak Italian except just a tad right now. Advice from those who know???
Thank you!
Posted by
Cape Ann, Massachusetts
3336 posts
Hi C., This is all just my opinion. Everyone's interests are different. I think 4 nights in sorrento is much too long as the only thing to see there is the Mediterranean and a bus ride along the Amalfi Coast. I'd actually switch more time to Naples, as Sorrento, Pompeii and the Amalfi coast are easily accessible from there. I find Naples fascinating and will return to spend more time there. I would also skip Cinque Terre and spend more time in Bari, to get a feel for from where my ancestors hailed. Regarding the car rental, Italian trains are easy and inexpensive, especially as a family. I would take the train between main locations and just rent a car locally, like you plan to do in Perugia to see the countryside. In Italy, I always make sure I have a full day in the city near the airport before my flight , in your case Naples, because Italy will have one day strikes and I wouldn't want it to be the day before my flight out. Again, just me. Have a great trip. Wray
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16539 posts
Hi there -
I'll throw in the differing opinion? You will not want or need a car in Rome so I'd drop if off and take trains from Perugia onwards. Whether you think you should go to Bari is really up to you and how much you wish to have a look at where your family is from.
From Bari - and I hope others may jump in here with other options - I think you'd need to take a train to Naples, and the Circumvesuviana local train from there to Sorrento. Or, with three of you, you might consider a private transfer service from Naples to Sorrento.
With an early flight from Naples, your only options are to pre-arrange a private transfer very early in the morning, or stay the night in the city: the Circumvesuviana doesn't start running early enough in the morning to get you there on time for check-in 2 hours or so before an international flight.
I'll disagree that 5-6 nights is too many for Sorrento. Besides a day to explore the town itself, Pompei and Herculaneum are just as easy from there by train as from Naples. You can also take a ferry to Capri for the day, and a bus to Positano and some other locations around the Amalfi coast. Ferries to some of those locations will probably also be running during your dates - although spring schedules are not yet posted. Some people don't have issues driving about the Sorrentine/Amalfi Coasts, and others have pronounced their experience as a bit of a nightmare so it's one of those personal things! :O)
Giving yourself the day before your flight to bed down in Naples will also give you the opportunity to visit the archeological museum there (closed Tuesdays) and end your trip with some good pizza. :O)
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
If trains go to the destinations you want to see, take the train and explore them on foot.
If trains don't go to a destination you want to see (because it's in the country not near rail lines), then consider 3 options: use buses, join a tour that provides van transportation, or rent a car.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32352 posts
glass,
In most cases, the places you're visiting are well served by trains or buses, so a rental car is not needed. Having a car in the Cinque Terre is of no value, since you can't drive in the towns and will have to use the local trains anyway. Having a car in Florence is a "risky" proposition, since the city is just about saturated with automated ZTL (limited traffic) cameras and if you violate these, hefty fines will follow. Although the situation is slightly different, THIS recent post provides a good example.
One other point to mention about driving is that EACH driver will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. You can easily obtain these for a small fee at any AAA office. Having a GPS or at least a good map is highly advisable.
I'd probably skip Bari, since it's somewhat of an "outlier" with your other destinations. You might want to add one night in the Cinque Terre, since two nights will only provide about a day and a half for touring. If you haven't made hotel reservations there yet, it would be a good idea to do that SOON!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16539 posts
Based on the itinerary provided, creationglass didn't intend on having a car for the CT or Florence (and a wise choice, that).
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Bari is about two hours from Napoli. I would go for your interest in your ancestry, but perhaps do some research first to find out more specific information. Bari is also a province, so being "from Bari" could cover many cities and towns in the area.
Posted by
105 posts
If you have any hesitancy about driving, you definitely don't want to drive in Rome! We rented a car as we left Rome and traveled down the Amalfi, and based in Positano. From there, we took a boat to Capri and are so glad we did not miss that. Yes, parking can be an issue, but driving....it's part of the experience. We did not have any issues.