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Started By
Message
Transportation within Italy
Posted on 5/10/23 at 8:33 am
Posted on 5/10/23 at 8:33 am
Fiance and I are finalizing plans for our honeymoon in Italy. We have most everything nailed down, but I am looking for guidance on short transportation within cities such as Naples, Rome and Milan. We would prefer reputable private transportation for trips like Airport to hotel, airport to Ferry in Naples, hotel to train terminals, etc. We will be taking trains for longer trips between cities.
Are there any recommendation for reputable companies that I could work with that would handle all of our shorter transportation needs? Or are we going about this the wrong way in general? We are relatively inexperienced at European travel.
Trip will be flying into Naples -> ferry to Capri -> train from Naples to Rome -> Rome to Florence/Tuscany -> Tuscany to Northern Lakes -> Milan and back home over about 11 days.
Are there any recommendation for reputable companies that I could work with that would handle all of our shorter transportation needs? Or are we going about this the wrong way in general? We are relatively inexperienced at European travel.
Trip will be flying into Naples -> ferry to Capri -> train from Naples to Rome -> Rome to Florence/Tuscany -> Tuscany to Northern Lakes -> Milan and back home over about 11 days.
10
Posted on 5/10/23 at 9:00 am to Drive4show
Last time I was in Italy we just used Uber. Going back in July but we're renting a car for that trip (Flying in/out of Rome).
Sounds like you're looking for a private transportation company. You could try Blacklane which some friends of mine use a lot and always speak highly of. Looks like a more upscale Uber to me, but you schedule rides in advance
Sounds like you're looking for a private transportation company. You could try Blacklane which some friends of mine use a lot and always speak highly of. Looks like a more upscale Uber to me, but you schedule rides in advance
Posted on 5/10/23 at 11:10 am to Drive4show
LINKI have an excellent one for you in Naples. transferelaxWe used them to get from the Naples airport to our hotel in Positano then back to the Naples train station to go to Rome. They were reliable , friendly and the prices were reasonable. www.transferelax.com
That is one of the few times I have used a private service.
The train systems between European cities are very good.
If we need transportation for several days, such as in Tuscany, we get rental cars. In the cities, we use subways or taxis.
That is one of the few times I have used a private service.
The train systems between European cities are very good.
If we need transportation for several days, such as in Tuscany, we get rental cars. In the cities, we use subways or taxis.
This post was edited on 5/11/23 at 10:32 pm
Posted on 5/10/23 at 11:24 am to H2O Tiger
quote:
Blacklane
This.
Have used them in Italy and Spain.
Posted on 5/10/23 at 12:12 pm to Drive4show
Honestly, one of my favorite parts of our last Italy trip was renting a car and driving from place to place. You could stop in small towns along the way, and you see so much more of the country that way.
We’re going to Puglia in August and will be renting a car again.
We’re going to Puglia in August and will be renting a car again.
Posted on 5/10/23 at 1:04 pm to Drive4show
Your hotel should be able to arrange any transportation to/from the airport.
Posted on 5/10/23 at 2:19 pm to Drive4show
when in Rome we took cab/Uber, did take the bus to the Vatican
week took a train to go from Milan to Venice, took a cab in Venice to the airport
week took a train to go from Milan to Venice, took a cab in Venice to the airport
Posted on 5/10/23 at 2:27 pm to TigerintheNO
quote:You must mean the water taxi. That is another unique thing about Venice. That is the only place where I get taken to the airport by boat.
took a cab in Venice to the airport
Posted on 5/10/23 at 2:32 pm to geauxpurple
quote:
That is the only place where I get taken to the airport by boat.
You can do that in the Maldives too
Posted on 5/10/23 at 3:48 pm to Drive4show
You will probably not get a lot of satisfaction using this method. Europeans are used to taking their wheeled luggage 3/4 of a mile (or more) from their hotel to a train station, even over cobbled roads. What you're going to find in many cases is going to be canceled Uber/Lyft rides, repeatedly. Nobody wants to drive the two of you a mile for six Euro. There's special color I'll add because of Romans/Sicilians, but you will absolutely get destroyed financially trying to book a private car between Rome Termini and a hotel near the Coliseum, for instance. It's 2 miles and a 20ish minute walk (downhill, on the way from Termini). If you find an Uber within the first five tries that is willing to drive you on that route, I owe you a beer. I can easily envision a private transpo company charging you more than 35 Euro for that trip. Remember, your reservation for that is keeping them booking a lucrative drive to the airport, or to Vesuvius, etc., for what amounts to not much profit.
Also, take note of Catholic "stuff" that occurs when you're going to be there. Services may not be available depending on if the Pope is in town, the military shuts down roads, etc.
Since you're going South to North, I suggest stopping at Nettuno American Cemetery if you're at all interested in history. Super beautiful, and very, very, well maintained. I never saw any groundskeepers there (or any employees to be honest,) but it was great. There were more than a few Italians there expressing gratitude with their elementary aged kids as well. It's also a seaside town, so the to be significant other can be amused by non war things at cafes and whatnot.
(The rest that follows is sort of off topic, but EU transit advice.)
Be aware that at least in England (as of April) it's a pain in the arse to get a physical ticket on a train. It's all QR codes/Apple wallet, etc., so your number one job is to keep everyone's phones charged. ABC = Always be charging.
0. When you book a train, RESERVE SPECIFIC SEATS.
1. The train route you take between two points can vary. You can book a non-express train and spend eight hours going somewhere that could have take 3 hours if you'd booked the right train (between the same two cities.)
2. A ton of air travel intra-Europe is cheap. Use Google Flights to look for options. Personally, I'd rather be on a train with a dining/bar car and look at the scenery than deal with flying. Since you're staying on the west side of Italy, you shouldn't have major impediments to train travel. European train travel gets screwed up when you cross mountain ranges, and when you shift from Western Europe to Eastern Europe. Don't know why the latter is an issue 30 years after the wall fell, but what are you gonna do.
3. *IN* the cities, just use Uber and Lyft (Lyft seems to be less available overseas.) Subways/trains are easier when you don't know what you're doing than buses. The train method gives you time to figure out the timetable, etc. Bus, everyone, especially in Rome, will be angry at you three seconds after you start fumbling trying to pay. I like to just walk to get to intra city things. I've been forced by traveling companions to sit in Paris traffic and watch pedestrians outpace us on a 3 mile ride that cost 50 Euro and took 45 minutes. Coulda walked it faster.
Much of the glory of Europe (Paris, Rome, etc) lies in people and relaxation. You miss how many times Italians "take a coffee" during a workday if you're in a car of any sort. You miss the rando gelato stand that blows her mind. You miss *a lot* by not walking in major romance cities in Europe. I specify romance, because I don't doubt that if I ever set foot in Frankfurt, outside the airport, it's not so nice.
Also, take note of Catholic "stuff" that occurs when you're going to be there. Services may not be available depending on if the Pope is in town, the military shuts down roads, etc.
Since you're going South to North, I suggest stopping at Nettuno American Cemetery if you're at all interested in history. Super beautiful, and very, very, well maintained. I never saw any groundskeepers there (or any employees to be honest,) but it was great. There were more than a few Italians there expressing gratitude with their elementary aged kids as well. It's also a seaside town, so the to be significant other can be amused by non war things at cafes and whatnot.
(The rest that follows is sort of off topic, but EU transit advice.)
Be aware that at least in England (as of April) it's a pain in the arse to get a physical ticket on a train. It's all QR codes/Apple wallet, etc., so your number one job is to keep everyone's phones charged. ABC = Always be charging.
0. When you book a train, RESERVE SPECIFIC SEATS.
1. The train route you take between two points can vary. You can book a non-express train and spend eight hours going somewhere that could have take 3 hours if you'd booked the right train (between the same two cities.)
2. A ton of air travel intra-Europe is cheap. Use Google Flights to look for options. Personally, I'd rather be on a train with a dining/bar car and look at the scenery than deal with flying. Since you're staying on the west side of Italy, you shouldn't have major impediments to train travel. European train travel gets screwed up when you cross mountain ranges, and when you shift from Western Europe to Eastern Europe. Don't know why the latter is an issue 30 years after the wall fell, but what are you gonna do.
3. *IN* the cities, just use Uber and Lyft (Lyft seems to be less available overseas.) Subways/trains are easier when you don't know what you're doing than buses. The train method gives you time to figure out the timetable, etc. Bus, everyone, especially in Rome, will be angry at you three seconds after you start fumbling trying to pay. I like to just walk to get to intra city things. I've been forced by traveling companions to sit in Paris traffic and watch pedestrians outpace us on a 3 mile ride that cost 50 Euro and took 45 minutes. Coulda walked it faster.
Much of the glory of Europe (Paris, Rome, etc) lies in people and relaxation. You miss how many times Italians "take a coffee" during a workday if you're in a car of any sort. You miss the rando gelato stand that blows her mind. You miss *a lot* by not walking in major romance cities in Europe. I specify romance, because I don't doubt that if I ever set foot in Frankfurt, outside the airport, it's not so nice.
Posted on 5/10/23 at 3:51 pm to LemmyLives
I will add that if you want to take a taxi go to an official taxi stand. If a "taxi driver" approaches you and his car isn't at the official taxi stand (it won't be) then that person is a gypsy cab driver. DO NOT take a ride with them.
In Rome there are tourist busses that you can purchase a day ticket for to go between the sites.
In Rome there are tourist busses that you can purchase a day ticket for to go between the sites.
Posted on 5/10/23 at 11:39 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
I will add that if you want to take a taxi go to an official taxi stand
You must be prepared for how aggressive people will be for cash. It's not Egypt level, but American for sure are not prepared for this. They don't start the meter, and give you a random number of Euro they want when you arrive, etc. You must look at stuff like this, otherwise it becomes a "negotiation" which involves cops not fluent in English.
I don't get worried about getting ripped off in the middle of nowhere, but Rome, Paris, Milan, etc., are begging for fraud.
Take pictures of your passports and credit cards (front and back.) Put at least one card in your room safe with your passports when you check in. They need your passport to check in, but nobody else needs it after you check in.
Posted on 5/11/23 at 9:03 am to LemmyLives
Good post
FRA is ok but add the new train station(s) and you get a cluster.
Lufthansa is good for intra- Europe travel. Their boarding is organized as opposed to free for alls on some other carriers.
FRA is ok but add the new train station(s) and you get a cluster.
Lufthansa is good for intra- Europe travel. Their boarding is organized as opposed to free for alls on some other carriers.
Posted on 5/11/23 at 1:02 pm to Pepperoni
quote:
FRA is ok but add the new train station(s) and you get a cluster.
Yay....
I get to do this in September
Posted on 5/11/23 at 1:46 pm to H2O Tiger
quote:
Yay.... I get to do this in September
Plan ahead depending on your connections.
Posted on 5/11/23 at 1:57 pm to Pepperoni
Flying in on KLM from AMS. Going to a wedding in Southwestern Germany and FRA was the best airport option. Not on a LH->DB connecting ticket, will be a separate train ticket. How much time in between should I give it?
Posted on 5/11/23 at 3:41 pm to Drive4show
quote:
We would prefer reputable private transportation for trips like Airport to hotel, airport to Ferry in Naples, hotel to train terminals, etc. We will be taking trains for longer trips between cities.
Are you an OT baller or just nervous being your first time over? I don't think its anything to sweat OP, I'd just hire someone when you get there personally.
We booked someone through our Chase rewards and supposedly saved money from the Airport to our hotel in Paris and we ended up having to wait almost 30 mins. There were tons of taxi's and Ubers just waiting at the terminal. You can set rides up ahead of time on Uber and what not, as you probably know.
Posted on 5/11/23 at 4:14 pm to Drive4show
Thanks for all the feedback. Have gotten a good bit of mixed reports from friends on the confusion and potential scams for transportation. I'm going to work with a mix of booking through hotels, probably blacklane, and look into the chase rewards portal.
Posted on 5/11/23 at 5:48 pm to Drive4show
quote:
booking through hotels, probably blacklane, and look into the chase rewards portal.
If you are staying in a big hotel that's probably not a problem, but I've stayed at a lot of smaller hotels in Europe and if you are looking to book your ride OUT as in never be there again I personally wouldn't trust them that much. Not anymore than an Uber or called in Taxi. They could very easily be in on a scheme.
As I said above I had mixed results with the Chase Portal. Chase obviously takes a cut so they are making less but at least they are somewhat vetted?
For just small trips around town, I honestly wouldn't sweat it unless you are balling. There's plenty of high end options in the bigger Euro cities.
Posted on 5/12/23 at 7:01 am to H2O Tiger
If you go through customs and baggage claim in FRA I’d allow at least an hour and a half plus in order to get to a platform of the airport train station there.
Download the app from German railroad called
Deutsche Bundesbahn
You can create an account to buy tickets as well as make seat reservations (usually not needed unless it indicates necessary or busy)
For example if your wedding takes place in Freiburg (Breisgau) you’d take a train directly from the airport station.
September 8 for example shows six trains (non transfer) between noon and 6 pm. there are also trains with a single transfer.
Always look at the digital boards at the train stations to make sure there’s no last-minute platform change, although the app usually keeps up with it provided you are refreshing the app]
Download the app from German railroad called
Deutsche Bundesbahn
You can create an account to buy tickets as well as make seat reservations (usually not needed unless it indicates necessary or busy)
For example if your wedding takes place in Freiburg (Breisgau) you’d take a train directly from the airport station.
September 8 for example shows six trains (non transfer) between noon and 6 pm. there are also trains with a single transfer.
Always look at the digital boards at the train stations to make sure there’s no last-minute platform change, although the app usually keeps up with it provided you are refreshing the app]
This post was edited on 5/12/23 at 9:52 pm
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