Does anyone know if it's possible to get direct transportation to Sardegna from the Aeolian islands? Maybe this is something GAC can answer...

Thanks!

QUITE IMPOSSIBLE.

Here are your options:

1. Aeolians to Palermo by hydrofoil/train (connecting in Milazzo), connecting to overnight ferry or plane to Cagliari;

2. Aeolians to Catania by hydrofoil/airporter bus (connecting in Milazzo), connecting to plane to Olbia;

3. Aeolians to Naples by overnight ferry or daylight hydrofoil, connecting to overnight ferry or plane to Cagliari (or plane to Olbia).

www.siremar.it (ferry from Aeolians to Naples; hydrofoils to Aeolians from Milazzo)
www.usticalines.it (hydrofoils to Aeolians from Milazzo)
www.snav.it (hydrofoils to Aeolians from Naples)
www.alilauro.it (hydrofoils to Aeolians from Naples)
www.tirrenia.it (ferry from Palermo to Cagliari; Naples to Cagliari)
www.meridiana.it (flights to Cagliari and Olbia)

quote:

Originally posted by GAC:
QUITE IMPOSSIBLE.

Here are your options:

1. Aeolians to Palermo by hydrofoil/train (connecting in Milazzo), connecting to overnight ferry or plane to Cagliari;

2. Aeolians to Catania by hydrofoil/airporter bus (connecting in Milazzo), connecting to plane to Sardegna;

3. Aeolians to Naples by overnight ferry or daylight hydrofoil, connecting to overnight ferry or plane to Cagliari.

Thanks for that informatoin, I appreciate it. I have friends who'll be near Olbia so I am wondering about arriving there, instead of Cagliari. I see that Moby Lines goes from Cittavecchia to Olbia. What's your opinion on me taking the SNAV aliscafo back up to Napoli, then taking the train to Cittavecchia, and getting the Moby ferry from there to Olbia?

quote:

What's your opinion on me taking the SNAV aliscafo back up to Napoli, then taking the train to Cittavecchia, and getting the Moby ferry from there to Olbia?

GAC's reply:

This also works. If you study the schedules carefully, it might be possible to take the early morning hydrofoil to Naples, then an early afternoon train to Civitavecchia, then a late afternoon (???) or overnight (more likely) ferry to Olbia. There are actually THREE ferry operators from Civitavecchia to Olbia: Moby Lines, SNAV and Tirrenia Lines.

quote:

Originally posted by GAC:

GAC's reply:

This also works. If you study the schedules carefully, it might be possible to take the early morning hydrofoil to Naples, then an early afternoon train to Civitavecchia, then a late afternoon (???) or overnight (more likely) ferry to Olbia. There are actually THREE ferry operators from Civitavecchia to Olbia: Moby Lines, SNAV and Tirrenia Lines.

The Tirrenia one goes early in the morning which might make sense. I could spend the night in Civitavecchia and get off to Sardegna early, arrving there by 13:30. Whereas the others leave in the afternoon and if I did have to spend the night in CV it wouldn't be great to wait around all day to get the ferry. I am not sure that I could get from the Aeolians to Napoli, then from Napoli to CV in time to get an afternoon ferry on the same day.

Quite correct, if you don't mind spending the night in Civitavecchia.

You can avoid a hotel night by taking the overnight ferry from the Aeolians to Naples, or the overnight ferry from Civitavecchia to Olbia.

quote:

Originally posted by GAC:
Quite correct, if you don't mind spending the night in Civitavecchia.

You can avoid a hotel night by taking the overnight ferry from the Aeolians to Naples, or the overnight ferry from Civitavecchia to Olbia.

Oh, those options are worth considering too. thanks!
I guess the other thing I should look into is whether there's a flight from Palermo or from Napoli to Olbia and what the cost is, if it exists....

Check

www.meridiana.it

quote:

Originally posted by GAC:

Here are your options:

2. Aeolians to Catania by hydrofoil/airporter bus (connecting in Milazzo), connecting to plane to Olbia;

3. Aeolians to Naples by overnight ferry or daylight hydrofoil, connecting to overnight ferry or plane to Cagliari (or plane to Olbia).

Hi,
I decided to check out the two options, either flying to Olbia from Naples or from Catania. I checked with Meridiana and nothing came up from Catania to Oblia for my dates in July. I do see flights with Meridiana from Naples that will work. Is there a different airline that operates from Catania to Olbia? And if so, which route do you think it easier? (going up to Naples from the Aeolians, and then to Naples airport, with possible hotel in Naples if need be, OR, going from Aeolians to Milazzo, then down to Catania?) I have done the Aeolians to Naples and been in Naples a few times so that feels more familiar. I have no idea how easy, or how much a hassle, it might be to get from Milazzo (where I've never been) to Catania.

Thanks!

Here are your choices, as you've defined the parameters:

1. Aeolians to Naples by hydrofoil or overnight ferry;

2. Airporter bus from Naples Piazza Municipio to Naples Airport (or taxi directly from arrival dock);

3. Meridiana Airlines flight from Naples to Olbia at 11:50 a.m. (check schedules carefully, as apparently NOT daily).

NOTE: You may need to spend one night in Naples, as no hydrofoil will arrive in time for the late morning flight to Olbia. There is the regular Siremar Lines Thursday evening overnight car ferry from the Aeolians arriving in Naples on Friday morning at 8:00 a.m., but you'd be in trouble catching the flight in Naples if this crossing were delayed for some reason.


OR

1. Aeolians to Milazzo by hydrofoil or early morning Siremar car ferry;

2. Giuntabus airporter bus at 8:45 a.m. from Milazzo dock direct to Catania Airport (arrival circa 11:00 a.m.) (April 1 through September 30 only).

3. Air Italy direct flight from Catania to Olbia (Monday only at 14:55 from June 2 through September 28). You can also reach Olbia from Catania via flights connecting in Rome.

NOTE: Air Italy is NOT NOT Alitalia. Check their website at www.airitaly.it They have been around since 2005 and have a whopping fleet of 2 737-300s for domestic operations!!! They also fly in Europe and overseas with larger aircraft. I have no idea about their "track record".

OPINION: Connect in Naples.

www.siremar.it
www.meridiana.it
www.airitaly.it
www.giuntabus.com

AFTERTHOUGHT: You might revisit the option of taking an overnight or daylight ferry from Civitavecchia to Olbia via Tirrenia, Moby or SNAV, particularly if you don't want to spend a night in Naples.