I will be leaving the beautiful Island of Salina and need to catch a flight from Naples at 12:40PM on Monday July 9. My Italian is limited so I am looking for the most direct mode of transportation. If an overnight in Naples is needed I will do that. There is so much information on this site I can not seem to sort through it all. Does anyone know if it would be best to leave by train, ferry or plane? Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks

Hi,
You have to search on GAC and ferry information. He provided tons of information for ferries, trains and flights.

I don't think there is an airport in Salina. So you will have to get to Milazzo or Napoli by ferry or hydrofoil.

www.siremar.it

read ferry section and hydrofoil section.

I think you will have to arrive at least one night before to Naples or suburb. This is what we are doing. Our flight is also at 12h40 but on the 10th of July. We spend 2 last nights in Sorrento, as we had to extend our stay by 2 nights. Sorrento has a bus going to the airport. In your case you might want to stay in Naples for 1 night and take Alibus to the airport.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Salina:
I will be leaving the beautiful Island of Salina and need to catch a flight from Naples at 12:40PM on Monday July 9. My Italian is limited so I am looking for the most direct mode of transportation. If an overnight in Naples is needed I will do that.

GAC's Answer:

Here are your three options (all fast direct hydrofoils from Salina to Naples):

Alilauro Lines: leave Salina 7:35, arrive Naples 12:55. Fare 74.50 Euros.

Ustica Lines: leave Salina 15:45, arrive Naples 21:00. Fare 72.70 Euros.

SNAV Lines: leave Salina 8:00, arrive Naples 13:05. Fare 93 Euros.

NOTE that you'll need to leave Salina on Sunday and overnight in Naples. There is no way to arrive on time on Monday morning to take a 12:40 p.m. flight.

Taking the direct hydrofoil is better than taking the overnight train from Milazzo (you would need to backtrack by hydrofoil from Salina to Milazzo).

UNFORTUNATELY, there is no direct Siremar overnight car ferry from Salina to Naples on Sunday evening (departures only on Mondays and Thursdays evenings).

HOWEVER, there is a direct overnight car ferry from Salina to Naples operated by Siremar competitor Medmar Lines, which departs on SATURDAY July 7 at 21:25, arriving in Naples at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. This would give you a full day's sightseeing in Naples. The one way fare is 48 Euros (including taxes).

BEWARE: By contrast to Siremar, the Medmar ferry does NOT NOT have sleeping cabins; only seats. This might cause you to discard this overnight option (which is much cheaper than the daylight hydrofoils). The brand-new ferry ship "Lora d'Abundo" measures 269 feet in length, 49 feet in width, travels at 20 knots, and accommodates 900 passengers and 120 autos.


www.alilauro.it
www.usticalines.it
www.snav.it
www.siremar.it
www.medmargroup.it

NOTE: Alilauro seems to have the best reputation in terms of cleanliness of craft.

Thanks for all your help. After reading your comments I realize the ferry is the way to go. I checked out the AliLauro site and this seems to be the best option. Ciao e Grazie

quote:

Originally posted by Salina:
Thanks for all your help. After reading your comments I realize the ferry is the way to go. I checked out the AliLauro site and this seems to be the best option. Ciao e Grazie

GAC'S REPLY:

BEWARE: The Alilauro Line service, like Ustica Lines and SNAV Lines, uses HYDROFOILS, and NOT ferries. (Sometimes, SNAV uses a giant catamaran on the weekend runs to and from the Aeolian Islands). Alilauro and Ustica Lines use exclusively hydrofoils.

I assume that you meant to say "hydrofoil" above, not "ferry"!!!

However, if you truly want to travel by ferry (i.e. car ferry) and not by hydrofoil, you should take Medmar Lines on Saturday night.

(You are not the first person on this Site to inadvertently not distinguish between hydrofoil and ferry).

UPDATE: I just received an e-mail from Medmar Lines. They advise that the once-weekly overnight car ferry service between Naples and the Aeolian Islands (in competition with Siremar Lines) will NOT NOT be restored this June, as during the previous two summers. Consequently, the twice weekly Siremar Lines ferry (which also stops at Rinella on Salina Island) will be the ONLY overnight maritime service to the Islands from Naples.

GAC, I just love that you know all this stuff! You are a great resource. I share a love for public transportation but unfortunately I am not an expert.