How do I get from the Florence Airport to the train station SMN? Then getting to Sestri Levante by train from SMN? Doable? Anybody know a reliable private driver who would meet me at the airport and drive me to Sestri Levante? That would be superb.... then maybe in a week he'd drive me from Sestri Levante to Florence. Possible? Love to have some help.
I have two reliable drivers in the area who should be able to help you. Bruno Massoni - email - bruno.massoni@libero.it and Tiziana at Tuscany Dream: email - info@tuscanydream.org. I have used them both with great success. Bruno does not speak English, but I would not let that deter me from such a simple trip as you are suggesting. FAP bus in Pistoia can also provide you with a van and driver. That said, taking the train from Florence to Sestri could not be any easier. You will take the train from Florence west to Viareggio where you will have to make a change for a train heading north. Do not take the local from Viareggio. Nearly all (if not all) fast trains stop at Sestri. Most of the hotels are not far from the station. It is walkable. If you have not made your reservation in Sestri I highly recommend Hotel Vis a Vis. They have a great pool and the hotel restaurant with panoramic dining room is one of the very best we have encountered in Italy.
According to the Trenitalia site, you can take a train at 27 past every hour during the day from Florence S.M.N. to Pisa, where you connect to a train to Sestri. If they're reporting the best options, depending on the time it may be best just to connect to another regionale (where you simply hop on with open seating). At certain times there's a connection to an IC Plus train, where you need to buy the designated ticket with a seat assignment. This would usually be available shortly before you get the first train; if not, you can try the reservable train an hour later or simply take a Regionale without reservations. The IC Plus itineraries save around 30 minutes on a 3-hour trip.
It's simple to get a taxi from the airport to S.M.N.
I knew someone would have the answers. THanks Matt. Thanks Andrew. I'm going in October but as far as I'm concerned it's not too late to start planning.
