I am traveling to Sicily from the Sorrento area... should I take a train or hydrofoil to Sicily? Thank you for your feedback!

Where do you want to go in Sicily? Palermo? Catania? Taormina? Siracusa? Aeolian Islands? When are you travelling? The answer to your posting depends on your providing this additional information.

GAC, I'm traveling to Palermo and visiting Western Sicily at the end of June. Thanks, The Bat

Now I can help you:

You have three public transport options for travel between Naples and Palermo.

NOTE: There is no hydrofoil service between Naples and Palermo. The "fast giant catamaran" previously operated by SNAV Lines on this route was discontinued several years ago.

As you have indicated that you will be staying "in the Sorrento area", you will likely need to travel back to Naples in order to proceed on to Palermo.

If you want to travel by plane, you can reach the Naples Airport from Sorrento by DIRECT airporter bus (Curreri Bus Lines) in one hour. If you want to travel by train, you can reach the Naples Central train station in 75 minutes by Circumvesuviana commuter light rail. If you want to travel by overnight ferry (which may be your best option), you'll need to reach the Naples Ferry Port from the Naples central train station by taxi or local city bus. You might also be able to find a hydrofoil from Sorrento to Naples which docks at Molo Beverello (and not at Mergellina) (from Beverello you can walk to the Palermo ferry), but the schedules must allow you sufficient connection time.

To recap, your three options are: air, train, or overnight ferry.

You can search the various schedules from the hyperlinks at the end of this posting.

Below I've provided a "cut and paste" (from a previous posting of mine) with more information about these three options:


UPDATE ON FARES as of January 4, 2008:

Checking the various websites, here is an update on fares for travel between Naples and Palermo:


AIR:

60.69 Euros one way on Air One.

NOTE: Alpi Eagles airlines has been grounded by action of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, allegedly for lack of airworthy aircraft (as well as failure to pay airport landing fees). This leaves Air One operating the route.


FERRY:

46.50 Euros for a reclining seat on SNAV Lines

47.56 Euros for a reclining seat on Tirrenia Lines

NOTE: Twin and Quad cabins also available at a higher fare.


TRAIN:

35.80 Euros (or 26.20 Euros AMICA fare) for a second class seat on the EXP night train.

47.50 Euros (or 38.40 Euros AMICA fare) for a second class seat on either of the two daylight ICP trains

NOTE: Sleepers and couchettes also available on the night train at a higher fare. First class seats available at a higher fare on the daylight trains (but NOT on the night train)


OPINION: If you're in a hurry, take the plane. If you're travelling by night, take the overnight car ferry. If you want to enjoy the coastal scenery, take the EARLIER of the two ICP daylight trains.


www.flyairone.it
www.snav.it
www.tirrenia.it
www.ferroviedellostato.it
www.vesuviana.it (Circumvesuviana light rail)
www.curreriviaggi.it (airporter bus to Naples Airport)

CAVEAT: At the "end of June" (as you state above), you should RESERVE in advance if you want a CABIN on the overnight ferry, or a SLEEPER on the overnight train. You have much more leeway (and don't need to reserve much in advance at all) if you plan to take the daylight train or if you will accept a reclining seat on the overnight ferry. As for plane travel, booking well ahead usually insures getting a low rate.

ANY QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU GAC... that definitely answered my question

GAc, could you give me an idea of travelling time between Salina to Naples and how many ferries per day. We will be leaving Salina on June 17th. Many thanks

Barring inclement weather and schedule changes, there SHOULD be a SNAV Lines hydrofoil departing Santa Marina di Salina at 8:00 on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, arriving at Napoli Mergellina Dock at 13:05. The one-way adult passenger promotional fare starts as low as 18 Euros all-inclusive, but can go much higher depending upon availability at time of booking.

Based on last year's schedule, there SHOULD also be the Siremar Lines overnight car ferry departing Salina (probably Rinella dock) on Monday, June 16, 2008 at 18:30, arriving at Naples Stazione Marittima Tuesday morning at 8:00. The one-way passenger fare for a reclining seat is 45.20 Euros. Add 15.50 Euros per person for a twin sleeping cabin.

You'll need to re-check the schedules shortly before your departure, as they are subject to change.

There should be no need to reserve seats for a mid-June crossing until the last moment, unless you're trying to qualify for one of the SNAV cut-rate promotional fares. Unless your travel plans are extremely firm, it's usually best NOT to reserve so much in advance.

It's also always a very good idea to have a "backup plan" in case the hydrofoil to Naples is cancelled at the last moment. In your case, it might be to travel to Milazzo by hydrofoil, and then take the night train to Naples.

If cancellation of the hydrofoil is announced the afternoon beforehand, you could take the Siremar overnight ferry to Naples.

www.snav.it
www.siremar.it
www.ferroviedellostato.it

Hello,
I plan to travel to Stromboli from Naples Mergellina in July. How far ahead should I book the aliscafo? And does it work to book it by email or would I need to phone one of the companies... I think both Siremar and Alilauro have the aliscafo service from Naples to Stromboli?

There are three hydrofoil operators between Naples and Stromboli during the summer months:

www.alilauro.it
www.snav.it
www.usticalines.it

Check the websites for the best schedules and prices.

If your travel dates are FIRM, try to book a little in advance if you can, as the boats fill up during July and August. DON'T book in advance if your travel dates are not firm. Have a backup plan if the reservations are unsuccessful (e.g. overnight car ferry via Siremar or Medmar Lines).

www.siremar.it
www.medmargroup.it

Thanks!
I looked those 3 up and I think SNAV is the way to go. There's a "happy fare" that is Euro 18 on the day I can go. With Alilauro they say they've got a fare for only 9.99 but then there's 17.50 in taxes on top of that. I didn't notice with SNAV that there any taxes on top of the Euro 18. Do you know?

Ustica doesn't work b/c they leave Napoli at 8:00am. Whereas SNAV leaves at 14:00 which gives me time to get the Eurostar down there from Firenze.

quote:

Originally posted by RedRedWine:
I didn't notice with SNAV that there any taxes on top of the Euro 18. Do you know?

I checked the SNAV website and the base "Happy" fare between Naples and Stromboli appears to be 10 Euros, plus 8 Euros in miscellaneous taxes. The "trip cancellation" fee of 4 Euros is optional. Because the "Happy" fare is nonrefundable, the "trip cancellation" applies only to cancellation due to illness, accident, or other limited reasons set forth on the insurance page of the SNAV website:

http://www.snav.it/en/area-clienti/passenger-insurance.html

quote:

Originally posted by RedRedWine:
Thanks!
I looked those 3 up and I think SNAV is the way to go. There's a "happy fare" that is Euro 18 on the day I can go. With Alilauro they say they've got a fare for only 9.99 but then there's 17.50 in taxes on top of that. I didn't notice with SNAV that there any taxes on top of the Euro 18. Do you know?

Ustica doesn't work b/c they leave Napoli at 8:00am. Whereas SNAV leaves at 14:00 which gives me time to get the Eurostar down there from Firenze.

Wow, GAC, maybe you can help. Last time I looked at the SNAV site, they had a happy fare of Euro 18 on the day I wanted to do Napoli to Stromboli. I didn't think I had to book it then and there. Now I just looked again and for that same route and day, the happy fare is 67 Euro.
Wow, big difference! I sort of assumed that the happy price they'd chosen for that day would remain that way.

Any ideas about cheaper "happy fares"? I am trying to go on Thursday July 10 or Friday July 11.