Naples to Scalea traffic

[Rob Bufford]

Has anyone driven from Naples to Scalea in the summer months? I will be doing this in the first week of August, and I am wondering if the traffic will be heavy.

I am debating taking the IC train, which will be approx 3 hours, as an alternative. If someone could give me an estimate of how long the drive would take in August, that would help me make my decision. Thanks!

Rob

[ENGJMAX]

Hi Rob

1st question is where are you staying?

Based on my experience of Scalea in August, i would not worry to much about the drive down, but my concern would be parking!
in August the traffic & parking is manic around town, but not quite so bad on the fringes but all the holiday complex will be very,very busy. Last year in the 2nd week of August (the busiest time) i did not move the car for 5 days

If you are close to the center and do not intend to go far I would say take the train. You can Register on the Trenitalia web site, get the train details, book your seat & print your ticket no problem.

ps in August BOOK YOUR SEAT
pps We loved It, the atmosphere was great, & all very very friendly & safe

regards

John

[Rob Bufford]

Thanks for the tip about booking.

Parking should not be an issue for me; I'm staying at someone's house there.

[annetigano]

Have not experienced the trip in August but would advise anyone travelling from Naples to Scalea to check motorway roadworks and closures in advance. One site I have found is Traffico e viabilitÃ* su strade e autostrade d'Italia | IL METEO.IT then click on the A3 autostrada for the latest traffic information. On our arrival mid June we collected our hire car at the airport at about 9.30 pm. The motorway was closed for 'roadworks' at Eboli and the diversion route was horrendous - along narrow winding roads where buses and lorries could not pass each other on the bends - it was absolute chaos. All in all it added an extra 5 hours to our journey. Having checked the website regularly for the past month is seems that most of the closures have been midweek and I am sure that in August there will be none but you never know.
There also seems to be major work happening near Lamezia for anyone travelling that route.
Have a great time to all who will be there soon. We left on Wednesday and the weather was settled and glorious. Can't wait till we are back mid September.

[lornadlee]

hi
sorry to go off topic slightly but im wondering if you could give me some advice.
im travelling to naples on the 25th of this month with my daughter and need to get a train to lamezia where im meeting my sister and going on to tropea.
ive read so much about dodgy taxis from the airport and naples train station not being a place to spend any amount of time in etc its left me a little concerned. plane lands around 10.30 and the first train i can see is 13.42, would you stay at the airport rather than wait at the train station for 3 hours? i dont really want to wonder round the city with our luggage looking like a tourist! as ive been told this is not the thing to do either?
also does anyone know the platform i need to be on when i get to the station? i would buy the ticket online except im worried if the flight is delayed i may miss it so planning to buy it at the station.... basically im dreading the transfere with what people have said and with what ive read.
lots of questions i know but to be honest its the first time ive travelled so far without another adult! ha so i think you may sense im a bit wary!
any advice would be much appreciated
lorna x

[Lynn]

Lorna, don't stress.Normal rules apply. Keep your luggage next to you and keep an eye on it. Stay in the airport for a bit. Nicer surroundings. Ask at information about the shuttle to the station. At the information desk in the station they speak English. Make sure that you do not have to change trains, book your seat so that when you get on the train you know where you are sitting and eject the cheeky person, there will be one, from it. It is normal to be apprehensive about travelling in a foreign country. Just enjoy the trip.

Lynn

[fifi]

hi lorna
Dont worry a bit I have done this trip on my own, with the kids, and even caught a train at 3am to Rome to catch a flight.By the time you get out of the airport and head over to the station, some time will have passed and I have found i am runing for the train.Get the orange bus outside the airport door its about €4 takes 15mins, and there are always loads of backpackers and suitcases going to the station.There are plenty of coffee shops around the station and theres Mcdonalds which has aircon.like any city carry valuables close on your person, and I would book my train ticket. The trains fill very quickly in July and August i was caught having to wait longer and pay 1st class, plus its one less thing you have to worry about just head to the machine key in number and you get your tickets. Remember to punch them in the orange box on the walls before you get on the train.The ticket will tell you the platform it says bin and there are screens and telling you the bin number.Failing that show your ticket to the employee the will advise you .Now no worries and enjoy the colourful experience.xx Fifi

[lornadlee]

oh thanks very much for the advise ladies, i feel a lot better now x
if i book on line now for the train what happens if you miss it through flight delays, will i be able to catch the next available one with the same ticket or buy again do you know?
thanks again x

[Annette Darcy]

Hi Lorna you will be fine.Like all cities be careful.Book your ticket on line if possible.I have traveled alone from Naples to Scalea and Scalea to Naples and didnt have a problem.Make sure to bring a bottle of water and a sandwich for journeyas some trains dont have any refreshments . Enjoy Annette

[Mrs Teapot]

Another top tip for the trains is to read the platform board and count the number of stations your train will stop at - count to the one before you will get off so you have time to grab you luggage and head for the door.

Bear in mind some of the stops have repeat names of destinations on them (ie for Florence it would be Firenze but the station before is called Firenze something or other - or vice versa). OR your destination has two of three names of surrounding areas in its name on the platform. Make sure you get out at the correct station. My friend got off one station too soon for Naples (because it had Naples on the name baord on the platform) and had to walk quite a way through some unpleasant areas to get to Naples (so she said).

Can be a bit confusing but just show one of the passengers your ticket if you are at all confused when you are about to depart.

Do take the info about stamping your ticket in the yellow boxes on the wall. I forgot on my last trip (distracted) and landed a fine. which was very annoying as I knew I needed to do it. :???:

Train travel is great fun in Italy and great for people watching too. Have some change for some toilets - sometimes there are toilets at the station and sometimes there are not and you have to go to McDonalds. Have tissues and handwash with you. The toilets on the trains are not too nice but some are okayish. Like the UK you cannot pee at the station but only on the track, so to speak.

[Rob Bufford]

Hello again...out of curiosity, how do paperless train tickets work? If I buy one on Trenitalia, do I just print out the email confirmation and show the conductor?

I ask because I am unsure if paperless tickets need to be stamped or validated before boarding, and if I need ID, etc.

[Carol]

The e-mail tickets do not need validating or stamped at the station.You just show the confirmation to the conductor.

By-the -way if you need to catch the bus from Naples station to the airport the bus stop is around the corner from the station outside of Macdonalds.It is signed for the allibus.
regards
Carol

[MART]

Hi

We took the train to Prair a Mare from Naples on 2nd July.

We didnt book so found the train we intended to take full.Got one two hours later standing only[ cost 19 euros each, leaving at 1642hrs direct service].The train emptied out a little at Salerno so got on one of those drop down seats in the isleways - not a problem really.

Getting to the train station from the airport with the Alibus again took only about 15 minutes and cost 3 euro`s.

Whist waiting for our train we managed to book our return leg travelling 1st class from Scalea on 13th July [ about 25 euros each 1232hrs direct ].Enjoyed the journey both ways and plan to do it again.

In future I would book on line just to make sure places were available, especially in August.

We also left the area the day before the flight and had a good night in Naples before flying back to the UK.

Martin

[Mrs Teapot]

Don't forget there are a lot of train 'industrial action' strikes in Italy, though so far I have not come across any. I was just thinking about how you would find out about one in advance (as I believe they announce them in advance) so as not to miss your flight home? Where would we all look? Even if its in Italian, is ok.

[jessie]

At the bus-stop that Carol mentioned, the last time we were in Naples heading to the airport, the "3S" numbered bus also goes to the airport. It is just a regular town bus but goes to the airport, says on the front "Aeroporto Civile"

Jessie

[lornadlee]

great advise, thank you!
i will book tickets online now... someone mentioned getting a reference number when you book online and going to a machine at the station and punching it in, is that the done thing or am i best finding a ticket office?
counting the station stops is a good plan... but i imagine on a 3 hour journey im likely to lose count but im thinking if i keep my eye on the time and get luggage 10 mins before arrival i should be covered?
oh i sound a right fuss pot! its ridiculous but i just want to be prepared with travelling with my young daughter... no dramas! .. anyway you have been a fountain of knowledge... thanks again xx

[Helena&Jerry]

Just riding on the back of this link while I waited for the airport bus in Naples last time a cruising taxi driver managed to get 4 strangers (with encouragement from me) to go with him to the airport for 4 euros each; nice.

Helena

[Mrs Teapot]

Well done Helena! Great stuff.

@ Lorna - have sent you a PM.

Everyone else: I saw something on the net( in Italian ) about there being an official bus from Scalea airport to Naples. Are people aware of this? Or is this old news and not current?

Mrs T

[lornadlee]

thanks for the pm mrs T ... knowledge is power and all that x
ive booked the train after all the advice.. chose first class but there where 2 prices for the same train under first class? i opted for the cheaper one saving 20 + euros but no idea what this means?
anyway not long now... flight on sunday all being well. you have all been a great help thanks x

[Mrs Teapot]

Did it say Amica? It might be the family deal and you might get into trouble. Or was it two child tickets?

Just a thought.

Mrs T