Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
UNITED KINGDOM
You can take your car across to France by ferry or via the Channel Tunnel on
Eurotunnel
(
www.eurotunnel.com
). The
latter runs four crossings (35 minutes) an hour between Folkestone and Calais in the high season.
For breakdown assistance, both the
AA
(
in UK 0800 072 3279;
www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover
) and the
RAC
(
in UK 0800 015 6000;
www.rac.co.uk/euro-breakdown
)
offer comprehensive cover in Europe.
Train
»
The comprehensive European Rail Timetable (UK£14.99), updated monthly, is available from
Thomas Cook Pub-
lishing
(
www.thomascookpublishing.com
).
»
It is always advisable, and sometimes compulsory, to book seats on international trains to and from Italy. Some of the
main international services include transport for private cars. Consider taking long journeys overnight as the supple-
mental fare for a sleeper costs substantially less than Italian hotels.
»
Within Italy, direct trains run from Milan, Florence and Rome to Naples, Reggio di Calabria and to Messina, Sicily.
Trains to Sicily are transported from the mainland by ferry from Villa San Giovanni, just north of Reggio di Calabria.
From Messina, services continue on to Palermo, Catania and other provincial Sicilian capitals.
»
From both Rome and Milan, high-velocity Freccia trains run to Bari (Puglia). Those travelling from Milan will usu-
ally need to change trains in Bologna. Trains to Basilicata usually require at least one change along Italy's main
north-south route. The handiest place is Salerno, southeast of Naples.
UNITED KINGDOM
The passenger train
Eurostar
( 08705 186 186;
www.eurostar.com
) travels between London and Paris, or London
and Brussels. Alternatively, you can get a train ticket that includes crossing the Channel by ferry.
For the latest fare information on journeys to Italy, including the Eurostar, contact the
Rail Europe Travel Centre
(
www.raileurope.co.uk
)
or
International Rail
(
www.internationalrail.com
).
Sea
Multiple ferry companies connect southern Italy with countries throughout the Mediterranean. Many routes only operate
in summer, when ticket prices also rise. During this period, all routes are busy and you need to book several weeks in
advance. Fares to Greece are generally more expensive from Bari than those available from Brindisi, although unless
you're planning on travelling in the Salento, Bari is the more convenient port of arrival and also has better onward links
for bus and train travel. Prices for vehicles vary according to their size.
The helpful website
www.traghettionline.com
(in Italian) covers all the ferry companies in the Mediterranean. Anoth-
er useful resource for ferries from Italy to Greece is
www.ferries.gr
.
International ferry companies serving southern Italy include the following:
Adria Ferries
(
www.adriaferries.com
)
Agoudimos Lines
(
www.agoudimos-lines.com
)
Blue Star Ferries
(
www.bluestarferries.com
)
Grandi Navi Veloci
(
www.gnv.it
)
