Page 435 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

IT AL Y  433

Rail Travel Traveling by Bus pre-booked with firms that
The bulk of Italy’s rail network is Long-distance buses (pullman have branches in Italy. Local
an integrated partially privatized or corriere) operate between firms may be less expensive
system operated by the Ferrovie towns and can be less than the international firms.
dello Stato (FS). In addition, the expensive and more frequent Most airports have rental offices
railway company Italo operates than the trains. Tickets can be on site (see Directory below).
fast trains on the Milan–Rome– purchased on board, and Visitors from outside the EU
Naples line. Train journeys into services usually depart from need an international license,
Italy from other parts of Europe a town’s train station or main but in practice not all rental
wind through the Alps and are square. Buses in some areas may firms insist on this.
an exciting way to travel. Alta be run by several companies
Velocità (high-speed trains) and (see Directory below). Ferry Services
Eurostar require pre-booking of
seats. These and intercity (IC) Traveling by Road Italy’s large number of off-shore
trains only stop at main stations islands means that it has a well-
and require the payment of a A car is invaluable for touring developed network of ferries.
supplement (supplemento). the Italian countryside. Drivers Boats of various kinds also
Regionale trains make more stops should take into account operate on the Italian Lakes.
and require no supplement. high gas (benzina) prices, the Ferries depart for Sicily
The most useful pass for difficulty of parking in towns, from Naples and Reggio di
visitors is the Interrail One and the Italians’ often erratic Calabria. They also run from
Country, which gives unlimited approach to driving. Italy has the mainland and from Sicily
travel for 3–8 consecutive or a good network of highways, to surrounding islands and
non-consecutive days over a but most have tollbooths, archipelagoes, for example
one-month period, with special often leading to congestion. from Naples to Capri and
rates for those under 26. This Care should be taken at night Ischia. Boats for Sardinia leave
pass can be purchased at most when many traffic lights switch from Civitavecchia near
mainline stations and various to flashing amber. Car theft Rome, Livorno, and Genoa.
agencies outside Italy. It is is rife in Italy and valuables There are car ferry services from
available only to non-residents. should not be left unattended. Brindisi to Corfu and Patras in
Before traveling, all tickets Car rental (autonoleggio) is Greece. In summer, these
need to be validated in one expensive in Italy, and should ferries can get very crowded,
of the yellow machines found be organized beforehand so make sure you reserve well
on the platform. through fly-drive deals or in advance.
DIRECTORY
Airlines Delta Tel 041-24 24. Sita
Tel 02-38 59 10 87. ∑ actv.it
Air Canada Tel 800-221 1212 (US). Tel 800-37 37 60.
Tel 1-888 247 2262 ∑ delta.com Consorzio Motoscafi ∑ fsbusitalia.it
(Canada). easyJet Rialto (Water Taxis)
∑ aircanada.com ∑ easyjet.com Tel 041-522 23 03. Car Rental
Air One Meridiana Rail Travel Avis
Tel 89-24 44. Tel 89 29 28. Tel 199-10 01 33.
Tel +39 (091) 255 10 47 ∑ meridiana.it Alta Velocità ∑ avisautonoleggio.it
(from abroad). Qantas See Ferrovie dello Stato.
∑ flyairone.it Tel 02-91 29 48 01. Eurostar Europcar
Alitalia Tel 13 13 13 (Australia). ∑ raileurope.com (US). Tel 199-30 70 30.
Tel 06-22 22. ∑ qantas.com ∑ eurostar.com (UK). ∑ europcar.it
Tel 800-223 5730 (US). Ryanair Ferrovie dello Stato
Tel 08714 241 424 (UK). ∑ ryanair.com Tel 89-20 21. Hertz
∑ alitalia.com United Airlines ∑ trenitalia.com Tel 199-11 22 11.
American Airlines Tel 02-69 63 37 07. Italo ∑ hertz.it
Tel 199-257 300. Tel 1-800-864 83 31 (US). Tel 06-0708. Maggiore
Tel 800-433 7300 (US). ∑ united.com ∑ italotreno.it Tel 199-15 11 20 (Rome).
∑ aa.com Getting Around Bus Companies ∑ maggiore.it
British Airways Venice
Tel 02-69 63 36 02. ACTV Information Cotral Sixt
Tel 0844-493 0787 (UK). Office Tel 800-17 44 71 (Rome). Tel 06-65 21 11 (Rome).
∑ ba.com Piazzale Roma, Venice. ∑ cotralspa.it ∑ sixt.it

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