TOUR DATES
11th to 20th September 2015
From £1699* Per Person
Returning P&O Ferry Crossing—Dover to Calais
(Alternative Crossings Available)
Return Motorail Transportation for Car &
2 Passengers—’s-Hertogenbosch to
Livorno.
Overnight 2 Berth Cabin Each Way
Breakfast & Upgrade to a la Carte Dinner on
Train in Each Direction
2 Nights at the Excellent Villa Vecchia, Frascati
4 Nights at the Grand Hotel Vesuvio,
Sorrento
1 Night at the Hotel dei Duchi, Spoleto
7 Breakfasts & 7 Dinners at the Hotels
Detailed Road Book featuring; Directions, Maps,
Great Drives & Places of Interest
Commemorative Tour Rally Plate
*Above prices are per person based on 2 persons occupying a car and room and sleeper cabin. Single room occupancy sup-plement £1000 for duration of the tour.
Rome, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
by Motorail
A Spectacular 10 Day, 9 Night Motorail Tour to Rome,
Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
One of the most spectacular coastlines in the world, the Amalfi
Coast runs south from Sorrento and winds along the Bay of
Salerno. Stunning views, a wonderful climate, sophisticated hotels,
excellent cuisine and delicious local wines combine to make this
one of Italy’s favourite holiday destinations. This superbly lush
area of southern Italy is the perfect destination whether on
Sorrento holidays, or holidays to the Amalfi Coast.
Sorrento boasts wonderful views across the Bay of Naples to
Capri and Ischia. The old town is full of character with a wealth of
restaurants and bars and the main street is lined with elegant
boutiques. Life centres around the Piazza Tasso and at dusk you
can watch the town come alive from one of the many pavement
cafes.
Tour Itinerary & Suggested Drives
Please note: All routings and excursions are purely our
suggestions, it is entirely your choice as to whether or not you
follow our suggested routings or do our suggested drives, albeit on
the day we have indicated, or at all!
Please note: Passengers booking via Harwich/Hook of Holland or
Hull/Rotterdam will depart on the day prior to the official start date
of the tour.
DAY 1 -04h20 - P&O Ferry crossing departs Dover Eastern Docks
07h10 (local time) Ferry arrives in Calais followed by drive to
‘sHertogenbosh Auto Trein terminal - Mileage approx. 194 miles
or (07h45 local time) Stena Ferry arrives in Hook of Holland followed by
drive to ‘sHertogenbosh Auto Trein terminal - Mileage approx. 70 miles
10h00 - 12h30 - Car & Passenger check-in at the AutoTrein Terminal
14h21 - Train departs ‘sHertogenbosh
19h00 - Dinner in restaurant car (meal times are subject to change)
DAY 2 - Breakfast on the train
10h00 - Train arrives in Livorno, Italy followed by Car & Passenger
disembarkation followed by the scenic journey south via Grosseto to
Frascati in the foothills surrounding Rome. Check-in to the excellent Villa
Vecchia Hotel - Dinner included - mileage 192 miles
DAY 3 – The Day at Leisure
OR – Enjoy a wonderful day in Rome. Leave the car at the hotel and
take the shuttle bus for the short transfer to Frascati railway station with
its direct rail link into the city centre
DAY 4
– Depart Frascati after breakfast and continue south via Naples
to Sorrento. En route why not spend the afternoon in Naples and visit
the ruins of Pompeii, buried under a thick carpet of volcanic ash when
Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D.79. Late afternoon arrival in Sorrento
and check-in at the Grand Hotel Vesuvio - Dinner is included - Mileage
150 miles
DAY 5 - Enjoy a leisurely day in Sorrento
Set in a lush park with centuries-old olive groves, this histor-ic patrhistor-ician villa features a terrace with panoramhistor-ic views of Rome and offers a swimming pool. All of the hotels guest rooms are air-conditioned and offer both satellite and pay-per -view TV en-suite bathroom with a hairdryer and toiletries. The elegant Il Vignola Restaurant boasts 16th-century vaults. It serves traditional cuisine from the Castelli Romani area, as well as Italian cuisine. Drinks can be enjoyed at the bar or on the panoramic terrace. The Hotel is just 20 minutes from the centre of Rome’s centre is 20 km away. The elegant Il Vignola Restaurant boasts 16th-century vaults. The hotel offers com-plimentary on-site parking and a shuttle bus for the short transfer to Frascati station with its direct rail link into the city centre.
Offering panoramic views across the Bay of Naples, Grand Hotel Vesuvio features an outdoor pool with a large sun ter-race. Rooms are bright and spacious with tiled floors and classic furniture. All air-conditioned, they also feature a TV, minibar and a private bathroom with toiletries. Breakfast at the Grand Vesuvio is buffet style. Ristorante Vesuvio and the poolside restaurant serve Mediterranean and international cuisine, while the bar hosts live music events. The hotel pro-vides a free shuttle into Sorrento centre 1.5 km away. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi in public areas and a free on-site car parking.
Tour Itinerary continued...
DAY 6 – Enjoy a leisurely day in Sorrento
OR - Enjoy one of Italy’s most famous drives along the Amalfi Coast
including Ravello, Positano and Amalfi - Mileage approx.115 miles
DAY 7 – Enjoy a leisurely day in Sorrento
OR – Take the ferry from Naples to the Isle of Capri or Ischia and
experience some wonderful scenic drives before returning to the
mainland and Sorrento late afternoon/early evening
DAY 8
– Departing the hotel and Sorrento after breakfast, today retrace
our steps as we begin our journey northwards into Umbria and the Hotel
dei Duchi in Spoleto - Mileage approx. 228 miles
DAY 9
– Departing the Hotel after breakfast, today sees you heading
back to Livorno via the scenic Tuscan countryside, time permitting why
not enjoy a short visit to Siena or San Gimigiano before for embarkation
onto the Motorail train for the journey back to Holland - Mileage approx.
184 miles
13h00 - 15h00 - Car & Passenger check-in at the Auto Trein Terminal
17h03 - Train departs ‘sHertogenbosh
19h30 - Dinner in restaurant car (meal times are subject to change)
DAY 10 – Breakfast on train
13h55 - Auto Trein arrives in ‘sHertogenbosch followed by
disembarkation. Drive to Calais.
18h30 - P&O Ferry crossing departs Calais - Mileage 194 miles
19h00 - P&O Ferry arrives Dover Eastern Docks
Located right in the historical centre of Spoleto, looking out onto the Roman Theatre and situated within the gardens of the Ancajani Park. The Hotel dei Duchi is the ideal location for a breathtaking walk towards Piazza del Mercato and Via dei Duchi with its local handicraft medieval shops, the Cathedral, the Castle and the Caio Melisso theatre. Here vents for the Festival of Two Worlds take place. A private car park is availa-ble for hotel guests.
Places to Visit
Pompeii
A stark reminder of the malign forces that lie deep inside Vesuvius, Pompeii is Europe’s most compelling archaeological site and one of Italy’s most visited tourist attractions. Each year about 2.5 million people pour in to wander the ghostly shell of what was once a thriving commercial centre.
Its appeal goes beyond tourism, though. From an archaeological point of view, it’s priceless. Much of the value lies in the fact that it wasn’t simply blown away by Vesuvius: rather it was buried under a layer of lapilli (burning pumice stone).
Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius’ most famous eruption took place in the year 79 A.D., when the volcano buried the ancient Roman city of Pompeii under a thick carpet of volcanic ash. The dust “poured across the land” like a flood, one witness wrote, and shrouded the city in “a darkness…like the black of closed and unlighted rooms.” Two thousand people died, and the city was abandoned for almost as many years. When a group of explorers rediscovered the site in 1748, they were surprised to find that–underneath a thick layer of dust and debris–Pompeii was mostly intact. The buildings,
artefacts and skeletons left behind in the buried city have taught us a great deal about everyday life in the ancient world.
Rome
Rome is one of world's most photogenic cities—not surprising when you remember what’s here—The Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, St Peter’s Square, Spanish Steps, The Colosseum and much more!
Santa Margherita
Set on the Gulf of Tigullio between Rapallo and Portofino, the resort/
fishing town of Santa Margherita Ligure really couldn’t be in a better
neighbourhood. Fashionable but much quieter than Portofino, life in Santa
Margherita Ligure centers around the lovely palm-laden harbour, where
boating and simple sunning are the orders of the day. The town has some
good shopping options, lovely cafes and interesting sights like its
16th-century castle and the 17th-16th-century Basilica di Santa Margherita.
About the Auto Slaap Trein
1. Check in: It’s easy to
find the Auto Slaap Trein (motorail) terminal, is right next to s'Hertogenbosch station, It's well signposted. You'll met at the entrance, your ticket is checked.
2. Drop off: Drive round
the corner, park up, drop off your passengers & over-night bags. The terminal has toilets, a waiting room with complimentary tea, coffee & squash and an outdoor seating area.
3. Loading the car: When
you're ready, follow the directions of the loading staff up the ramp onto the car transporter. High vehi-cles go on the top & classic cars on the lower deck.
On the train: handbrake
on, leave it in 1st gear, and disable the alarm. Staff will secure the vehicle as you go back down the ramp to the terminal.
4. Boarding the passenger
coaches: The passenger
coaches arrive at platform 1, right next to the terminal, about 40-60 minutes before departure. Soap, towels & mineral water are provided, and in the 2-3 bed sleepers you're welcomed with a small complimentary bottle of fizzy that really gets the journey off to a good start..
Sleepers: Sleepers are ideal
for couples or small families. This is a 2 or 3 bed sleeper in its daytime mode with beds folded away & sofa folded out. There are toilets at the end of the corridor.
The same sleeper, in night mode with the beds folded out, each with crisp clean sheets & cosy duvets. The sleepers are carpeted, air-conditioned and have a washbasin in each room.
4-berth: Couchettes are
more basic than sleepers, but are ideal for families. In this picture the bunks are away. At night, an upper & lower bunk folds out from the wall on each side of the compartment. In couchette cars there are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor..
About the Auto Slaap Trein
6-berth: This is a 6-berth
couchette compartment, in daytime mode. At night, upper, middle & lower bunks fold out from the wall on each side of the com-partment. Sheets, pillow & blanket are provided for each berth. They are not air -conditioned, but the win-dows open for ventilation.
Look, there's our car! Sud-denly, the car transporter wagons are shunted past our sleeper window, as they are taken to the back of the train...
All set to go: The car
transporters have been loaded and attached to the back of the passenger coaches. The Auto Slaap Trein now awaits its depar-ture time for Italy..
5. Dinner in the dinning
car: The basic Motorail fare
includes a basic evening tray meal served in your compartment by the sleep-er attendant, similar to a meal served on an airline.
Meal Upgrade: However
as a part of our package you are upgraded to a proper 3-course meal in the restaurant car as dinner is a highlight of the trip as dinner is normally served as you pass through the Rhine Valley.
Your table is reserved with your name on it. The meal doesn't include drinks, but wine, beer or spirits are
available, Travel tip: The
'wine offer' (14.50€) is a
great idea, it lets you sam-ple a different wine with each course, from fizzy prosecco to a crisp dessert wine.
Along the Rhine Valley: The Livorno train heads down the
Rhine Valley in the early evening, past castles, Rhine river barges & vineyards. Pictured, above right: As the waiter brings dessert, the evening sun catches the famous Lorelei Rock, the stuff of German legend, on the far bank of the Rhine.The trains to Italy then pass through Switzerland, via the Gotthard route.
About the Auto Slaap Trein
6. Breakfast in your
com-partment: Next morning, a
light breakfast is served in your compartment, included in the fare.
7. Buongiorno Italia! The Auto Slaap Trein arrives
on time at Livorno. Passengers leave the train and walk via the subway to the unloading dock near plat-form 1. Over the next half hour, the car transporters are detached and shunted into the loading dock.
8. Unloading: After a short
wait, your name will be called out for you to drive your car off the transporter. Within an hour of arrival, you'll be driving through the uncrowded back roads of Tuscany & Umbria.
