I want to make sure we get this right as I am reading conflicting trip advise. So picture it: 8 beautiful ladies, 1 beautiful Villa, staying in central Positano, 1st week in October 2010 ? Will everyting be open or closed or a chance? Would we be better off going in September? and the Agency "summer in Italy" which has been highly reputable on this site, is asking for 700 euro cash security deposit upon arrival, is that standard? makes me a little nervous? never did that with other 2 rentals in Italy, help...this is my dream vacation, trying to avoid any financial missteps.
yes, it's about 25% security dep, just a little concerned about the cash part, never had to do that on other rentals and do not want to leave the country without collecting and have to wait for it. I know here in the states, its difficult chasing landlords for this money.
Karen, "Summer In Italy" is a very reputable company and they are actually based in that area. I think you will be very happy dealing with them! You will love being based in Positano for a week. I would rather be there in September over October because the nights will be warmer and much nicer for outside dining. Also, the ferry schedule is a bit more limited I think in October.
As for the security deposit, that sounds about right. We rent a villa in Italy every year and have had to give anywhere from 500.00 to 1000.00 in cash when checking in. I just balked at an agency requiring 2000.00 deposit in cash. It was a deal breaker for me! $500.00 is fair. Linda
Posts: 877 | Location: Nashville, TN USA | Registered: 11 September 2002
We spent 6 weeks in Positano starting at the end of August, by the end of September all outdoor activities were closed due to cold winds, the ferry's had stoped, and most of Sorrento was closed. They have a roster system in place for both lunch and dinner food, so any restaurant would only be open once a day. The internal city bus will have reduced to very infrequently, as will the inter-town bus along the coast road. It will be cold ,windy. and wet for some of your time there, so Sept. would be better.
An old traveler
Posts: 177 | Location: Wodonga Australia | Registered: 15 April 2006
lkmaloney- We usually arrive a few days a head of our villa rental so we take it out of the ATM a bit each day ahead of time. Our bank also allows us to take 500.00 each(1000.00 for the two of us) a day out so it really is not a problem. You could always get it from your bank at home before you leave. This trip we really wanted to rent the Todi Castle but we refused to pay a $2000.00E Cash deposit and found another rental. We would have lost a lot of money on that exchange and frankly it was a bit insulting. We were 8 adults all over 50 with no kids...you would think they flex on that considering, but they were unwilling.
Posts: 877 | Location: Nashville, TN USA | Registered: 11 September 2002
Hi Linda, thanks so much for the heads up on getting cash, we will be arriving the morning we head for the villa. So it sounds like we should check with our bank to see the max we can get from the local atm when we arrive, right? luckily there will be 7 of us, so we may be able to pool together the security deposit that way.
Hi KarenFL... We visited the Amalfi Coast & were based in Sorrento from Oct. 7, 2008 to Oct. 11, 2008 ... we took the ferry, train and bus to many areas (Pompeii, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, Capri) ... the weather was gorgeous... and all modes of transportation (ferry, train & bus) were running at full schedule... and all restaurants and everything else was open for business!
You can never be 100% sure about the weather, but I think that you are going at a wonderful time of year.
Be sure to visit Ravello...my very favorite spot on the Amalfi Coast!!!
btw, we loved taking the ferry from one place to another... much better than bus!
Enjoy your trip... IMHO, you are going at a wonderful time of year!
I am a "Karen" too!
Posts: 360 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 26 January 2005
Originally posted by KarenFL: Hi Linda, thanks so much for the heads up on getting cash, we will be arriving the morning we head for the villa. So it sounds like we should check with our bank to see the max we can get from the local atm when we arrive, right? luckily there will be 7 of us, so we may be able to pool together the security deposit that way.
Your bank will have a daily limit on cash withdrawals; also the "day" (at least at my bank and I'm assuming this is standard operating procedure) is a 24 hour period from 3pm to 3pm. So, each of you should go to your bank and inform them of your trip (so they don't assume that the money is being stolen) and ask them what the daily limit is and if you can increase it. Withdraw the money each day even if you don't immediately need it.
We Karens have to stick together.
Posts: 67 | Location: Newburyport, MA | Registered: 01 June 2005
I have no Idea how well you know each other etc. But for me if I was doing something like this (highly unlikely as my wife hates the concept of group travel,has 8 siblings) I would make sure that I had a meeting before and everyone talked about there Ideas and expectations. You may be surprised about all the differencet opinions.
I would also assume that not everyone does everything together. RR
Originally posted by KarenFL: Hi Linda, thanks so much for the heads up on getting cash, we will be arriving the morning we head for the villa. So it sounds like we should check with our bank to see the max we can get from the local atm when we arrive, right? luckily there will be 7 of us, so we may be able to pool together the security deposit that way.
Your bank will have a daily limit on cash withdrawals; also the "day" (at least at my bank and I'm assuming this is standard operating procedure) is a 24 hour period from 3pm to 3pm. So, each of you should go to your bank and inform them of your trip (so they don't assume that the money is being stolen) and ask them what the daily limit is and if you can increase it. Withdraw the money each day even if you don't immediately need it.
We Karens have to stick together.
I also should have said that it's a good idea to photocopy your passport and your credit cards, take a copy with you but put it in a different place than the originals, and/or leave a copy with someone at home. Also, contact each credit card company and tell them the dates of travel and the countries you will be visiting, so they don't cut you off because they have assumed the card has been stolen.
Posts: 67 | Location: Newburyport, MA | Registered: 01 June 2005
We used Summer in Italy and had no problems with them at all...we too had to give a deposit but my senioritus is taking over at the moment and can't remember how we paid our deposit etc but I think we used a credit card...
Please note: although your bank may give you a limit for taking out of ATM's many of the Italian banks also have limits and they may not be the same...what we did for that is we noticed the limit was per transaction not per day so if it became necessary we made more then one transaction....which sometimes can cost a bit more if you are charged a transaction fee...
Posts: 733 | Location: USA | Registered: 08 June 2008
by the end of September all outdoor activities were closed due to cold winds, the ferry's had stoped, and most of Sorrento was closed.
We were in Sorrento mid October last year and everything ie shops, restos, cafes etc was open and it was comfortably busy. The coastal ferry service stopped at the end of September which was about two weeks earlier than usual. Boats to Capri and Naples were running with one or two cancellations due to choppy seas
We were at the Amalfi coast for nine days, at the end of Oct. 09. Most of the time the weather was very nice, but we did have a day or two with storms and rain. We understand that the week before we arrived there had been colder weather and it had not been so pleasant. Restaurants were not as crowded as in September, and some places were getting ready to close the next month. There were plenty of people, however, in Amalfi, Positano, and Sorrento. We have been to this area the beginning of Sept. and it can still be quite hot.
Posts: 65 | Location: Texas | Registered: 19 May 2006
You've gotten lots of advice and tips about the Amalfi Coast, but just wanted to mention that you could run into closings, etc past mid-October. Normally I'd recommend visiting in September, but last year October was beautiful here in southern Italy. We actually went swimming in Calabria-first time in years we've been able to do that!
