Due to a minor itinerary change, I think I might have 6 days to visit the Amalifi coast instead of 5. I'm wondering if my wife and I should spend it in two different locations. Originally, we were going to base ourselves in Sorrento for travel conveniences, but with the extra day we're wondering if we should possibly break this up into two different locations.
These are a MUST see.... Pompei Positano Capri Ravello - my wife really wants to see the chamber music Amalfi Praiano ???
I'm thinking 4 days in Sorrento with trips to Pompei, Herculaneum, and Capri (maybe 2 days).
Stay in Ravello for 2 nights and visit Positano, Praiano, and Salerno.
Comments and suggestions appreciated. Is 6 nights to long for the Amalfi? FYI, we travel light with only backpacks and will probably not opt for a car and rely on public transportation. Hotel suggestions in the $100 - $150 range would be great too.
Thanks
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 133 | Location: Arizona | Registered: 16 July 2002
Mark, this looks like a nicely thought-out stay on the Amalfi coast. One outlier for a change of pace, Pompeii. You'll have a good feel for the area, not too long at all. I'm only sorry I've never been there so can't recommend hotels for you. I'm sure others will.
As a non-driver I have some kind of a feel for a base location; my gut is to go with a single location, as central as possible. With any luck, you'll be able to get a mezza pensione -- weekly rate with your evening meal tossed in.
Marky, I like the idea of 2 locations, and Ravello is the logical choice. It is not cheap during season, but I do love the Villa Maria--more of a B&B than a hotel.
In Sorrento, the Loreley is hard to beat for value. Your trip sounds great---have fun !
BOB THE NAVIGATOR blittle@net-magic.net
Posts: 1788 | Location: Chapel Hill NC | Registered: 25 October 2001
If you choose to stay in Positano, you can rent a one bedroom apartment with large terrace (no. 11) for about 100 Euros per night. I have stayed there many times. The women who own and run the place are very nice. La Tavaloza: Via Cristoforo Colombo. Phone and fax: 089/875040. Ask for apartment no. 11. Right next door to the expensive Le Sirenuse (which is really nice if you want to splurge).
Posts: 73 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 25 April 2002
We visited the area with a car and stayed for 3 nights. We drove the Amfitana to Ravello from Sorrento. With our shorted time and the car. we may have a different perspective.
With a car you can easily get to Paestum which was the highlight of our time there. It is a 90 minute or so drive from Sorrento and a long and difficult affair by transit. Pompeii, Ercolano, Oplontis and Vesuvias are all easily visited by car or by Circumvesuviana. With a car you could easily stay in Massa Lubrense which may save you enough money to pay for the rental car.
The biggest problem of traveling without a car is that transit stops a little early for my tastes and most busses run once an hour. Also, the Circumvesuviana is neither charming or senic.
Be sure to go the the Museo Arcologio in Napoli (and the Capodimonte) to make your Pompeii experience more understandable and enjoyable. The Capodimonte will do nothing for your understanding of Pompeii but you will get to see a huge assortment of Raphael's, Titian's and Caravaggio's. Also in Napoli is a church with Caravaggio's 7 acts of mercy, something else on our to do list.
If you're lost, you're just having an adventure.......
Posts: 4600 | Location: Casa del Fenicottero Rosa, Silver Spring, MD USA | Registered: 06 August 2002
This is how we allocated our time between Sorento and Positano over 6-7 days. http://www.suite101.com/mypage.cfm/Italy2000/13267 Whatever else you do, you MUST allocate sun up to sun down to Pompei, and as full a day as possible on Capri with a chair lift to the top of the island from Anacapri.
Posts: 893 | Location: Sydney, Australia | Registered: 20 January 2002
We were in Positano for 8 days in May this year. We rented an apartment at Casa Maresca www.casamaresca.it It is at the beginning of the town and near a few nice moderate restaurants. Casa Maresca is very pleasant and was reasonable in May (dont' know what the prices are at other times) We were able to shop and cook as we had a complete kitchen. We hired a driver marcellomaresca@tin.it to take us to Pompeii, Ravello, Amalfi, etc. Amalfi was very crowded and touristy as was Capri at the harbor, the best part of it was at the top after the chair lift. Positano does not get tour busses (the streets are too narrow).
Daniel and Priscilla in Fort Lauderdale
[This message was edited by maureen on August 23, 2002 at 05:17 PM.]
Posts: 626 | Location: South Florida | Registered: 25 July 2001
Would you do a review of Casa Maresca for the Slow Travelers website, Daniel? Normally, I know Pauline would have spotted your comment and asked already, but she's off hiking around mountaintops in Switzerland.
Mark, this looks good. I agree with Bob about the Villa Maria in Ravello--it is more expensive than you want but it is really quite lovely and to do Ravello justice, you want a lovely place to stay. I like Praiano when staying there but there really isn't much there for a sidetrip. It is more a place to enjoy a room with a balcony overlooking the water and relaxing. It is a good base for exploring much of the coast if you have a car. I do recommend Onda Verde as a place to stay in Praiano--room 101 has the very best balcony. I have a nice picture of that balcony on my website and some words about the hotel. Be sure to give youself time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the coast and the places you will stay---don't spend every minute on the go. Amalfi Coast is one of my most favorite places in Italy-----Pauline doesn't agree with this, however. You will have a wonderful time.
I second the recommendation of Onda Verde in Priano. Small, comfortable and with a pretty good kitchen. We stayed there for about a week a couple of years ago and also found the SITA busses dependable and convenient. Don't miss Paestum.
Posts: 465 | Location: hilton head island, SC | Registered: 16 July 2001
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