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4 Days in Amalfi in April - Without a car??

4 Days in Amalfi in April - Without a car??

Old Nov 28th, 2016, 10:23 AM
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4 Days in Amalfi in April - Without a car??

Hello!

My fiance and I are planning a four day visit to the Amalfi coast the last week of April. (my first to Amalfi, his first to Italy!) This forum has been such a big help with inspiration - but as I go to book accommodation I find I'm struggling with logistics - I could really use your insight.

Our hopes for the holiday: easy access to towns/markets, relaxing with stunning views, and a beginner-level hike or two (read: easy and/or short). As this is a month before our wedding (and essentially our backwards-honeymoon) we are hoping to keep it fairly relaxed without too much stress getting from point A to B.

That said, we won't have a car, so we're hoping to pick a spot that would be a good base to enjoy the region via public transport. Or is public transportation at that time of year fairly infrequent and/or unreliable?

I've read Positano makes a great base, but it appears to be nearly booked up or out of our budget. We are hoping to spend 100€/night or under. (or are we dreaming?) Most of what I'm finding is in Nocelle, Montepertuso or further from Positano and would require a 20+ bus ride to go anywhere.

So: Should we head towards a bigger town like Amalfi or even Sorrento and do day trips from there? Or does anyone have a small town they loved on the coast with reliable public transport access? I don't mind waiting for a bus (we live in Paris- we're used to public transport), but I'd like to be able to stroll to restaurants/market and not stress about catching/waiting a long time for a bus home late after dinner for example.

Any advice would be so appreciated!
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Old Nov 28th, 2016, 10:36 AM
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Sorrento has the been transit connections by far- trains to nearby Pompeii; boats to Capri, Ischia and boats and buses to the Amalfi towns.

That said Sorrento has little feeling of a seaside town as it sits high above the coast- it has lots of restaurants and hotels and an ambience at night with folks out strolling but in no way the cuteness of say Positano or Amalfi.

For lots on transports in that area and places to go by them check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

check to see how regularly boats go from Amalfi to say Capri or Sorrento (buses go too but can be very slow) for Pompeii and climbing Vesuvius if those things are on your trip list.

Paestum and its incredible ancient temples is quicker from Amalfi -boat to Salerno and train or bus to the site.

I liked Amalfi as a town - nice seaside area.
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Old Nov 28th, 2016, 11:08 AM
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We stayed in Positano with no car and hardly went anywhere! If you do stay in Nocelle or Montepertuso, you will be right on the hike/walk to Bomarano and a highly recommended restaurant, La Tagliata. We went with a company called Swirl the Glass for an unbelievable wine tour and tasting lunch in Tramonti. They pick you up and bring you back, so no car needed. I am sure Amalfi is a good base, also. The whole area is beautiful.

Technically, Sorrento is not on the Amalfi coast but if Pompei is a must do, it might make sense.
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Old Nov 28th, 2016, 11:56 AM
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I am surprised you are not finding rooms available. Have you checked on Booking.com? I found a number of spots for last week of April, even some within your budget.

I stayed in Atrani, right next to Amalfi town, at La Scogliera. There are several nice hikes from Amalfi, including the Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills). You can also hike to Ravello from Amalfi and then back down through Atrani.

You can walk from Atrani to Amalfi and from there catch buses or ferries. The ferries were operating when I was there the last week of April.

From Amalfi, you can catch the bus to Agerola, getting off in Bomerano to do the Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli dei) hike, ending in the town of Nocelle. I did not find this hike particularly difficult, and so worth it for the views.
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Old Nov 28th, 2016, 05:49 PM
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I think the OP was looking in Positano and fir a rate of less than 100 euros/night. Not sure how many hotels in Positano there are that meet that rate requirement but agree that expanding to other towns will help find more properties that will work for the OP.
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Old Nov 28th, 2016, 07:33 PM
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Is it possible that some smaller places have not yet opened their bookings for next year? Last year we booked in Feb for May in Positano and had no problems finding accommodation around 100euro.

Amalfi isn't really a bigger town than Positano and it is a better transport hub than Positano. However, I thought Positano more attractive if I had to choose on that basis. Both are lovely though.

If I remember correctly, buses between towns don't run late into the night (maybe 8pm-ish) and ferries earlier (6pm). Timetables are all online. Within the towns on the coast, everything is within walking distance. We stayed at the top of Positano and consequently had guilt free pasta as often as we liked!
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Old Nov 28th, 2016, 08:12 PM
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You might look at Amalfi -- more affordable than Positano and with very good transportation to other parts of the coast.

Do you have a good guidebook for the area? Should be well worth your while and should help you decide what to include in your trip, as there is way more in the area that can be seen in the time you have.

The good news: No bad choices!
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Old Nov 28th, 2016, 08:24 PM
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I forgot to say: No car is needed.
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Old Nov 28th, 2016, 10:55 PM
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mama mia is right, the Sentiero degli Dei is an easy hike/walk. Can't remember how long but maybe 3 hours? We walked to Montepertuso. I'm told it offers fabulous views but the day we did it, it was a pea soup fog pretty much the whole way. But that lent a different ambience to the walk and we still enjoyed it.
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Old Nov 29th, 2016, 06:13 AM
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hi all - thanks for this great feedback! Wonderful to know about the path of the gods being okay for a beginner - we'll definitely do it.

@Dreamon - the info about buses stopping by 8pm is so helpful! This is what I am worried about - if we want to go to dinner in another town, we won't have a way back to our own place.

When you say everything is walking distance, within the towns on the coast, do you mean accessing Positano from Nocelle or Montepertuso, or Amalfi from Atrani is do-able on foot? (and what about evenings?)

It sounds like Positano is a great choice if not for our budget. So I'll look at Amalfi and we'll make sure to hit Positano during the day. I worry that staying in Nocelle or Montepertuso, which appear to be charming, will be too limited in their own offerings and appear to be a 45 minute walk to Positano. Unless I'm reading the map incorrectly or Google Maps is way off? So hard to tell having never been there!

Couple more questions:
1) Has anyone ever seen a map of the Sita stops? Been googling like crazy and haven't had luck. I figured I'd work backwards and try and find accommodation near a bus stop.

2) Can I run an itinerary by you? Would love your thoughts! We arrive late into Naples airport - too late to catch a ferry or bus. So we're thinking of spending the first night or two in either Naples or Sorrento (knowing we'd have to pay for a taxi to Sorrento). Thoughts? This way we could spend the first full day at Pompei or Capri, then get up the next morning and make our way to Amalfi. It would look like this:
Day 1: Arrive at 11pm, Taxi to Sorrento or Naples.
Day 2: Ischia, Capri, or Pompeii (spend night in Sorrento or Naples)
Day 3: Bus or Ferry to Amalfi Coast
Day 4-5: Explore region from Amalfi
Day 6 - Return for an evening flight to Naples

Thanks for all the helpful ideas and recos!
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Old Nov 29th, 2016, 07:02 AM
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Sita bus stops:

http://www.positano.com/en/bus-schedule

Check the ferry option between Sorrento and Ischia for your dates. Crossings via Sorrento in late April may not be frequent enough to give you a reasonable amount of time on the island. There are many more crossings via Naples at that time, I think. (Note, crossings from both Naples and Sorrento to either island may be cancelled when seas are rough.)

We spent a full day at Pompeii the first time we were in the area, but with only one day I'd want to take away a few hours to visit the archeology museum in Naples where the Pompeii artifacts are housed. FWIW, both Capri and Ischia are beautiful and charming, but for me there's nothing like Pompeii.
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Old Nov 29th, 2016, 09:09 AM
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Amalfi is a lovely town and does not feel bigger than Positano. UNlike Positano, it was not crammed to the gills with North American tour groups the times I've been there.

See if you can find a room at Hotel Floridiana; here is my report from awhile back, with details on that hotel and on our 5 (?) night stay in Amalfi in early May:


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-naples.cfm
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Old Nov 29th, 2016, 09:55 AM
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Ravello, perched high above Amalfi (neat but steep foot path links the two also) also has noted hotels - some with sweeping views over the coast for miles. At least take the bus or walk up to Ravello, a much sleepier town than those right on the coast IME.
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Old Nov 29th, 2016, 11:20 AM
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The Sita bus timetables are online so I'd check them to confirm frequency and earliest and latest bus services. There are two stops in Positano for the long distance buses (pretty much one at each end of the town). There is also a local Positano bus with more frequent stops but we never used it so don't know much about it.

You can easily walk between Atrani and Amalfi (do not walk through the road tunnel but go around it). It is also possible to walk between Positano and Nocelle and Positano and Montepertuso but it is very steep and I would only want to do it downhill (which we did and it was hard on the knees). 45min is probably about right. Nocelle to Montepertuso was not too steep. The terrain in that immediate area is pretty vertical.
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Old Nov 29th, 2016, 01:06 PM
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I had a wondrous walk down from Ravello a different way than I came up- on that path from just outside Amalfi - I waltzed thru vineyards the whole way on zigzagging paths for workers- the harvest was going on - the brilliant sea in front of me the whole time. Awesome.
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Old Nov 29th, 2016, 04:45 PM
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I second Jean's recommendation to visit the archeology museum in Naples -- it has an incomparable collection of items from Pompeii.

And like Jean, much as I loved Capri (and I did!), with so little time, you might want to skip it. Plan on spending the better part of a day in Pompeii, or, if you don't feel you can give it that much time, think through your priorities in advance, as it is extensive and fascinating and can easily take as much time as you can give it.

I agree with PalenQ that Ravello is stunning; I'd recommend walking DOWN to Amalfi rather than walking UP to Ravello. ;-) That would be easier -- and as he notes, you would be facing the coast in that direction.
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Old Nov 30th, 2016, 09:26 AM
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thanks for these wonderful tips re: Ravello and the hikes!

I've narrowed it down to a couple spots that fit with out budget but also seem to be somewhat walkable to a few restaurants so we're not stranded after dinner somewhere - trying to keep it as relaxing as possible!

Between Ravello, Montepertuso (20-30 walk down to Positano) or Praiano - what would you recommend?

Now on the agenda:
- hike path of gods
- spend an afternoon in one or two towns
- explore gardens of region??
- sit and relax on terrace with wine and view
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Old Nov 30th, 2016, 02:11 PM
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Why don't you list the hotels that are in contention?

The garden exploring will likely be in Ravello.

You can also visit a vineyard and do wine tasting.
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Old Nov 30th, 2016, 02:21 PM
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Between Ravello, Montepertuso (20-30 walk down to Positano) or Praiano - what would you recommend?>

Some Ravello hotels have stunning views over the coast but since it is not on the sea it just to me does not have the lure of a port town - not sure there would be the regular ambiance at say night with lot of folks walking around town and seaside.
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Old Nov 30th, 2016, 05:09 PM
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I adored Ravello -- one of my favorite places in the world -- but rooms there are not cheap!

I'm having trouble figuring out how you are going to fit all of these things into the time you have....
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