Hi all,
Appreciate this question has been done to death, however my searches result in a variety of recommendations, all of which have left me a little confused. Hence, I thought I would ask for some more specific advice.
We are planning a short (12-13 days total) trip to Italy in end May/beginning June. Our intentions are to spend the first 4-5 days/nights in Rome, before heading to the Amalfi Coast.
Last year (around the same time) we travelled to Florence and the Cinque Terre (picking up a car to drive between the two); so we thought we'd go south this time.
My question is - we plan to spend around 5 days on the coast (probably just out of Positano), and would like to drive the coast. Therefore, wondering where the best place is to pick up and drop off a vehicle.
Current considerations is to catch the train from Rome to Naples and pick up a car there, going straight out of Naples.
Other options include to pick up and/or drop off at Sorrento, but that seems less convenient than Naples?
Secondly, is it a bad time in June (around 5th - 12th) to be driving the coast? I suspect it's before the absolute peak of the summer?
Thirdly and finally, is it a bad idea to spend ~ 5-6 nights in the one place (we were thinking of staying here in Positano: http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g194863-d2284867-Reviews-Colle_dell_Ara-Positano_Amalfi_Coast_Campania.html )? Should we really be going between the various spots (we obviously intend to for day trips, at least).
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Amalfi coast: car hire
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Well personally I don't like packing up and moving around too much so I think it is better to spend all your nights in the one place on the Amalfi. You can easily move around for day trips from Positano using your car or the ferries. You should check and see if there is parking at your hotel, Positano is very steep and space is at a premium there.
My husband and I were just there in October, we picked our car up in Sorrento but we had three nights in Naples first so we got a car and driver to Sorrento, then picked up the car. If you decide to get the car in Naples I'd try and collect it at the airport, I think it is slightly easier to manage the crazy Naples driving from the airport.
Judging from what we saw in the back seat of our taxi in Naples, I would not want to try and drive in the city itself...it has to be seen to be believed.
We stayed in Minori, a smaller town not so busy with tourists a bit further south from Amalfi town. The whole area is beautiful and Positano is definitely lovely, but as I said, very steep, there are not many flat places there.
Other people will help you with how busy the roads will be in June, I suspect it will be quite busy. I was surprised in October how many other tourists were there.
We visited Positano during your exact dates last June. It was our fourth visit to the area, third time to Positano. Traffic was crazy in and out of town. I was very glad we didn't have a car. There are limited parking spots in any of the towns along the coast, and you really need to feel comfortable navigating tight spots and turns, sometimes with trucks coming up right behind you. Not for the fainthearted!
There is decent transportation between most of the towns by boat or bus,although the buses do get crowded during the peak summer months. Unless you're planning excursions into the hills or beyond, you may not really need a car at all.
Lastly, if the B&B you're staying at is connected to the restaurant La Tagliata, it is not really in Positano, but in a tiny mountain village about 15 minutes away. It will be a bit of a trek getting back and forth to town.
OK then. Having a car seems not such a good idea. While I'm confident enough to drive, it's still the other side of the road (from Australia), and I'm not to keen on frantic, Italian driving
Thanks for your responses.
I'll definitely check out Minori. And I definitely take your point about not moving around too much - that is precisely what we don't want to do this time around (last year was a more hectic schedule; this time is about being less hectic).
Minori is stunning, but without a car, you might prefer to base in Sorrento, Positano, or Amalfi, all of which have decent connections by bus/boat to other locations along the coast.