Capri, Positano, Sorrento

I think you have a good itinerary.

I like your idea of spending 2 or 3 days on the Isle of Capri. That's ideal "to relax and hang out".

And a couple days in Positano YES . . . could we visit Sorrento as a day trip from Positano? YES Also maybe a day trip to Pompeii? YES We would probably fly into Naples and then head down to Sorrento? YES Any other places around the area you would think worth visiting or staying over? MT VESUVIUS + PAESTUM

I flew into Naples, took the ferry to Capri for three nights and then the ferry to Sorrento for six. Turned out, I much preferred Positano to Sorrento, but Sorrento is a better base for transport to Pompeii, Herculaneum (better than Pompeii in my opinion) and the museum in Naples, especially out of the main season. Definitely plan to overnight on Capri, and to get out of the too main towns.

Hi appletea

We spent 3 nights on Capri in May, and had a wonderful time. We did a lot of hiking, and I mean a lot. One must really walk to see this beautiful island. We found most food to be costly, but that didn't stop us from enjoying our time there.

We spent 4 or 5 nights in Positano nearly 5 years ago. We loved it there, too, but found it a little more difficult to see the sights because we needed boats, buses and rides to get around. We enjoyed the food in Positano very much. Thought it was delicious and priced well enough.

What about 3 nights on Capri and 2 in Positano?

Of course, basing in Sorrento would make a visit to Pompeii a little easier. In any case, if you want to relax I personally don't feel that you need to see more than one ancient city, but that's just me and my idea of relaxation.

This past May, I wasn't really looking to relax, and we saw many ancient places, including Ostia Antica outside of Rome, and Paestum, south of Salerno.

But when we went to Positano five years ago, we spent our time relaxing. We had a hotel with a pool (splurged for the Poseidon) and fabulous food. It was heavenly.

Hi Apple - Your itinerary looks good - but PLEASE don't sulk

Steve

Hi A,

You can take a daytrip to Paestum - best Greek ruins outside Greece.

Take the ferry from Positano to Salerno.

Train station is about 3 blks from the ferry docks.

Train to Paestum.

On return, take the SITA bus from the train station to Positano via Amalfi.

Enjoy your visit.

Just suggesting that you might want to spend a couple of nights in Naples, which has its own attractions and from which you can easily visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. Skip Sorrento, and divide the rest of your time as you will.

We are just back from a trip that included several nights on the Amalfi Coast. We spent two nights in Sorrento, and used that as a base for Pompeii. You should consider that, or staying in Naples for a night or so, because I think trying to do Pompeii from Capri or Positano is more complicated.

We chose to spend four nights in Positano and see Capri as a day trip combined with a boat tour around the island. We knew Capri deserves more, if you realy want to see it, and we were right. The highlight of that day was the boat around the island, not our 4 crowded hours on the island.

Loved Positano, so you should think about spending some nights there.
In your situation, I would suggest a few nights either in Naples or Sorrento (for Pompeii), a few nights on Capri itself and then some time in Positano. From Positano we took a ferry one day to Amalfi and Ravello, which was a wonderful way to see the coastline, as opposed to the winding bus ride along the coast.

I would also pack a whole lot light next time, particularly if we went to stay on Capri - negotiating the ferries and the steep climbs with luggage did not look like fun.

Thanks for all of your replies.

I'm leaning towards:
1 night in Naples or Sorrento to get situated - which do you recommend to visit pompeii and/or paestum herculaneum? I've heard some not to great things about Naples.

4-5? nights in Positano.

3 nights in Capri - thinking about hotel la minerva - any opinions on that?

Also would it be better to go to Capri or Positano first? Which one is easier to get to Naples airport from and how long does it take from each?

If I wanted to visit Paestum or Herculaneum, where would be best logistically to stay?

Thank you all so much for your opinions and information.

~apple

Hi Apple - You can reach Pompeii and/or Herculaneum easily from either Naples or Sorrento (- both are on the Circumvesuviana train line).

Logistically Paestum is easiest from Salerno (30 mins) or Naples (1hr 20').

From Positano, Paestum is 3 hrs+ each way (- depending on connection time at Salerno).

.....

For your return to Naples airport, journey time from Positano by car is approx 1hr 30'. By public transport it's 2 hrs+ via Sorrento (- from where there is an airport shuttle bus - operator: Curreri).

From Capri it's 45 mins by hydrofoil to Naples (- Molo Beverello), plus 30 mins approx by Alibus (- airport shuttle) or taxi.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

But while the magnificent temples at Paestum are in a remarkable state of preservation, we can hardly say that they are the "best Greek ruins outside Greece!"

Nevertheless, Paestum makes a wonderful day trip destination. If you want to remain overnight (which I considered but ultimately did not) this place looks very good:


http://www.casale-giancesare.it/index.html

And here is a place we considered, if by chance you want to overnight in Paestum (you can, of course, visit easily on a day trip as mentioned above by Steve James)





http://www.ilgranaiodeicasabella.com/

Also, I have to put in a great word for the hotel we stayed at in Amalfi, for 5 nights in May, just in case I can sway you to choose that town over Positano!



http://www.hotelfloridiana.it/

We went to Pompeii from Sorrento, and also spent time trying to figure out if we should do it from there or Naples. It was very easy to get on the Circumvesuviana in Sorrento, and I think we are glad we had dinner in Marina in Sorrento after a long day of train, Vesuvius and Pompeii. Plus, we were going on to Positano the next day and it was a shorter journey.

We spent 3 nights on Capri. The Minerva was fine.

We spent 5 nights in Positano at the Poseidon, which was great. We hired a driver to take us to Pompeii, and we took the ferry/bus to Amalfi and Ravello. I wanted to take a ferry to Sorrento for a day, but my daughters liked hanging out in Positano too much, so in the end we didn't do that.

thanks steve and everyone else for all of your detailed information. very helpful. i'm not sure if i'm going to go to paestum. maybe i'll just stick to pompeii . . .

what time do you think would be a good time to fly into naples which would make it convenient to travel and check in to our hotel in either positano or capri or sorrento?

jag - the minerva was fine? would you stay there again?
also how did you feel your total time there was? 3 night capri, 5 nights positano. that's very similar to what i am interested in doing except maybe adding 1 night at the beginning to get situated and stay in sorrento and go to pomeii. did you go to capri or positano first and would you have switched it around?

thanks all.

Appletea:

If you are flying into Naples from the US, you are not going to have all that much choice of arrival time since you will probably have to make a connection before arriving in Naples airport. So it is unlikely that you would be arriving at your hotel before normal check-in time..

I suspect that you might want to go to Capri first, so that you can then travel from Positano to the Naples airport on your return. From what I read here, it can be problematic to travel from Capri to the Naples airport in time for some return flights..

From Positano to the airport, figure from 100 euro if you decide to go by private car with driver. That is only one option.

On our recent trip we used this car service for our transfers from Naples train station to Sorrento and then back from Positano to the Naples airport:

http://www.johnnystourservice.com/

His fee for the return was 80 Euros and we thought that the service was excellent.

You might consider dividing your stays between Sorrento & Capri. Sorrento makes a great base for exploring the entire Amalfi Coast. While Positano is great, there's very little to do there in the evening...but you may want it that way.

Personally, I find the evenings the best time to be out & about.

Day tripping from Sorrento is so easy via buses or ferries. And there's also train service to Pompeii or Herculaneum.

You don't say how long you're going for, but I would recommend 4 nights in Sorrento and 2 nights on Capri.

Have a great time.

I haven't quite figured out how many nights yet but I was thinking 8-10 nights.

eks - thanks for the airport info. that helps. i'm still not sure which day is best to leave from the us and arrive there.

jim - what types of evening activities can you do in sorrento that you cannot in positano?

jim - what types of evening activities can you do in sorrento that you cannot in positano?

Positano is basically one big hill.
See this shot I took:

http://www.thelostcompass.net/index.php?showimage=37

While there are many winding streets to explore, you'll find far fewer restaurants, shops, and general strolling areas to mix with the locals.

If you want a quieter night time environment, Positano is for you. If you want a nicer beach, Positano is for you.

Not that there's anything wrong with Positano...it's fantastic. But my preference is for a livelier atmosphere. Positano has more of a resort feel as opposed to a small Italian town.

That's just my opinion.

I don't want to leave you with the impression that Positano turns into to a ghost town after dark...it doesn't.

I just think a couple in your age group might enjoy Sorrento a bit more.

While on Capri, you may also want to visit the nearby island of Ischia. It's far less touristy than Capri...the perfect place to "relax and hang out".

appletea

I didn't write a trip report from May because of family problems since we've been home, but I should have!

We were on a budget and stayed at Hotel La Tosca in Capri. It was simple, very clean, nice service, and pretty. Air conditioning. We liked it.

Now what I didn't like: Naples. I think I am an open minded and sophisticated traveler. I am in the travel business. I have been to Italy and Western Europe many times. I though Naples was too dirty, too chaotic, full of cheesy shops, too rude, and I didn't even like the food, let alone, lord help us, the service. There were things there that I wanted to see and I saw them. I seriously doubt that I would go back.

This is purely my 2 cents.

Do you mean which day of the week it would be best to arrive in the region?

"Positano is basically one big hill."

I love this line!

Rome is basically seven big hills.

San Gimingnano is basically one little hill.

Capri is basically two medium-sized hills.

Liguria is basically a whole lotta hills.

It's the internet pocket guide to italy.

Ok, zeppole...one big hill and a beach.

apple,

The rooms at the Minerva were nice, but the place definitely was not lively. We felt it would have been better had it had a pool, but I see now that it does...you can confirm that. If it does have a pool, then three nights on Capri is fine, because then you would have a place at the hotel to relax and hang out other than your room.

Five nights in Positano worked out; the first night we only arrived in the early evening because we came from Rome. There are some restaurants up in the hills, where they send minivans to pick you up, and we went to those. In the evenings we just went to late dinners and then just walked around, which was fine for us.

After going back and forth about where to fly into, we flew to Rome, because my daughters wanted to go there again. And we had a driver to Positano. Then we took the hydrofoil to Capri. Hydrofoil from Capri to Naples, where a driver took us straight back to Rome.

Let me add my 2-cents about private drivers.

This is the only way to go in this area. Even if you spend a bit more it's worth it for the time you save, the insight you gain on your destination, and the door to door service. It's really a pain to park a car here.

I've driven this area many times, and used public transportation as well. Hiring a driver is the only way to go.

I'm not talking about day trips up & down the coast, but rather for your transfers between the airport and the coast.

I would add my 2 cents as well in agreeing with post above. Normally we drive in Italy, or my DH does, and since we live in California, we are used to the twisty roads of the coast and national parks. On this trip we decided we both wanted to see the views, and from what we had heard about the parking situation, decided to splurge on having private car transportation from point to point. Once in Sorrento and again in Positano, we used the local trains, buses and ferries. No regrets about the cost, especially once we found out about the 30 Euros/day it would have cost to park a car we were not going to drive. At the end of our Amalfi days, we had a car take us back to Naples airport where we picked up a car for the Umbria part of our trip. I would do it again this way.

During the period of the Roman empire, Positano was the place from which the Emperor Tiberius, not trusting the products to be found of the Island of Capri where he feared conspiracies, stocked up with 'safe flour'.

The town developed around the Benedictine Abbey of St Vito in the IX century. It was only later that it became populated; when the Saracen incursions in 915 A.D forced the inhabitants of the surrounding areas to flee and seek refuge here. Traces of these influxes can be seen in much of the town architecture.

During the period of the Maritime Republics, Positano was raided and pillaged by the Pisans, and modified its architecture in order to protect the urban center from invasions from the sea.

Protective walls, narrow, curving lanes, and houses clinging to the coast line in strategic positions, at a height difficult to reach, were built. The town became a busy hub for maritime traffic, even rivalling neighbouring Amalfi between the XV and XVII century. Afterwards, it became the feudo of a number of rich Neapolitan families, and only in the 1700’s did it return to being a ‘regia’ city.

There followed a demographic decline up until the start of the 1900’s when it was ‘discovered’ by the Germans, British and the Americans.
From this moment onwards Positano saw an economic growth which continues today. Boutiques and small companies of a flourishing clothing industry have become so important that they have created their own ‘Moda Positano’ fashion. Articles made by the tailors of Positano constitute an immediately recognisable style of colourful beachwear.

Initially the inhabitants of Positano used silk and jute cloth, and then lace. It was only after the war, thanks to the imagination and entrepreneurial spirit of the people, that ‘Moda Positano’ was born, from the idea of using the so called ‘rags’, or more common materials, to create clothes, bags and swimming costumes.

Many years ago, when travellers arrived in Positano, they heard, amidst the peace and quiet, only the sounds of the typewriters of writers and of the musical instruments of the musicians, aristocrats and intellectuals who had chosen to live in this location, drawn by the beauty of the place, the mild climate, the low prices and the reserved lifestyle lived here. Today Positano is a long way from that life style, the daily crowds of tourists making the towns lanes and alleyways, stairways and hidden passages appear even narrower.

The name 'Positano' can be traced back to two traditions. The historical version states that the name derives from Paestum, whose inhabitants sought refuge in the area during the invasions by Pirates. The other version is that the name derives from a voice which repeated ‘posa, posa’, heard when, during the transportation of a painting of the Virgin Mary, the boat met an incredible storm. The sailors sought shelter in the bay of what is today Positano and, as soon as the painting was placed on the shores, the storm subsided.

The story of the origins of Positano is truly ancient and tends to be a mixture of history and legend. As often happened in the past, the legend, filled gaps left by the lack of data, and sees Positano founded by Poseidon, the God of the Sea, for love of the Nymph, Pasitea.

I mean, when you're looking at that hill with the beach, you might as well know what you're looking at.

Thanks for the history lesson zeppole. You can lean still more by visiting Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positano

My family is from nearby Ischia. I spent many childhood and teen summers on Ischia, and in the towns along the coast.

For about 20 years I didn't return because I no longer had parents who paid my way

Now that I've got some money, I try to get back there every two years or so to see what little family I have left.

No offense to Positano's glorious past, but to me it's a big hill and a nice beach

In all seriousness to the original poster, you'll have an unforgettable time no matter how and where you divide your time.

wow, thanks for the abundance of information. i feel a bit overwhelmed. i'm going to have to reread it all again.

i think this is what i might like to do:
3 nights in capri
4/5 couple nights in positano
2/3 in sorrento,
since its a better base?
see ravello (day trip)
see pompeii (day trip)

i am thinking about 10-12 days max.
do you think that's moving around too much? and would you recommend an order for the 3 cities? (thanks eks for the note on how you've read it's more difficult to travel from capri to naples in time for flights)

jim - the private drivers - are you referring to after you arrive in naples, get a private driver to take you to positano or hydrofoil to capri and then take private drivers everywhere you go? not the buses or trains?

eks - yes, is there a better day to arrive in the region? for instance, maybe if we arrive on sunday, nothing will be open? i'm not sure.

thank you all so much for all of your input.
~apple

I would use a private driver to take you from the airport to your hotel, and from your hotel back to the airport.

I would use public transportation for day trips once you are settled.

Your hotels will be able to arrange drivers between hotels when it comes time to change hotels, or perhaps your driver will offer to provide this service.

I would start in Sorrento, then go to Capri, and finish up in Positano, where you'll have several days to relax. I think you've given yourself plenty of time without moving around too much.

You'll have ample time for day trips. You can visit Ravello the same day you visit Amalfi.

On Capri/Anacapri, be sure to ride the chair lift up Mount Solaro, and hike back down. There are some breathtaking hikes on Capri.

Have a great time, and bring a lot of money

One more thing...you should consider visiting Paestum. You're so close and you may never get the opportunity again.

Thanks for all of the advice.
Here is the latest itinerary.

3 nights in Sorrento (day trip to Pompeii, day trip to Paestum)
3 nights in Capri
4-5 nights in Positano (day trip to Ravello/Amalfi)

I am now researching hotels. . . Any recs appreciated. =)

I just got back and Capri is definately a relaxing place - I would definately stay there a few nights - we stayed up in Anacapri - fabulous views of the sea from there. Capri Town where the cruise ship tours go is very busy and just 10 minutes away by taxi from Anacapri. Not sure of your budget but the Caesar Augustus is to die for.
We also stayed in Sorrento for five nights which is the largest town in the Amalfi area - it was a good location with lots of good restaurants but I would stay in Positano as it is more central to the area. Musts to do - Amalfi, and Ravello. The bus ride to and from each town is the best way to get around as well as the Hydrofoil.
Stay out of Naples - it full of crime and is dirty and has zero charm. Although it has a good museeum which is a good place to go if you are planning a day trip to Pompeii.
When in Sorrento go down to the small fishing village for dinner on one of the piers - very laid back and not as touristy.
If getting handmade sandals - the best ones were in Capri up in Anacapri - great craftsmenship - done on the spot and the least expensive we found.

Hi Appletea, my husband and I did this trip last year and I wish we went to Paestum. We were there in July and all we wanted to do was veg because of the heat so definitely try to go if you can. We stayed in Praiano instead of Positano. Now, all of the following opinions are my own and everyone is different.

I didn't "get" Positano. I found it too touristy and full of gimicky shops. I just didn't find it as charming as everyone said I would. I found our photos looked better than our experience, if you know what I mean. Having said that, I found Praiano incredibly boring, other than swimming in the sea there, which was divine. As a base for all of the sites towards Amalfi, you can't go wrong with Positano and it is a must see. Make sure you see it from the sea. Some nice souvenirs that I brought back was a bottle of Paestum perfume from Le Sirenuse hotel (they have a boutique across the street) and some yummy items from Profumi di Positano.

Capri was wonderful. Even in the height of summer, I totally loved it. I would spend 4 nights here because there is more to do than you think. Highlights:

- Circular boat tour of the island
- Blue Grotto. I almost slammed my head going in and our boatman sang opera but I found it spooky and wonderful at the same time, even when crowded. I just sat there and soaked it up
- Da Gemma restaurant. I still dream of the antipasti buffet. This is a famous restaurant with good service and reasonably priced. Make sure you visit.
- Limoncello and people watching at night in the piazzetta
- Chairlift up Monte Solaro. It's difficult to describe the joy of having some peace to yourself (chairs only take one person), contemplating the terraced landscape below and Vesuvius across the bay. We got to the top, unbelievable views. Bring money for a beer and just enjoy

If La Minerva had a pool last year, we would have stayed there. We walked past it at night and the location is truly lovely. Now that it has a pool, I would definitely stay there.

For Sorrento, it was a good base for Pompeii which you must not miss. We stayed at La Minervetta. I don't know your budget but if you can stretch, absolutely stay here. Check any number of websites for the fabulous photos. The breakfast spread is so original, laid out self serve in the most wonderful kitchen. (http://www.i-escape.com/hotel.php?section=eating&hotel_key=SI006) It's located right above the Marina Grande and there is a private staircase you can walk down to get there. It all adds to the fun. I didn't think Sorrento was up to much, it's nice enough but maybe if you left it to the end to relax and see Pompeii, that would be good. The hotel is more like a guesthouse. You have the run of the place. Last time I checked, it was #2 on TripAdvisor. This is definitely a hotel to relax and hang out. The only drawback is that because of its position, the pool area lacks sunlight after about 3pm (in the summer).

To be honest with you, I was like you when I was planning this trip. SO difficult to know how to space out your days. If I was to go back, I would do 4 nights Capri, 4 or 5 in Positano (depending on the daytrips) and 2-3 max in Sorrento.

I'm from Canada originally but live in London. I still take my "big country" ideas with me to mainland Europe and then am surprised to find everything is closer than I thought. For instance, the hydrofoil from Capri to Positano just wasn't long enough. My biggest piece of advice would be to try and go with the flow and try and use water transport whenever possible.

By the way, Pompeii is MASSIVE. We were there over 7 hours without a break. I could not believe the artwork on the walls. Suddenly the wall art I see in English stately homes made sense. I found it very emotional. If you ever watched the series 'Rome', you could see Attia everywhere. A wonderful experience, very moving.

Appletea:

Here is the report I wrote about my recent week-long trip to the area; in it you will find info on both Pompeii and Paestum. We based ourselves in Amalfi, as I mentioned, and spent two nights in Naples at the end of the week:




http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=35128776

> I am now researching hotels. . . Any recs appreciated. =) <

We stayed here (in Anacapri) and recommend it...

http://www.capri.net/en/c/monte-solaro

And one other thing. In Capri, we walked down the Phoenician Steps from Villa San Michele in Anacapri to Marina Grande. These are ancient steps laid down by the Greeks and used to be the only way to cross the ridge that divides Capri. We could barely walk the next day but would do it all over again. We were the only ones walking down and you pass a tiny church on the way down. It was lovely

hnberlin...aren't those steps amazing?

We walked down to the marina from the same place. One of the most amazing hikes I've ever been on. I wouldn't want to walk up them.

They do do a number on your joints and muscles.

Hi all,

From which city - Sorrento or Positano is it best to travel to Paestum?

Do you think its better to stay in Anacapri or Capri? and how far are they apart?

hnberlin - i looked up minervetta, looks really nice, but unfortunately it looks unavailable. =( I am considering 4 nights now =) thanks for the rec.

Eks -great trip report. i really want to go to the mozzarella heartland now. is the mozarella city far from Paestum? would you do those are two different day trips? i love cheese and would love to experience that.

computer battery dying. will post more tmrw.

You would go to the mozzarella farm(s) on the same day as you visit Paestum as they are in the same area. The one we visited was only a few minutes drive from the ruins and I posted the details in my report. There is also a large concentration south of the city of Battipaglia which is also not far from Paestum. To visit the farms, you need to have a car.

Positano may be closer to Paestum on the map but public transport is likely to be easier from Sorrento. I had a car and driver so cannot help with those details. If you want to hire a driver, check around, as we were first quoted 300 euro for a full day to Paestum and around. We ended up paying 180 euro. You could combine a trip to Paestum with a tour of a few villages. We were mainly interested in lunching in Cetara, but you could do Amalfi, for example. If you want to overnight near Paestum, I think I gave you a few nice looking places on another thread. Salerno is also a pleasant city and you could overnight there (I am only mentioning this because you asked about overnighting near the ruins)

I don't think it matters much which day you arrive in the region; we often arrive in Europe on a Sunday when traffic is lighter to our destination, but that really has more to do with our own schedules. In the Amalfi Coast area businesses are open daily in season; some restaurants have a closing day but that is usually NOT Sunday.

The mention of the Hotel Minervetta reminded me of the hotel I stayed at the last time I was in Sorrento. I won't tell you how many years ago this was, but it was the Hotel Minerva; wonder if this is related to the Minervetta?

Again, I will mention that you might save money if you stayed in Amalfi and did your day trips to Positano. I liked Amalfi MUCH better but there are many who favor Positano; you can't go too far wrong at either!

We really are very fond of this place, after our stay there in May:

www.hotelfloridiana.it

hi all,

how is the weather in capri/positano towards the end of september? i am trying to figure out what dates all the different hotels are available and some of them look like they won't be available until the end of the month.

also if we take private transport from hotel la minerva from capri straight to the naples airport, do you think we will still have a difficult time getting there in time?

so now i'm thinking:
2-3 nights in sorrento
4 nights in positano
4 nights in capri . . .

are paestum or pompeii not open on a certain days of the week?

Hi, appletea -

> are paestum or pompeii not open on a certain days of the week?

I believe that the ruins in both Paestum and Pompeii are open every day, but some specific buildings at Pompeii are closed on certain days and must always be reserved ahead. See:

www.arethusa.net

Also, I think that the fabulous museum at Paestum is closed on some Mondays.

Hope that helps!

for hotels, our budget, well we're not made of money, but i like a little bit of luxury and style. =) and my philosophy is that we're probably going to go this once, so i want to make the most of it. so approx avg $400-$500 is preferable, especially with the poor exchange rate

for hotels in capri - i am leaning towards hotel la minerva, but also considering caesar augustus and casa mariantonnia. does anyone have any opinions on the latter two? location-wise?

for hotels in positano - i sent in requests to hotel buca di bacco and albergo miramare. i've been reading tripadvisor. any others i should consider?

tt

all flights to naples require about 2 connecting flights and are averaging 17 hrs, therefore we have decided to fly into rome. much less headache from connecting flights. and we will then take the train to naples then to sorrento directly. therefore we have modified our itinerary a little and would like some opinions before we book.

3 nights in sorrento - (day trip to pompei)
5 nights in positano - is this too long? day trip to ravello, daytrip to paestum, mozarello farms, probably hang out at the beach, any other day trips?
5 nights in capri - blue grotto, tour around island - can both of these be done on the same day?,monte solaro chair lift and exploring the rest of the island, villa . . and gardens - i love gardens.
2 nights in rome - so we can take the morning flight back home - we love rome, so we'll probably just wander around for the day.

so i'm wondering if 5 nights in positano and 5 nights in capri will be a bit too long? i do want to do some day trips and i want to have a relaxing vacation so i think i definitely won't be rushed with this plan.

Were it me, I would do Paestum as a day trip from Sorrento, using the train. I'd also want to go into Napoli to see the archeological museum (again!)

I don't know where your mozerella farms are, but would they be better done from Sorrento?

So what I would do is stay in Sorrento, and then go straight to Capri, and day trip to Positano from there. If you want to come in again for a lunch in Ravello and the gardens, that's doable.

But personally, I would find it fabulous to simply get out on the backside of that island, and turn my back on the world, espeically the touristy world of the Amalfi coast, and just be that historic island for 8 or 9 days straight. That's real relaxation.

If I got bored on Capri, I'd take a day trip to Salerno and visit Vietri sul Mare.

In case it wasn't clear, I'd do nights/days of touristing from Sorrento. Then stay put on Capri until heading back for Roma.

Although I would strongly consider heading straight to Capri (with day trips to Positano and Ravello), following it with Sorrento and the antiquities toursiting, then packing up and going to Roma.

I'm sorry I think I'm really finger-challenged at the moment. This is what I'm trying to suggest:

Arr Roma
Head straight to Capri.

Stay the bulk of your time there.

From Capri, visit Positano and Ravello as day trips on separate days for lunch/day trips. Perhaps a ferry down to Salerno to visit mozzerella farms.

Move on to Sorrento and because daytripping is much easier from there, visit Pompeii, Paestum, Napoli or farms on separate days.

(Or go first to Sorrento, then to Capri, but I'd rather get to Capri.)

capri hotel question: i'm not sure if i should post this on a separate post? for the same price would you stay at the hotel la minerva in capri or caesar augustus in anacapri? the views at the caesar augustus look amazing, but then i read somewhere people don't recommend staying in anacapri and that you will just have to keep travelling to capri? which location is more central to go to all of the activities (blue grotto, tour around the island, villa san michele, monte solaro chairlift, etc.) please advise.

i've also booked the albergo miramare for positano, so i'm very excited!

so it looks like we're doing:
3 nights in sorrento (day trip to pompei and paestum) - still looking for a hotel here . . .
4 nights in positano (day trip to amalfi/ravello, maybe mozarella farm)
5 nights in capri (all the activities above plus relaxing) would you do the blue grotto and the tour around the island on the same day? can you?
2 nights in rome to connect to our flight.

do you advise to take the train from salerno or naples to rome? also do you advise to buy the tickets ahead of time?

thank you all so much for all of your input.

hi all,
i'm still researching and i think i'm leaning towards staying at the la minerva vin capri vs caesar augustus in anacapri.

i've booked a budget hotel in sorrento, and the hotel in positano, thanks to trip advisor. thanks to all of you who gave hotel recoomendations and advice.

i saw another post regarding ravello festival concerts at villa ruffalo and i would love to see a concert in that beautiful outdoor venue. according to google maps, it takes 33 minutes to get from ravello back to positano. would that be difficult to get a taxi late at night after a concert?
also how can i tell if this concert is played outdoors? http://www.ravelloarts.org/concerti_a.htm
1229. Mercoledì 17 Settembre 2008, ore 21.30
RAVELLO – Villa Rufolo
Omaggio a Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Recital del pianista MICHELANGELO CARBONARA
Frammento di Sonata D.279
Frammento di Sonata D.625
36 Valzer D.365
12 Laendler D.790
12 Valses nobles D.969
thank you all for your help again. =)

I've yet to meet the traveler who likes the naples train station, so I would be inclined to take a ferry from Capri to Salerno and got the train from there. I would buy the ticket in Italy. Perhaps while you are in Sorrento. Just go into a travel agency, who might also tweak this advice.

I think "33 minutes" on a concert night in Ravello is optimistic. No doubt taxis should be reserved in advance, the fare would be hefty, and there may be special buses.

here's what you need to know about taxi costs:

http://tinyurl.com/postconcert

wow that seems pretty expensive. i really do want to see the concert but i'm not sure if it's worth all of that . . .

Here's another potential twist for you:

Spend only 4 nights in Capri, add one more night to Rome, and take a day trip to Orvieto from there.

I think you have plenty of time on the Amalfi Coast...both for sightseeing and relaxation. Remember, this is a very small, compact area. The towns along the coast are tiny.

Go to this site:

http://www.amalficoastweb.com/amalfi/english/bus_ferries.html

It will give you an idea of how close things are, plus many transportation options.

Appletea, we drove past the Caesar Augustus and the location does look fabulous. However, it is a view you will see a lot of while in Sorrento. If I had to pick, I would go with La Minerva. We stayed at JK Capri which as a hotel is unbelievable and I picked it for the pool and the view (same view as Caesar but not as elevated) However, we spent a lot of time going to and from Capri Town. I decided that when we go back, we will stay in Capri town where it's pedestrianised. Have you been to Oia in Santorini? It's kind of like that - it's a strolling, meandering kind of place, stopping to look at the shops, the views, the restaurants, etc. It's just my 2 cents worth but it's where the action is (and staying at La Minerva means you can get away from all that action when it gets too much - no taxis, buses or funiculars needed!)

hello all,
thank you all for all of your input. we've booked our tickets to rome! yay!

i have a few more questions:
jim and others- would you recommend a day trip to ischia? and from which city would be easiest logistically?

now that we are flying into rome, would you still recommend private drivers to and from the airport? or should we take trenitalia to salerno or naples? we plan on going straight to sorrento once we arrive in rome. and we plan on leaving from capri to rome.

3 nights in sorrento (day trip to pompei and paestum, maybe ischia?) - booked hotel il nido.

4 nights in positano (day trip to amalfi/ravello, maybe paestum/mozarella farm, cetara for lunch) - booked albergo miramare

4-5 nights in capri- leaning towards minerva - thx for all your input. would you be able to do the blue grotto and the tour around the island on the same day? from capri - should we train out of naples or salerno?

2-3 nights in rome to connect to our flight.

"now that we are flying into rome, would you still recommend private drivers to and from the airport? or should we take trenitalia to salerno or naples? we plan on going straight to sorrento once we arrive in rome" I believe there is a direct train from FCO to Roma Termini, where you can get the train to Naples. At Napoli Centrale you go downstairs to Napoli Piazza Garibaldi to catch the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento - you wouldn't go to Salerno on the way to Sorrento.

If you have a very long flight with plane changes to get to Roma, I would at least find out the cost of getting picked up at FCO and driven to Sorrento, unless jet lag just doesn't bother you.

There is a train into Roma from the airport, and there is a nice train to Napoli (into the not so nice station) and another train to Sorrento -- and then presumably you take a taxi to your hotel?

I'd tote up the costs and compare it with a driver.

Il Nido will pick up at the Sorrento train station - it's 5km outside town.

We did the Blue Grotto and the circular tour of the island in one tour. They make a stop at the Blue Grotto, you transfer into rowboats, you get rowed in (mind your head) and you're in there for about 10 minutes. Then you come out and continue the rest of the tour around the island.

I also remember you can hire your own little boat to go around the island. Will be more expensive but it's private and you can stop in all the little coves. I was very jealous of the people who did it this way!

Another question. We are planning the same trip for next year and my husband would like to go diving. Any suggestions on this adventure?

re diving

This dive center is a good one in the area:

http://www.divingsorrento.com/english/diving.htm

Ischia is a definite change of pace from Capri. It's far less crowded, but these days there are many German visitors.

It would be best to day trip there from Capri. They usually have two boats a day coming & going.

I would still suggest getting a driver from the airport to Sorrento. From Rome you'll have to train to Naples, then transfer to the Circumvesuviana...then either walk or taxi to your hotel. The Circumvesuviana is difficult with luggage as its more of a commuter train, and will likely be very crowded. Incidentally, you'll take the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii.

In Capri, the trip around the island and the Blue Grotto are usually done together. It doesn't take that long.

On a side note, I get the feeling that you're thinking all of these things take a day each to do. Keep in mind that this is a very small area you're going to. Most folks see and do everything we've talked about in 2 or 3 days...and that includes seeing Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, etc...

You're doing it right.

You have the wonderful luxury of 11 or 12 days here. You'll be able to do it all and still have ample time for relaxation.

I wish I was going with you.

We're back. It was wonderful - relaxing and inspiring. Here are some of the highlights of our trip. Thank you all for your guidance in planning!

* Ravello - Villa Cimbrone - the Terrace of Infinity - just beautiful, the Temple of Baccus and the smell of the lavender walking up to it.

* Capri - we loved Capri - it felt like we were on our own private island. We loved exploring every corner of it. Hotel La Minerva was so peaceful and quiet and 5 nights was not too many days.

* Villa San Michele on Capri - I want a garden like Axel Munthe's - what a wonderful private garden.

* Pompei - the bakeries, brothel, amphitheatre

* Greek ruins at Paestum

* having parma (proscuitto) and local cheeses from the salumeria's

* the wonderful breakfasts from the hotels (la minerva in capri was our favorite breakfast - including a great selection of meats, cheeses, eggs cooked to order (3 min soft boiled - yum), fresh juices, cappucino, cookies, pastries

* La Tagliata and the hike there (1700 steps)- amazing food for an amazing value. Out best meal of the trip!

* Albergo Miramare balcony

* Hot chili oil with pizza - delicious! I don't know how I was eating pizza without it.

* Water with gas - this is my third trip to Europe and I have finally acquired the taste of sparkling water.

* Having access to good gelato, al dente pasta and wine cheaper than water everywhere.

* The bus ride from Sorrento to Positano - what a great work out for both arms!

* The ferry from Postiano to Amalfi - so convenient and what a great view.

* Hearing "buongiorno" and "buona serra" from the friendly locals.

* The old man, (he reminded me of Geppetto from Pinochio) making my sandals

Hi Appletea,

i've been for a week this summer in Sorrento, is the perfect base for your trip, there is a boat service from Naples to all the place in Neapolitan Riviera, from Sorrento you can visit Pompei, Ercolano, Positano, Amalfi. From Sorrento Port you can also go for a day to Capri, at night Sorrento is very live, with lots of Restaurant, bar... Me and my Family Sleept in Villarosa a Villa just in the center of Sorrento of the 50’s, recently refurbished and turned into an accommodation facility, large rooms, with all comfort. Fabio Brook the owner is a very kind person. Take a look at www.villarosasorrento.com

Have a nice time in Italy

Tourimania -

You might note that appletea (the OP) posted just before yours to summarize how wonderful their trip WAS. I'm sure others visiting the area can benefit from your advice though.

Sam

hi appletea (and anyone/everyone else that can help!),

im in the same position you were in when you first started planning your trip! and i was hoping you could help me out. i read through this entire post so i'll try not to make u repeat anything that was already written =)
my husband and i are also both 30, looking to have a good time and relax, take in the beauty and sites, and also appreciate the luxuries in life such as nice hotels and good food!
we're going to Italy in may for 9 days. all we have done so far is book our flights to Rome. we plan on spending the first 2 days in Rome sight-seeing there. then we have 6 days that we wanted to spend on the Amalfi Coast before heading back to Rome for 1 night to catch our return flight to the US. Can you help me figure out what places to go to and how long to stay? these are the places I was thinking about visiting:

Naples - is a few hours good for naples - like grab pizza for lunch and maybe the museum everyone is talking about?
Capri - we were originally thinking a day trip but after reading the post, do you think we should spend 1 or 2 nights?
Sorrento/Positano - i want to visit both places, but which should we stay at? i thought we should pick one since we don't have many nights to begin with, but do u think we should spend 2 nights in each place?
Ravello - is this a day trip or part of the drive along the coast? how did you visit ravello?
Pompeii - can this be a day trip on the way back to rome? or should it be a day trip while we're staying either in sorrento or positano?
Paestum - i never knew of this place before reading this port, so wasn't planning on visiting - but do you think we should?

Also, do you have suggestions on a route from rome to the amalfi coast and then back to rome?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I would stay in Capri first. It's not that difficult to arrive from the airport (bus will take you from the airport to the port to catch a ferry).
http://www.portal.gesac.it/portal/page/portal/internet/inAEROPORTO/Autobus

After Capri, I would stay in Positano. Last move to Sorrento. There is an airport shuttle bus from Sorrento to the airport unless you have a very early flight.
http://www.curreriviaggi.it/

Im coming from Rome though, not the Naples airport. Does that change anything?

Hi, dtph -

> we plan on spending the first 2 days in Rome sight-seeing there

I trust you realize that 2 days is very little time for a city with as many treasures as Rome!

> Naples - is a few hours good for naples - like grab pizza for lunch and maybe the museum everyone is talking about?

It depends on what you want to see and do! If all you want to do is have pizza and see the Museum of Archeology, you could probably get by with 3 or 4 hours. I found 2.5 days far too little for what I wanted to do there!

> Capri - we were originally thinking a day trip but after reading the post, do you think we should spend 1 or 2 nights?

Many of us found Capri much more enjoyable after the day-trippers have left, so if you can, staying there a night is worth considering.

> Ravello - is this a day trip or part of the drive along the coast? how did you visit ravello?

You can visit Ravello by bus from Amalfi. It is high above the coast.

> Paestum - i never knew of this place before reading this port, so wasn't planning on visiting - but do you think we should?

Paestum is magnificent and well worth the visit if you have any interest in Greek temples.

Hope that helps!

dtph - I was responding to the OP's post.

As for stopping in Naples for a few hours, you would have to store your luggage which makes it a bit of a hassle.

hi dtph,

how exciting! =)

>my husband and i are also both 30, looking to have a good time and relax, take in the beauty and sites, and also appreciate the luxuries in life such as nice hotels and good food!
since you say this, i recommend staying 2-3 nights in positano and 2-3 nights in capri. we fell in love with our hotel in both places (albergo miramare in positano and hotel la minerva in capri). the hotel la minerva is one of my all time favorite hotels ever. the breakfast and the views and how peaceful it was, makes me so happy just to think about it.

>Naples - is a few hours good for naples - like grab pizza for lunch and maybe the museum everyone is talking about? - i'm not sure it's even worth visiting keeping in mind that you only have 6 days and you want to relax and take in the beauty and the sites.

>Capri - we were originally thinking a day trip but after reading the post, do you think we should spend 1 or 2 nights?
yes, as i said above, it is one of our favorite places we've visited. we felt like we had our own island sometimes, especially after the day trippers left. what month are you going?

>Sorrento/Positano - i want to visit both places, but which should we stay at? i thought we should pick one since we don't have many nights to begin with, but do u think we should spend 2 nights in each place?
sorrento is a great base if you want to go to paestum and pompeii, so it depends if you want to see those two sites. positano is just beautiful and also allows easy access to go to ravello.

>Ravello - is this a day trip or part of the drive along the coast? how did you visit ravello?
it would be a great day trip and we took a ferry from positano to amalfi, and then a bus up to ravello. villa cimbrone is simply amazing.

>Pompeii - can this be a day trip on the way back to rome? or should it be a day trip while we're staying either in sorrento or positano?
i recommend this be a day trip from sorrento . . .day trip on the way back to rome might be too hectic.

>Paestum - i never knew of this place before reading this port, so wasn't planning on visiting - but do you think we should?
so many beautiful things to see! i guess it depends on what you are most interested in seeing.

>Also, do you have suggestions on a route from rome to the amalfi coast and then back to rome?
we took the train from rome to naples and then the circumvesuviana to sorrento. on our way back we took the ferry from capri to naples and naples train back to rome.

Please let me know if you have any more questions. Glad to help! =)

that was amazingly helpful!!!! thank you soo soo much! im going to soak it all in tonight and see if i have any more questions...this site and the responses are great =)

do you think we will need to rent a car on this trip? if so, for what portions? my husband and i love coastal drives and i've read that the amalfi coast is the most scenic drive in the world! should we do the drive ourselves? we've driven both sides of the mountain on the road to hana and back (in hawaii).

hi dtph, we did the road to hana too. that was fun driving and stopping to go on hikes and explore the waterfalls.
for amalfi coast, we didn't rent a car for the trip, it's really easy to use the buses and ferries to get around. it seems like parking would be difficult in the areas, in my opinion. also, you might enjoy the scenic drive more if you aren't driving. =)

sweet....thanks for the suggestion! car rental is one less thing to book =)

hi appletea...how do u suggest i book the hotels...directly from the hotel website, or a site like orbitz/europeandestinations/etc?

also, here's what im thinking...can u let me know ur thoughts?

2 nights rome
take the train from rome to naples. how do we get from naples to positano?
3 nights positano - visit amalfi, ravello
should we spend 1 night in sorrento to visit pompeii, paestum? or can we spend 1 more night in positano and visit pompeii, paestum from there? if u think we should spend 1 night in sorrento, how should we go from positano to sorrento? or if u think we should spend 1 night in sorrento, should we do that straight from rome? in that case...would we take the train from rome to naples, circumvesuviana from naples to sorrento? if we do that, how would we get from sorrento to positano?
2 nights capri - do we take a hydrofoil from positano or sorrento? how do we purchase tickets for the hydrofoil? in advance from the US or when we get there?
and then how do we get ferry tickets from capri to naples so we can catch a train from naples to rome? do we get train tickets from the US for rome-naples/naples-rome or do we just get them the day we want to take the train?
thanks for the help =)

hi dtph, we booked hotels through venere.com for rome. check venere or booking.com for rates and compare to hotel website. also check tripadvisor for reviews. with the positano and capri hotels, we booked through email correspondance with the hotel.

naples to positano - would be through circumvesiana to sorrento and then bus from sorrento to positano, i believe.

i prefer to not stay in too many different hotels (i hate packing and unpacking, checking out and checking in, it feels unrelaxing), so i would stay in positano and take the bus or train to circumvesuviana in sorrento and then to pompeii (might take at least 2 hrs? i'm guessing). you will not be able to do pompeii and paestum in the same day.

capri - for capri, you take hydrofoil from positano directly to capri. you purchase tickets at the dock, and your hotel will be able to direct you. it's very easy and you don't need to purchase it in advance.

capri - naples - ask your hotel, and you can purchase tickets directly from them. ferry from capri to naples. taxi from naples port to naples train station and then we bought train tickets at the station. we bought all our tickets at the stations, nothing in advance.

have you ever been to rome? 3 days in rome is probably pretty hectic, just fyi.

i've never been to rome, but my husband has. i know 3 days in rome is totally not enough, but that's all we have time for this time! it's kind of even worse for us b/c we have 1 saturday and 2 sundays! any suggestions on how best to maximize our time in rome and trying to visit all the must see tourist attractions?

actually, here's our itinerary so far...
day 1 - Rome (Saturday)
day 2 - Rome (Sunday)
day 3 - Rome-Naples-Positano -- Get settled in
day 4 - Day trip - Amalfi/Ravello
day 5 - Day trip - Paestum
day 6 - Day trip - Naples/Pompei/Herculaneum
day 7 -
day 8 -
day 9 - Return to Rome (Sunday)
day 10 - depart Rome to US

we still want to visit capri in there. do you think we should extend our stay in rome in the beginning by 1 more day and then end in capri...so...

day 1 - Rome (Saturday)
day 2 - Rome (Sunday)
day 3 - Rome (Monday)
day 4 - Rome-Naples-Positano -- Get settled in
day 5 - Day trip - Amalfi/Ravello
day 6 - Day trip - Paestum
day 7 - Day trip - Naples/Pompei/Herculaneum
day 8 - Capri (overnight)
day 9 - Return to Rome (Sunday)
day 10 - depart Rome to US

bookmarking

Day 7 is too full. Do one of these, not all three!

i think it really depends on what you would like to do? rome is magnificent and hectic and a super busy city. it's full of excitement and you'll want to run from one wonderful landmark to the next and by the end of the day, you will be exhausted, but happy.

capri, on the other hand is so relaxing and peaceful. it's a quiet remote island great for hikes with beautiful landscapes and sceneries. there really isn't a bad view from anywhere on the island.

ok....then i think i pick pompeii for day 7 b/c i've read on a lot of threads that it's incredible =)

Hi Everyone,
I'm looking to visit Capri, positano and Amalfi, and have about one week. I will fly into Naples airport. I wonder how it will be if I stay on Capri most of the time, and take hydrofoils to Positano and Amalfi? Also if there are other places that I should consider? I do like the relaxing sound of Capri, but also some of the ancient ruins sound compelling. Should I do the other places as day trips?
Is it easy to get from Naples to Capri?
Also, wondering how "light" I need to travel to manage the hydrofoils?

Hi,

Caroline, I'm really sorry. I have been feeling really tired and a little stressed with planning for my trip. Between working two jobs and finding time to plan my trip, I probably read your message while experiencing other stressful feelings and moments at the time. I took you’re message the wrong way. I do apologize. Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.

Lexma90 - I read on a travel post that airline employees travel for free in first/business class so that's the only reason why I mentioned it. I didn't realize that you also had to pay for them. It’s easy to believe what you read but unfair b/c we don’t know the whole story. . I hope that you weren't upset about what I said. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic about it or anything like that. When I said, 'how nice', I really meant, 'how nice'. I didn't mean it in a bad way.

If you want a break while visiting your grandmother, consider going to Tropea, a picturesque town with a lovely beach.
Thank you for your suggestion. I will look into it.

There is no way on earth that you can get from Scigliano to Sicily and back in 3 or 4 days and get anything at all out of going to Sicily. Forget Sicily.
I originally didn’t plan to visit Sicily. I had other members from another forum suggested I visit Sicily since I was in the south already visiting my grandmother. I added it to the list but there was a part of me that wasn’t sure if I really wanted to go. I think this is where some of the stress has been coming from. I was adding or deleting a city based on recommendations from other people. For example: Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples. There were quite a few people who questioned why I didn’t want to visit these places. I didn’t want to be in a busy or fast-paced environment. Also, I have been to Rome twice (age 13 and 25) and Florence (age 25). I went on a Contiki tour when I was 24 (turned 25 in July). I traveled for 2 months and visited 15 countries including England, Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Germany and Hungary. It was nice to see a lot of different places but it was very go-go-go some days with only 1-2 days per country. I traveled with 53 people on a coach bus.

I already had taken Sicily off of my list b/c it wasn’t a place that I really wanted to go to right now. I thought about where I wanted to go and stuck with places that I really wanted to explore. Venice was included in my list (5 days) but I was told that this was too long and that 1-2 days would suffice. I eventually deleted from my list b/c I was feeling overwhelmed with the responses I was receiving.

I have come across some good deals through Air Transat but b/c I didn’t know where I was flying into and out of, and I wasn’t 100% with the dates so I didn’t book it. I went from 1 month to almost 60 days. I could go longer b/c I have the time. I’m not happy in my career and want to explore other opportunities but before deciding to go back to school or look for another job that is related to what I am interested in, I decided to take the time to travel and visit my family. This trip is also very significant for me b/c I have experienced a lot of pain and upset in the past few years. I went through a painful break-up with my ex-bf (second time – he came back into my life 3 years after getting married and having a child with his now ex-). He realized he made a mistake and that I was the one all this time. However, I decided that I didn’t want to be with someone whose morals and values were very different from mine. More importantly, I didn’t want to be with someone who I didn’t trust.

A few months later I lost a friend to cancer. A month after my friend’s death, another friend committed suicide and three months later, a family friend was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Through a series of events (which I won’t get into), he ended up going back to his home town (Formia) with his wife. I’m like a daughter to her b/c they don’t have any kids. I used to visit them often when they lived here in Canada, and have lunch or dinner with them. It will be difficult to see P (husband) b/c I haven’t seen him since he left last year. It may be a bit tough but I hope that I can enjoy my time with him and his wife, and cheer her up. Unfortunately, P has been in a bed since last year. He can’t walk and is hooked up to a lot of tubes so I am a little nervous of how I will handle that part of my trip.

About a month ago, a family friend passed away from cancer. She had 3 brain tumours that she lived with for 5 years. She was only 35, married 6 years and had a 5-year old adorable girl. Needless to say, I had a very hard time dealing with everything. I also live at home with my parents, and my relationship with my dad is probably typical of any relationship b/w an Italian father and his oldest daughter. It can be difficult. I plan to look for my own place once I return. After all of these experiences I decided that I didn’t want to wait until I had a full-time job to do things. I didn’t want to continue just living through the motions of life and waiting for something to happen.
So, one day while talking to my ‘aunt’ in Formia, she asked me to visit her. I thought about it and then decided to visit my grandmother as well. Before I knew it, I decided to extend my trip to 7 weeks, then 8 weeks. It may even reach 9 weeks! lol. I just want to have fun, explore places, meet people, relax, meditate, take walks, sit at a café and watch people go by. I would like to go dancing but since I’m traveling solo, I’m nervous to go to a club on my own. I thought that if I meet someone at a B&B, then I will ask him/her if they would like to go.

I shared this b/c I wanted to give you an idea of where I am coming from and what I am looking for in this trip. I’m not big on touring churches, museums, and renaissance or medieval buildings. I will go to a few churches and museums but I don’t want to see every piece of artwork or historical building in each city. I think that’s one of the main reasons I didn’t want to visit Rome and Florence and why I chose Provence. However, I have since removed Provence from my list b/c I read that you need a car to visit the area.

Forgot to mention that when I traveled alone in Italy I stayed at these places and had no problems at all.
Thanks for the links.

I agree with previous statements that 2 days in Rome is not nearly enough. I also would recommend you forgo Sicily and perhaps cut a day off Venice to add to Rome.
I’m curious to know why a lot of people don’t want to stay more than 2 or 3 days in Venice? I have only been there once (Contiki tour) but I think we were only there for 2 days. I don’t remember a lot but I do remember it being a nice trip.

Do you have a plan to move around from place to place. In many places you will do well with public transport but places like Tuscany require a car to get from town to town.
I planned to take the train and bus. Someone mentioned to me that if I go to France first, I can buy an International Train Ticket for traveling in Italy. She told me that this would be cheaper as it would allow me to travel through a few cities without having to pay point-to-point. She also said that it’s cheaper than a Euro rail pass.

I read somewhere that you can take a train or a bus to a certain destination. Do I really need a car when traveling through Siena, Umbria, etc.?

Is there any particular reason why you're going to Provence and what part of Provence will you visit? I'm asking as I notice you're not including Florence in your itinerary and may want to remove Provence and add Florence for the 4 days. From Florence you can make easy day trips to Lucca and Siena and use the time in Tuscany/Umbria to visit other small towns.
As I mentioned before, I read about Provence and it sounded like a place I would enjoy. As well, I read that there are not a lot of tourists there during the summer so it wouldn’t be crowded or hot compared to Paris or Rome. I read that the weather in Provence is “summer-balmy.”

I was looking at St. Remy, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille or Maussane-les-Alpilles. However, I took it off my list because I read that it’s best to travel there by car. I don’t want to drive in Europe. I’m nervous about it so I’m going to stick to the train and
bus.

There’s a lot of travelers suggesting or encouraging me to go to Rome and Florence and questioning why I’m not going. I’m starting to doubt myself and wonder if I should put it on my itinerary.

Look also at renting apartments rather than staying in hotels.
I was considering doing this in Paris. I wasn’t planning on staying in hotels. I am planning to stay in B&B’s because I am traveling alone and would like to meet people and have some company around. Also, I like the feel of being at a B&B vs. a hotel. However, I read some great reviews on small hotels that are owned and operated by families.

With respect to your flight, I would personally just fly economy and save the money for something else. I'm not sure any flight experience is really enjoyable these days.
I’m going to do that and save my money for accommodations or for other things on my trip. It would be great to travel business class one day but there is a lot to know with regards to the miles, upgrading, etc. and I don’t want to stress myself with it right now. Plus, I don’t have enough points to use for upgrading.

I highly recommend you look into Air Transat and their Club Class seats. I'm pretty sure they fly between Toronto and Paris on during your dates, and possibly Rome as well (maybe you could look into an open jaw into Paris and out of Rome).
For the majority of my searches, I have been using multi-city to book an open jaw. I’m trying to decide whether to fly into Paris or Rome first.

They will definitely be flying into London if you're open to that possibility as well.
I’d rather not. I would prefer a direct flight but I know with BA, there is a stop-over in London. The problem with is that depending on your flight, you will land in Heathrow and may need to transfer to Gatwick to fly to Europe. I was told that they are on the opposite side of the city. Plus, you need to find your own transportation to that airport.

The cost of AT's Club Class is cheaper than a regular airline's business class. What you get is bigger, more comfortable seats with fairly generous leg room (but not flat bed seats). You get a menu to choose from and meals are served on real plates with real cutlery. The food is much better than Air Canada's Executive First and the service is quite good.
Thanks for letting me know.

I'm not sure if that many airlines flying out of Toronto to Europe offer premium economy. British Airways does. Air Canada does not and neither do its star alliance partners as far as I know.
Air France and British Airways is the only one that I know too. Air Transat has the club seats.

I definitely agree with the others about slowing your itinerary down. With 7-8 weeks I would think about spending an entire week in some places and renting an apartment.
I didn’t think it was a lot for 8 weeks b/c some of the towns in Tuscany were day or half day visits. I thought that I was giving myself plenty of time but I will go over it and figure out what I want to do for sure.

Has anyone here stayed in an apartment in either Italy or France? Do you have any good sites or suggestions? Also, does anyone know how much it would cost to stay an apartment for a week in Italy or France?

I have been wondering whether I should wait and in September/October or to just go at the end of May until July. I know that July is crowded and hot. I have been feeling somewhat stressed with the planning of my trip. On days like today, I don’t feel as excited. I feel overwhelmed and wonder if I will be able to enjoy my trip? I’m thinking that once I put everything together and it’s confirmed, then I won't feel so anxious. Has anyone traveled to Italy and France in September and October? I read that it’s nice too but the temperatures are cooler and the days are shorter. I also read that it sometimes rains during these months.

It’s a long message. I have been on it for a while. I just wanted to get back to everyone. I didn’t get a chance to write back sooner.

Thank you.

P.S. I highlighted your comments in blue to separate it from my comments but I haven’t a feeling that it won’t show up when I paste this into the forum.

No, it didn't.

SHOOT! I posted this in the wrong forum. How do I delete from here?

Appletea,
I just would like to let you know that I so enjoyed reading your posts here. I too and planning my trip to Italy and have the same questions you had planning your trip. I did read the whole post and on other websites as well but I have a few more...
Three Days in Almalfi
1. Sorrento/Positano??? We will have a car driving from Rome. I understand that Sorrento is more convenient to stay at rather than Positano. This is said quite often but since we have a car (dont have to takes trains/buses etc.) do you think we should stay here? I am leaning towards Positano because I think it will be more quaint seaside town. I cant seem to find info about Sorrento besides it being more convenient. I love Hotel Poseidon but will check out your fav Albergo Miramare.

2. I read that Positano has "little to do in the evening" and that sorrento has more to do. Would you please comment of this

3. How far drive from Sorrento-Positano? I heard 40 minutes. So, to me thats not too far to base my day trips.

4. Day trips....we arrive in sorr or posi after drivign from Rome. Prob arrive around 3ish. Next Day is 1/2 day Naples then Pompeii and maybe Herculeaum (sp?). Second day...beach, maybe ravello, almalfi drive, just relaxing in the towns.
5. Third day leave for Capri. We are planning on staying one night. Your posts and the posters that helped you were very helpful in the fact that I should stay in capri town instead of anacapri. After taking the 8 am ferry, we plan to do circular/blue grotto tour with private driver as was suggested. Do you know how long this takes? What company did you use? Will I have enought time to walk around town and such? I also need to find Hotel Moragna. I am not sure if its still exists but my Nana stayed here on her honeymoon and I ahve been dreaming of it since I was a little girl hearing her stories. Ok...went off on tangent here. Sorry! Thanks for all of your help and again it was agreat joy to read your post and all of the people who helped out! I look forward to hearing from you all
Stephanie

gaiaworld,
i think if you have one week, i would split it between capri and positano or sorrento. we used sorrento as a base for pompeii and a bus tour to paestum. from positano you can you day trip to ravello. from naples to capri - you take a ferry. as far as luggage goes, i would try to travel light, since there are a lot of stairs. otherwise you can have your hotel pick up your baggage for you from the ferry if you pay them.

travelgirl09,
1) are you set on having a car? we thought it was really convenient to travel without a car especially since the roads seem pretty small and hard to park. i would refer to tripadvisor for hotel reviews. i'm sure poseidon is really nice too. it sounds like you are learning towards positano. however, it depends on what you want to see and do? we felt sorrento was great for our train to pompeii and bus trip to paestum. positano is great, especially to to go to ravello.

2) i guess it depends on what you think is "little to do"? we like to enjoy a wonderful meal and then stroll around town. so i think you can do that in either town. positano is smaller, but still certainly enough to explore. there are dance clubs/bars in both cities too but we didn't go to any.

3) i think about 40 min. it's a windy drive though and hard to find parking i think?

4) i think 1/2 naples and pompeii and herculaneum - that is a little to ambitious. what are you planning on seeing in naples? unless there is something you want to see in naples, i'm not sure if stopping there for 1/2 day is going to let you really experience the city. i think pompei deserves at least half a day in itself at least. are you considering taking train from rome to naples and then to sorrento instead of driving? i don't remember the beach being easy to access in sorrento? but it was pretty easy for positano - lots and lots of stairs though

5. we really loved capri town but i believe other ppl do like anacapri as well. depending on how the weather is, the blue grotto may or may not be open. when the winds are too choppy, no entrance was allowed. we didn't get to go, but we still loved our experience on the island. i think you will still have time to explore the island as i don't think the whole blue grotto experience lasts too long but i'll defer to the other posters on that question.

hope you get to find hotel moragna. i would also check tripadvisor just in case good luck planning!

not sure if i was helpful, but hope a little bit at least!

Hey appletea - you are so kind to keep up with this thread. I would lOVE your opinion on something...

My husband and I (ages 37 & 40) are headed to Italy in July for 2 weeks. The first week we will be spending in Tuscany with family for my in-laws 50th anniversary. We expect this first week to be a very busy time seeing lots of sites. We are then have 7 nights on our own and will want to relax! We are currently scheduled to leave Lucca and go straight to Capri for 5 nights at La Minerva. So glad to hear you liked it! We then leave and spend 2 nights in Rome bfore heading home to Boston.

Question: should we consider going to Sorrento for 1 or 2 nights either on the way to or from Capri? As input on our taste, we spent part of our honeymoon on Santorini and wished we stayed longer (had 4 nights there).

Thanks!