Day Trip to Capri: Advice Needed
Jun 28th, 2017, 06:37 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Day Trip to Capri: Advice Needed
We will spend 4 nights in Sorrento at the end of August/first of Sept and want to go over to Capri for a day trip. Would like to see the Blue Grotto and explore the island. Having looked into various tours, we've decided to visit on our own. Some advise pre-paying the round trip ferry to avoid lines, but I don't have a sense as to how many hours we need on the island (in our late 60's so major hiking is out - but will use the various transportation options on the island to get around). Here are my questions:
1. Should we prepay (reserve) RT Ferry from Sorrento?
2. How many hours should we plan for the day to include the Villa San Michele, the Blue Grotto, and lunch in the piazza of Anacapri?
3. What time of day should we go over to minimize crowds?
4. Will we be missing out if we don't do a full boat tour all around the island? I'm open to this.
5. What are the best strategies for catching a boat transfer to the Blue Grotto and who are the reputable operators? (I've read some worrisome stories about the amount of time waiting to go into the Grotto and unscrupulous boat drivers who tell their passengers lies about the wait so the passengers will "pass" and the boat driver can get back quickly to pick up another group).
1. Should we prepay (reserve) RT Ferry from Sorrento?
2. How many hours should we plan for the day to include the Villa San Michele, the Blue Grotto, and lunch in the piazza of Anacapri?
3. What time of day should we go over to minimize crowds?
4. Will we be missing out if we don't do a full boat tour all around the island? I'm open to this.
5. What are the best strategies for catching a boat transfer to the Blue Grotto and who are the reputable operators? (I've read some worrisome stories about the amount of time waiting to go into the Grotto and unscrupulous boat drivers who tell their passengers lies about the wait so the passengers will "pass" and the boat driver can get back quickly to pick up another group).
Jun 28th, 2017, 08:45 AM
#4
I wouldn't pre-pay for a Blue Grotto excursion, but I would probably pre-pay the ferry rides. Then again, I'd probably skip the Blue Grotto altogether. I haven't heard as much about unscrupulous operators as about crazy-long waits to enter the Grotto at that time of year because of the sheer number of boats. It just wouldn't be worth all the wasted time to me.
We enjoyed the chairlift ride from Anacapri to the top of Mt. Solaro.
FWIW, I think you want as much time as possible on the island, and the last ferry back to Sorrento isn't very late, so I would start out as early as you're able.
We enjoyed the chairlift ride from Anacapri to the top of Mt. Solaro.
FWIW, I think you want as much time as possible on the island, and the last ferry back to Sorrento isn't very late, so I would start out as early as you're able.
Jun 28th, 2017, 09:53 AM
#5
Oh, don't miss the majolica floor of the church in Anacapri:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser..._Campania.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser..._Campania.html
Jun 28th, 2017, 05:51 PM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unfortuatnlyely, I don’t believe you can make a plan that guarantees ANY of these experiences in advance. As just one example, access to the Blue Grotto varies with the tides and weather. If you really want to maximize your chance of seeing the things you list, then IME, you might want to stay ON Capri for a night or two – even if you have to pay for hotels in both Sorrento and Capri on those nights.
1. I would not.
2. Depends on your interests and pace.
3. For the Blue Grotta, I don’t think you have a real choice – as noted above, it’s subject to tides and weather. For the Villa San Mchele, if it’s crowded when you get there, you might only need to wait until the crowds move on. That was my experience; of course, things could have changed…
4. I was not enthralled by the round-the-island boat ride, but I don’t know how I would have felt had I NOT taken it. FWIW, I saw parts of the island – including the magnificent Faraglioni Rocks – from the ferry I took from Sicily to Napoli. I can easily imagine that seeing the Faraglioni Rocks from the water would justify the full round-the-island boat tour of Capri.
5. I haven’t heard of the problems you describe. I’m not saying they don’t occur, but I would say that if you make arrangements through your hotel, that hotel has an investment in ensuring that your experience is as planned – or if the plan proves impossible (because of weather or whatever), that you are given an explanation.
FWIW, I think you are asking for too fine a level of guarantee. Weather matters. If these experiences truly matter to you, I think you would be well advised to find a more flexible approach to them. JMO.
Good luck!
1. I would not.
2. Depends on your interests and pace.
3. For the Blue Grotta, I don’t think you have a real choice – as noted above, it’s subject to tides and weather. For the Villa San Mchele, if it’s crowded when you get there, you might only need to wait until the crowds move on. That was my experience; of course, things could have changed…
4. I was not enthralled by the round-the-island boat ride, but I don’t know how I would have felt had I NOT taken it. FWIW, I saw parts of the island – including the magnificent Faraglioni Rocks – from the ferry I took from Sicily to Napoli. I can easily imagine that seeing the Faraglioni Rocks from the water would justify the full round-the-island boat tour of Capri.
5. I haven’t heard of the problems you describe. I’m not saying they don’t occur, but I would say that if you make arrangements through your hotel, that hotel has an investment in ensuring that your experience is as planned – or if the plan proves impossible (because of weather or whatever), that you are given an explanation.
FWIW, I think you are asking for too fine a level of guarantee. Weather matters. If these experiences truly matter to you, I think you would be well advised to find a more flexible approach to them. JMO.
Good luck!
