westcoastgal67

My daughter found a place in Praiano for our family's visit to the Amalfi Coast, and my husband was wanting to make sure that the cheap price doesn't reflect a "rough" town or somewhere you wouldn't want to be! Any feedback on the area?

bobthenavigator

Spent a week there one year. Will you have a car?
What time of year. It is hard to define as a town--it stretches for miles along the main road. The part near the San Gennaro church is the only real town with shops, ATM, and stores.

Here are some glances that may help---the first few are in Praiano.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=4481

westcoastgal67

We will be there in May.

limmy

I have stayed in Praiano twice. It's not at all a "rough" town. I prefer if to Positano because it is less touristed & is smaller in terms of people, shops & restaurants. Note that it's not necessarily more compact, as the town is scattered across a healthy distance in terms of walking. There is a small local bus that will take you from one end of the village to the other, as well as to Positano & back. Praiano is not well connected to other villages by ferry like Positano & Amalfi. It depends on what kind of itinerary you have in mind whether or not Praiano is a good spot for you. On my last stay of 6 nights I spent one day in Positano & one day in Ravello. If I wanted to move more than that I might consider a different village. Your money will get you more in Praiano than the more popular villages if budget is a factor.

I like staying in the San Gennaro area close to the coastal road best. I personally really like Praiano but I am probably in the minority,

yipper

Stayed there for a week and loved it. We stayed at the Tramonto D'Oro. The view were fabulous and the food there. Good. There is a bus that takes you to Amalfi and Positano and to Sorento. At Amalfi there is a bus to Ralvello. It is quiet there but I enjoyed that. Safe and a nice place.

WWK

I've never stayed in Praiano, but unless it came down to budget, it wouldn't be my first pick. I find it too isolated from other villages/towns along the coast. There is some bus service, but it can be unreliable, and I'm not sure how often it runs after dark.

Kmd01

We stayed in Praiano for a week at Villa Maria Pia. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and found it to be a great base for day trips. It is spread out along the coast and fairly quiet but that suited us. Depending on where your accommodation is in Praiano and what you intend to do would determine if it's right for you, but it is not rough at all, and less touristy than some places nearby. Our accommodation was right near a bus stop and being right on the cliff we had fantastic views and access to the sea and grotto beneath.

bobthenavigator

Look at www.summerinitaly.com for many rentals in Praiano and see if yours appears. It is a mature market so a lower price is suspect. Pinpoint the location relative to bus stop and stores.

bobthenavigator

BTW, we stayed here--it was great for location and a block from the SITA bus stop.

http://www.summerinitaly.com/eng/ren...413!italy_.htm

ekscrunchy

I've stayed there, in a hotel, and would not do so again. There is no ferry, and there is no real town center, just populated areas strung out along the road and up the hillsides. Buses were horrifically crowded (I stayed there in late September) and since it is an intermediary stop, we often had to stand on rides east and west. The beaches are down very steep cliffsides with many steps, especially the one near the hotel I stayed at, Tramonto d'Oro, mentioned above.

ekc

ekscrunchy's description is exactly why I would not stay in Praiano. If you want to just relax in an apartment/B&B and not really travel anywhere, then it could be a lovely place to stay. If you want to see other villages or travel via ferry anywhere, there are other better options (Positano, for one).

DRJ

We've stayed twice at Onda Verde on the coast in Praiano. About a dozen rooms, all with views and balconies.

tuscanlifeedit

To me, the SITA bus that stops in Praiano is a nightmare. Very crowded and unreliable and difficult for anyone with motion sickness.

I wouldn't stay on the coast in a town without a ferry.

I have never stayed in Praiano.

ekscrunchy

Agree about that bus..and I have been before and after high season..not during.

Dayle

I've stayed in Praiano twice. Once at the end of March when everything was very quiet and getting on the SITA buses everywhere on the Amalfi Coast was easy. Second visit mid-Sept was a different story with the buses!

However, I liked Praiano because it's not resorty like Positano. A real town with lovely people and a couple of good restaurants. Not filled with tourist oriented shops with very high price tags.

If you are going from June - Sept and plan to travel along the coast to see other towns, Pompeii (I know it's not ON the coast) or perhaps even Paestum - stay where you can go by boat.