donnapg

Due to an earlier arrival than anticipated we (2 adults and 2 teen boys) will have 2 full days in Sorrento before heading off to Rome.

We arrive at 8:30 am the Saturday before Easter, and leave for ROme on the Monday after(yeah I know not the best days - but no choice).

We were originally planning Easter Sunday in Pompeii and on Saturday a tour of the Amalfi Coast or a day in Capri.

After doing some further reading on this board it seems like we can combine Pompeii/Amalfi Coast drive in one day - is that too long a day? And if we did that on Saturday is anything going to be open in Capri on Sunday? (I know that Pompeii is open on Easter Sunday).

I would love some suggestions and ideas.

Thanks.

Donna

nytraveler

Doing Pompeii and the Amalfi Drive in one day is an awful lot. To really explore and appreciate Pompeii takes hours. And although the Amalfi drive may not be as busy as summer - easter weekend will not be empty. So - to stop and look at several towns - even on a cursory basis - will take most of another day.

DeborahAnn

donna, unless the boys are driving they might not think being driven along the coast much fun

My husband and I did one full day in Pompeii and another day driving in a smart car along the coast. Two things about the drive were a pain. Trying to find a parking spot in Positano and Amalfi (never did find one) and dodging scooters, which ranged from nerve-racking to just darn annoying.

We loved Sorrento, lots of kids out and about at night when we were there in November which your teens might enjoy. We found the town charming, lots of life on those narrow streets gt; Deborah

donnapg

I had the same feeling about combining Pompeii & the Amalfi drive together.

I was just hoping to find a way to fit all 3 things into 2 days which I guess won;t be happening.

Looks like I need to make a choice between Capri or the Amalfi Coast drive.

What is Capri like in mid April?

Thanks

Tiller

donnapg:

You probably already have this information since you have been researching.www.francescomarrapese.com/tour.htm does the coastal drive and Pompeii in a day. I have no idea on pricing, I have him bookmarked when I was researching same as you. Good Luck!
Tiller

Tiller

Well,

You can not click on that address and go anywhere, I don't know what happened-so just type in the address and it should come up!

Tiller

Cicerone

April is generally not a good month along the coast and not a good month to go to Capri at all IMO, it is too cool and rainy. Take a look at weatherbase.com for temps and rainfall. You could even have very cold weather. You could of course luck out and have sunny and dry weather, but I would not count on it. I don' think you would enjoy it, esp. if it is windy as the ride out will be rough and of course you won't be able to get into the Blue Grotto at all, and a boat trip around the island, one of the pleasures of going there, would not be fun. Walking on the island, another pleasure, is quite weather dependient. You are left with eating or shopping, as as that is Easter Saturday and you may find restaurants and shops closed. Finally, even if you arrive as schedule on the 8:30 am flight, unless you plan to store your luggage at the airport and go right to the docks, you are going to lose a good part of the day getting to Sorrento, your hotel, etc. I don't know the ferry schedule for April (it's off season) or for a holiday weekend, my guess is that ferry service is going to be quite infrequent. You may not even get to the island until the afternoon, which is going to cut signficiantly into sightseeing time.

I see from other posts that you are flying in from Venice and then driving by private car from Sorrento up to Rome. That is a lot of travelling and expense to go to for 2 days on the coast at a very iffy time of year, IMO. I think you would be better off taking the 2 days and splitting them between Rome and Venice where there is much more to do that is not so weather dependent, esp. in Rome. The coast is really all about the outdoors with a church or two thrown in and Pompeii is all outdoors so if it is 50 F and raining even that won't be that much fun, IMO. And if you could be in Rome for Easter that would be quite an occasion as well. If you want to see Pompeii-like ruins close to Rome, go to Ostica Antica, about 40 minutes south of Rome on the coast. Rick Steve's has a good self-guided tour to Ostia, go to http://www.ricksteves.com/news/0202/ostia.htm. The little town of Fumicino is nearby on the water and has some good and very casual seafood restaurants.

The catacombs outside Rome are a great day trip as well, I believe you can even do a bike tour.