Help with Naples & Amalfi Coast Itinerary
Jun 24th, 2012, 09:25 AM
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Help with Naples & Amalfi Coast Itinerary
Hello. We are a couple in our mid thirties from the NYC area. We travel a lot and love Italy. A few years back, we took our parents to Venice, Rome, Florence, and Siena. They loved it so we're starting to plan a trip for this October to the Amalfi Coast. We haven't locked down dates yet, but we are leaning towards something in the range of Oct 15-30th. We love the slower pace of Italy and the amazing food and wine that the country offers. We love strolling around, seeing beautiful sights, and taking time to enjoy the amazing food and wine the country offers.
Our parents are in their late 60s/early 70s. They are healthy and fully mobile, but my mom is starting to tire a little sooner than she used to. There will be a total of five of us. We want to see a lot without rushing and would like to avoid unnecessary packing/unpacking.
I've skimmed the other itineraries posted here, and have come up with the following:
Fly NYC to Naples.
Spend 2 nights in Naples
Transfer to Capri
Spend 2 nights in Capri
Transfer to Positano
Spend 7 nights in Positano
Transfer to Naples
Spend 1 additional night in Naples and fly out the next day
Naples: We want to spend time in Naples because we enjoy cities and the culture and nightlife they offer. In Naples we plan on seeing the palaces, castles, museums, and a few of the key churches, all while eating and drinking along the way. We want to be really close to bars/restaurants/nightlife.
Capri: We plan on visiting the Blue Grotto, Monte Solaro. We'll also likely do a boat tour and some light hiking.
Positano: We selected Positano as our AC base because of it's beauty. We're planning on renting a 3 bedroom villa, most of which seem to require at least a week. Our initial plans include seeing the Roosters, doing some light hiking, spending some time on the beach and eating/drinking wine. We want to be really close to bars/restaurants/nightlife. We also want to be close to transportation so we can do day trips to the other Amalfi Coast destinations (Sorrento, Salerno, Amalfi, Ravello, etc).
Questions:
1) Any general thoughts on our itinerary?
2) Is it possible for us to find a Positano Villa that is positioned in a way that minimizes steps, or are steps an unavoidable part of enjoying Positano? Exactly how bad are the steps?
3) Is Positano the best place on the AC for good nightlife? - we do not want to be bored at night...
4) Is there anything that we're missing?
Thanks in advance for your help!!!!!!!
Our parents are in their late 60s/early 70s. They are healthy and fully mobile, but my mom is starting to tire a little sooner than she used to. There will be a total of five of us. We want to see a lot without rushing and would like to avoid unnecessary packing/unpacking.
I've skimmed the other itineraries posted here, and have come up with the following:
Fly NYC to Naples.
Spend 2 nights in Naples
Transfer to Capri
Spend 2 nights in Capri
Transfer to Positano
Spend 7 nights in Positano
Transfer to Naples
Spend 1 additional night in Naples and fly out the next day
Naples: We want to spend time in Naples because we enjoy cities and the culture and nightlife they offer. In Naples we plan on seeing the palaces, castles, museums, and a few of the key churches, all while eating and drinking along the way. We want to be really close to bars/restaurants/nightlife.
Capri: We plan on visiting the Blue Grotto, Monte Solaro. We'll also likely do a boat tour and some light hiking.
Positano: We selected Positano as our AC base because of it's beauty. We're planning on renting a 3 bedroom villa, most of which seem to require at least a week. Our initial plans include seeing the Roosters, doing some light hiking, spending some time on the beach and eating/drinking wine. We want to be really close to bars/restaurants/nightlife. We also want to be close to transportation so we can do day trips to the other Amalfi Coast destinations (Sorrento, Salerno, Amalfi, Ravello, etc).
Questions:
1) Any general thoughts on our itinerary?
2) Is it possible for us to find a Positano Villa that is positioned in a way that minimizes steps, or are steps an unavoidable part of enjoying Positano? Exactly how bad are the steps?
3) Is Positano the best place on the AC for good nightlife? - we do not want to be bored at night...
4) Is there anything that we're missing?
Thanks in advance for your help!!!!!!!
Jun 24th, 2012, 09:48 AM
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You are really going kind of late in the year. The further into the fall the more likley that seas wil be rough, ferries won;t run and there won;t be any access to the Blue Grotto. (As it is the clearance is only about 5 feet if the sea is flat - if ti's rough at all you can get in only underwater.)
We have never looked at villas in the area - but both Positano and Amalfi are VERY steep - with many, many dozens of steps - hundreds - depending where you are. And you should understand that these aren;t cities, they're actually very small towns cut into the side of a cliff.
Don't know about nightlife in Positano - I would have a look at Sorrento - which is a larger town on the Bay of Naples, is much flatter (at least the center), has many more restaurants and shops and I believe better ferry service.
Before doing any further planning I would check ferry schedules to see when they cut back and when they stop for the year (may be the beginning of Nov).
As for the "beautiful" beaches - they really aren;t. Mostly rocks or pebbles, narrow, half covered with small boats and other paraphernalia. There are a few nice beaches - but some are private to top luxe hotels. And it's too cold for swimming - OK for walking on days it doesn't rain. I suggest checking the towns and beaches out on google earth to get an idea of what they look like.
Don;t misunderstand me. The area is charming and there's a lot to see and do - esp Pompeii and the archeo museum in Naples - but the second half of Oct could be pleasant or cool and rainy. In any case, by then it should be quiet rather than bustling.
We have never looked at villas in the area - but both Positano and Amalfi are VERY steep - with many, many dozens of steps - hundreds - depending where you are. And you should understand that these aren;t cities, they're actually very small towns cut into the side of a cliff.
Don't know about nightlife in Positano - I would have a look at Sorrento - which is a larger town on the Bay of Naples, is much flatter (at least the center), has many more restaurants and shops and I believe better ferry service.
Before doing any further planning I would check ferry schedules to see when they cut back and when they stop for the year (may be the beginning of Nov).
As for the "beautiful" beaches - they really aren;t. Mostly rocks or pebbles, narrow, half covered with small boats and other paraphernalia. There are a few nice beaches - but some are private to top luxe hotels. And it's too cold for swimming - OK for walking on days it doesn't rain. I suggest checking the towns and beaches out on google earth to get an idea of what they look like.
Don;t misunderstand me. The area is charming and there's a lot to see and do - esp Pompeii and the archeo museum in Naples - but the second half of Oct could be pleasant or cool and rainy. In any case, by then it should be quiet rather than bustling.
Jun 24th, 2012, 01:33 PM
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As nytraveler says, do check into the ferry schedules as you are planning for a late-season trip.
Assuming you can get to Capri - and it is lovely! - have you considered going straight there and putting all your time in Naples together at the end of your trip? It would mean one less move. But perhaps you prefer to have your time in dynamic Naples at the start rather than end of your trip.
I'm a great fan of Naples, and from your plans, it sounds like you should enjoy it. You might do well to add some time there. If you "plan on seeing the palaces, castles, museums, and a few of the key churches, all while eating and drinking along the way," I would think you would need at least 3 days there, if not 4. And Naples is a logical place from which to see Pompeii and Ercolano.
Hope that helps!
Assuming you can get to Capri - and it is lovely! - have you considered going straight there and putting all your time in Naples together at the end of your trip? It would mean one less move. But perhaps you prefer to have your time in dynamic Naples at the start rather than end of your trip.
I'm a great fan of Naples, and from your plans, it sounds like you should enjoy it. You might do well to add some time there. If you "plan on seeing the palaces, castles, museums, and a few of the key churches, all while eating and drinking along the way," I would think you would need at least 3 days there, if not 4. And Naples is a logical place from which to see Pompeii and Ercolano.
Hope that helps!
Jun 25th, 2012, 02:32 AM
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Great, thanks for the advice NYtraveler and Kja. Based on this, we are trying to change our dates to Sep 6-20th and will likely transfer to Capri immediately from Naples and spend all of our nights in Naples at the back end of the trip. Please keep the ideas coming, thanks again!
Jun 25th, 2012, 05:58 AM
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Amalfi is flatter than Positano and has better transport connections. You won't find much nightlife in Positano or Amalfi. There is a little more nightlife in Sorrento and Salerno, but both are less scenic (Sorrento has the best transport options to the coast, airport and Naples).
Jun 25th, 2012, 06:20 AM
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Click on my name to find my trip report from 2010 in both Naples and on the AC. Look at www.summerinitaly.com for rentals.
Jun 29th, 2012, 06:47 PM
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Thanks again for all of your help. We are flying out of NYC on Thursday September 6th, and land in Naples on Friday September 7th @ 2:15pm. Because the villa we are interested in is not available until Saturday, September 8th, we are wondering what to do for lodging on that Friday night. Should we just stay in Naples and then transfer to Positano the next day, or do you think we'd have enough time to get to Capri and enjoy it for a day, and then transfer to Positano on Saturday afternoon? Would doing it this way allow enough time to take in Capri? Thanks in advance!
Jun 30th, 2012, 04:52 AM
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Hi bsp,
Not much to do in Salerno, but you could continue on to see the Greek ruins at Paestum
http://www.paestum.de/en/paestum.htm
It's a nice daytrip from Positano.
Take the ferry to Salerno. The train station is about 2 blks from the ferry docks. Train to Paestum.
For the return, take the bus from the Salerno train station to Positano with a change in Amalfi.
For Ferry schedules Positano – Amalfi - Salerno (P.zza della Concordia):
See http://www.coopsantandrea.com/it/ser...ea/servizi.asp
For current timetables between Capri/Amalfi Coast the most reliable link is:
http://www.capri.net/en/ship-timetable
Enjoy your visit.
Not much to do in Salerno, but you could continue on to see the Greek ruins at Paestum
http://www.paestum.de/en/paestum.htm
It's a nice daytrip from Positano.
Take the ferry to Salerno. The train station is about 2 blks from the ferry docks. Train to Paestum.
For the return, take the bus from the Salerno train station to Positano with a change in Amalfi.
For Ferry schedules Positano – Amalfi - Salerno (P.zza della Concordia):
See http://www.coopsantandrea.com/it/ser...ea/servizi.asp
For current timetables between Capri/Amalfi Coast the most reliable link is:
http://www.capri.net/en/ship-timetable
Enjoy your visit.
