Positano in high season???

Old Mar 1st, 2015, 12:01 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Positano in high season???

Hi all,

Just wondering how crazy Positano is in July. I was planning to stay here 4-5 nights with a day trip to Capri (and or other areas nearby if anyone has suggestions). Should I be looking elsewhere or splitting up my time between here and somewhere else? We want to take this time to enjoy some swimming and beach (relax!) while taking in the amazing scenery! I hear Positano is magical. Will we be bored here?
Thanks
meaganc is offline  
Old Mar 1st, 2015, 01:19 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would not be bored in that time. This may help---have fun !



BOB’S FAVORITE HOTELS ON THE AMALFI COAST---2014


POSITANO: 3 STAR HOTELS---150 TO 250E FOR DOUBLE—AVERAGE 170E

1. www.villarosapositano.it Popular hotel with great views—lots of steps

2. www.hotelcaliforniapositano.it Small hotel near above—great terrace

3. www.casalbertina.it Fabulous views, but you will need good legs

4. http://www.reginellahotel.it/en/hotel/ terrific value & views—no lift


POSITANO: 4 STAR HOTELS---200 TO 350E FOR TYPICAL DOUBLE

5. www.bucadibacco.it On the beach—nice hotel and great food

6. www.hotelposeidonpositano.it Hard to beat in this price range

7. www.puntaregina.com Terrific views and helpful hosts--romantic

8. www.palazzomurat.it Very nice centro location—historic site

9. http://www.marincanto.it/ Love the views and the pool


AMALFI , SORRENTO, RAVELLO:

1. http://www.villaoriana.it/en Charming boutique hotel on hill above Sorrento

2. http://www.hotelantichemura.com/en/ Perfect location in centro Sorrento

3. http://www.villamaria.it/ Lovely 4 star in Ravello with terrific food

4. http://www.hotelsantacaterina.it/en/index Your splurge option near Amalfi
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Mar 1st, 2015, 02:41 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Positano is gorgeous. I couldnt imagine be bored there for 4-5 nights. We ahve been sevral times in the past and it was crowded, but not bad. We were there at the end of September last year and it was jampacked. So crowded that we left early. Enjoy your trip!
yestravel is offline  
Old Mar 1st, 2015, 02:42 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Forgot to mention -- don't miss Ravello.
yestravel is offline  
Old Mar 2nd, 2015, 05:06 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everyone!!
meaganc is offline  
Old Mar 2nd, 2015, 06:21 PM
  #6  
WWK
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bored in Positano? Now that's funny! Yes, it will be very crowded in July, but you can avoid some of the heavier crowds by doing your sightseeing/shopping early in the morning or late in the day. And/or by walking away from town toward Fornillo Beach, which is much less crazy than the beach in town.
WWK is offline  
Old Mar 2nd, 2015, 07:09 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
WWK - Any specific suggestions for day trips?

May people are saying that it is much better to stay in Sorrento rather than Positano - is this true? How much should I be budgeting for day trips?

WWK you also mentioned shopping/sightseeing - is there lots of this in Positano?

Any beaches/awesome swimming areas I should look for in Positano or surrounding area?

Also I read this very horrific article about how in the summer months it is so busy in Positano it is impossible to do day trips using public transportation (bus) because they are so full with people. Apparently you often can not get on the bus because it is so busy. Any thoughts here?
meaganc is offline  
Old Mar 2nd, 2015, 08:28 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
People take the ferries in July to avoid the long lines of people trying to get on the buses or getting caught in traffic jams along the one road that goes along the coast. It is extremely crowded with tour buses in July.

Because of it's location and traffic, it is very hard to reach Pompei from Positano, and Naples, so people who are interested in seeing those places prefer to stay in Sorrento. Also people who don't like climbing stairs all the time prefer Sorrento. It's really very subjective.

Positano is nearly entirely about shopping, or looking at the view (or taking day trips to repeat that experience).

For what it is worth, I don't find Positano very interesting for very long, and the atmosphere is very compromised by how many tourists are there. But you can see I am in a minority of people who answered your post. Were I going to the Amalfi coast in July, I would bring things to do (to read, paint, sketch, write) and stay in Ravello the whole time, or the Sorrentine hills away from the town, or on one of the islands. If you are the type of person who likes a lot of shopping, then you might find lots to do other than lounging, swimming, hikes, taking snapshots.
sandralist is offline  
Old Mar 2nd, 2015, 08:36 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
https://diaryofaparttimetraveler.wor.../tag/positano/
sandralist is offline  
Old Mar 2nd, 2015, 08:59 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
http://positanodailyphoto.blogspot.i...1_archive.html
sandralist is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 03:02 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Sandralist! I will check out the posts and I appreciate your feedback. I am wondering - would you recommend splitting up the stay? A few nights in Positano and a few nights in Sorrento? We have 5 nights total in this area.

I already found beautiful place in Positano I would like to stay at. Any suggestions (that are price friendly) in Sorrento? I am not really familiar with the area. A place where you can still swim would be ideal

Thanks!!
meaganc is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 03:31 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It really depends on what you want out of the experience of the area. If you are imagining a very beautiful place to perch where you can relax as the primary fun of enjoying the area, and never set the alarm clock, and will figure out every day whether you want to sit and gaze at the view and put on more suntan and just eat when you feel like it, and maybe or maybe not go shopping, and only go sightseeing if you are really motivated -- then that is the sort of thing Positano is just made for in July.

But if you are certain you want to get to Pompei, then you really must get there early in the morning in July before it turns into a frying pan, and if you want to take the bus out of Positano to the other Amalfi towns then you have to get up early to beat the crowds, and if you also want to go to Capri or Naples because for you it's a "must see," then you might do better to stay in Sorrento, where the transportation connections are so much better (and also if you really get irritated climbing lots of stairs in the hot sun because Sorrento is flat). Lots of places there have pools.

Just to give you an idea: Some years I went to the Italian Riviera with a list of things to sightsee, but when I got to my hotel, it had such a very beautiful terrace and sea view, so I kept making up excuses not to leave it or go much beyond the village. And it was great fun -- so much fun I eventually decided to live on the Italian Riviera. But I have relatives who visit me who are always looking for stuff to see and do since they are in Italy. I'm happy to take them out of town and show them around a bit -- but that is easy here because there is a train station right in town. In Positano, one you are there, you are pretty much there unless you are very motivated to get up early and spend time and money getting other places.

I would only stay in Positano if I knew that if ended up missing other places, it wouldn't bother me, and if I had a nice book or things to doodle (or needed a big sleep!)
sandralist is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 03:35 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
PS: By the way, other people find it exciting to be in Positano for days at a time whether they bring a book or not. I'm not much of shopper, and that might be part of it. There are nice hikes you can take if you enjoy hiking (but it is likely to be hot in July).
sandralist is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 06:16 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I experienced full buses in Amalfi when I was there in May 2013, so I would not stay in Positano in July if I wanted to do a lot of moving from town to town.
If you wish to see Pompeii, perhaps you could arrange your schedule to see it on the way in or out--but again, remember it will be very hot.
There are two books on hiking in the area, and if you are interested in that I would check them out in advance so you can plan for any hikes. I would also research the beaches.
https://www.summerinitaly.com/guide/...-coast_beaches
yorkshire is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 09:37 AM
  #15  
WWK
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
meaganc,

Positano, Sorrento, and Capri are all insanely busy in the summer months. If you go in July, you'll have to deal with crowds, although you can avoid some of that with good planning.

Only you know what kind of traveler you are. I could spend a month in Positano doing not much more than taking long walks, hanging out at Fornillo Beach, staring out to sea, and eating great food/wine in town or the mountain village of Montepertuso.

The dreaded SITA buses that connect the towns are awful, but we usually avoid them by taking boats as much as possible. For instance, you can take a boat to Amalfi, then a taxi up to Ravello. You can also take a boat to Capri from the dock in Positano, but some days it does get cancelled if the water is rough.

There's limited shopping, but some interesting boutiques back and forth between the beach and town, most of them selling beautiful ceramics, dried pasta, handmade clothes, or the ubiquitous lemon produces ( shampoos, fragrances, soaps, etc.).

If all of the above sounds unappealing, you should probably skip Positano.

Now about Sorrento. It's a medium-sized city with lots of traffic and even more tour buses than you'll find in Positano, especially in the summer. That's why it does absolutely nothing for me. However, it's an excellent transportation hub.

The local train will take you straight to the entrance of Pompeii in about half an hour. And the boats/hydrofoils from the port to Capri are more reliable than boats from Positano.

Lastly, you asked about swimming. This part of Italy is not the Caribbean! Beaches are often narrow with tiny pebbles or gravel. Many people swim in the small coves along the coast, off the sides of boats, or, in Sorrento, off stone piers.

Good luck with your choice!
WWK is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 09:53 AM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
WWK thanks so much for your help!! Yes I know it is not beaches like the caribbean but we more wanted to have the opportunity to do some relaxing under the sun and of course swimming since we will have been pretty fast paced in the other parts of our trip. Can you swim anywhere? This is the location of where we are staying - would you say this is a good spot location-wise Via Liparlati 53 - 84017 Positano (SA)?

Also, can you give me an idea of what a good budget for food would be while we are there. We do get breakfast where we are staying.

How much would you estimate for a taxi to Ravello as you suggested?

Thank you so much!
meaganc is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 10:02 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would like staying somewhere like that--up high, but you will need to figure out how to get down to the coast to get to a beach. The reviews on Trip Advisor give you excellent info regarding transport.
yorkshire is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 11:21 AM
  #18  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks yorkshire!!
meaganc is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 06:37 PM
  #19  
WWK
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't know the names of streets that well in Positano. But I did check a map and it looks like the B&B is closer to Fornillo Beach, so about a 20 minute walk into town.

Please keep in mind that Positano is a vertical city, so that 20 minute walk down is not as bad as the 20 minute walk back up to your hotel.

You might want to find something midway between town and beach or at ground level instead.

About swimming: There is a town beach which will be packed in July, or Fornillo Beach, which is about a 15 minute walk from the town dock.

Along the way, look for one my favorite restaurants on the right-hand side, LO GUARACINO. It's a wonderful pizzeria/pasta place with amazing water views and great, reasonably priced food.

Food budget is hard to predict, since you can get anything from a slice of pizza and gelato to a four-course dinner.

About Ravello: I can't remember how much we paid for the cab from Amalfi, but I don't think it was much. We walked back down to Amalfi after visiting Ravello.
WWK is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2015, 06:40 PM
  #20  
WWK
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just want to clear something up: Positano is a city of stairs. That could get a bit old if your hotel is really a 20 minute walk back and forth to town/beach level. Especially in the heat of July.

You might want to check out some places midway between beach or town or at ground level instead.
WWK is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -