winnieenglish

Hi, I am trying to gauge how much time to allow to leave Positano, go to Amalfi (shop and see the sights), then continue on to Minori (shop and see the sights) and then Maori where we will (shop and see the sights) and have dinner at 6:45.

Also have heard that the bus is an hour and a half to Amalfi. The ferry is a half hour to Amalfi and a rented car or taxi (20-30EU?) is a half hour. Is the drive more flat than the amalfi coast drive in the north? If there are hairpin turns in this area, I'm not sure if I want to drive it but if it's just tight driving, I can do it as I'm used to NYC driving.

michelhuebeli

Maori is the name of the indigenous population of New Zealand.
MAIORI and MINORI are two localities on the Amalfi coast.

Travel times along that coastal stretch can be unpredictable - all it takes is a couple of slow vehicles and everything crawls along. So ignore predictions and guesses, just give yourself lots and lots of time. As the driver you won't be able to see much of the gorgeous scenery because your eyes will have to be glued to the road and the vehicle ahead of you. A bus alleviates that problem.

http://www.positano.com/en/bus-sched...=amalfi_napoli

winnieenglish

Sorry about the misspelling. I'm going in the beginning of June. Thank you so much. The bus is an hour and a half just to Amalfi though. It's hard to decide because you're so right about eyes being glued to the road. I'll ponder some more.

winnieenglish

Do you think if we left at noon, that might be good?

michelhuebeli

Good how? Leaves you less time for the rest of the day, doesn't it? I would take an early bus and enjoy the views - so what if it takes a bit longer than you might in your own car. And you don't have to waste time looking for parking when you get there, something that is not trivial.

frencharmoire

Something you need to bear in mind is traffic on the Amalfi drive can be quite slow going. Sometimes things are at a standstill. I've also heard (but never experienced) that if people are lined up 40 deep to get on the buses not everyone gets on -- so you might have to wait for the next bus if you choose not to drive. The ferries are more capacious. Taxis are available to leave whenever you want, but they also can get stuck in traffic. Might make a difference which day of the week you are going.

The problem with driving is not just the hairpin turns on the narrow road but that if you get nose to nose with a tour bus, one of you needs to back up, and that might be you (driving a stick shift?)

How are you getting back after dinner? Most people don't enjoy eating a full meal and then being in a motor vehicle on the twisty Amalfi drive for any length of time.

I think if it were me, and there was some restaurant in Maiori I just felt my life wouldn't be complete unless I ate there, I would go for lunch. Work my way back. I think I'd take an early ferry to Amalfi, shop & sightsee until 11 or so, head to Maiori, have lunch around 1.30, make a stop in Minori after lunch, then back to Positano. I don't know it's possible to get a return ferry to Positano from Amalfi later in the day in June. But that would be my preference.

kybourbon

The bus from Positano is not 1 1/2 hours to Amalfi. It's 40 minutes.

>>>If there are hairpin turns in this area, I'm not sure if I want to drive it but if it's just tight driving, I can do it as I'm used to NYC driving.<<<

Yes, hairpin turns. NYC driving is not comparable at all and certainly not any advantage. You might need to back up big distances on those hairpin turns with your mirrors folded in. Can you drive a manual transmission? Perhaps there is car rental in Positano, but I haven't heard of anyone renting there. Typically, you have to go to Salerno or Sorrento to pick up a car. A one day rental will often cost as much as a three day.

ekc

Many hairpin turns. Take the ferry to Amalfi. There is also a ferry from Amalfi to Maiori and Minori. Then taxi to Positano after dinner.