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Rome, Amalfi coast September/October help

Rome, Amalfi coast September/October help

Old Feb 7th, 2016, 11:37 AM
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Rome, Amalfi coast September/October help

Planning a return trip to Italy with adult children, beginning with 3 nights in Rome and ending with an overnight near the airport in Rome for morning flight. The Amalfi Coast has been a long time dream. I have poured through your forums (thank you very much), but am still puzzled about the best itinerary and if early October would be pushing it for any swimming time. What's more, the "kids" have about 8 days and my husband and I have at least 10. I'd like to see Pompeii (kids have already been there in college). So, if you could help me with the following:
-mid-september or first week of October?
-Base in Capri for 3 or 4 nights and take ferries to Positano, Amalfi, Ravello?
-Base in Positano for 3 nights and Capri for one night?

Then there is the added confusion of getting there. We are used to driving through Italy from Rome, but will not attempt the drive down the coast. Plan on getting to Naples and getting a driver to Positano or taking ferry to Capri depending which plan we use.
Thanks in advance for any help.
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joycap is offline  
Old Feb 7th, 2016, 12:16 PM
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With the differing lengths of vacations for you and the kids, and with you having one more thing to see (Pompeii), the solution is fairly simple. Start together in Rome. Then head south. Instead of returning to Rome just to catch a plane, fly home out of Naples, with the kids leaving two days before you do.

I gave up predicting weather the last time I left my umbrella at home, but in general, September could be better than October for your purposes, if only due to increased daylight time. When to leave Rome and how many places to stay in the south (Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi, Naples) is up to you. The fast train will get you to Naples in less time than it takes to pick up a rental car, and there is no place to park or drive in the Amalfi area.

Spending your last two nights in Naples would give you easy access to Pompeii, the Archeological Museum, pizza, and the airport. If you click my name, you will find an overly wordy trip report from May 2012 that may give you some ideas.

Have fun!
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Old Feb 7th, 2016, 01:19 PM
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We were in Positano and Conca dei Marini in mid September 2015and was still quite hot mid-day. Rome was slightly cooler when we left but if I remember correctly, I think the AC also got cooler the day we left. The weather was not unpleasant and swimming was certainly nice but it was hot where there was no shade.

Can't predict the weather, so I think Spetember and early October are both good times. Enjoy the trip!
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Old Feb 7th, 2016, 01:29 PM
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I have been mid and late September/early October and always found it pleasant for swimming and some beach days so I think you are ok with either. September is my favorite time to be on the AC though. When I was younger and poorer I would do the planes, trains (multiple) and automobiles (buses) routine but now I use a driver from the train station or airport in Napoli to Positano. I have a good driver I use who I can recommend if you would like. I believe last trip was 110 or 115 euro each way that was May 2014 and reasonable if split with a group.

I prefer to stay in Positano and visit different cities (Capri, Amalfi, Ravello), others prefer the reverse. I have split between both when staying longer but Capri just really isn't my thing. Up to you as everyone is different. For me Positano is paradise.

Have an excellent trip, whatever you decide.
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Old Feb 7th, 2016, 04:35 PM
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Staying on Capri is not a great idea since the ferries in the evening are either very sparse or nonexistent. If you spent the day and wanted dinner in Amalfi or Positano I think you might have to hire a private bot to get back to Capri. Or else leave the mainland by 4 or 5 pm.

Not sure of exact times of ferries in Sept or Oct - I would check but think even those to Naples do not run into the evening.
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Old Feb 7th, 2016, 08:41 PM
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I agree with nytraveler about Capri -- do spend 1 night there if you can, as it is a far more magical place after day-trippers leave, but don't base there -- too many uncertainties associated with the ferry schedules and weather, particular in late Sept. / early Oct.

"beginning with 3 nights in Rome and ending with an overnight near the airport in Rome for morning flight."

Have you already booked your flights? If not consider flying into Rome and out of Naples or vice versa. No reason to back track if you don't need to! If you do already have your flights, than is there any chance of moving on from Rome right after arriving and putting all of your time in Rome at the end? Might not work, but if it does, saves you one change of hotels.

To get from Naples to Positano (or anywhere else on the Amalfi Coast), you can also train to Salerno and then take either a ferry or bus along the coast.

Enjoy!
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 03:02 AM
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Great suggestions! Thank you. I will base in Positano. What are your thoughts of doing an overnight at the end in Capri and then "kids" taking ferry to Naples to head home. I was thinking my husband and I could then do an overnight in Sorrento to see Pompeii prior to heading back to Rome. Thoughts?

Also, am thinking about Villa Rosa in Positano. Does anyone know of any apartments which may be more reasonable for my 5 people?

Also, investigated flying out of Naples, but the only flight goes into New York and we live in Phila. So, we'll have to stick with Rome.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 06:23 AM
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I booked Villa Rosa for my stay in Positano this April. I'll report back about it!

If you're looking for an apartment, and that might make sense since you are a party of five, I recommend airbnb. I did a lot (and I mean TONS) of research about apartments and airbnb was, to me, the most secure method of reserving and paying for an apartment.

Of course, that is just my opinion - I haven't arrived at the apartment in Rome as we travel there at the end of March. Will report back on that as well.

We live just outside Philly....zero flights to Naples out of Philadelphia, so we wound up booking a direct flight into Venice and out of Rome.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 03:27 PM
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We flew in and out if Rome, as Naples isn't a direct destination from Atlanta. We used a driver to/from Positano. Obviously, a train is an adoption but especially on the way in, we just wanted to get to Positano and our vacation!
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 04:09 PM
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"What are your thoughts of doing an overnight at the end in Capri and then "kids" taking ferry to Naples to head home. I was thinking my husband and I could then do an overnight in Sorrento to see Pompeii prior to heading back to Rome. Thoughts?"

If you and your husband are willing to sacrifice Capri, that could be a very good solution to your desire to see Pompeii -- assuming the ferries aren't thrown off schedule due to bad weather. I would think you could get decent information about that from your hotel in Positano in advance, so your children can make a wise decision.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 06:57 PM
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Don't waste time overnighting in Sorrento just to see Pompeii - you can do that on your way to the airport/Rome. There are places to store luggage both at the train station and the Pompeii ticket office.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 08:38 PM
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I am somewhat biased about Villa Rosa as I stayed there on my very first trip to Positano and now count the Caldiero daughters as friends (Marianna the older daughter runs VR) but imo you can't find a hotel/b&b that cares more about their guests. The views from the balcony are just amazing and I think it's a good value considering the location, service and that view. That said there are definitely some more reasonable places higher up the hill. I would look at airbnb and other rental sites.

Agree with advice to see Pompeii on way in or out and not overnight in Sorrento. Alternatively overnight in Napoli, which is a completely different but amazing city and see from there. Also, I wouldn't argue against a night on Capri, especially if you have 10 days. It is a beautiful place.
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Old Feb 9th, 2016, 07:15 AM
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Capri should not be a "last night" since you can't count on the weather allowing a scheduled ferry departure for a flight the next day.
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Old Feb 9th, 2016, 07:37 AM
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I agree w/ the post above. My family nearly missed a flight home due to bad weather and no ferry service from Capri. Don't do it!

Arrange a day trip from either Naples or, better yet, Sorrento.
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