TJinSOMA

So I have settled on an itinerary and am now looking for advice and critique. We're spending two weeks in Italy (this is our fifth trip and have been all over Tuscany, Venice and Rome previously). We're renting a villa in Cortona with friends for the first week and thought we would do southern Italy for the second week. Plan as follows:

7 nights - Cortona (day trips form here)

2 nights - Capri (plan is to drop rental car in Arrezzo and then take train to Naples and hydrofoil to Capri. Makes for a long travel day but then we figure Capri will be laid back since the island is small)

3 nights - Positano (day trip to Ravello and hire a guide/driver for our last day to take us to Pompei, Herculaneum and then drop us at Naples to catch a train to Rome)

2 nights - Rome (would only have a day here by the time we get in from Pompei, but really just stopping to eat a a couple favorite restaurants and shop a little before catching a flight home)

We like nice hotels (I'm not one of those "you're never in the room" types) and we're trying to figure out whether it's worth spending more in Capri or Positano? Capri we're considering La Scalinatella or La Minerva. Positano we're thinking Le Sirenuse or Il San Pietro.

Appreciate any thoughts on the hotels and the itinerary.

TJinSOMA

I'm sure my itinerary is flawless, but I know you Fodorites always have an opinion!!

ekc

I am planning on doing a day trip to Capri from Positano, so I cannot give an opinion on your hotel choice there. However, I have a friend who lives on the A/C (who is also a type of tour guide) and he swears that Il San Pietro is his favorite hotel in all of Italy. Although I won't be staying at ISP for my week in Positano, I trust his opinion. Great idea to hit Pompeii on the way back to Rome.

bobthenavigator

I would drive as far as Sorrento to drop the car. Why schlep bags on 2 trains?

TJinSOMA

Good point Bob. I haven't driven around Rome in awhile and was thinking I may want to avoid. While I recall it being "interesting" to say the least when I did it several years ago, I do drive in NY, SF and LA so should be able to master the loop around the city center without a crash (hopefully). Do you think any issues with driving south (if worse than Rome I may opt to dump the car).

bobthenavigator

The route does not involve Rome at all. A-1 goes well east of Rome on a direct course to Naples. Then, you exit onto the smaller road to Sorrento---where there are direct ferries to Capri.

Anna_Galea

We were at the Sorrento and Amalfi coast last year. I agree with one reviewer who suggested that you drive to Sorrento, that will save you so much time and discomfort. Would you consider staying for maybe 3 nights in Sorrento, from whet you can catch the hydrofoil to Capri for a day, or is it your wish to stay for a few days in Capri? In my opinion it is a waste of time staying in Capri for two nights, when the Sorrento and Amalfi coast has so much to offer. You can stay three nights in Sorrento, or towns very near which are even more quiet and beautiful like Vico Equense, or Massa Lubrense, and maybe another three nights to visit the Amalfi coast. Positano is really lovely, but you can also consider staying in the town of Praiano, which is only a few miles away and in my opinion has the most beautiful scenary of the coast. Have a look at the Locanda del Fiordo hotel, or Hotel Costa Diva, or maybe Villa Maria Luigia in Amalfi. Amalfi is much closer to Ravello than Positano. Do not miss going to the square of Amalfi, it is so sweet. The Amalfi coast has many good restaurants, so you will eat well for sure, especially seafood. On the Sorrento coast we stayed at the Cubo Apartments, which are very high-tech apartments and they serve you breakfast delivered to the apartment, train station is extremely close, as well as the famous Pizza al Metro restaurant and another extremely good restaurant called Vic's Street. This town is extremely close to Sorrento. If you book in these apartments, which also have a restaurant below that also makes sushi food, do ask for an apartment with the best views of the Vesuvius, the top apartment is so breathtakingly beautiful. Believe me these are high-tech apartments, newly opened last year. Enjoy the trip, I love the Amalfi coast so much.

TJinSOMA

Thank you for the thoughts. I think we are going to stay in Positano (Le Sirenuse) for a few nights as it is our friend's favorite spot. Appreciate Ravello is a little further but we likely will wander some but not worried about seeing everything this trip. We debated on the Capri stay but we do like the idea of exploring the island (a little hiking and a little lounging). The reason we are doing two nights (La Minerva) is I tend to not stay anywhere for a night because you typically can't check in until 3pm or 4pm and then you're checked out by noon so you really just spend a lot of time moving around. At least with two nights we can have a couple dinners in Capri and also have one full day to shop and hike a little without being rushed. Definitely agree on dropping car in Sorrento and noted the ferry is walkable from Avis - even better!!