Staying in town of Amalfi
Nov 30th, 2004, 09:11 AM
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Staying in town of Amalfi
Hi,
We are thinking about going to the Amalfi Coast in mid-May. I checked into staying in Positano, but everything seemed too expensive. However, Hotel Lidomare in the town of Amalfi is available for a double for 100E a night, and it has great reviews on Tripadvisor. But I've seen many posts on here saying that it's not too great to stay in Amalfi, although there often doesn't seem to be much explanation. One said that it's more touristy, and I get the impression that the views aren't as spectacular (or maybe they're not spectacular at all?). Apparently, though, there are nice views from Hotel Lidomare. Could I get some feedback on people's opinions of the town of Amalfi as a base for an Amalfi Coast visit, or any other suggestions? This topic may be mentioned in other posts, but when I try to do a search for "Amalfi" I get posts for the whole Amalfi Coast, so it's hard to narrow it down and find other posts that might be helpful. I suppose our other alternative is to stay in Sorrento. An Italian friend suggested Salerno, although I can find little information online about good, reasonably priced hotels there, and since we're bothering to go I figure we should try to stay somewhere that's more a "part" of the Amalfi Coast than the way-station between the Amalfi Coast and other parts of Italy that it seems to be. Thanks for your help.
We are thinking about going to the Amalfi Coast in mid-May. I checked into staying in Positano, but everything seemed too expensive. However, Hotel Lidomare in the town of Amalfi is available for a double for 100E a night, and it has great reviews on Tripadvisor. But I've seen many posts on here saying that it's not too great to stay in Amalfi, although there often doesn't seem to be much explanation. One said that it's more touristy, and I get the impression that the views aren't as spectacular (or maybe they're not spectacular at all?). Apparently, though, there are nice views from Hotel Lidomare. Could I get some feedback on people's opinions of the town of Amalfi as a base for an Amalfi Coast visit, or any other suggestions? This topic may be mentioned in other posts, but when I try to do a search for "Amalfi" I get posts for the whole Amalfi Coast, so it's hard to narrow it down and find other posts that might be helpful. I suppose our other alternative is to stay in Sorrento. An Italian friend suggested Salerno, although I can find little information online about good, reasonably priced hotels there, and since we're bothering to go I figure we should try to stay somewhere that's more a "part" of the Amalfi Coast than the way-station between the Amalfi Coast and other parts of Italy that it seems to be. Thanks for your help.
Nov 30th, 2004, 09:34 AM
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Take this for what it's worth:
I've spent time staying in Positano, Ravello, Capri, Sorrento, and Ischia. All are lovely. But I'm not one to sit on a luxury hotel balcony and stare at the beauty -- yes I appreciate it, but not enough to warrant spending four or five hundred dollars a day or even more for the privilege. I'd rather be out exploring the streets, hiking in the mountains, boating along the coastline, or eating in wonderful little trattorias.
My next trip to the Amalfi coast, I swear I'm going to stay right in Amalfi. How anyone can say it is more toursity than Positano, for example, is beyond me. It is a lively, working city, but yes, like the entire area it does depend on tourism. Yet I love its quirkiness, its faded charm, and certainly its lack of pretentiousness.
By the way, I also LOVE Sorrento for many of the same reasons. I frankly have no desire to ever go back and stay in Positano (been there - done that), but I'd stay in Sorrento or Amalfi over and over again.
There now, I've said it!!!
I've spent time staying in Positano, Ravello, Capri, Sorrento, and Ischia. All are lovely. But I'm not one to sit on a luxury hotel balcony and stare at the beauty -- yes I appreciate it, but not enough to warrant spending four or five hundred dollars a day or even more for the privilege. I'd rather be out exploring the streets, hiking in the mountains, boating along the coastline, or eating in wonderful little trattorias.
My next trip to the Amalfi coast, I swear I'm going to stay right in Amalfi. How anyone can say it is more toursity than Positano, for example, is beyond me. It is a lively, working city, but yes, like the entire area it does depend on tourism. Yet I love its quirkiness, its faded charm, and certainly its lack of pretentiousness.
By the way, I also LOVE Sorrento for many of the same reasons. I frankly have no desire to ever go back and stay in Positano (been there - done that), but I'd stay in Sorrento or Amalfi over and over again.
There now, I've said it!!!
Nov 30th, 2004, 09:42 AM
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Dear NHC,
We were on Amalfi Coast in 2001, stayed at a wonderful B and B Hotel Cappuccini Convento. It had been a convent many years ago and sits on the side of a mt(like everything else) and can be accessed only by an ancient elevator! The town of Amalfi was quaint and we enjoyed just walking the streets then sitting have coffee in a beautiful piazza. But as far as getting around, the winding roads made travel very difficult. we didn't rent a car We only took one trip (we were there for a wedding in nearby Raveno)and that was by bus to Pompeii. When we left there, we went by taxi to take a train to Rome. So travel by train is not convenient.
I thought the views from our hotel spectacular. But you might have a hard time using it as a base of operations. Enjoy your trip - we found the Amalfi coast to be magical!
We were on Amalfi Coast in 2001, stayed at a wonderful B and B Hotel Cappuccini Convento. It had been a convent many years ago and sits on the side of a mt(like everything else) and can be accessed only by an ancient elevator! The town of Amalfi was quaint and we enjoyed just walking the streets then sitting have coffee in a beautiful piazza. But as far as getting around, the winding roads made travel very difficult. we didn't rent a car We only took one trip (we were there for a wedding in nearby Raveno)and that was by bus to Pompeii. When we left there, we went by taxi to take a train to Rome. So travel by train is not convenient.
I thought the views from our hotel spectacular. But you might have a hard time using it as a base of operations. Enjoy your trip - we found the Amalfi coast to be magical!
Nov 30th, 2004, 09:54 AM
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Patrick! I agree with you and we are bound to start a controversy. I liked Amalfi too for its quirky charm. After the day trippers leave it is lovely to walk along the strand or just sit and enjoy dinner or drinks in the little square. Yes, it is unpretentious and that is what I liked too. There are some really good restauarants in Amalfi with just good home style cookin'.
Praiano is quieter too than Positano or Sorrento and is right on the coast, but to me it is not a working town, more like an area where the local workers live. NHC, you can try out the hotel Ira loves in Praiano, I forgot the name but you can search here for it.
Last week I walked around Amalfi again and would personally choose to stay there over Praiano.
Praiano is quieter too than Positano or Sorrento and is right on the coast, but to me it is not a working town, more like an area where the local workers live. NHC, you can try out the hotel Ira loves in Praiano, I forgot the name but you can search here for it.
Last week I walked around Amalfi again and would personally choose to stay there over Praiano.
Nov 30th, 2004, 09:57 AM
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Hi NHC,
We enjoyed staying at the Le Sirene in Praiano.
www.lesirene.com
Praiano is a very small town about 6km E of Positano.
Amalfi has better ferry connections.
We enjoyed staying at the Le Sirene in Praiano.
www.lesirene.com
Praiano is a very small town about 6km E of Positano.
Amalfi has better ferry connections.
Nov 30th, 2004, 09:59 AM
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Adding a 3rd pitch for Amalfi! I like enough of a town that is not completely dead at night after the day-trippers leave. Amalfi still has the semblance of a town without feeling deserted as some of the smaller AC towns may have. If you want even livelier excitement and tourists walking around at night, go for Sorrento. I love Sorrento ( it is very convenient for navigating around Bay of Naples area and towns).
Dec 1st, 2004, 05:43 AM
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Hello All,
Thank you very much for your suggestions! Of course, now, I have a new dilemma, can't decide between staying at Hotel Lidemore in Amalfi or Ira's recommendation of Le Sirene in Praiano, which seems to have comparable rates. Ira (or anyone else who knows the answer), you mentioned the ferry connections are better in Amalfi than Praiano, and I saw a review or two of Praiano online that said sometimes the buses are full and there are occasionally problems getting out of town, so I was wondering if you had any comment on that, and also if it would be more difficult to do daytrips from Praiano (as opposed to Amalfi) to Positano, Ravello, and Pompeii?
-Thanks again, NHC.
Thank you very much for your suggestions! Of course, now, I have a new dilemma, can't decide between staying at Hotel Lidemore in Amalfi or Ira's recommendation of Le Sirene in Praiano, which seems to have comparable rates. Ira (or anyone else who knows the answer), you mentioned the ferry connections are better in Amalfi than Praiano, and I saw a review or two of Praiano online that said sometimes the buses are full and there are occasionally problems getting out of town, so I was wondering if you had any comment on that, and also if it would be more difficult to do daytrips from Praiano (as opposed to Amalfi) to Positano, Ravello, and Pompeii?
-Thanks again, NHC.
Dec 1st, 2004, 05:59 AM
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I'd say day trips could be just as easy or even easier from Praiano to Positano, but for all the others, Amalfi will offer much more. For example the busses go right up to Ravello from Amalfi, you'd be changing in Amalfi to get there from Praiano.
I've never stayed in Praiano and it does look lovely, but it would be far too quiet for me, especially at night. I'd enjoy walking the streets of Amalfi much more in the evening -- but maybe that's just me. I'm not the type to be able to sit evening and evening, relax, and enjoy the solitude, but of course, many people are.
I've never stayed in Praiano and it does look lovely, but it would be far too quiet for me, especially at night. I'd enjoy walking the streets of Amalfi much more in the evening -- but maybe that's just me. I'm not the type to be able to sit evening and evening, relax, and enjoy the solitude, but of course, many people are.
Dec 1st, 2004, 06:27 AM
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Hi NHC,
Praiano is a stop on the main SITA route between Sorrento and Salerno. There is also a local bus between Praiano and Positano.
We had not trouble getting on the buses the 1st week in Oct. Mid-May is also shoulder season.
It's about 30 min from Praiano to Amalfi, 15 min Praiano to Positano beach, and 1 1/4 hr from Praiano to Sorrento.
You can also take either bus to Positano and the ferry to Capri,Amalfi or Sorrento.
Schedules are at
http://www.sita-on-line.it/HomePage.htm
Click "Campania", "Orari", "Quadro 14"
We also visited Paestum.
You might find my trip report helpful:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044
Praiano is a stop on the main SITA route between Sorrento and Salerno. There is also a local bus between Praiano and Positano.
We had not trouble getting on the buses the 1st week in Oct. Mid-May is also shoulder season.
It's about 30 min from Praiano to Amalfi, 15 min Praiano to Positano beach, and 1 1/4 hr from Praiano to Sorrento.
You can also take either bus to Positano and the ferry to Capri,Amalfi or Sorrento.
Schedules are at
http://www.sita-on-line.it/HomePage.htm
Click "Campania", "Orari", "Quadro 14"
We also visited Paestum.
You might find my trip report helpful:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044
Dec 2nd, 2004, 06:56 AM
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Thanks so much for all of the help! Still haven't decided, but I checked with Le Sirene for their rates, and I received a response even though they said they're closed right now (how nice!). They said it would probably be around 90E for my dates in mid-May, and that they'd get back to me with an actual quote in Jan. So, I'll just have to continue mulling it over. I'm checking the connection times right now to Salerno or Naples on to Rome because it's quite cheaper for us to return home via Rome than Naples, so I'm checking on just how involved that would be.
By the way, this is probably on this site somewhere already, but metrodelmare.com has great info on boat rides (ferries, I guess) through the Amalfi Coast and has info in English, which makes things easier!
By the way, this is probably on this site somewhere already, but metrodelmare.com has great info on boat rides (ferries, I guess) through the Amalfi Coast and has info in English, which makes things easier!
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