Bridget_Moyes

My husband and I are planning a trip to Rome and Sorrento in October this year.
Below are a few questions I have regarding our trip
1. Is October still warm enough to swim/laze around at pool/beach in Sorrento?
2. We are planning 3 nights in Rome and 5 in Sorrento (want to explore the
area around Sorrento by train/buses, etc.) Is this a good split of time or could
we get by on only 2 nights in Rome (3 full days)
3. I have read that the area around the Termini in Rome is quite seedy but have
found 2 modern hotels - The Yes and Una Hotel which have good reviews. Ideally
i would like to stay in a modern hotel but in a traditional part of the city which is
close to all the main attractions - like the idea of staying in an area where there are
cafe"s and restuarants on our doorstep.
4. Lastly - have found a good hotel in Sorrento (the Plaza Hotel) but am so tempted to stay in one of the five star hotels overlooking the Bay of Naples but dont know if they are worth
the extra money (about double the price) help!!

looking forward to some good advise.

suec1

I used to avoid the area around Termini (had read here the "seedy" comments) but now having stayed there (in the area slightly west, near the opera house I think) I think its just fine esp. for ease of transportation connections) Yes some of the other areas are more scenic (I used to stay on the Aventine Hill)but there are plenty of restaurants near Termini and you can walk to most of the sights or take a bus over to the Vatican area. If the reviews are decent I think it will be fine. I'm sure the reviewers would have mentioned it if the area was too shady for them.

As to what a view is worth - you will get a variety of opinions. Me, I save my pennies for long dinners and wine (sometimes in restaurants with a view!).

dorkforcemom

We did a trip very similar to yours - a week in Sorrento/Rome the first week of October. That particular year, it was definitely warm enough to swim. We were very warm the day we went to Pompeii and, again, the day we ferried to Capri. It was gorgeous! We stayed in Antiche Mura while in Sorrento. It was not overlooking the water, but I was happy with our choice. We dined several times with spectacular views of the water and took day trips to, as mentioned, Pompeii, Capri, Positano, Ravello, Amalfi. You'll love it!

While in Rome, I prefer the Pantheon area, having just returned last week, as a matter of fact, so I can't speak to staying by the Termini. Perhaps others will weigh in with opinions more helpful.

Happy travels!

A_Brit_In_Ischia

This collection of photos, from Ischia - some 20 miles away, on the far side of the Bay from Sorrento - may give you an idea of the weather at that time...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/recoct

Years vary, but we've been here since 2003 and it's still very pleasant then, with usually a few days of thunderstorms scattered through the month - and, until any storms stir up the waters, still nice enough to paddle in the sea and maybe swim... for the first week or two anyway!

Peter

bardo1

There are many fine, modern hotels in much better areas of Rome than next to the train station. I'll set aside whether some parts of the Termini area are "seedy" or not and just say that there are many, many better neighborhoods to choose from.

I suggest you look in the Centro Storico - the wide swath west of Via del Corso all thew way to the river. There countless hotels in this area that would suit you.

If it's modern you want, here are a few both in the Centro and "modern":
http://www.stgeorgeromehotel.com/
http://www.hotelpontesisto.it/
http://www.grandhoteldelaminerve.com/
http://www.albergosantachiara.com/

bardo1

Oh, and 3 nights in Rome is much preferable to 2 nights. There is enough to see and do in Rome to keep you going for a month.

greg

Looks like you have not purchased the plane tickets.

For this type of trip, try hard NOT to split the stay in Roma - it wastes time.

If you are flying into Roma in the morning, travel straight to Sorrento on arrival. Stay in Roma before flying home.

It is even better if you can fly into Napoli, then return from Roma or vice versa.

Sassafrass

Opinion on hotel in Sorrento. We have had both in Sorrento. What happened to us was when we had the hotel with lovely views and a beautiful terrace, we didn't want to leave, and ended up lounging around all day, not doing any exploring or sightseeing. If you plan to hang out at your hotel a lot, sitting on the terrace for lazy afternoons, etc. then paying for a beautiful view is worth it. If you plan to be out exporing, going to Pompeii, perhaps to Capri or down to Positano, during the day, and be at your hotel mainly at night, then it is not worth it.

kuzak

Termini: no, can't stay there again. View outside was a pick-up are for prostitutes. Entrance to the hotel had a drunk draped across the door and then we had to lug our cases up 3 floors, book in and lug the cases down another floor. Our door couldn't lock or close as the handle and lock had been removed - it appeared as if this was forced open (we pushed a cupboard across the door). The price was not cheap and the breakfast was one of the poorest I experienced in all my stays in Rome. The worst of all was the puking that went on most of the night outside our window: kept me awake. Then on a walk to our hotel one evening we realised this is a dodgy area when some drunken louts starting lunging at me; my son, who was with me, shielded me and we pushed our way forward. For me, not again.

Bridget_Moyes

Thanks to all for your insight and helpful replies. I am so looking forward to our trip and the planning stage has been made a lot easier thanks to the great replies I have received from all of you. x