CDAVIS4

Hello,

I'll be making a trip to Italy here in just a few weeks. It was a spur of the moment thing and my Dad offered a trip to Italy while we both had some free time. I am 25 and he is 50+. Well be spending two nights in Rome where well arrive first. After leaving Rome in the morning we have a clean slate and 3 nights/4 days to spend down South before returning to Rome for a final night. He asked if I could put together the rest of the trip from Rome and back.

I was at first considering that morning heading to Pompeii to see the ruins. Then head to Naples to go to the relics of Pompeii museum my grandmother recommended. That seems like a pretty full day there and would then grab dinner/hotel in Naples for the night. My cousin is also working overseas in Gaeta on a communications boat. I don't know if it would also be possible to see him that day.

So that's as far as I've gotten! If staying in Naples seems like a good idea that night, then will have two more nights and 3 days to work with. I was hoping some of you could provide great things to do in Amalfi/Sorrento and wherever else with that amount of time. I am an ocean lover and those views of Positano look amazing. I'd love to try and get on a boat somehow. No serious contraint on budget. I think my dad might be wanting to get a guide as well. Well see what happens from here. Thank you so much for any advice!

ekc

I think the night in Naples is fine, but you could also just see Naples for the day and proceed on to your Amalfi Coast destination to save a hotel room change. Store your bags at Pompeii, see the sights, train to Naples, store bags at train station, have lunch and see the museum. Retrieve bags and pre-arrange for a driver to take you to the AC.

If you love the sea then I would suggest the rest of your time in Positano. You can day trips via ferry to Capri, Amalfi/Ravello and Salerno (where you can catch the train back to Rome). Positano itself is a lovely village and I can spend an entire week there and not get bored.

sandralist

It won't be possible to see your cousin in Gaeta plus visit Naples (and Pompei).

You are right that visiting Pompei and seeing the archeological museum in Naples is a full day. If your Dad would like a guide for Pompei many people report good experiences hiring one of the licensed guides at the entrance to Pompei.

Since you want to get on a boat perhaps the next day you could take a ferry from Naples to Sorrento and then a bus to Positano. After that it depends on whether you would like to relax or go sightseeing. To tell you the truth after 2 nights gazing at the cliffs and maybe doing some hiking in the day I would head up to Gaeta and hook up with your cousin and spend some time in Sperlonga. It is an interesting place with a lot of history.

You will have a somewhat complicated journey back to Gaeta using buses and trains and yet another bus. You might ask somebody what they would charge to drive you. (Won't be cheap!)

But I think your Dad needs to give more input as to whether he would enjoy sightseeing over in Capri or doing some hiking or visiting a pasta factory or a mozzarella maker or just wants to relax or what. If he is really keen on seeing ancient sights then you could go to Pompei but then move on to Paestum for the night. See Paestum in the morning and then head up to Positano by bus (longish ride not good if either of you gets motion sickness). Then you could see the archeological museum your grandmother very wisely recommended in Naples on your way back to Rome.

Have a great time whatever you and your father decide to do .

sandralist

Here is some info on Sperlonga

http://www.theglobaldispatches.com/a...a-at-sperlonga

and some on Paestum with its fabulous Greek temples and more

http://www.cilento-travel.com/en/cil...s/paestum.html

sandralist

(Just so you know : Sperlonga is about 15 minutes from Gaeta and Paestum is about 45 minutes or an hour south of Pompei.)

You should also know in case you don't already that Positano is entirely vertical so if anybody has any walking or climbing issues then it isn't fun. While its fans love being there forever some other people find the village (which is mainly about shopping) less interesting unless they really want to kick back and relax. There is beautiful hiking there and boats to other places.

WWK

You could take the fast train from Rome-Naples ( 70 min),then take another train or cab to Pompeii. Come back to Naples to see the museum, then overnight at one of the hotels with a view of Bay of Naples. We loved Hotel Excelsior, right on the waterfront.

After Naples, you could go on to Positano, which IMHO is the most charming and beautiful (!!) of the Amalfi Coast towns. Take a day trip if you can tear yourselves away from the amazing scenery to Capri ( do a tour of the island with Whales Di Wendy, they're great!), then go back to Rome via boat Positano-Salerno, train Salerno-Rome.