italy2005

We havent thought of renting a car yet. Do you mean in Sardinia? We would both prefer a little night life and nice beaches. So do u think the place you mentioned is good. There are 5 women going on this trip. Ages from 28-32.

Budman

A friend of mine told me he spent a week on one of the beaches in Sicily and was appalled by the poverty. The women could only afford the lower portion of a 2-piece bathing suit.

Budman

Oops, delete my last post. I didn't realize there were 5 women on this trip. I wrongly assumed it was a "guy thingy."

TexasAggie

Budman - LOL!!
You made me get busted for "Fodoring" at the office

i_am_kane

Budman...you are forgiven.

A female.

petsitter

I think 5 days in Capri is too much. My husband and I went there in May 2003 and found ourselves a little bored. We took the first ferrry over in the morning and had the whole day to spend there. We had our teenage son with us so it made it a little more difficult. If he wasn't with us we would have just relaxed somewhere with a pitcher of wine. Of course, if you were staying on the island you could sit by your pool and relax. It is very beautiful there. I would spend more time in Sicily. We were in Sicily for 3 nights and it was not nearly enough. We visited Taoromina and Syracuse.

italy2005

hi petsitter. thanks for the advice. where in Taormina did you stay?

mgfit

We just returned this week and spent a week in Positano. We took day trips to Amalfi, Sorrento and Capri. A few recommendations.....

Accomodations in Positano - Villa La Tartana. It is a B&B type hotel (you will have to climb stairs - but the view is worth it). We had room 48 - spectacular view!!!! Cost was 150 euros per night including continental breakfast served on your balcony every morning. Carmella is the BEST! She will assist you with a ton.

Restaurants in Positano

Hotel Covi Dei Sarceni
La Sponda (at the Sirunese Hotel)
Da Vincenzo's
Caffe Positano
La Tagliata (bus will take you there)
For a cheap, beachside lunch - get a pizza to go from La Pergola and have a picnic, or take it back up to your room and eat on the balcony.

Most need reservations.

Make reservations through your hotel for the boat/hydrofoil services to other places - it confirms a spot on crowded boats.

Capri was wonderful..do some of the hikes listed on the map from the TI office there. Also see the Gardens of Agustus.

Sorrento - a must for lunch is the Sorrento Inn. Great meal...inside dining, but charming restaurant and they have the best Vedure alla Grilla (grilled veggies!!!). Great lunch guaranteed!

Have a great trip!

awbaker

We also just returned from Italy, including Positano, Capri, Rome & Venice. Capri was my least favorite. We still enjoyed ourselves there, but it was so crowded and we thought the restaurants we patronized were mediocre & expensive. We ended up spending most of our time at the hotel pool.

Positano was fantastic! And we really enjoyed our daytrip to Amalfi & Ravello. I think Positano (with Ravello) & Venice were my favorite areas that we visited in Italy, but it was all wonderful. Next time I would pick Ravello over Capri -- it was absolutely stunning! And it was much less congested than Capri.

italy2005

Awbaker - good to know that you enjoyed your trip in Italy. My friends and I are still working on our final itinerary. We might stay a few days in Capri. Where did you stay in Capri?

awbaker

We stayed at Caesar Augustus in Anacapri. The junior suites there have balconies hanging right over the sea! The hotel is beautiful with probably the best views on the island, a gorgeous terrace for drinks, and probably the best pool. Capri Palace, also in Anacapri, is more upscale and very, very cool-looking, but it lacks the amazing views. Either hotel would make a great place for you & your girlfriends to have a drink even if you choose another place to stay. http://www.caesar-augustus.com/en/index.html

Many people prefer staying in Capri town over Anacapri, but it was very easy to get to Capri town in the evening for apertif time in the Piazzetta. We scheduled the hotel shuttle to take us there, and then cabbed it back. We only saw the Hotel Quisisana in Capri town, but it looked lovely (at least the bar did!) and it is right in town. And we also enjoyed Anacapri in the late evening, as well. There are several cafes, restaurants & shops which are open very late.

BATUFFOLINA

Ok, here is my 2 cent advice:

I personally would avoid going to Sardinia or Sicily in July /August. The reason?: they are two of the most favourite (and crowded) destinations chosen by Italians and that means: hoards of italians coming from all parts of Italy that go on holiday THERE; ferries, roads, highways, beaches, hotels are congested, hotels in Sardinia have the highest prices in july and August... ok they are great places to socialize but they are way overcrowded (especially the area from Olbia to Stintino and the area around Taormina in Sicily).If you still want to go there, just book hotels AND ferries ASAP.
I agree, 5 days in Capri is too much. I would just stay in Positano or Sorrento as a base and from there visit Capri, ISchia, the Amalfi coast, Napoli etc etc... Then I would go to Rome (in August it is almost desert! of course everybody is on the beach) for at least 3 days and head either for the Tyrrenean coast between Rome and Pisa(Santa marinella, Argentario, Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi etc) or if you really really want to socialize and have fun, go to Rimini. Rimini can be considered the italian version of Ibiza or Mykonos from the FUN+discos+beaches point of view. Lots of hotel choces, good prices, fairly decent beaches, great amenities on the beaches, there is the aqua fun in Rimini-Riccione. From there you can visit San Marino on a day trip, or even Venice if you like.
Ok, maybe I scrambled a bit your plans, I know.... Anyway.... it's up to you after all!

EmilyChicago

I see that I am jumping in late, but we are planning a honeymoon to the AC/Rome for next year and thought I'd give you my 2 cents on places to stay (since most people keep ignoring this question In Capri, we found a four star hotel for extremly reasonable prices called the Hotel Weber. And In Positano 4 different friends/family members have raved about the Villa Franca. You can see/contact both via the web. Hope this helps some

italy2005

Hi Emily - I have hotel weber in mind- also La minerva. I have heard not so good things about hotel weber so I'm a bit hesitant.

BATUFFOLINA - Thanks for your advice. I have never hear of Rimini. I will check it out. Yes the hotels in SARDINIA are a bit expensive. There's 6 women going on this trip. It is a bit hard planning...One person wants to go to this place..and the other..you know what i mean The cheapest one I could find in Sardinia was 185EURO per person a night. We'll see how it goes. Have you been to Rimini?

BATUFFOLINA

I have been to Rimini...in winter and it is NOT as lively as it is in Summer. Riccione and Rimini are the liveliest places to hang around on the Adriatic coast. There are lots of bath establishments, each has an activity, like aerobics on the beach, beach volley, disco, bar, karaoke. At night Rimini and Riccione's discos are the main attractions till the dead of the night. They even have a bus going up and down the town that takes people to their hotels (so that they don't have to drive while boozed). Plenty of restaurants, bars, trattorias or pizzerias. Of course comparing Sardinia to Rimini is like comparing the maldives to Venice beach, because the sea in Sardinia is simply gorgeous, there are beaches with soft pink sand there and christal clear waters like the tropics, but Sardinia unfortunately is way too expensive in August. I prefer to go there at the end of September or beginning of June when it is not overcrowded, so you can really appreciate its beauty.