My husband and I will be arriving by train into Naples on a Monday evening (Oct 3) and departing from Naples early Sunday morning (Oct 9). So we have 5 full days for Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Pompeii, etc.

We will stay one night in Capri Marriott (free using hotel points) - currently scheduled for Wednesday, but could probably change.

We are staying at the Marriott Naples near the airport our last night (Saturday) since our flight is early.

We plan to stay at Hilton Sorrento for at least 1 night (free w/ hotel points again) - should we stay 3? or do a night in Positano or Ravello?

Any recommendations on a good itinerary for 5 full days in the area? - other tips for this area?

Thank you!!

Hi Luna

You don't mention whether you'll have a car? I like driving in Italy so I would recommend renting one. I like your idea of staying in Sorrento. It is a larger town with lots of shops and restaurants so when you're done treking around for the day you can go out to dinner and then buz the shops after. I would take your rent car and drive the coast and stop at the various towns along the way. There's plenty of beautiful ceramics along the way if you're into that.

I would also recommend hiring one of the guides in Pompeii that usually are hanging around near the entrance. It makes the tour of the ruins mor interesting.

Hi luna,

You might find the Naples and AC part of my trip report useful.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

This is what I'd recommend:

2 nights in Positano with day trips to Amalfi, Ravello

SITA bus or boat ( the boats may be operating on a reduced Fall schedule, so you need to check frequency) to Sorrento

2 nights in Sorrento with day trip to Pompeii ( Just a note: I know you have points at the Hilton in Sorrento, but you should be aware that it's a hike from town, restaurants, shopping etc. There are nicer places to stay.)

Hydrofoil to Capri from the marina in Sorrento

1 night in Capri

Hydrofoil or ferry to Naples ( again check operating schedule for Fall timetables)

Good luck!

By the way, I would NOT recommend a car for the Amalfi Coast. There's decent transportation between towns by bus, boat, or train, and parking can be nightmarish along most of the coast.

Sorry- I left your last night in Naples out of my recommended itinerary.

If i tend to get car sick am i going to have big problems on the A.C.? Perusing through Ira's trip report and reading about his wife's trouble has made me paranoid!!
I don't think we want to drive ourselves - because this is supposed to be a relaxing trip - i think i'd get pretty sick on a bus - do people hire private drivers? is this pricey?

lunaluna,
My trip report might be of help.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34416016

Luna - The going rate for a private driver is approx.

€ 120-150 for a half day (4 hours)
€ 250-300 for a full day

A good cheap alternative is to use the ferries.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

We hired a private driver for: Pick up in Naples- Positano, and for a day trip to Pompeii. Two years ago, the going rate for this was about 60E/hour.

For any other trips, we used boats and ferries between destinations. I wouldn't recommend driving especially in the busy summer season.

Hi luna,

My Lady Wife's problem was vertigo, not car sickness. She couldn't even walk to the edge of the road.

>...i think i'd get pretty sick on a bus ...<

Why is a bus worse than a car?

I suggest that you take whatever you normally use for car sickness.

I also have a trip report on this area, starting at:

http://www.rozault.com/italy2004/report04.html

I concur with the general opinion not to have a car. We had one that we only used once in 5 days, and that was to go to Paestum.