denisea

Sure...I think many of us are too busy and I know I also grew a little tired iof some of the nastiness on the forum, so I visit and post far less....but you can definitely catch LCI on Twitter.

LouisaH

Denise, thanks for the update.

jelopez33

Denisea:

Some tips just in case you are in the mood:

--La Zagara on Via dei Mulini, for sweet things,mexcellent Delizia al Limone.
--Chez Black, waterfront for good food( not Michelin), good ambiance and fried zucchini to remember.
--Lemon granitas in La Perola, also salads, waterfront.

Enjoy!

denisea

Thanks jelopez33...are the above all in Positano? I appreciate the suggestions as I am starting to get in travel mode and think about all the details! Really looking forward to all the ways lemon will be incorporated into food and drinks while we are there!

jelopez33

Yes Denisea! All of them in Positano.

If you are (very) lucky, you can find Salvatore, one of the owners of Renato & Salvatore boat tours, on his birthday, serving Veuve Cliquot and profiteroles to passers by. This happent to us last year, but I think it was a special birthday(70).

I hope you both enjoy the AC as much as we did on our two visits.

letsgeaux

Re: jelopez33's restaurant recs. - I agree with the first two. Did not go to the third. La Zagara has a large patio overlooking the gardens at the bottom of the hill. Nice atmosphere for a quick casual lunch. Chez Black became our regular hangout on the beachfront promenade. We had dinner there our first night in Positano. You will also like Restaurante Max just off the main street on the pedestrian alley leading to the beach. Your favorite will be La Sponda in Le Sirenuse Hotel. It has a Michelin star and beautiful views of the Mediterrean from out of the windows. It is lit with 400 candles. There is the same view from the adjoining outdoor bar. We also ate at some excellent small family run restaurants up the hill, but you probably won't get up there.

LowCountryIslander

Tomarkot...I'm still around! Just haven't been traveling or posting much here as I've been busy at work. As Denise mentioned my last big trip was last September to Torino & the Piemonte region. But I will be going back to Italy in October this year for a week in Rome and a week in Umbria, just haven't been in "travel planning mode" yet! ;-)

Denise...my apologies for hi-jacking your thread.

denisea

No problem LCI....would love to run into anyone willing to pour up some Veuve Clicquot for me. Thanks letsgeaux. Already on to La Sponda but will definitely want to get out and check out some of the other area restaurants.

tomarkot

Hi Denisea. . .and through you, LCI. We,too, haven't done any European travel lately. Only short get-aways. Will continue checking on your upcoming plans. As mentioned above, we're planning on Central Europe in September. (But really want to return to Italy and other fave places soon.) Your destinations sound wonderful!

EYWandBTV

We went to the AC last year, taking the train from Rome to Salerno, where we stayed two nights before catching the ferry to Amalfi (it makes several stops along the coast, including Positano I think). Salerno is a fascinating small city, not deluged with tourists. The ferry ride from Salerno north up the coast provides stunning views. My TR is nesting in the forum archives somewhere.

ekc

Love the ferry ride from Salerno to Positano! It takes just over an hour, with one short stop in Amalfi, and the views are gorgeous.

Along with the restaurant recs above, I can also throw in Le Tre Sorelle (right next to Chez Black). Great food (LOVE the grilled seafood), fantastic service, good wine list and great people watching.

If you reserve a street-side table at Bar Bruno, the views are stunning. The food is very good as well.

Lo Guaracino on the path to Fornillo Beach is also great with nice views. Very good pizza and grilled seafood.

If you are spending the day on a lounger on the main beach, you can get a pizza and a bottle of white wine to-go at L'Incanto (right on the beach, where you rent your lounger). Nothing better!

TDudette

Hi Denisea, When we were in Perugia (2009), we hired a driver for some of the smaller towns that were inconvenient by bus and/or had no train service. We paid 200€ for the day with him and were pleased.

Here is my info from then so I can't guarantee it is still current: Driver: http://stefanomogini.com/

Stefano had limited English and we had limited Italian but made it work. His car then was a Mercedes sedan-4 seater. He said he drives "Everywhere". Since he lived in Perugia, we surely paid less than if he was driving to Rome and back.

I don't blame you for not wanting to endure a big layover and then take the extra steps to Positano after a long trip.

A driver from Naples airport would be good. As ekc (?) aptly described the steps from airport to trains.

I'd say either fly to Naples and hire a driver or eat a bunch of money and drive from Rome.

TDudette

ps-forgot to say whatever you do, please write another great TR!

denisea

So, the Naples story is that it is a PIA to get to from Atlanta. Connections galore and just as expensive as a direct flight to Rome. Using points is also difficult and I will admit that this is all self inflicted as I want to be on Delta---all my status is there and I am not fond of Air France. (Have also heard awful things about Alitalia). KLM was an option but again with the connection and immigration/security ....it was not appealing. So we will fly in and out of Rome, take a car from FCO to Positano and probably take the train back to Rome (when we aren't jet lagged).

Maybe the ferry to Salerno and a train to Rome from there. We will spend our last night in Rome at Albergo del Senato (finally)...the flight out isn't until noon.

Thanks for the additional restaurant recs!

And yes, there will definitely be a trip report.

ekc

Yes, flying into Naples is a PITA - especially since I am coming from Portland Oregon! I am used to multiple connections to get to Italy, so I always just bite the bullet (and endure the mishaps - Frankfurt was a nightmare last year). Flying into Rome would certainly be easier, but since I am only in Positano for a week, I don't want to lose a day.
Ferry to Salerno and train to Rome is super easy. Depending on where you are staying in Positano, you can always arrange for a porter to take your luggage down to the dock, if you don't want to wheel it down through the village. When I was there a couple of weeks ago I heard them quote 10 euro per bag.