Amalfi Coast...Car or No Car???
Jul 24th, 2007, 09:12 AM
#22
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Thanks for all of the replies. We are going in mid-October. After these responses, I am inclined to go with the original plan and rent and drive.
Regarding Pompeii: is there nowhere to park there? Also we will have our bags - It is generally my rule never to leave bags in the car (especially in Italy)...maybe I need to re-think the plan....
Regarding Naples: I am only planning on driving from the aiport to the hotel (located at the port, with a garage), then leaving the hotel the following day to head towards Pompeii and/ or Positano.
Regarding Pompeii: is there nowhere to park there? Also we will have our bags - It is generally my rule never to leave bags in the car (especially in Italy)...maybe I need to re-think the plan....
Regarding Naples: I am only planning on driving from the aiport to the hotel (located at the port, with a garage), then leaving the hotel the following day to head towards Pompeii and/ or Positano.
Jul 24th, 2007, 09:22 AM
#23
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>- Regarding Pompeii: is there nowhere to park there? Also we will have our bags - It is generally my rule never to leave bags in the car (especially in Italy)...maybe I need to re-think the plan.... -<
Yes, there are attended parking lots. Re: Your bags - You could possibly arrange (for a tip) something with the attendant so that it's in a safe place and/or he keeps an eye on your car.
Yes, there are attended parking lots. Re: Your bags - You could possibly arrange (for a tip) something with the attendant so that it's in a safe place and/or he keeps an eye on your car.
Jul 24th, 2007, 10:06 AM
#24
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We drove all over the Amalfi Coast Mid September 2006 and while there were plenty of people in the area there weren't enough to make us sorry we had a car. We loved having the freedom to get around and went to the tip of the coast to the un-touristy spots and had a ball. Mid-October? Should be even easier!!
Jul 24th, 2007, 10:20 AM
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What hotel are you staying at in Positano. We also plan on visiting the Amalfi Coast early May and we were told driving was the best way. I was also told we might have to pay $30 per night for parking.
Jul 24th, 2007, 10:20 AM
#26
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We just got back from a 2 week trip to the coast and drove all over EXCEPT for Napoli. We live in Paris and know traffic but Napoli was really crazy just to walk. The Amalfi coast drive is nothing compared to what you would experience in Naples.
There is plenty of parking in Pompei, we parked at the Parking Plinio, on the main boulevard about a 5 minute walk from the Scavi - Villa dei Misteri station. It was 6 euro per day, however you do have to leave your keys in the car. I don't know how the other parkings work but it is something to think about.
There is plenty of parking in Pompei, we parked at the Parking Plinio, on the main boulevard about a 5 minute walk from the Scavi - Villa dei Misteri station. It was 6 euro per day, however you do have to leave your keys in the car. I don't know how the other parkings work but it is something to think about.
Jul 24th, 2007, 10:37 AM
#27
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The person that wrote:
"treacherous" and one would have to be crazy to drive it....and that it has "500 foot drops with no guard rails at all"
has obviously never been to the Amalfi coast. It's true the road is cut in the side of the mountain - with the mountainside on the inside, 2 very narow lanes, and a drop to the sea on the other. However, there is also a strong stone wall between the road and the drop-off - and I can;t imagine how you could get a car through or over it - without a tow truck doing it deliberately.
And - if you're there during high season you speed is limited to about 10 mph due to traffic - and there's now ay you could go fast enough to force the car through the wall.
What it will be is irritating, due to the traffic, lack of places to park, tiny size of the parking spots there are. The risks are fender bender due to blind driveways, knocking yuor passenger side mirror off against the rock wall, and sitting in traffic for 20 minutes when 2 large vehicles can;t pass - and one has to back up to a wider spot in the road.
We have driven the road several times (but in May, when it's much less crowded), and found it easy and enjoyable - but you still can;t go much over 30 - due to narrowness of lanes, multiple blind curves etc.
It's true that it's not a good drive for a nervous - or not very competent - driver. But in the summer the only thing you might die of is irritation.
"treacherous" and one would have to be crazy to drive it....and that it has "500 foot drops with no guard rails at all"
has obviously never been to the Amalfi coast. It's true the road is cut in the side of the mountain - with the mountainside on the inside, 2 very narow lanes, and a drop to the sea on the other. However, there is also a strong stone wall between the road and the drop-off - and I can;t imagine how you could get a car through or over it - without a tow truck doing it deliberately.
And - if you're there during high season you speed is limited to about 10 mph due to traffic - and there's now ay you could go fast enough to force the car through the wall.
What it will be is irritating, due to the traffic, lack of places to park, tiny size of the parking spots there are. The risks are fender bender due to blind driveways, knocking yuor passenger side mirror off against the rock wall, and sitting in traffic for 20 minutes when 2 large vehicles can;t pass - and one has to back up to a wider spot in the road.
We have driven the road several times (but in May, when it's much less crowded), and found it easy and enjoyable - but you still can;t go much over 30 - due to narrowness of lanes, multiple blind curves etc.
It's true that it's not a good drive for a nervous - or not very competent - driver. But in the summer the only thing you might die of is irritation.
