Amalfi Coast Honeymoon
 

My fiance and I are in the process of planning our Amalfi Coast honeymoon. We are really looking for a relaxing trip. I'm having trouble deciding whether we should pick a base and take day trips or stay a few nights in different spots. We would really love to check out Ravello, Positano, Amalfi and Capri. One option would be to stay just in Positano and take day trips to Ravello, Amalfi and Capri. I would love some suggestions on things to do in Ravello. I've read that we can take a ferry to Amalfi and then a quick drive up to Ravello. That might be a perfect time to explore Amalfi. We would love to taste limoncello! Also any suggestions on boat tours of Capri? Preferably private boat tours. I would also like to know if anyone has suggestions on different beaches to explore around Positano or Capri. Basically any suggestions would be great!! Again we are looking for a relaxed, romantic trip. :)

Good for you---good choice of locations for a honeymoon.

Here is some info. You do not mention your dates---that is important.

NAVIGATING on the AMALFI COAST
HOW TO GET THERE: You have to want to—it may not be easy. The best option is to land in Naples, but that is not always feasible. Most travelers access it from Rome by train to Naples—a trip of less than two hours. Once in Naples, you have a choice. The local commuter train, Circumversuviana, leaves from the same train station and takes about an hour to SORRENTO, with a possible stop at “ Pompeii Scavi” to see the famed ruins. However, to access any of the coastal towns you must then take a SITA bus or a taxi.

The best option is to hire a private driver to meet you at the Naples station or airport and take you directly to your hotel. Expect to pay about 100E.
www.cuomonet.it www.tourofitaly.com www.francescomarrapese.com
www.angelodriver.com

WHERE TO LOCATE & WHAT TO SEE: Ah, what not to see? This is the most stunning scenery in all of Italy---be sure to pack the camera. Your daily activities will be somewhat determined by your location. SORRENTO is really on the Bay of Naples and not the Amalfi Coast [AC], but is the most convenient location for day trips to Pompeii and the Isle of Capri. The town is larger & relatively flat. In contrast, POSITANO is the most spectacular village on the AC but is almost vertical and a real challenge for your legs.
Hotel choices in Positano should be evaluated by their location in town relative to the beach or position on the hill above the beach. AMALFI & RAVELLO are other popular destinations but are further down the coast.

NOTE: Any of the drivers above can be hired for day trip excursions but should be booked well in advance. Expect to pay about 35E/hour.

Here are my top five activities for this fabulous coast:
• Seeing the coast from the water---the best option. Hire a boat and pray for good weather—here is one www.gennaroesalvatore.it

• Day trip to Capri by hydrofoil from Sorrento or Positano—in season

• Day trip to Ravello by local bus or driver. This lovely village is high above the coast with great views---see Villa Cimbrone.

• Day trip to Pompeii. Plan on spending 4 hours to see it well. You can take the commuter train from Sorrento or hire a driver. If you want a guide for Pompeii consider www.luciapompeiiguide.com/

• Shopping for ceramics and sipping LIMONCELLO. The latter is not to be missed---I still have it almost daily at home after dinner.

WHERE TO EAT: I hope you like seafood. Here are some of my favorites:
* In Positano: Da Vincenzo Buca di Bacco Da Constantino

* In Ravello: Cumpa Cosimo Villa Maria

* In Montepertuso above Positano: http://www.latagliata.com/

In addition to what month, we need to know how long you have. Ravello, Positano, and Amalfi are within spitting distance of each other, but if you have, say at least a week, then splitting into two bases so you can spend a couple nights on Capri would be great.
There is very little to actually do in Ravello, it is all about the views. There are some churches and shops and an auditorium with concerts and exhibitions.
The hiking in the area is fantastic. For beaches, check out http://www.spiaggecostieraamalfitana...getratto2.html (which you can translate with google).
congrats!

Great choice for a honeymoon - one of my favorite spots in Italy!

When you are going and the length of your trip will make a difference in the answers to your questions.

You can easily see Amalfi, Ravello and Capri as day trip from Positano (always my pic for a stay on the AC). If you have, say, a week or more, you could do 5 days in Positano and 2 days on Capri.

Combining Amalfi and Ravello as a day trip is a great idea. Take the first ferry of the day from Pos to Amalfi and you will arrive in Amalfi around 10:30 (www.coopsantandrea.com). Catch the bus or a taxi up to Ravello (at the port where you disembark) and explore the town and amazing views and gardens on the 2 Villas. Have lunch, then go back down to Amalfi and explore Amalfi (Duomo, paper museum). Currently, the last ferry back to Positano leaves at 6 pm, so if you want to stay in Amalfi for dinner (we had a great meal at Lido Azzuro), you will either have to take a taxi or the bus back to Positano.

An absolute MUST DO for me whenever I am in Positano is to spend a day relaxing at Laurito Beach and having lunch at Da Adolfo. I catch the Da Adolfo boat at the dock in Pos (small boat with the red fish on the mast) and take the short ride to Laurito Beach. Get a lounge chair on the right side of the beach in front of Da Adolfo (if going in the height of summer it is a good idea to reserve a day ahead) and spend the morning relaxing and swimming. Lunch at Da Adolfo in my swimsuit and an afternoon of napping and swimming before I catch the boat back to Positano.

Fornillo Beach is also a quieter beach with some great lunch spots - just a short walk away from the main beach.

I always recommend doing a tour with Christine of www.discoverpositano.com when you arrive, as you learn alot of history about the town and the area and get great suggestions for shopping, eating, etc.

Can't help with the Capri boat tours, as I have never been to Capri, even after 3 vacations at the Amalfi Coast. :-)

Although it isn't really a "guidebook", I purchased My Amalfi Coast by Amanda Tabberer on Amazon and just finished reading it and it is a really great book on what to see/do on the AC, with a chapter for each of the towns. Highly recommended.

Depending on the length of your stay, I recommend spending 2 or 3 days on Capri. It is a little crowded during the day with cruise line day trippers but is lovely in the morning and the evening. And, with a couple of days, you can get to some of the places away from Capri town where the tourists are fewer.

I think those who spend a little more time on Capri are the ones who love it.

My husband and I just spent 10 days on the Amalfi Coast in early September 2013. We stayed at the Villa Cimbrone in Ravello for five nights and would go back to this lovely town in a heartbeat. It is an absolutely beautiful and romantic place which is well-situated to use as your home base for day trips to the other towns along the coastline. The gardens at this hotel are famous, and as a guest at the hotel, you can stroll them whenever you like for free. It is quiet and lovely here... which is a nice respite after spending active days touring the other towns, such as Amalfi and Positano, which are fun, but very crowded and touristy. We then spent 4 nights in Capri. Many people say that you can see/do Capri in just one day, but those are day-trippers who didn't stay long enough to discover Capri's many charms. For one thing, Capri is entirely different in the evenings after the day-trippers have taken a ferry back. It is quieter and there are many beautiful places to stroll after a delicious dinner. We stayed at the Quisisana in Capri, which is at the center of town and the perfect spot for watching beautiful jet setters as you linger over a limoncello. We hired a boat to take the two of us around the perimeter of the island, stopping at various small grottos for a quick swim. It is a beautiful way to see the island and take gorgeous photos. Very romantic and well worth the cost. (We skipped the Blue Grotto, as it was ridiculously crowded and noisy, and I am too claustrophobic to lie down in the boat as it squeezes through a tiny hole to get into the grotto during low tide.) While in Capri, be sure to allow time to take an exhilarating open taxi ride up to Anacapri, which has a whole different vibe. Also, be sure to explore Villa San Michele in Anacapri for the most amazing views. We bought two charming paintings as our souvenirs from an artist named Frederico who has a gallery on the way to Villa San Michele. The hydrofoil was an efficient way to get to and from Capri -- just be careful not to overpack! One more thing... we opted not to go to Pompeii, but instead we hiked up to the Roman ruins at Villa Jovis, former home of Tiberius. Breathtaking views of Capri (and, fortunately, Tiberius is long dead... so no fear of being pushed over the edge!), and it is an energetic and enjoyable outing for people who enjoy hiking and history.

Our favorite beach was La Fontelina Beach Club in Capri. Unlike other beaches on the Amalfi Coast, it is not crowded and has very nice amenities, including a wonderful restaurant overlooking the beach. Great swimming. Be sure to have your hotel book a reservation there ahead of time to ensure that you get a space. It was beautiful, romantic... just heavenly! (As for the other beaches, they are very crowded. Be sure to pack a pair of water shoes, because they are mostly rocks/pebbles, not sand!)

Thank you everyone! We will be taking our trip at the beginning of May. Hoping to spend at least a week!

@artistemd do you have the name of the private boat co you used to take you around Capri?