miller

We will be in Italy in June '05. Flying into Naples Sunday 12 June. Want to see Pompei - lifelong dream! Question is...do we spend 3 nights in Amalfi or do we go up to Verona for 3 nights? We are leaving Venice on Saturday 18th for a cruise in the Adriatic so have Monday - Sat in which to see Italy.
We are more interested in architecture and experiencing the 'real' Italy ie people than going into museums if this helps. Also not afraid of walking. We would prefer to see what we see properly rather than rushing through everything. My mind was pretty well made up that we would 'do ' the south until I saw pictures of Verona...it looks so beautiful - that whole area around lake Garda. Please someone advise! Is the Amalfi coast worth it?! Bear in mind that we are budget travellers and will be staying in budget hotels along the way ie 38 euro per night rather than the Poseidon! Please guys, any advice will be much appreciated....

ira

Hi m,

I would visit the Amalfi Coast.

Are you planning on the town of Amalfi?

JBX

You're flying into Naples and already a hop, skip & jump from the Amalfi Coast ... aside from convenience, it's a lovely place. Your budget suggests browsing on the Thorntree (http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com) where you are more likely to find suggestions for accommadations in your price range. In fact, just this afternoon, I was looking on their website and saw a post by a Canadian woman who now lives in Salerno and rents out room(s) in her apt. Soooo, if you don't mind dogs & a cat (pictures on her website), check out >>> http://www.mysalernoapartment.com/

miller

Thanks for the input JBX.

Yes Ira, plan to spend two or three nights in Amalfi. Any 'must sees' or 'must do's'? Day trip to
Capri - recommended? We really just needed someone to help us make a decision between Amalfi coast and Verona - hard to decide if you have never been there before yourself!

ira

Hi M,

If you are flying into Naples, the West side of the AC is more convenient than Amalfi on the East side.

It is also easier to get to Pompeii and Capri from Sorrento or even Positano than from Amalfi.

MikeBuckley

I have briefly (not extensively) visited Verona and the Amalfi coast. My vote would be for Amalfi.

Part of my reasoning is that if it is Lake Garda that is especially appealing to you (I've never been to the lake), you always have the option in the future of visiting the beautiful lake region closer to Milan (which I have indeed visited). Unless you have plans to visit southern Italy fairly soon, take advantage of the Amalfi coast while you're so close.

Jocelyn_P

Hi miller,

Last May DH and I spent 8 days in Verona. We loved every minute of it. It is a great place to people watch and see the "real" Italy. Here's my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34500984

And the link to our pictures:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34506498

I have NOT been to the Amalfi Coast, but will be there in June. I imagine it's a completely different experience. Not better or worse, just different.

miller

Hi ira

Will look at accomodations in Sorrento then. Is it pretty? Good places to eat?

miller

Thanks JocelynP and Mike for the input. I have realised that we cant do everything at once so think we'll stick to the south, do it properly and concentrate on the north another time.

ira

Hi m,

Look up Sorrento in the "search this forum" box for lots of information.

miller

Will do, ira, thx.

mamc

Have you ever been to Venice? If not, I would spend a couple of nights on the Amalfi Coast and they go to Venice and spend a few days there before your cruise. If you have been to Venice, spend a little longer on the Amalfi Coast and arrive in Venice a couple of days before your cruise leaves. While the Amalfi area is lovely, I would always choose to return to Venice.

MikeBuckley

Yes, I agree entirely with mamc about the importance of spending time in Venice, especially considering your love of architecture and seeing how Italians live. The architecture is everywhere. To see how the locals live, make a point of enjoying one of the walking tours provided in guide books that takes you through the residential areas.

miller

I have been to Venice - just for two days though...we will also have a full day there before we leave to fly home again so full day Friday, Saturday before we embark at 5pm and then the following Saturday we disembark in the morning and only fly out from Venice at 20.40. Should be enough time? By the way, does anyone know where we can stash our luggage on the day we fly out? We are flying Air France - do you think we could go to the airport in the morning and check in then go back to enjoy the rest of the day in Venice?

MikeBuckley

Considering that you've been to Venice, you are the best judge of how much time to spend there. I think the time you have alloted should be sufficient.

About the stored luggage, your hotel might be willing to keep it safe. If not, depending on the cost of storing it at the airport, I wonder if it's worth considering shipping it.

MikeBuckley

Oops! I see that I completely misunderstood your question about the luggage. Sorry that I have no solution for you.

paula1470

I would also recommend the Amalfi Coast based on my daughter's trip to Italy this summer. She stayed in Verona for three weeks with a college program and although it was beautiful, she didn't enjoy it as much as other cities she visited. She did go to Lake Garda and it was very nice but as someone else pointed out there are other lakes you can visit. The best thing about Verona was that it's location made Siena, Florence and Venice a short train ride away.

She stayed in Positano for 4 days and absolutely loved the Amalfi Coast. They hiked in Ravello, visited Capri and Pompei all as day trips. Positano is expensive but she stayed at the Hostel Brikette for 18E a night. This was for the dorm room but they do have some private rooms-don't know the rate. The Hostel has a beautiful terrace where they sat every morning and evening enjoying the view. She used to call me to talk as she was sitting on the terrace drinking wine (boy was I jealous). She had a "Poseidon" view at a hostel price. The biggest complaint about the hostel is the rules but they didn't bother her because they were out every day anyway. I think if you have a private room there is not lockout or curfew. You can read info about the hostel at the link below and there also a couple of budget hotels in the hostelz.com website. She was also able to eat pretty reasonably at restaurants in the area. The Amalfi Coast was one of the highlights of her trip.

www.hostelz.com/display.php/7073+Hostel+Brikette

zee123

Hi miller,
We were on the Amalfi Coast based in Positano. The beauty was overwhelming and don't know if it would have had chance to soak in and be thoroughly enjoyed in 3 days.

We passed thru Sorrento on the way to Pompeii and knew we would be going back, we loved it. We travelled a lot by boat along the coast and found that also enjoyable
The beautiful towns and their sidewalk cafes felt like we were seeing one movie set after another if that is a strange way to describe it.
I know nothing of Verona but you will not be mistaken to spend a week on the Amalfi coast - enjoy!
And folks here really know what they are talking about, what a help they were to us, the 1st time travellers.

Zee

joolleeb

Miller---
How are you planning to get from Almafi Coast area to Venice? We are trying to plan a trip next May and I have no idea what areas we will travel to or how the transportation is. Are you flying or taking a rain and how long will that take

ira

Hi miller,

There is a left luggage office at the Venice San Lucia train station and at the Marco Polo airport.