Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Ischa, Positano, Capri and what else?
 

Hello!

My wife and I (in our early 30's) have decided on heading to the Amalfi Coast area for 7.5 days in October. I have a number of questions that I'm looking for some guidance on. I have tried to do some research but there is so much information I'm struggling a bit to care about the pieces that fit our questions/interest.

1. We can spend about $200 more (upgrading a frequent flyer ticket) to go October 9th to the 16th , versus for free from October 22nd to the 29th. Is it worth it to pay a little bit more to go earlier in October? I can't imagine there is a huge difference in weather, but it also sounds like these start to really slow down at the end of October. I did read in another forum that All Saints day on Friday, Nov 1st would probably be the true end of the season there, so maybe this is a moot point. Thoughts?

2. We are going to be traveling from the Midwest and we will have a very long ways to travel to get there. After basically 2 full days of traveling we will arrive in Naples at 8:25pm via Easy Jet. I was planning on having us spend the night in Naples and then the next morning make our way down to the coast. Where should we go? I've heard recommendations to base in Sorrento, but then others say Positano. Suggestions?

3. The list of places we thought looked great to visit are Amalfi, Sorrento, Ischa, Positano, Capri and Pompeii. We will have 7 full days plus most of the 8th day (our flight leaves from Naples at 9pm). What is a good itinerary for 7 full days to explore these places? Is this too many places? I am going to explore other threads on this topic and try and piece an itinerary together, but I wanted to ask anyways.

4. Should we stay for 1 or 2 nights on Capri? During this time of year, weather could be an issue, so should we just shoot for 1?

5. I was looking at the Hotel Excelsior Parco and La Minerva for our hotels. Seems like we can't go wrong with either, but any strong opinions on these?

6. I would really love to do some sort of boat tour to see the coast line. I don't have a preference on what city we do this, though Positano seems like maybe the best one? Any thoughts or suggested companies to do this with?

7. We love to do cultural attractions such as a cooking class, a bike tour, a concert, local bar, etc. We love to do anything that allows us to interact with the people that are passionate about where they live. Any places/tours we can't miss that fit this bill?

8. Should we go to Pompeii immediately after leaving Naples in the morning or do that later?

9. Since we will be overnighting in Naples, is it worth visiting Maschio Angioino' castle? This looks fantastic from the pictures, but not sure if we should spend a half a day of our time versus just being in the Amalfi area.

That's a lot for now!!!!!! Thanks in advance for any replies to any of my questions :). I will be sure to fill out the answers to these questions as I find them on my own too to help others.

I missed including Ravello as well as a possible stop.

Hi B,

We very much liked our stay at www.lesirene.com in Praiano.

Have you considered two nights in Naples before heading for the AC? You could take the train to Salerno and then the ferry to Amalfi or Positano. The ferry dock is only a couple of blocks from the train station.

Regarding your boat tour, you can take the ferry from Amalfi to Sorrento, if they are still running, and the SITA bus back.

For Ferry schedules Positano – Amalfi - Salerno (P.zza della Concordia):
See http://www.coopsantandrea.com/it/ser...ea/servizi.asp
For current timetables between Capri/Amalfi Coast the most reliable link is:
http://www.capri.net/en/ship-timetable

If you wish to visit Capri for an overnight, I suggest you do it in the middle of your visit. If the weather is bad, you won't be able to get off the island.

Have you considered a visit to the Greek ruins at Paestum?

Hope this helps.

((I))

Bluesphee, if you've got the budget... you can do all the things you want to do! Boating, cooking classes, climb Mount Vesuvius, ride the ferry, and use a private guide in Pompeii are all available. October IS the latter part of the season, and as IRA said, weather could create some rough water... and like Ira, I would also lrecommend the Greek ruins at Paestum!

As you're coming via easyjet, I am sure you are aware of the their luggage restrictions.

I personally prefer Positano or Ravello as a base. Naples is *OK* but it sounds like you are looking for more activities and a place to relax and enjoy the scenery. For that, I'd prefer to move farther away from Naples.

La Minerva is a wonderful little hotel on Capri... and I'd also invest in an ocean view room in Positano. or perhaps Ravello - there are has some great cooking class opportunities in Ravello.

With only 7.5 days, I might limit my "bases of operations" to just 2 places. It will take time to get around on the Amalfi. You might also consider using a driver to get you around. I use a few different folks in that region. You'll have a wonderful time!

We did two boat trips with this company http://www.gennaroesalvatore.it/

The Amalfi Coast tour with lunch was the highlight of our trip...we still talk about it!

Hi!

As for the timing of the season's end, I think I recognise the American woman whose posts you've been reading?

Although caution may see those directly by the water closing mid-month, in the resorts it's usual for most hotels, restaurants etc to carry on until AFTER the All Souls / All Saints public holiday. It's a popular opportunity for Italians - and Italo-Americans etc - to make a visit "home" and pay their respects... with, hopefully, the chance of some late sun thrown in!

Doesn't apply to Capri though - as a magnet for cruiseships, things there continue till much later - whilst at Sorrento the biggest influence is whenever the British package holiday companies decide to finish:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/148912488

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For an idea of how weather and sea conditions can be, try these - which span the decade we've spent on Ischia (as you probably knew, just across the Bay from Capri and Sorrento!)....

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/recoct

That month really big storms are rare, and hydrofoils between Capri, Naples etc aren't often seriously disrupted, the ferry ships even less so - although it takes very little to put the tiny quays and docks of some AC places out of action, at any time of year...

I didn't notice what happened in 2012, but the hydrofoil between Sorrento and Ischia normally finishes around the same time:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/131364851

...although both places are connected to Naples by year-round services!

Try this for other destinations you might add to that list of visits:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

If it were me, I'd consider splitting the time between Sorrento (handy for Naples, Capri, Pompei etc - and especially Ischia!) and Amalfi (if less scenic than Positano, a bus hub with a decent harbour and rather more to see and do locally).... and whilst perhaps a close decision, overall you'd probably get a better vacation by coming a fortnight earlier?

Sounds a horrendous journey, but if you've got to have a taxi or a driver from the airport anyway, they might as well take you all the way to Sorrento?

At least you'd then wake up on day 3 and be on vacation...

Peter

PS: Some background stuff:

- try this for other destinations you might add to that list of visits:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

- high time it was updated (so do cross-check any and all times, prices etc!), but for more about places along both the Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast, you may like this 170 page 'Travel Directory':

http://www.costiera.it/images/pdf/Tr...rectory_En.pdf

- and for Naples, which is well worth at least a day, the open-top ho ho buses perhaps?
http://www.napoli.city-sightseeing.it/eng/index.htm

Their current leaflet is usually on:
http://www.napoli.city-sightseeing.it/depliant_na.pdf

Three castles to see there, as well as loads of other things and places of interest - only some of which you'll find portrayed here:
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/mainlynaples

I'll try to answer some:

1. We spent a week there in mid-October, and the weather was great. Of course, no one can predict the occasionally rainy day or week, but temperature-wise, it was almost perfect, probably mid-to-low 70s.

2. It's kind of a matter of personal preference. We stayed in Positano and used public transportation or a driver to get to most places. The public transportation facilities in Sorrento are better, but Sorrento is a bit less quaint and more busy.

3. I would call that a busy, but not impossible, plan. If you allot a day for each place mentioned, that leaves you a day or two for just strolling around exploring. That could work.

4. I think one night in Capri is enough, no matter the weather. Others may disagree.

5. Can't answer. We rented a villa.

6. Others have answered, I think.

7. Your hotel probably can direct you. I know there's a cooking class in Positano. It's held in a storefront open to the public. Looked like fun. Sorry, don't know the name, but maybe you can find it by Googling "cooking classes Positano."

8. I think that's a good idea, as long as you think you'll be rested enough and ready to tour Pompeii.

9. Sorry, no experience with that.

Just a couple of observations. Re Pompeii: You may be a bit jet-lagged after your night in Naples after a 20 hour flight so I would wait for Pompeii, if possible. If you are staying in Sorrento, you can visit anytime. If in Positano, easier to visit Pompeii from Naples.

Re: the weather. We were on a similar trip a couple of years ago the last 8 days in September. It was a bit chilly - definitely sweater weather - but nice most days. We had rain a couple of days for a few hours. You really can't tell year to year but it is likely to be cool in October.

Re:Capri. We spent 3 nights. It is so much more pleasant in the evening and morning before the cruise ships arrive so staying overnight is a good idea.

Have a lovely trip.

Thanks very much to each of you for the great advice. I've changed my plans up somewhat (better flight times, etc...) so below is my revised itinerary. We now will be going in early October, so perhaps the weather will be a little warmer.

Before I get to the itinerary I thought I would share which hotels I decided on since I spent a lot of time considering these (especially the Naples and Positano ones).

Hotels:
- 2 nights Sorrento @ Maison Tofani in a double loft room
- 2 nights Capri @ La Minerva in a superior room. I'm still debating on if we want the larger terrace w/ the large day beds you can lay on or the better view. I've been e-mailing the hotel and they've offered me those two options. I'm leaning towards the better view since it may not be super warm to lay out in the sun.
- 5 nights Positano. Still debating between the Marincanto or Villa Rosa. I booked the Villa Rosa and have a 3rd floor Superior room reserved. I'm 99% sure I'll be going with that.

Day 1 - Overnight in Sorrento:
Arrive in Naples in the early afternoon and immediately head to Sorrento. Wander around Sorrento, have dinner and just unwind from our 20 hour journey, and get a good night sleep

Day 2 - Overnight in Sorrento:
Take a day trip to go see Pompeii. Might be a bit jet lagged, but it will be easiest to get to Pompeii from Sorrento. If we're feeling ambitious, go to see Herculaneum (I highly doubt we'd do this though). That's a lot of ruins in one day and kind of a similar activity from the little I know about either one. Based on reading this thread http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-best-way.cfm I've decided we will hire a guide at the entrance since they are all licensed guides. This sounds more appealing than the Rick Steve's audio guide and doing it on our own.

Day 3 - Overnight in Capri
Head from Sorrento to Capri in the morning. Enjoy Capri.

Day 4 - Overnight in Capri
Enjoy Capri.

Days 5 through 9 - Overnight in Positano (5 nights)
Head to Positano and use it as a base to explore Positano itself, do a boat tour of some sort, cooking class at Buca di Bacco, half day trip to the ruins at Paestrum, explore Ravello/Amalfi, relax, eat, drink and enjoy the views :).

Day 10 - Fly from Naples to Germany
We leave from Naples at 14:15pm which gives us all morning to get to Naples from Positano. I am on the fence on whether or not to use public transit from Positano or to just hire a private driver. Any advice on this? Is it risky to try and make a 14:15 flight from Naples via Positano/public transit? I'm leaning towards a private transfer since I've heard so much about the unreliability of the public transit.

We end up flying into Berlin for an overnight layover, so with any luck we'll arrive there on time and get to head into the city and see a sight or two at night :).

Thanks again all for the help! Any other insights are appreciated.

I should share a few random other things that I've found throughout researching the trip. These aren't in any particular order, but I've picked them up from other threads on Fodor's and elsewhere. I'll try and add others that I find that I think are useful.

1.
Ischia - I've decided to skip Ischia. While I'm sure it would be a blast, I read that it has a lot of German influence (e.g. lots of German pubs). While I love Germany that doesn't sound all that appealing. It also just felt like we were trying to do too much in 7-8 days by adding it in.

2.
I enjoyed reading this Fodor's thread and found a lot of useful info - http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lots-of-qs.cfm

3.
I read this somewhere.... "but for a real treat, snorkel at Marina Piccola beach. It’s said to be the spot where Odysseus nearly succumbed to the Sirens’ song… a fitting legend for this alluring island." Sounds great. While it will likely be too cold for us to snorke, we may try to find it.

4.
While in Sorrento, we will visit Il Vallone dei Mulini (Deep Valley of the Mills). http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...s_Campani.html
This sounded really cool to me.