gregmlt

need suggestions on a ten day trip to amalfi coast for my wifes 60th birthday...i would like to do sorrento, positano, capri, ravello on my own using publc transportation....looking for ideas on where to stay eat and any other tips....should i book a package deal or book separately....hope to hear from all of you amalfi coast travelers....thank you

bobthenavigator

I would fly into Naples if you can and start in Sorrento for 2 or 3 nites---day tripping to Pompeii and Capri from there.

Then, transfer by taxi or SITA bus to Positano for your next 6 nites---hire a private driver to transfer to Naples airport for departure. Here are hotel options:




BOB’S FAVORITE HOTELS ON THE AMALFI COAST


POSITANO: 3 STAR HOTELS---150 TO 250E FOR DOUBLE—AVERAGE 170E

1. www.villarosapositano.it Popular B&B with great views—lots of steps

2. www.hotelcaliforniapositano.it Small hotel near above—great terrace

3. www.casalbertina.it Fabulous views but you will need good legs

4. www.villalatartana.it Good value, lower in town but still good views

5. www.larosadeiventi.net Good centro location and decent value


POSITANO: 4 STAR HOTELS---200 TO 350E FOR TYPICAL DOUBLE

6. www.bucadibacco.it On the beach—nice hotel and great food

7. www.hotelposeidonpositano.it Hard to beat in this price range

8. www.puntaregina.com Terrific views

9. www.palazzomurat.it Good centro location—historic site


AMALFI , PRAIANO, RAVELLO:

1. http://www.hotelfloridiana.it/index.asp Good value in the heart of Amalfi

2. http://www.lesirene.com/rooms.htm Budget choice, with views, in Praiano

3. http://www.villamaria.it/ Lovely 4 star in Ravello with terrific food

4. http://www.hotelsantacaterina.it/en/index Your splurge option near Amalfi

ekscrunchy

Greg: This question, or a variant, is asked here over and over again, sometimes a dozen times in a week. My advice to you is to do a search here for trip reports or threads about the area and then come back with questions. When you do ask questions, be sure to tell us the time of year and your approximate budget per night for hotels, as well as a bit about your tastes. Please add, too, your departure point and how you hope to arrive in the area--by air to Rome, to Naples, by train, etc. It is obviously easiest to fly into Naples.

It is very easy to tour this area on your own, without an escort.

To get you started, here is my own report from 2008 which is filled with information on restaurants and food of the area:


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-naples.cfm

Weadles

I don't think it's necessary to book a package deal. It's pretty simple to book hotels, transfers, etc. on your own. Take ekscrunchy's excellent advice, look over bobthenavigator's list of hotel options, check some out, then come back with your budget and questions. You'll get much more specific answers that way! Good luck!

gregmlt

HI FOLKS I HAVENT POSTED ANYTHING IN A WHILE BUT HAVE BEEN READING ALOT OF INFO ABOUT AMALFI.BOBTHE NAVIGATOR HAS SUPPLIED GREAT INFO ON HOTELS IN POSITANO AND I HOPE HE CAN SUGGEST HOTELS IN SORRENTO.AT THIS POINT I AM PLANNING MY TRIP FOR OCTOBER 2011 AND WOULD LIKE TO DO 3 NIGHTS IN SORRENTO WITH DAY TRIPS TO CAPRI AND POMPEII AND THE MOVE TO POSITANO AND CONTINUE MY TRAVELS BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.ANY FURTHER SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED
THANKS,
GREG

jelopez33

Hi GREGMLT:
i am sure you will have a nice trip.Don`t miss Capri,Pompeii,Ravello.You can book anything you need;public transport is good; and in october there are not so much tpurists.We were there in septembewr 2009 and the weaather was excellent(well,not on the night we arrived,with pouring rain,but that was all).
If you like,go to my report and read the segment related to a week on the Amalfi Coast:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...1-to-oct-3.cfm
I am sure you wiil enjoy your stay.

isabel

We did that whole area this summer using only public transportation, it was great. Here's my trip report with review of the hotel we stayed at in Sorrento. There is a link to my photos.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rful-weeks.cfm

bobthenavigator

In Sorrento it will depend on your budget.

A good value B&B is Casa Astarita

A nice 4 star in the heart of town is Antiche Mura--we were there in May.

gregmlt

HI again,
i havent posted since september and have been taking notes on an up coming trip to amalfi coast which could happen in february.i have received great info and suggestions from this blog.the trip will probaly be for 8 days ,id like to start in sorrento for three nights and move to positano for the remainder of trip seeing everything possible.if anyone could suggest an itinerary for hotels,restaurant, sights ,transportaion in the four star price range i wouild love to hear from you.
thanks,
greg

Mimar

February is very slow along the Amalfi coast. Some hotels and restaurants will be closed. And the weather may cause the ferries to Capri to be canceled.

This is an area where good weather adds a lot to your experience. Consider delaying the trip until March or April if possible.

Also it's best to give an approximate per night budget for hotels. There can be a lot of variance in rates between 4-star hotels.

gregmlt

Thank you mimar for your response and i think i will take your suggestion and wait uuntil april or possibly may.i dont have a strict budget but would like a nice hotel with a reasonable price.Since this is for my wife's 60th birthday i want to make it special.I am open to suggestions on hotels for both sorrento and positano as well as restaurants and tours.
thanks,
greg

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Although it does mean not coming over for your wife's birthday, I think you've made the right decision.

We're just across the water from the Sorrento side of the Peninsula, and you'll perhaps get some idea of the climate and variety of weather etc from these photos, mostly taken on Ischia - about 20/25 miles away...

February - still very much winter...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/ischiawinter

April - getting into spring...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/springisch

May - just lovely!
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/mayisch

While there's very likely to be a price spike over Easter next year, with it falling quite so late, that might nevertheless be an ideal time to come - not just because almost everything should be up and running by then, but also for the many interesting religious celebrations that will be going on.

For example, although we've not been, Sorrento has two big processions on Good Friday - one in the very early hours, and one that evening: instead we tend to go over to see the one staged on our neighbouring island, Procida.

Some photos from last year?
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/procgf2010

Transport-wise, in addition to the various year-round sea routes, unlike in February by late April you should find some seasonal ones in operation - and the buses ought to be a little more frequent too!

Just as an example, one line's Amalfi Coast sailing schedule, from 2010..
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/130578291

...................

Can't advise you on hotel choices, however (although it's high time for an update - so do crosscheck the times, prices etc!) for lots of useful background to the Sorrento Peninsula and Amalfi Coast, you may like to download the 'Travel Directory' and map from the area's official tourism website, here...
http://www.costiera.it/weben/index.htm

For other places around Campania that might be worth a visit, I've some pictures here...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

Peter

PS - for something you might give on the big day itself...

http://www.amazon.com/Time-Out-Naple...3528108&sr=1-1

ekscrunchy

Those photos are beautiful. Thank you for sharing them.