Amalfi or some place else?
 

I have thought long and hard and have decided that Positano is not meant to be. I have issues with lots of steps and everyone who replied to my other post about Positano advised me that this is a place where you can't avoid lots of steps.

I have now started to look at the town of Amalfi. Il Saraceno Grand Hotel. It has a pool for my husband, an elevator, sea view room with balcony-under 2000 euros for the week.

I've also looked at Priano. Hotel Margherita. Sea view room with balcony, pool, access to private beach reachable by free shuttle and boat service. This town is located between Positano and Amalfi. Price for the week-under 1400 euros. www.hotelmargherita.info

So now I have to choose between Amalfi or Priano. We will do day trips to Capri and Ravello. After our time on the AC we head to Rome for 2 weeks.

My question to you who have been to the AC which of these 2 places would be better considering I'm looking for scenic sea views and not having to go up and down hundreds of steps to get to the beach or town? I know some have suggested Sorrento but I don't think that's the right place for us. Thanks in advance for any help.

Chris:

We have been two times at the Amalfi coast.first time based at Amalfi, 7 days, last time, in september, based in Positano.

We think that Amalfi is much better than Positano if you cannot afford steps.....plus is equally good for visiting Capri.
Add to this that Amalfi is where the bus to Ravello starts.....

Hands down Amalfi is better than Praiano as a base, and in any sense.

Enjoy!

I agree with jelopez - Amalfi would be a better choice for you. Easy ferry service to Capri from Amalfi, along with direct bus to Ravello. Also, much more to see and do in Amalfi. I can highly recommend dinner at Lido Azzuro right on the water in Amalfi.

Agree with both above. We stayed in Conca dei Marina - not one of the main towns - and the biggest problem was the lack of services - buses, restaurants etc.

Ian

Amalfi over Praiano hands down. Praiano is too isolated for my tastes, and you have to rely too much on the dreaded SITA bus to visit other towns.

For all the reasons above, plus there's more to do, more shops and more places to eat and better access along the AC.

Thanks everyone! Looks like I will start to take a much closer look at the hotels in Amalfi.

Aahh, the SITA bus, on its very own schedule bus by bus ..... another vote for Amalfi

Have you considered staying in Sorrento and using public transportation to explore the coastal towns? The city is flatter than the Amalfi Coast and you would only be 1/2 hour away.

After traveling in Italy for 34 years I've concluded that most attractions are uphill.

Buon viaggio,

"After traveling in Italy for 34 years I've concluded that most attractions are uphill."

Funny! Except for the ones that are underground.

There should be a thread for the "Great Flat Attractions of Italy" -- and there are some glorious ones -- Florence, Torino, Mantova, Bologna, Parma, Modena, Ravenna, Pisa, just to name a few, and a good chunk of Sicily. Almost all of Puglia is flatter than a pancake, and you can get by at the lakes without hill climbing. If you plan carefully for Rome, you can actually ace most of the 7 hills without climbing them.

But back to the issue of Amalfi as a base:

I think in your travel time frame you will find that using ferries is better than using buses to get around. The Amalfi drive itself can get pretty crowded with traffic. However, if you decide you want to see Pompei (not a knee-friendly place) I suggest you see it on your way to or from Amalfi town and simply spend a night in Pompei town. There are plenty of decent hotels with elevators.

Another vote for Amalfi.

I have been to both Praiano and Amalfi and while I loved the small town feel and the lower prices of Praiano, I found
the steps from and to the hotel and beach were difficult.

Also bus service is somewhat errratic and if the bus was filled sometimes the driver did not stop.
Amalfi is the beginning of the bus lines and easier to get to the other towns. Also ferry service to Positano and Capri is available

So next year when I will be returning to the Amalfi coast, I have decided to stay in Amalfi