Help!

I have read a great deal on the Amalfi Coast and find quite a variation of opinions.

So, here's the issue:

Got 6 nights in the AC. Planning to spend 3 in Sorrento: Looking at Hotel Ambasciatori (http://www.manniellohotels.it/ambasciatori/ukframe.html), or Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria (http://www.ila-chateau.com/vittoria). Any thoughts on those places? Other places? We want to be over the water and near the center of town. We're planning a trip to Capri for a day from here and maybe Pompeii. Or maybe 2 days in Sorrento, and we'll hit Pompeii on the return to Rome.

The next 3 days, we were planning to stay in either Positano (Punta Regina, perhaps. Anything we're missing?) or maybe in Amalfi. It's just my wife and me, and I don't really know which would be better for a normal, husband-wife trip. We want a nice hotel in a great town/area. I didn't know if anyone had any particular ideas. I've never been to this area so it's hard to understand the differences. I've never heard anyone say Positano was anything but fabulous. Any thoughts????

Much appreciated!

Hi S,

I suggest staying in Positano.

No need to pack and unpack.

You can take he ferry to Capri, bus or ferry to Amalfi, bus to Sorrento.

You might also wish to visit Paestum.

Ira,

Is 6 days too much? Should we do 4 in Positano and 2 on Capri, maybe?

my opinion would be to stay 2 nights on Capri and the rest of the time in either positano or amalfi. Capri was unforgettable, probably the best part of our trip to the Amalfi Coast. And the best part about it was staying over at night after the vast majority of tourists left for the day. We did a boat trip around the island, a moped rental and a walk up to the ruins of emporers palace. It is a romantic, magical and very elegant place.
We also enjoyed positano, which was pretty and very "fairy-tale" perfect. We stayed in positano for four nights and it makes a good base for day-tripping. Actually once of our most enjoyable day-trips was to amalfi. Amalfi is much more "real-life" than positano. Be sure to take the bus to all the coastal towns Ravello, amalfi, manori....its easy to use (just be sure to buy tickets at the tobacco shops the night before if you are planning on leaving early in the morning. On our day trip to pompeii there were no shops open to buy tickets. We took the risk, got on a bus and the "meter man" gave us a big ticket. He also happened to be about the only person we met on the AC that didnt speak english). Have fun!

Stevie - where did you stay in Positano? In Capri?

What time of the year are you going? We stayed in Positano in late July and it was very crowded. We are glad we visited the AC but we wouldn't return. No beach and lots of tourists. Perhaps if we had been there in the off season we would have enjoyed it more. The highlight was our visit to Pompeii. The boat ride to Capri was nice but Capri was even more crowded than Positano and more expensive. If you go to Capri, take the chair lift to the top of the island, a wonderful view not to be missed.

Once you get to the Amalfi coast, are you planning on just staying put in one town and soaking up the views and relaxtion, or do you plan to day trip?

If you plan to day trip, pick Amalfi, because then you can visit either Positano, Atrani or Ravello, or take a boat to Capri, etc.

If you are looking to "get away from it all" and experience paradise, then I would suggest you consider Ravello, which gets far fewer tourists (unless the Wagner festival is going on) and has a very special atmosphere, and beautiful food.

Positano is also a good place to lay back and relax, but you will mainly be sharing space with foreign tourists and surrounded by shops catering to foreign tourists. If you want to get away from it all in Positano, book high up in the hills or spring for the extravagance of La Sirineuse, where you will be pampered like royalty.

Hello SEC -

We spent two nights in Positano (at La Tartana) and two nights on Capri (at La Minerva) and loved both places. While in Positano we hired a driver to take us on AC "tour" and to Pompeii (he also hired a guide for us there). We could have easily spent another night in Positano just soaking in the ambience, plus MANY more opportunities for the wife to shop - hehehe.

Capri is magical anytime, but after the ferries leave it's really great. During the day you can take wonderful walks/hikes all over the island (lots to see, mostly beautiful scenery and gardens and vistas), and at night you can toast each other with proseco, followed by limoncello, followed by grappa in the Piazzeta.

My trip report gives details on hotels (and websites) as well as link to photos.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34730887

KC

Hi SEC,

6 nights in Positano is not too much.

2 nights on Capri follwed by 4 in Positano would be very nice.

Keep in mind that the last ferries to/from Capri are fairly early - I think about 18:00.

We did two nights in Capri (May 04 honeymoon) and found that we wished we had only stayed one night. We loved it there, but not as much as Positano. If I had to do it over again, I would actually have stayed one night in Ravello.

In Positano, we stayed at the Villa Rosa which has wonderful rooms, terraces, service and views. Great location, we thought, to access the shops and restaurants near the piazza and beach.

I wouldn't recommend staying in Amalfi, personally.

-Kellie

I have a question about Villa Rosa. When you stayed did you see any of the family flats or apartments? My fiance' and I are going with another couple to Villa Rosa and wanted to know if we should get the apartment together ($156 cheaper) or separate rooms? Please help I'm obsessio over this decision and need to decide soon. Thanks!!!
C Caesar