My wife and I are planning on taking our mothers to the Amalfi coast in September of 2008. We are considering renting a villa through www.rentvillas.com and I have a few questions about the trip that I hope some of you seasoned travelers can help with.

1. I assume we will be flying into Naples. How hard and/or expensive is it to get to the Amalfi Coast from there? Is a bus the best bet? or rail? or taxi?

2. Once in Amalfi, what are the best methods of getting around the coast and to the Vesuvius and Pompeii areas? Rent a car? Hire a tour in town? Bus?

3. Does anyone have any experience renting a motor boat for the day for a coastal cruise or have any idea of costs?

4. We haven't booked the villa yet, but is this really the best idea over a hotel as far as costs? It seems to be a cheaper way to go for a week than a 3 or 4 star hotel.

5. What is the best area for a coastal view? Is the Amalfi side the best or is it better to be on the Sorrento side facing Naples and Vesuvius?

Any and all information greatly appreciated. Thank you,

Kevin

I'd fly into Naples and spend the first night there. Take a day and visit Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Herculaneum. The downtown area near the train stations is pretty seedy, but if you stay south of the "tunnel", there are a string of four and five star hotels along the water that are safe and beautiful. There's also a delightful harbor with a number of seafood restaurants.

One way of getting from Naples to Amalfi would be via boat. I might do that one-way of your visit; it will make for a great experience ... and you get great views of Capri from the water.

I didn't think much of Sorrento. Amalfi and Positano are much more interesting places. Another possibility to consider: Ravello.

I second Travelhorizons for flying into Naples, spend the night there and then go to Pompei. I would rent a car and drive to Pompei, then off to the Amalfi coast (slow drive on twisty narrow roads on the edge of very high cliffs). Stay in Positano and take a day trip to Capri (get to Capri by boat).

The Amalfi coast is amazing, you will love it!

I would fly into Naples and have Salvatore from DriveAmalfi meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel. Yes, it will cost about 110 Euros, but you sit back and relax and enjoy the view and ride along the coast.
You could take a bus or get on the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento and take a bus from there but that's a hassle.
I don't know how old your mothers are, but some hotels and some villas require walking up or down a LOT of steps. Watch that when renting.

No experience renting a boat or taking a tour, but take a look at http://www.gennaroesalvatore.it/
We're going to do the Amalfi Coast trip this fall with them. They quoted us 75 Euros/person for the 6-7 hour trip that ends with dinner.

We've always stayed in a hotel and liked that, but it is probably more expensive. We like the Amalfi side because that gives us beautiful sunrises and also sunsets from Praiano.
Good luck with your planning, you will love this area.
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I also think flying into Naples and hiring a driver to get you to Positano is the way to do it. We used one recommended on this site, and can look up if you need it. Also hire him for Pompeii, but it is ridiculous to think you can "Take a day and visit Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Herculaneum." in one day, assuming your mothers aren't in their 50s. Pompeii deserves half a day,a nd you won't feel like seeing and walking Herculaneum after that.
Do read up on the hotels, because some do have steep stairs. We were pleasantly surprised on how nice the Best Western Positano was, with a nice terrace for each room with a great view and no stairs to reach the lobby from the street. On their web site, get the senior rate, it's quite good, or shop around with Expedia and Travelocity, because sometimes they are cheaper, especially as date draws closer. Breakfast and tax is included in rate quoted, so it may work out well price wise. You can walk a lot, or there's a 1 euro bus ride circling the town. Public transport can take you to Ravello, etc.

Hi Ox,

There is bus service from NAP to Sorrento:
www.curreriviaggi.it

The easiest way is limo service - about 100E.

Be aware that Amalfi is a town on the east end of the Amalfi Coast.

For visiting Vesuvius and Pompeii, I suggest staying in Naples (interesting in itself) before going to Sorrento or Positano.

If you want to cruise the coast, take a ferry from Sorrento to Positano or Amalfi and take the SITA bus back.

Best views are from Positano, Praiano and Ravello.

Hope this helps.

I guess my biggest question is, how easy is it to arrange for trips out of the Amalfi region if we decide to base ourselves there? Would it be easier to arrange day trips to say rome or the Amalfi region and Pompeii if we stayed in Naples as opposed to Amalfi?

As to your last question, I think you are trying to do too much. A day trip to Rome is possible from Naples, but possible and pleasant are two different things.

Are you planning on doing a lot of traveling on this trip? Long day trips?

If it were me, I would fly into Naples, and visit Pompeii on the way to your Amalfi Coast base. A driver (Cuomo is the firm we used, often recommended here) can pick you up at the airport, take you to Pompeii, wait for you and then to take you to your hotel.

Or, as suggested, spend the night in Naples, and have the driver get you at your hotel and take you to Pompeii on the way to your villa.

Base yourselves in Amalfi town or Positano for the easiest boat connections between those towns and to Capri.

I wouldnt stay in Sorrento; it's not the same as staying on the AC. I've done both, and preferred out stay in Positano.

Yes, there are SITA busses, but when we were there in September, the waits were tremendous and to me, the ride was sickening. I have motion sickness. The boats were a thousand times more pleasant.

OK: if you want to day trip out of the Amalfi Coast, don't go to the Amalfi Coast. Your original post said you were planning on taking your mothers to the Amalfi Coast, not Naples. Naples is a bustling big city.