any helpful hints appreciated! we are leaving next thursday - 2 nights in rome - st. regis grand...on sunday rent alfa (DH loves to drive) head for positano..3 nights at covo dei saraceni...
(drop off rental)
hydrofoil to capri on 7/12 wednesday...4 nights at caesar augustus...
on 7/16 hydrofoil to sorrento and 3 nights at grand hotel excelsior vittoria
then back to nyc via naples/rome on 7/19..
any must dos, must sees?
any advice for the drive from rome to positano?
we love to walk around villages, eat, a little shopping, and time by the pool/beach...

thanks ever so much!

You say you're dropping off your rental car...how do you plan on getting around, by bus?

we have the alfa for the days in positano but when we leave for capri someone will pick it up...car not necessary in capri and then in sorrento we'll just hang out locally or maybe have the hotel arrange a day trip for us.

crumpet,

first love your hotel choices; you have good taste!!

click on my name for my recent trip report of the Amalfi Coast. We stayed in Sorrento, but at the Bellevue Syrene which was fab. You'll love the GVE though and its very convenient.

Just enjoy the places you are visiting. Take time to relax. Star gaze. Drink alot. Eat till kingdom come. Lick alot of gelato ( see my recommendation for gelato in Sorrento in my report)

Get away from the crowds in Capri by hiking up to Tiberius villa, Villa jovis, but do spend some time in Capri town towards the end of the day when day trippers have departed.
Take a boat ride around the island. Do the Blue Grotto is you must, be be there early. We did it this way and it was fun, but if I had to wait and wait to get in it would have been a letdown.

Visit Villa San Michele. and since you are staying in Anacapri, you can simply just walk and walk all around and explore.

When in Positano, go to Ravello and eat at Cumpa Cosimo and then shop for ceramics. Make your way up to Villa Cimbrone for some peace and quiet, finish with Villa Rufulo.
Check and see if there are any concerts on.

As long as you have a car, visit the smaller towns, Maori and Minori, especially if you want a little beach time. Eat in Praino ( Ira can help you here).

You are right, no need for a car in Capri or Sorrento.

Visit Pompeii if you enjoy history, it is something to be seen. Train it there.

Hope this helps.

But remember, most of all, just relax and breathe!!

As previously suggested, you may want to include a visit to Pompeii. And certainly on this forum, an expert for info on a going there is ParadiseLost's thread,
<i>“Rome To Pompeii Daytrip Directions Also Herculaneum, Oplontis, Mt. Vesuvius, Villa Papyri” </i>&gt; &gt; &gt;
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34665492

Wonderful itinerary!! Just don't miss dinner in Montepertuso, a small village 14 min by car from Positano. There are several excellent restaurants there- IL RITROVO, DONNA ROSA, LA TAGLIETTELLA among them. The restaurants will arrange roundtrip transportation from Positano hotels. Just ask your concierge at Covo to arrange it. And go at twilight so that you can take in the view from the large picture windows, all the way down the mountain and out to sea! Unforgettable experience!

Hi C,

Have you considered flying out of Naples instead of Rome?

&gt;..back to nyc via naples/rome on 7/19..

Are you planning to go from Sorrento to Rome FCO the same day your flight leaves?

Hi Crumpet,

Just to add, my favorite thing on Capri were the boat tour all around the island and the hike up to Villa Jovis. Also, in Anacapri, the Chiesa di San Michele has a famous and very beautiful hand painted tile floor of paradise on earth. Worth seeing and it only takes a few minutes.

Don't eat at Le Archi in Anacapri, DO eat at Villa Verde in Capri.

Buon viaggio!

I'm going to disagree with the recommendation for Cumpa Cosima in Ravello -- or at least offer an alternative. Cumpa Cosima has no view, and I think it's food is a bit overrated. Most people go for the show put on by the owner, who wears a large paper flower in hair. I'd rather look at the sea and eat better!

My recommendation is Da Salvatore.

If you go to Ravello for lunch, you should ask your hotel to make a reservation for you at either restaurant.

thanks to all!!!! i made a copy of all your comments.
ira - we are leaving sorrento on the 19th - taking an a.m. flight from naples to rome and then rome to NYC...a whole day of travel...
and, as suggested, we will stop in pompei on our way from rome to positano....