http://www.thevillabook.com/country/...VILLA_DI_MARE/

http://www.amalfirentals.com/propert...513/index.html

http://www.amalfirentals.com/propert...748/index.html

There are many large villas in the Sorrento/Massa area, if that area is good for you.

Contact my friends Luca & Valeria at summerinitaly.com
They have dozens of rental properties---some that big--and they are wonderful to deal with. They even have a tool free # from USA on their site. Think about location before you get lost looking at Villas--location is key. We just got back from a week in Praiano and found that location to be centro, but it all depends on what you hope to see.

Just curious where on that site do you see villas with 8 bedrooms on the Amalfi coast proper? I could not find any.

Thank you bob and ekscrunchy! You are always so helpful. I have been to AC, but the rest of my family hasn't...so I'd like to be in a location where they could easily take boat trips to Capri, Sorrento, Positano, Ravello, etc...only place I haven't been is Praiano?? Didn't know if that was a good central location to day trip to these locations and still enjoy the local flavor of a town that has good local restaurants and scenery.

Praiano is smaller than the other places you mention. One drawback is that it is not a ferry stop; you have to go to Positano to take a ferry. There are a at least two fairly well-regarded restaurants in the village, although it lacks the choice that Amalfi would have. Or Positano.

Because you need so many bedrooms, I would concentrate on finding a couple of villas first, and then think about location. From what I saw, there seem to be more options for very large houses in the Sorrento area, and perhaps near the Maori area, which I think is also lovely. Try to find a few possibilities and we can give our opinions on them. If I come across any more I will try to remember to post the links here.

Bob,

I knew from your direction signs pic that you stayed in Praiano! I have that same picture from my first trip. What hotel did you use? Le Sirene? I sure liked it. I can't wait to read your report.

Dayle, we had an apartment near the Hotel Tramonto d'Oro and the San Gennaro church--in the heart of Vettica Maggiore.

http://www.summerinitaly.com/eng/ren...413!italy_.htm

Bob,

Breathtaking pictures of your trip and valuable recommendations!!!

We have 2 weeks available and are thinking about 1 week AC and would like to have your input based on your recent visit and maybe the next week in Sicily. I would prefer to go to Bologna/Parma the following week but I am sure that is not very logical.

Although I have read many threads about which area is the "best" to stay, I would appreciate your thoughts based on your recent trip. Would you stay in Ravello for the first week-end and then move to Sorrento or Positano? We are foodies and will have a car however I don't think driving late at night in the area after a bottle of wine would be wise.

We enjoy shopping local shops but not designer shops which you can find in US. We live in Charleston SC so we will not be spending hours around the pool and beach.

Thank you!

Hi Bob,

I really enjoyed the pictures. They reminded me of our trip to Amalfi. I see that the Praiano beach hasn't changed much.

Believe it or not, we haven't been to Naples yet.

We should try again to meet somewhere in Italy!

And if I may also ask a question, I would like to know more about the hamlet of Vettica Maggiore. What kinds of services are within the town or within walking distance? Restaurants, food shops, etc. Where does one have to go to shop for food in other words, where is the nearest fish store, latteria, butcher, and fruit/vegetable shop?

Vettica Maggiore is really the conmmercial heart of Praiano. We had 2 grocery stores, an ATM, the internet cafe, 4 good places to eat including the 2 hotels, the Bar del Sole, and the stop for the SITA bus. That is all within 200 meters of each other. Look at the web site for Hotel Tramonto d' Oro to get a feel for the locale.

Plufmud, That question is the classic--it really depends on you and what you hope to see---and your walking prowess.
Ravello is wonderful but too isolated. Sorrento is the most convenient for day trips, but not really on the AC. I would prefer Positano as a first trip, but it is vertical. It all depends---this was our 3rd trip to the AC.

Thank you, Bob. Do you have any idea of the answer to my question with regards to Conca dei Marini--food shops, restaurants, etc nearby?

Plu: It also depends on when you plan to travel. With a full week on the AC and no plans to stay on either of the islands, I think two days in Ravello would be lovely since you will have a car. I would not do this in high season, however because the road to Ravello would be too crowded.



For the second base, choose Positano for the full resort experience, or Amalfi for a more laid-back local ambience...these are generalizations, of course, but you might get my gist. Positano has many "name-brand" designer shops; Amalfi has none that I noticed.

Beautiful pictures, Bob! They brought back lots of wonderful memories of our past trips there. We are looking forward to a return trip (last time was a year ago) in the summer.

Thanks for sharing the photos.

Eks, Not really. Praiano is a weird entity. It stretches along the highway forever and the Conca dei Marini is the opposite end--perhaps 4 miles from Vettica Maggiore.

Grazie Marianna !

Thanks! I've stayed in several of the large towns on various visits to the region, but am not so familiar with the smaller ones..

Welcome back, bobthenavigator! Your photos are wonderful and inspiring!

I can't wait to read your trip report, especially about any favorite restaurants and activities, as we are heading to AC in about 10 days. You were one of the enthusiastic Fodorites (along with mr_go and ms_go among many others) who helped us plan our trip and accomodation choices so far so we hope that we can continue to learn from you before our departure.

You can see my recent inquiry under Restaurant Recommendations for Sorrento, Capri, Positano, and Rome by terryr.

Loved the photos! I'm curious about a private driver being "a VERY good idea." Hoping you have that TR posted soon.

Well, now you've done it! I'm a Francophile who has been to Italy 4 times (twice in the last 14 months), and I booked back to Paris for next month because I just don't "feel it" as much in Italy.

Well, Bob, your photos of the AC have touched me completely and I'm going to start saving my pennies to get to that part of Italy ASAP. I mean, I KNEW it was lovely, but your angles made it actually touchable!

One final question, can the average person on a budget afford the first apartment you show in your pics? WOW! What a view!

Thanks so much!

Mel, there are many affordable apartments on the AC. Spend time at www.summerinitaly.com and go crazy.

My comments about private drivers refers primarily to transfers to and from airports/stations. We used them 3 times--from Naples to Sorrento[ wanted to avoid the train], from Sorrento to Praiano, and from Praiano back to the Naples airport. We thought it was money well spent.