Did you write a trip report to go with the pics?

Hmmm ! Never did.

Ok, so now you know what my next question is going to be!!

Hi Bob! I am planning a trip to the AC and planning to stay in Positano. I want to get a hotel in that one area that is known for the postcard views. Le Sirenuse, the hotel, has that view. (just to give you an example of the location)

How do I know if I am in that section when researching hotels?

Thanks for your help!

Just shared your pics with the hub and now we're going to start investigating the possibility of going for our 40th anniversary next May. By the way, you and your lovely wife look like our kind of people :)

Jill, You do need to pay that much to get a great view. Here are my favs in Positano. Click on any to see the web sites and their view. The real difference in Positano is the challenge for your legs--the town is vertical.

Thanks Mel---we just celebrated our 51st.

BOB’S FAVORITE HOTELS ON THE AMALFI COAST


POSITANO: 3 STAR HOTELS---150 TO 250E FOR DOUBLE—AVERAGE 170E

1. www.villarosapositano.it Popular B&B with great views—lots of steps

2. www.hotelcaliforniapositano.it Small hotel near above—great terrace

3. www.casalbertina.it Fabulous views but you will need good legs

4. www.villalatartana.it Good value, lower in town but still good views

5. www.larosadeiventi.net Good centro location and decent value


POSITANO: 4 STAR HOTELS---200 TO 350E FOR TYPICAL DOUBLE

6. www.bucadibacco.it On the beach—nice hotel and great food

7. www.hotelposeidonpositano.it Hard to beat in this price range

8. www.puntaregina.com Terrific views

9. www.palazzomurat.it Good centro location—historic site


AMALFI , PRAIANO, RAVELLO:

1. http://www.hotelfloridiana.it/index.asp Good value in the heart of Amalfi

2. http://www.lesirene.com/rooms.htm Budget choice, with views, in Praiano

3. http://www.villamaria.it/ Lovely 4 star in Ravello with terrific food

4. http://www.hotelsantacaterina.it/en/index Your splurge option near Amalfi

Hi bobthenavigator, since you never wrote up a formal trip report, would you be willing to share your favorite restaurants in the towns you visited on the AC...sort of like a similar list to the hotels that you listed above but having to do with recommended restaurants? As my husband and I are leaving for the AC in 10 days, I have written a separate topic titled What are Your Favorite Restaurants on Sorrento, Capri, Positano, and Rome?...and would love your timely input either under my own posting or under yours here!!

Thanks to you and your wife and a previous report that you wrote, you helped us choose our hotels in Positano (Buca di Bacco) and Rome (Albergo Cesari). I can't thank you enough, and we are sooo excited about our upcoming 12-day trip!!

terryr

Sure Terry, happy to be of help. This is my AC page:

NAVIGATING on the AMALFI COAST
HOW TO GET THERE: You have to want to—it may not be easy. The best option is to land in Naples, but that is not always feasible. Most travelers access it from Rome by train to Naples—a trip of less than two hours. Once in Naples, you have a choice. The local commuter train, Circumversuviana, leaves from the same train station and takes about an hour to SORRENTO, with a possible stop at “ Pompeii Scavi” to see the famed ruins. However, to access any of the coastal towns you must then take a SITA bus or a taxi.

The best option is to hire a private driver to meet you at the Naples station or airport and take you directly to your hotel. Expect to pay about 100E.
www.cuomonet.it www.tourofitaly.com www.francescomarrapese.com
www.angelodriver.com

WHERE TO LOCATE & WHAT TO SEE: Ah, what not to see? This is the most stunning scenery in all of Italy---be sure to pack the camera. Your daily activities will be somewhat determined by your location. SORRENTO is really on the Bay of Naples and not the Amalfi Coast [AC], but is the most convenient location for day trips to Pompeii and the Isle of Capri. The town is larger & relatively flat. In contrast, POSITANO is the most spectacular village on the AC but is almost vertical and a real challenge for your legs.
Hotel choices in Positano should be evaluated by their location in town relative to the beach or position on the hill above the beach. AMALFI & RAVELLO are other popular destinations but are further down the coast.

NOTE: Any of the drivers above can be hired for day trip excursions but should be booked well in advance. Expect to pay about 35E/hour.

Here are my top five activities for this fabulous coast:
• Seeing the coast from the water---the best option. Hire a boat and pray for good weather—here is one www.gennaroesalvatore.it

• Day trip to Capri by hydrofoil from Sorrento or Positano—in season

• Day trip to Ravello by local bus or driver. This lovely village is high above the coast with great views---see Villa Cimbrone.

• Day trip to Pompeii. Plan on spending 4 hours to see it well. You can take the commuter train from Sorrento or hire a driver.

• Shopping for ceramics and sipping LIMONCELLO. The latter is not to be missed---I still have it almost daily at home after dinner.


WHERE TO EAT: I hope you like seafood. Here are some of my favorites:
* In Positano: Da Vincenzo Buca di Bacco Da Constantino

* In Ravello: Cumpa Cosimo Villa Maria

* In Sorrento: Trattoria Da Emilia L’Antica Trattoria

Bob, you are so nice!! Thank you so so much!

Thanks Bob ~ we'll be outside Ravello in October

Bob, thank you so much! I've already checked off all the activities on your list of my "to do's" while on the AC...except for making final restaurant decisions so your restaurant recs are timely and very much appreciated.

Regarding Positano where we will be for 4 nights (at Buca di Bacco), we are already planning to go to the hotel's restaurant and Da Vincenzo (also rec by the hotel and gets rave reviews from various websites). Another poster recommended Next 2 to us which looks wonderful. What do you know about Saracene d'Oro and Mediterraneo? The food at both establisments are supposed to be excellent and have also received great reviews.

Regarding Sorrento, do you know anything about Il Borgo there? High on mountain top...the restaurant's driver will pick you up...superb food apparently and views of the Bay of Naples.

Thank you for your continued help!

terryr

Terry, I must admit that we are not really foodies and seldom
frequent the more upscale ristorantes. I cannot comment on those you suggest.
However, here is my favorite trip report for the AC---it just happens to be our son and his family--she is the primary photographer and is good. Hope this helps.

http://www.onelittleworld.com/campania_1.html

Bob - what are your thoughts on the most efficient way of travel for my trip to Rome, tuscany, and amalfi coast.

Logistically, flying into Pisa, then doing tuscany and then down to Rome and then down to Amalfi coast. Fly home from Naples. This would make the most sense.

However, I really want to start off in Rome, then see the countryside and somewhat unwind from Rome, and end with total relaxation in Amalfi. I just hate the fact that I am not traveling in the most logistical sense according to the map. What are your thoughts?

I always have 2 thoughts relative to trip sequence, and both are practical---not emotional:
1. Pick the flights that make the most sense---connections, hours, and price.
2. Make your last destination close to your departing airport.

So, if you plan to have a car in Tuscany, I would fly into Pisa and home from Rome. I would drive as far as Sorrento to drop the car, and then make it back to Rome as my final destination. UNLESS, you can make good flight connections home from Naples. Does this make sense?

Bob - yes, it definitely makes sense. However, I believe I can get flights home from Naples. My emotional state of mind wants to end my trip in Amalfi and fly home from Naples. Do you think, Rome - Tuscany - Amalfi would be absurd and just wasting inefficient?

Bob, thanks for sharing your son and daughter-in-law's trip report...it's great! I came across when I was first planning out trip and that's how La Minerva got on my radar screen.

Bob, thank you for all that you offer to us Europe/Italy travelers...along with all the other Fodorites who make major contributions on this Travel Forum. Our upcoming trip wouldn't have been as well planned without all of your help! And reading all of your trip reports and feedbacks was a delightful way to get through our cold New England weather last winter!

terryr

Mille grazie Terry ! It is fun for me.

Jill, no, not absurd---tell me the flight connections. Would you pay $200 more and have 2 connections going home via Madrid and JFK? That is what we did in May from Naples---it just all depends on the logistics.

I am not crazy about the two connections for $200 more. I will have to do some research to see if we can even find an airline that will do one connection home to Orlando.

Question - have you ever done the travel from Tuscany to Amalfi? What is the most efficient way for that course of travel? Car, train, or bus? I really don't want to do a car because of the Amalfi drive.....

Regarding hotels.... do you know anything about the Eden Roc in Positano? My son is planning his honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast and this hotel is the one offered through Italyvacations.com. Looks great, but can't be sure from the pictures or write up-- reviews on Trip Advisor have been great for the most part, but then there's the occasional unhappy traveler.

Jill, My example was hypothetical--it depends on your destination--just my point---IT ALL DEPENDS. Do not make brash judgments without the facts.

Use ITAsofware.com and run your proposed itineraires. That will help you to make well informed decisions. Be sure to use the MULTI-CITY feature.

The car is the most efficient, but you have to drop it in Sorrento, WHICH IS NOT ON THE AMALFI COAST. Do you have a good map? But again---from where in Tuscany to where on the AC. You cannot plan without real facts.