In early September, my wife and I are planning a trip to Italy, including 3 to 4 days in Positano, and 2 in Naples. We have been in the area before, but spent most of the time in Positano, with a little in Sorrento, and none in Naples, and did not have a car available. This time, we'd like to see more of the Amalfi coast, including Amalfi and Ravello, at least a little of Naples, and Herculaneum and Pompeii (as well as Paestum, if feasible). I'd be very grateful for advice on the following issues:

1. How unpleasant is the experience of driving along the Amalfi coast compared with other parts of Italy? A number of guide books suggest it can be pretty unpleasant, and my impression is that parking is a nightmare in some of the towns such as Positano.

2. How difficult is to see a reasonable amount of the coast (e.g. visit Amalfi and Ravello while based in Positano) using only public transport? (We have a child who will be 7 months old at the time, if that is relevant.)

3. Are Pompeii and Herculaneum more convenient to visit from Naples or Positano? Are both easily accesible by public transport?

4. Is Paestum best visited from Positano, or from Naples, taking the route that cuts across the Sorrento peninsular? Is it easily accessible by public transport from either base?

5. Any advice on how many days to allocate to Naples? As a guideline, within a two week trip, we usually try to allocate 3 to 4 days to Venice, Florence, or Rome.

Thanks in advance,
Brendt

Hi Brendt, if you are staying in Positano you will have access to public transportation, the SITA busses or taxis. With an infant I would not take a stroller on a bus, you probably have one of those baby carrying straps anyway.

If you are staying in Positano you can pay for parking in one of the lots, either at the hotel or a public one.
If you drive and are a calm patient driver it won't be an unpleasant experience along the coast and might be more comfortable for the baby.

Pompeii and Herc are better from Naples or Sorrento on the Circumvesuviana train or you can drive and park in the lot. You can take a SITA bus to Sorrento if you are staying in Positano and then take the Circum. train from there.

Pasteum can be reached from Naples on the autostrada by car or on the Coast drive from Positano. I am not sure if there is public trans. directly from Naples but I know you can take a ferry, bus and train from Positano.

From reading this site for a long time it is pretty much divided in opinions on driving or public trans. on the Amalfi Coast. Would you rather drive?

Brendt, have you considered hiring a chauffeur service with a car for your family? That's what we did...We had a very relaxing day-tour of Amalfi coast/Positano/Praiano/Ravello, and didn't have to worry about parking. I noticed that my husband, who is usually the one driving on our family vacations was able to see much more of the sights and take more pictures because he didn't have to worry about driving!

One problem with the whole Amalfi coast drive is the road is narrow and winding with traffic going both directions, so the driver must pay careful attention, and the views are just non-stop spectacular, so the driver misses this.

Parking can be practically non-existent in the area, but our driver seemed to know just where he could safely pull over for a picture or a stop-and-gasp view.

If you want the name of a driver post here and I'll gladly recommend our driver.

Also I do know that if you stayed in Sorrento, the Circumvesuviana train goes from Sorrento to Pompeii...One warning about Pompeii, bathrooms there are awfully dirty, find someplace else to change the baby! Yikes!

If you can, try to have lunch on the tiny beach of Praiano...they have fresh seafood, a casual atmosphere, and a nice, very clean bathroom! Also there's a cute and very tiny beach, and little boats...We really enjoyed our lunch in Praiano, and I think it would be a perfect place to take your 7-month-old.

Hi Brendt

>1. How unpleasant is the experience of driving along the Amalfi coast ..<

In early Sept the road is liable to be jammed by huge tour buses that get stuck. It is more pleasant to sit on a SITA bus and talk with the other passegers than it is to sit in your car and fume.

Additionally, if you drive yourself, you don't get to enjoy the scenery.

>2. How difficult is to see a reasonable amount of the coast (e.g. visit Amalfi and Ravello while based in Positano) using only public transport? <

It is not difficult at all. The SITA buses and the ferries make regular runs between Sorrento and Salerno with stops in Positano.

>3. Are Pompeii and Herculaneum more convenient to visit from Naples or Positano? Are both easily accesible by public transport?<

Yes and Yes.

>4. Is Paestum best visited from Positano, or from Naples, ...

You can take the train direct from Naples to Paestum.

From Positano you can take the ferry to Salerno, the train to Paestum, train back to Salerno and take the bus to Amalfi and on to Positano. (The last return ferry leaves too early.)

5. Any advice on how many days to allocate to Naples? <

We did 3 days and 2 nights in Naples. One more day would have been nice, but not necessary.

You might find the Naples and AC portion of my trip report helpful.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

Thanks for the helpful responses. We're having some difficulty finding affordable accommodation in Positano - most of the budget to moderately priced options seem to be fully booked already. Can anyone recommend an alternative base (and preferably a hotel or B&B) on the Amalfi coast which is at least comparable with Positano in atmosphere and views?

Ira wake up! Ok, I'll tell Brendt.

Ira loves Hotel Le Sirene at www.lesirene.com, it is in Praiano on the AC.

Also try the Onda Verde in Praiano, I have some more suggestions if you need them.

Praiano is such a cool little tiny fishing village...we had lunch there right on the tiny beach. It is way smaller than Amalfi or Positano, which is part of its charm.

We stayed in a hotel in Sorrento called Hotel Minerva. We had a romantic room with a little balcony and a view for around 155 euros in June, high season...We didn't see Sorrento at all, just stayed there as a base for 2 day-trips...one to Pompeii/Vesuvius and one to Amalfi/Positano/Praiano/Ravello. If you consider Hotel Minerva, don't get a room on the ground floor...smells a little damp down there...Ask for a room on one of the higher floors. Our room was fine.

www.acampora.it is the web-site for Hotel Minerva. Warning: you really can't walk into town from this hotel...you'd have to get a car or a taxi because it's located on a narrow street with traffic and a disappearing sidewalk...but it wasn't a problem for us because we hadn't planned on walking into town, this was just a base for us.

Thanks, Sea Urchin

I've stayed at the Minerva in Sorrento, and while you have to be extra careful crossing the road, it's a doable, scenic walk to town.

I would be interested in the name of the driver mentioned in the above post if possible and any ideas of cost of trip with him.

Hi AH,

Not sure of which post.

We were very happy with Renato Cuomo www.cuomonet.it [email protected]

If you want to stay in Positano, the Villa La Tartana looks good for 150 euros. It is owned by the same family that owns the Villa Rosa. The web site is..www.villalatartana.it

That is the price I was quoted for a double room, with a balcony and view of the sea.