pjmay

hi kellbell,

yes we are getting married the weekend before you - may 15th.
unfortunately i am not as on the ball as you & havent booked anything yet. this site is so helpful - but its actually overly helpful! i have been obsessively researching every hotel that comes up & keep changing my mind about what hotels, even what cities to stay in! Im still not sure if breaking up my 6 days in the amalfi coast between 3 in Positano & 3 in Sorrentto is the best way to do it.

I am also trying to decide between booking everything myself, or using Italiatours. They have independent packages where they book the hotels & airfare for you & you do the rest. It would be much easier to use them but they have limited hotel options, & i need more control over these decisions or something!!

Anyway sorry to ramble about that...
some hotels that i am considering in Positano are Villa Franca, Hotel Poseidon, & Bucca De Bacco. I dont think this will help you though, i think they are slightly more expensive than the Villa Rosa.
I am disappointed in how expensive hotels are in Italy. We have decided to not try to do totally budget hotels, i really want that honeymoon experience...im dying for a huge terrace w/ views, & a jacuzzi, etc!! However rooms like that in Italy are way expensive, I think we'll be somewhere in between.
I think we are just charging everything & hoping to be able to pay it back with the wedding money!!

anyway sorry i wasnt much help, nice to talk to someone in the same boat though! good luck!

kellbell

Well. . . I have a thought. . . you tell me where you end up staying and we'll bring over tons of wine to your place and enjoy the view from your hotel terrace!! : )

My personal tendency would be to splurge away, but I'm marrying Mr. Frugality and have to respect the fact that he doesn't want to go into debt. Plus, we are trying to save for a house and all that jazz.

I agree with your instinct not to go through a trip planner. . . I'm also want the control and flexibility of choosing location, etc. I bet you'll pull something together that is great based on the information you collect here! The thing I'm trying to keep in mind is to resist the urge to overplan. I just want to make sure we have someplace to sleep and plans to get from point a to point b within our budget.

Out of curiousity. . . why did you pick Sorrento over someplace like Capri? I don't know much about Sorrento. . . maybe I'm missing something and should add yet another location to our already packed itinerary!

pjmay

i thought about staying in Capri. (& still havent totally ruled it out!)
but after doing a little research, it seemed like it was very overpriced there. I thought about just staying there for 1 or 2 nights, but I really like the idea of sort of settling into a hotel room rather than jumping around too much. I backpacked through Europe 5 years ago, & it was incredible, but i remember how tiring it was staying at a different hotel every night!

Alot of people on this board recommended staying in Sorrento for a few nights b/c it has some nightlife & good shopping, & beautiful views, and it also seems to be the easiest place to take day trips from. So I figured wed stay there 3 nights & do day trips to Capri & maybe Pompeii. Then we'd stay 3 days in Positano which is supposedly beautiful & a little smaller & slower paced. I plan on totally relaxing there, enjoying the views, pool, beach, & wine on the terrace ;-) (of whatever hotel we end up in.) From there it seems there are pretty easy relaxing day trips to Ravello & Amalfi that we might do..?
I dont know its all still so preliminary. Do you think that sounds like a good plan? Maybe we should do 4 days in Positano & 2 in Capri?? Did you find an inexpensive hotel in Capri?

kellbell

I was just actually surfing around for Capri hotels. Those big beautiful rooms with sweeping terraces will getchya, but I did find smaller "quaint" (that is the word I use to make myself feel ok about not having the terrace!)places for 150 and under. It seems as if everyone has a different definition of when low season ends and high season begins. . . so that throws me off. Also, this always gets me: does a single room literally mean a single bed or can it also mean a double bed? And does a double room mean two double beds (as it often does in the U.S.)

I went to Caprionline.com and looked at what they have listed. . . checked out their 2 and 1 star places.

I also emailed the following:
Hotel Belsito (has a website)
Hotel Belvedere & Tre Re (has a website, looks great)
La Tosca (no website, but info through caprionline.com -- looks quaint!)
Gatto Bianco (has a web site, looks really nice, but sort of in the center of it all and I wonder how noisy it is)

Also want to check out Villa Krupp and La Prora. . . found on an italian capri news website. . . of course I don't speak italian, so I'll google them. I'll let you know what I find out in terms of rooms.

You know what. . . I think no matter where we go in this region, we are going to be amazed!

WanderingTexan

Kellie, I would stay in Positano. Try Villa Rosa or Villa Gabrisa to stay more in line with your budget. They both have web sites. If you have an extra day, spend it in Rome! You can never get enough time in Rome. WT

kellbell

WT. . . we are going to do both. Just one night in Capri, per suggestions from today, and then three nights in Positano. I'm thinking we'll use the extra day to leisurely head back to Rome, possibly spend time in Sorrento and then see a few more things in Rome the day before we fly out.

Since I think we'll only stay one night in Capri. . . . is there a part of the island that makes more sense logistically? I haven't done much Capri research. Thinking mostly about access to a beach, since I doubt we'll stay in a hotel with a pool or a view of the sea.

WanderingTexan

Sorrento is good for shopping. They have lovely carved wooden boxes for all types of uses. I had a jewelry box shipped home with mermaids on top to remind me of Le Sirenuse. My husband ordered a chess set. They have nice linens in Sorrento too! I can't help much with Capri. We did a day trip and I didn't really enjoy it. I think you are wise to spend at least one night there. I love Positano so much I just don't want to stay anywhere else, except maybe a few days in Ravello.

mugsy33

Hi, we are leaving for 11 days to the same area in 3 weeks. We fly into Rome, train to Naples then to Sorrento where we will setup base and do day trips to the area. We found MamiCamilla B&B online. Great prices, about 60 Euros. www.mamicamilla.com. They are great with emails and speak perfect English. It looks great online, I can let you know when we get back!

kellbell

Mugsy33. . . I would love to hear about your trip! I love it when people post trip reports.

Wandering Texan. . . I heard back from Villa Gabrisa and they only have a suite available for 170 euros on my dates. Haven't heard back from Villa Rosa yet. Why didn't you like Capri? I've always wanted to go to Ischia, too, but I think that may be too far to do instead of Capri. I could be wrong, though.

pjmay -- Found a room at the Hotel Belsito with a balcony and view of the sea for 124 euros! It is only a 2 star, but the price is right for me. I think we are going to book it!

Still hunting for a good place to stay in Positano. . . .

SeaUrchin

Relax, don't beat yourself up about where to visit. On this forum you are going to get many opinions pro and con for each place you ask about.

Some people hate ..... while others love ......and hate ..... which others visit every chance they get.

Find out on this honeymoon what you and husband like and love and go from there, you can't go very wrong wherever you choose.

I think this forum is good for tech advice such as skeds, etc. but when it comes to opinions it is subjective, of course.

RickGib

I recommend you stand back and carefully look at your map. I think you may be duplicating some of your travel routes. Consider the following: Take the train from Rome to Naples. Skip Naples because it is not a pleasant place, except for their big museum (consider a cab to the museum and a 2 hour visit). Take the local train from Naples to Pompei -- the train station is across the street from Pompei (spend 3 ot 4 hours -- they have a luggage check service). Get back on the same train that conintues on to Sorrento. Spend a couple nights in Sorrento, and use it as your base to go to Capri (be sure to go to the top of the mountain -- a great bus ride and chairlift and a great view!). Consider making Capri a day trip instead of spending two or three days. I suggest trading the time on Capri for time in Positano and the Amalfi area. Take the bus from Sorrento south to Positano (another great bus ride). On your way back north, take the ferry from Positino back to Sorrento or Naples. Hope this helps.

kellbell

SeaUrchin: I'm trying. . . it is hard. I'm pretty much a type A personality and want to get it right the first time!

RickGib: I think my itinerary isn't so much based on logistical ease as it is on maximizing views. . . or at least that's in the opinion of my mother who would go to any length to get the most breathtaking view of a place. I don't think she was really considering how exhausted I might be from planning a wedding and then getting married. Oh, and my husband-to-be, too! Also, I think a few people suggested going to Pompeii from Positano as a way to avoid having to drag our bags around. (My mom suggested essentially the same route that you did, although she wanted us to go via water to Capri.)

I think we'll hit Sorrento on our way back to Rome a day or two before we leave. My main thing is not having to drag bags all over. And, minimize time on the bus. Train and water are more preferable to me, but I'm sure the SITA bus is just fine. My mom actually loved sitting on the bus listening to the buzz of Italian in the air!

Has anyone stayed at La Fenice? Hotel La Reginella? Both in Positano. Trying to figure out if one is in a better location than the other. . . .

Thanks, as always!

SeaUrchin

Kellbell, I know you are trying and I know what you are going through because I tend to do the same thing.

I have calmed down a bit the last few trips though and now make an effort not to overplan and drive myself nuts and end up exhausted and crazed and I am not even planning a wedding on top of it!

I now put each town I plan to visit on a separate piece of paper and add notes to this page, pro and con re hotels, restaurants, sites, opening hours, etc. then a while before I leave I consolidate, edit and slip in a page of transportation between each one and then just let it go and let it be.

kellbell

Nice system SeaUrchin!! I'll have to try that! Seems nice and streamlined!

Something should be streamlined on this trip, because I know it won't be my wardrobe!! (I've already been informed that I don't need a new closet of clothes especially for Italy. . . luckily my fiancee didn't mention anything about not needing a new collection of shoes!)

Speaking of which. . . that leads me to my next question -- appropriate footwear for the Amalfi coast. Hmm. I'm thinking NOT my fun summer heels. Hiking boots? Tennis shoes? Flipflops?

Natalia

Hi, re: shoes on AC. They sell the cutest sandals in Positano which are custom made to your own feet while you wait. But, be careful with leather soled shoes on the cobblestones they really get slippery even when the stones are dry.
I made a new friend by slipping and sliding on my leather shoes in Positano and grabbing onto a local on the way down the steps of the duomo!

In May, it might not be that warm every day so take closed shoes, sandals, sturdy shoes if you want to hike the trails. I take my slip-ons (flat mules)
for everyday wear on AC, but with rubber soles if possible from now on.

hax

Part of the fun of the Amalfi coast is driving along it way up high (in a bus OR car)--completely different experience than sailing along it. If you've driven along Highway 1 in California, you know what I mean. I wouldn't skip the drive.

It's a very short boat trip from Positano to Capri if you want to do a day trip, and you can also take a boat ride from Positano to Amalfi, then take a bus from there to Ravello for the day. Highly recommended. I found all these beautiful towns much more interesting and evocative than Sorrento, which has huge hotels and buses upon buses of tours. We stayed at the Villa Franca in Positano and loved it, though I wish we had splurged on the Sirenuse.

kellbell

Natalia: Thanks for the tip on the shoes. It may seem like a silly question to some, but I have broken my foot because of "cute Mexican sandals" that were not functional at all! I will stick with rubber soles. . .thanks!

Hax: My mother would agree with you about the drive. Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of driving the best parts of Highway 1 in California. I'm sure we'll take more than one bus ride while we are there. In terms of splurging. . . . my father said to me tonight, "You and your husband know that all trips after this one will be downhill." (That's how much they love this part of Italy.) And I replied,"We are doing it cheap now so that when we are rich/famous/retired, we can splurge on all the posh places when we go back!" Just given what I've seen in pictures, my heart is already broken knowing I only have 8 days!

pjmay

hi kelly

thanks for those capri hotel websites. I am going to check them out & confuse myself further about where to stay.

What hotel are you staying at in Rome?
I am now trying to come up with a very reasonably priced hotel in Rome so I can splurge in Positano and/or Sorrento.
Ideally i'd stay in a cheap hotel in Rome, a nice hotel in Sorrento, & a fabulous hotel in Positano.

principessa

Hi! I am going on my own honeymoon to Italy a few weeks before you and will be visiting the Amalfi Coast (sorrento as base camp) and Rome too!

Right now I have reservations at Dependance Deluxe Villa Maria in Sorrento, but am awaiting responses from the Regina, the Rivage, and the Admiral.

As for Rome, you mentioned finding an inexpensive place to stay. I found a small bed and breakfast near piazza navona called the Relais Banchi Vecchi. The rooms look quite nice and it has gotten good reviews.

The best part is that it is 130 Euro per night!

they have a website:

www.banchivecchi115.com

Hope this info helps!

maryell

I don't have info that will help with your hotel search, but I wanted to add a note re: the Papal audience. I went on a pilgrimage trip this past October and attended a Wednesday audience. After the audience, we left to get lunch and then begged our way past the guards to get back in to our meeting spot, to find to our surprise the audience had continued - after the public part, the Pope blessed special guests, including newly married couples (and yes, they wore their wedding finery). It was quite a beautiful sight. I don't know how long it takes to arrange it, but I'd recommend contacting your bishop/chancery - I'm sure they'd know the specifics.
Best of luck planning your trip and congratulations!