Dare to Drive the Amalfi Coast?
Aug 15th, 2006, 06:52 PM
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Dare to Drive the Amalfi Coast?
Is a day trip from Positano to Pompeii by rental car fun for you or too much stress? Is a bus or train better? We are 2 adults 2 utes (that is southern American for youths, ages 9 and 15), no one gets motion sickness. Both adults have driven hairy scary roads in Ireland without incident. We aren't feint of heart but I'd hate like hell to kill my kids on vacation. Worth a try?
Aug 15th, 2006, 07:42 PM
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Marcia--love your screen name!
It could be worth a try. When are you planning your trip for? Our family recently returned from a trip to Italy and we spent 4 nights in Sorrento. We had a car and parked it at our hotel on Via Capo and took the train to Pompeii which was very slick and easy. We went on a Sunday and the train was not busy at all.
Another day we took the bus from Sorrento to Positano (if I remember, it took about 45 minutes) and then later in the day we took a boat back to Sorrento. I am sure my husband could have done the drive just fine, but wouldn't have been able to enjoy the scenery as much. We were there mid-July and the traffic wasn't bad. It is probably worse in August. On this trip we had come from France and driven to Vernazza in the Cinque Terre--now that is one narrow, curvy road! After making that drive, the Amalfi Coast road didn't seem that bad.
If you drive from Positano to Sorrento to catch the train, I don't know if there is parking at the train station. It might be easier to take the bus from Positano to Sorrento and it would take you right to the train station. If you decide to drive, the drive from Sorrento to Pompeii isn't bad if you have someone navigating for you and watching signs and you don't make any wrong turns. Numerous one-way streets in Sorrento.
Since transportation connections are better from Sorrento, have you thought about maybe staying here and doing a day trip to Positano? Sorrento works well for a day trip to Capri also. luck!
It could be worth a try. When are you planning your trip for? Our family recently returned from a trip to Italy and we spent 4 nights in Sorrento. We had a car and parked it at our hotel on Via Capo and took the train to Pompeii which was very slick and easy. We went on a Sunday and the train was not busy at all.
Another day we took the bus from Sorrento to Positano (if I remember, it took about 45 minutes) and then later in the day we took a boat back to Sorrento. I am sure my husband could have done the drive just fine, but wouldn't have been able to enjoy the scenery as much. We were there mid-July and the traffic wasn't bad. It is probably worse in August. On this trip we had come from France and driven to Vernazza in the Cinque Terre--now that is one narrow, curvy road! After making that drive, the Amalfi Coast road didn't seem that bad.
If you drive from Positano to Sorrento to catch the train, I don't know if there is parking at the train station. It might be easier to take the bus from Positano to Sorrento and it would take you right to the train station. If you decide to drive, the drive from Sorrento to Pompeii isn't bad if you have someone navigating for you and watching signs and you don't make any wrong turns. Numerous one-way streets in Sorrento.
Since transportation connections are better from Sorrento, have you thought about maybe staying here and doing a day trip to Positano? Sorrento works well for a day trip to Capri also. luck!
Aug 15th, 2006, 07:42 PM
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Hi MarciaMarciaMarcia!
(Love your screenname! My real name is Marcia, too)
We drove all over the Amalfi coast last year and really enjoyed it. There are some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline there- just fabulous to drive on!
Lots of people will try to discourage you, but I think if you didn't have a problem with some of the roads in Ireland, you'll be fine.
Yes, it's crowded and narrow, but I didn't ever feel like our lives were in danger.
It's quite easy to drive to Pompeii, and parking wasn't a problem there at all. In Positano, on the other hand, finding parking is a pain in the neck, or at least expensive to park in a garage.
Have a great trip, and let us know how it went!
(Love your screenname! My real name is Marcia, too)
We drove all over the Amalfi coast last year and really enjoyed it. There are some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline there- just fabulous to drive on!
Lots of people will try to discourage you, but I think if you didn't have a problem with some of the roads in Ireland, you'll be fine.
Yes, it's crowded and narrow, but I didn't ever feel like our lives were in danger.
It's quite easy to drive to Pompeii, and parking wasn't a problem there at all. In Positano, on the other hand, finding parking is a pain in the neck, or at least expensive to park in a garage.
Have a great trip, and let us know how it went!
Aug 15th, 2006, 08:46 PM
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Marcia: Dare! Dare! Yes. It will be one of the most invigorating experiences of your life. With no offence meant to Jan57, Sorrento to Posititano is nothing like Vietre su Mer to Positano. Be aware on high traffic days, there is one way only. The real fun is meeting a tour bus. Be sure to pull in your mirrors.
Do a search on my name BillJ. About number 14 or 15 is a thread on this subject, "Rules for Driving Amalfi Coast," or something like that. My entry to that post is about pulling in my mirrors with my right side tires up on the cliff.
Marcia, we're having fun. Drive it. It will be something you will talk about for the rest of your life. We still do many years later.
BTW, according to the movie "MY Cousin Vinnie," utes is New York-ese for youths. The southern judge in the movie did not understand utes.
Do a search on my name BillJ. About number 14 or 15 is a thread on this subject, "Rules for Driving Amalfi Coast," or something like that. My entry to that post is about pulling in my mirrors with my right side tires up on the cliff.
Marcia, we're having fun. Drive it. It will be something you will talk about for the rest of your life. We still do many years later.
BTW, according to the movie "MY Cousin Vinnie," utes is New York-ese for youths. The southern judge in the movie did not understand utes.
Aug 16th, 2006, 05:07 AM
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You may not kill your kids on vacation, but if you're anything like me and my husband, you might think about divorce court!
Seriously, I'd advise taking the bus to Sorrento, then the very quick train ( all of 30 min) to the front gates of Pompeii.
You'll arrive in one piece and you may actually feel like eating lunch!
Seriously, I'd advise taking the bus to Sorrento, then the very quick train ( all of 30 min) to the front gates of Pompeii.
You'll arrive in one piece and you may actually feel like eating lunch!
Aug 16th, 2006, 05:38 AM
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Hi 3M,
The Coast road is not all that difficult to drive.
The problems are:
1. The driver doesn't get to see the scenery.
2. The road gets clogged with traffic.
You could easily take the bus to Meta and the train to Pompei Scavi for less than the cost of a 1-day rental (if you could find one).
The Coast road is not all that difficult to drive.
The problems are:
1. The driver doesn't get to see the scenery.
2. The road gets clogged with traffic.
You could easily take the bus to Meta and the train to Pompei Scavi for less than the cost of a 1-day rental (if you could find one).
Aug 16th, 2006, 06:17 AM
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Somewhat disagreeing with ira (may I?)...
As the driver I got to see lots of great scenery while driving; but there are many pulloffs for picture taking. Yes, the traffic sometimes moved slowly, but the time was well spent admiring the views!
As the driver I got to see lots of great scenery while driving; but there are many pulloffs for picture taking. Yes, the traffic sometimes moved slowly, but the time was well spent admiring the views!
Aug 16th, 2006, 12:17 PM
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Thank you all for the great perspectives. Bill, the second I hit the post button I realized that I misspoke, that it was Joe Peci that uttered the famous "ute". We just found that movie hilarious and have referred to our boys as utes (preceeded by various descriptive adjectives...depending...)ever since. Snaps for the good catch!
We are adventurers at heart and feel so much more freedom with a vehicle handy. We'll be going in late April so we'll likely miss the worst of the crowds. I feel no such sense of adventure concerning driving in Rome, but would consider renting a car for the day to drive to Assisi, instead of the train. Thoughts on that leg?
We are adventurers at heart and feel so much more freedom with a vehicle handy. We'll be going in late April so we'll likely miss the worst of the crowds. I feel no such sense of adventure concerning driving in Rome, but would consider renting a car for the day to drive to Assisi, instead of the train. Thoughts on that leg?
