EmmaJH

Aaaaargh! Somebody ele has just questioned my choice of the Amalfi coast, stating that it would be near on impossible to get around without a car. I was looking at a place in Praiano. Has anyone been here without a car? How did you find getting around? Thanks again!

Jean

It depends on what you want/hope to see and do, but the AC is an area of Italy that is very well served by multiple forms of public transportation. "... near on impossible to get around without a car"?? Nonsense.

Jean

http://www.reidsitaly.com/destinatio...nnections.html

Mimar

I'd say it's nearly impossible to get around the Amalfi Coast with a car. And parking is VERY difficult.

Happily, late May is relatively early in the season so the buses won't be so crowded. On the other hand, the ferries may not be running or not as frequently.

EmmaJH

Thank you both for you advice. I was wondering what your opinions on Venice are also? As this is another option that has been suggested by somebody, they have said 2 nights in venice and then spend the remainder of the week on the Venice Lido beach. Is this more touristy? Thanks again. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

susoir

I've been to Venice Lido in mid-May, and the beach was not yet open. That is, it was fenced off and looked in rough shape with large mounds of sand that I assume are leveled out before beach season begins. In any event, Venice Lido is not particularly scenic. It's just a flat strip of beach, no dramatic cliffs or anything like that.

The only scenario in which I can imagine possibly recommending that someone spend part of a short, first trip to Italy on Venice Lido would be for someone traveling with small children in the extreme heat of high summer. Venice itself is wonderful, but it's not the spot for the scenic, coastal holiday that it sounds like you want.

Jean

Or was the suggestion of 2 nights Venice, 5 nights Lido a way to save money??

Sassafrass

Depending on what I wanted from the trip, I might choose Venice over the AC, but would sure never choose the Lido over the AC. Venice is incredible, and IMHO, one of the most beautiful places in the world. The Lido, however, is absolutely nothing special like the AC.

It would be a real pain to do day trips if you were staying on the Lido. You would have to get into Venice first to catch trains and that would add a lot of time.

Only if I desperately wanted a day at the beach (would not be in May), would I consider the Lido for a night or two, and only if I didn't want to see anything else or wanted a day on Burano/Torcello, which is about the only easy place to go from the Lido.

I've not stayed in Praiano, so can't speak for transport from there, but have been to the AC three times and never had a car - always taken ferries, even as early as April. Would never consider a car there.

EmmaJH

Thanks again everyone! The suggestion of Venice for 2 nights/Lido for 5 came from a flight company. I was trying to book Rome 2 nights/Amalfi 5 nights and they suggested that I wouldn't get around in Amalfi, and that there aren't really any beaches for sunbathing/swimming on the AC either. He almost convinced me, but although it is important to me to have some chill time on the beach (and preferably some swimming/lounging too) it's far more important to be somewhere beautiful and after looking at pics of Lido, I can see it is not that! I did say that as a first time solo traveller, i wanted something that was fairly easy with not too much fussing about travelling, so maybe that's why he suggested Venice/Lido. I'm now torn between 3 options...either AC....or I'm considering looking at Sicilly as I figure it may be more of a balance between beautiful surroundings and a sandy beach to hang around on, just need to research sicilly now...aaaargh! I wish someone would just book it all for me before I spend the entire time researching and then everything is booked up!!! I've decided against venice for sure, i'll try that another time! Any thoughts on sicilly?!

EmmaJH

I'm also on a bit of a budget, so that is a factor too!

SheLuvsTravel

Emma, I lived in Rome, Italy for 2 years in 2005-2007 while attending John Cabot University and still did not get to see everything I wanted to see in Italy, so my advice is not to try to pack everything into one trip but to focus on one region or area if you are limited on time.

I would recommend the Amalfi Coast over Sicily, but that is my personal preference.

I am going to Italy in Sept 2014 to get married to my fiance, my wedding has been in the planning phase for 18 months now, the paperwork to get married in Italy is extensive, but it also took me 6 months just to decide where to get married.

Our 2014 trip will consist of: Flying into Rome and spending 3 days in Rome, then taking the train to Naples, from Naples we will either take a bus or ferry to Positano. We will base our trip out of Positano but visit the entire Amalfi Coast and take a trip to Capri. The hotel I highly recommend is "Pensione Maria Luisa" if you stay in Positano. Please look to book early, as the prices are very reasonable, considering the high cost of hotels on the amalfi coast.

After 8 days on the Amalfi Coast we will travel back to Rome and then take the train to Florence for 2 days and then take the train back to Rome to depart and Fly back to the US.


If you do spend time in Positano please keep notes to your favorite restaurants, as I have not been to Positano in several years and would love your recommendations. My Email is daniellesmith_a@ yahoo.com

If you have time brush up on some Italian Vocabulary before you go, there are often Italian Classes at the local junior college. if you do not have time to attend a class, check out a few books from the library including travel books on the regions you want to visit, reading the books before you go will make your trip more meaningful. You can also look up Rick Steves travel videos online, they have been very useful. Most everyone speaks English, but it is a lot of fun to speak Italian while you are there, it definitely enriches the trip.

Enjoy your trip! Ciao Bella
Danielle

Newbie00

Rome / Amalfi still seems to make the most sense for what you want.

It is significantly cheaper than Venice too. You can get budget/cheaper accomodation in Sorrento, which has fairly good public transport around the place. While the 'beaches' arent amazing in terms of long white sandy beaches, there is lots of sundecks and gorgeous turquoise waters for swimming, in absolutely breathtaking scenery.

Rome - Sorrento is not far apart either, so you are minimizing time lost to transfers which when you only have a week is important.

Then you have a couple of days in Rome to take in the culture and sheer awesomeness that is Rome.

Rubicund

The OP was travelling in May of last year.