Hello,

My husband and I have just booked our airfare for our 20th anniversary trip to Italy. Now we need to book hotels. We are going at the beginning of April 2009. Looking at 4 nights Florence, 4 nights Positano.

We are interested in opinions of In Piazza della Signoria in Florence and La Sirenuse in Positano. This is our first trip to Italy and appreciate any suggestions on these hotels or others.

Thank you,

I've stayed at the Sirenuse a few times. It's a dream hotel but with prices that may give you nightmares. The rooms are beautiful, the views (if you get a room with a view) are stunning and the staff friendly and helpful. The food is great too. It is definitely a "destination hotel" and if you can afford the $700 and up per night rate, you won't be disappointed. There are other hotels in Positano that have very similar views and ammenities for less money, such as the Posiedon.

In Piazza della Signoria is a wonderful luxury B&B. We stayed there about three years ago. I recommend very highly. Each room is different; ours had a view of the Piazza. The location is superb. You have the run of the place--the kitchen (stocked with snacks, wine and soft drinks); the computer, etc. You can even cook there.

Highly recommended.


http://www.inpiazzadellasignoria.com/inglese/rooms.php



I like Grinisa's comment about Le Sireneuse! It certainly is beautiful, though. If you want to consider Amalfi, the Santa Caterina may offer good prices in April.

Have you considered the dates of Easter and Semana Santa?

I can second Grinisa's recommendation of the Poseidon and ekscrunchy's recommendation of the Santa Caterina in Amalfi.

What are you actually planning to do in Positano for 4 nights in early April, given that it won't be beach/pool weather ? If you are planning to take daytrips - to other towns along the coast, Ravello, Capri etc - Amalfi is a better base for transport. It's also more of a 'real' town as opposed to just aimed at tourism as Positano is.

Hi B,

How are you planning to get from Florence to Positano?

Thank you for all your replies. I have gone ahead and booked the Leonardo room at the In Piazza della Signoria for the first four nights. It looks just lovely and exactly what we would enjoy.

We are planning on taking the train from Florence to Naples and then private driver to the Almafi Coast. Does that sound reasonable? We were thinking Positano just to relax for a couple of days. I welcome any other hotel suggestions. I will definetly look at staying in Almafi - but there is just something drawing me to Positano.

Thank you!

Hi Bad,

>We are planning on taking the train from Florence to Naples and then private driver to the Almafi Coast. Does that sound reasonable? <

Very reasonable.

We were pleased with Limousine Service Sorrento (Renato Cuomo)
www.cuomonet.it

Also consider Francesco. http://www.francescomarrapese.com/

As for hotels, I too find the Sirenuse to be very pricey. I can suggest these 4 star hotels for less:
Poseidon
Palazzo Murat
Buca di Bacco[on the water]

My son and DIL are in Thailand as we speak celebrating their 20th.

Certainly look into Amalfi at that time of year...another hotel to consider in Amalfi is the Luna Convento, which is between Amalfi and Atrani; price will be less than the Santa Caterina and Le Sireneuse:


http://www.lunahotel.it/


Here is the report I wrote about my stay in In Piazza della Signoria in 2006; you might find some helpful details..


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34743272

I am so pleased that you booked at InPiazzadelSignoria. Stayed in 2005 and it was all wonderful.

My favorite spot in Florence so far.

I agree--it is a wonderful place! We had the Michelangelo room. Their breakfasts are outstanding. And what a location!

Hi, how much would a private taxi for 4 cost from Milan to Amalfi?

Are you sure you mean Milan to Amalfi? That's an eight or nine hour drive. If you could find a car service that would do it, the cost would be far more than train or even one way plane tickets for four.

Hi EC,

Limo from Rome to Positano is about 600E.

Milan to Amalfi would be somewhat more.

You can get a limo from Rome to Positano for far less than 600 Euro! Last time I checked the price was about US$350..

No, make that 350 Euro from Rome airport to Positano. I checked the price last May.

Thank you for the additional information.

Ekscrunchy: The Luna hotel looks very interesting. What would the advantages be to staying in Almafi? More centrally located?? More restaurant choices? As you can tell, this is our first trip to this part of Italy.

Ira - thanks for the car recommendations. I will look into both of them.

It is very nice to have personal recomendations, especially when wading thru all the information out there!

Badger5

I paid 300 Euro for a transfer from FCO to Positano in September. I highly recommend this service!

www.tourofitaly.com

Badger: In my opinion, Amalfi is more of a "real town" than Positano. Positano appears to be oriented almost entirely toward tourism. Positano has many upscale boutiques and art galleries and has more of an international feeling than Amalfi. Postitano is built into a hillside and staying there would probably entail lots of step-climbing. There are steps in Amalfi, but the center of town is flat.

This subject has been debated a lot here, and each town has fans. I debated myself before my last trip and I was very glad that I chose Amalfi as a base, rather than Positano. But that is just my own opinion...

If you are planning to relax around your hotel, I would choose a town based on the hotel that appeals to you and that you can afford!!





The two highest-end choices in Amalfi are the Luna and the Santa Caterina. The SC is a bit of a walk from the actual town.

There are more appealing places to eat in Amalfi than in Positano--in my opinion. When we were there last May we saw many more Americans in Positano than in Amalfi..

All these are just my impressions; for more info, please read my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35128776