mlnews

My family is making the trek to Italy this summer, and for them it will be the first time. My dilemma is how to accomplish seeing the relatives in Salerno (I am second generation Italian-American), in addition to our sightseeing objectives. We want to see the Naples museum, Capri, Pompeii and the Amalfi coast. And the cousins, too. I have heard that staying in Salerno is not fabulous...so in 4 days (all I've allotted in our Rome-So. Italy-Florence junket) what is most logistically feasable? We plan to take a train from Salerno to Florence and fly home from there. Grazie! PS.16 year old son and 13 year old daughter attached!

GeoffHamer

You can get a boat from Salerno via Amalfi to Capri. Choose the ship (last summer it was the SANTA LUCIA), rather than a fast craft, because the open decks will give great views of the Amalfi coast. For Napoli, there are intercity trains from Salerno as well as buses. Salerno is not a very atttactive town, but it's a good base with good train services.

AP6380

Maybe I'm reading this wrong-4 days total to see Rome, So. Italy and Florence?

ira

Hi ml,

You have allotted 4 days to see Rome, Naples, Capri, Pompeii, the AC, the cousins in Salerno and Florence?

I can't be reading this correctly.

Huitres

Salerno is a very convenient place to stay and a perfect location for taking boats across to Capri and down the Amalfi coast. We stayed in Salerno last summer for 4 days at the Hotel Plaza, located right across the way from the Salerno train station. It is a modern hotel of about 6 stories high or more and is in walking distance to the beach. We were pleasantly surprised with Salerno: they had excelllent waterfront seafood restaurants, friendly people, and we enjoyed the daily evening passegiata (walk) with all the other Italians. It was quite balmy and soothing at night, but the days were certainly hot and tortuous! From Salerno, we took a local bus (~3 euros per ticket) to Pompeii, it dropped us off right across from the entrance to Pompeii. Also, from Salerno you can hop on the train northward to Naples. The Naples museum is close to the train station, but beware the area around the station, Garibaldi Square. It is a bit sketchy at times - keep your purse and belongings in sight at all times. My wallet was stolen from underneath a towel, under my child's stroller -- while she was sitting in the stroller!! (we had taken the bus from the Naples museum down to Piazza Garibaldi/train station area) Other than that, we thoroughly enjoyed our time down in the south of Italy and I plan to return again in June. Have a great trip and takes lots of photos!

mlnews

No,I have 14 days for the whole Rome-So. Italy-Florence travel. But only 4 days for Amalfi/Salerno/Capri/Pompeii.
Where should I base myself?

SeaUrchin

Base yourself in Salerno if that is where your relatives are and you are going to visit them there.
The farthest I would stay would be Minori or Majori on the coast, you are not giving yourself much time and the relatives will want to host you I am sure.

Huitres

Base yourself in Salerno, as per my previous post. It is central and convenient to everything that you want to see down that way - including your relatives! You can take 1 day for each destination - Pompeii; Capri; Amalfi Coast (suggest seeing Amalfi, Ravello, perhaps Positano if you have time) all the while based in Salerno. Remember, there is travel time on the boat going down the Amalfi coast. You can cover two towns at once if you choose Amalfi, then take the blue bus up to the top of the hill/mtn and see equally picturesque Ravello. Positano is another town and an additional boat ride away. If you start out early enough in the morning, all these places are do-able in a day, then returning to Salerno.

ira

Hi ml,

I agree with staying in Salerno. You can take the SITA bus or the ferry to Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento. From Positano or Sorento you can visit Capri.

You can also take the train from Salerno to Paestum.

With only 4 days, it will be a real rush to visit Naples, Pompeii, Capri.

I should expect that your family in Italy will want to see you for at least 2 half days and a night.

mlnews

My replies have been lost in cyberspace! Thank you everyone for the info...and yes, I will definitely stay in Salerno. (Which should also please my cousin whose husband is some sort of city official there!) Huitres, were you happy with your hotel, or does anyone have suggestions? I stayed at a cliffside hotel in 1974 called the Raito with spectacular views. Anybody familiar with that place?
Molto Grazie!!

RickGib

Consider this: Starting from Naples, see the museum, then move on. Naples isn't worth any more time. Take the Circumvisuvius train to Pompeii. Pompeii is across the street from the train station. Check your bags at the site entry. Return to the train station and continue south and on to Sorrento. Take the boat to Capri. While at Capri take the funicular up to Capri, bus to Ana Capri (exciting ride and great views) and the chairlift to the top (fabuluous views). From Sorrento (worth strolling around) take the bus (exciting ride and fabulous views) toward Salerno. Be sure to check out Positano. Take the boat (fun ride to see where you have been) back up to Naples for return. Cities to overnight? Naples-no, Sorrento-yes, Positano-yes, Capri-I don't know, Amalfi-I don't know, Salerno-I don't know. This direct route keeps your travel efficient. Good luck.

Huitres

mlnews: I am glad that you are making Salerno your base, it makes the most sense, plus your family will be there too. It is unfortunate that Salerno often gets a "bad rap" as not being one of the most beautiful of cities, but do bear in mind, it was where the Allies landed in 1944 and they bombed the heck out of the city. It had to be rebuilt from the ground up. I think its Medieval former history

We liked the Hotel Plaza very much and were surprised to see it was a "modern looking" high-story hotel with 42 rooms, all with private bath/shower, A/C, etc). The rates are excellent: single room 63 euros, double room 95 euros -- all come with daily continental breakfast in the hotel's dining room. (Here is their website: http://www.plazasalerno.it/home.htm). Adjacent to the hotel and up the street was a wide pedestrian area where shops stayed open late and sightseers strolled under the night skies. There were nice cafes and restaurants up that same street with outdoor seating, as well as numerous good choices closer to the water. All in all, we liked the Plaza Hotel's very central location in the middle of everything (we only walked a couple blocks to catch the bus to Pompeii - it couldn't have been more convenient).

Huitres

Oooops! Didn't finish my sentence.....sorry!

I think its Medieval former history as capital of the Norman Empire from 1077 to 1127 -- and home to Europe's first medical school -- is far more interesting and desirable than the rather (unfortunate) lackluster reputation that Salerno has now. We liked Salerno and I will probably go back there when in Naples area again in June.

mlnews

Huitres, is it best to book directly through the hotel web site, or through another third party (like venere.com)? I promise that this is the last of my questions! You have been MOST helpful, molto grazie.

walkamalfi

Ciao ml.

To get the best out of your trip you should base yourself in Amalfi from where there are direct bus & boat connections to all of the places you want to visit.Salerno to Amalfi by boat or bus is an easy trip. From Amalfi -Naples,Capri,Pompeii,Positano,Salerno,Ravello and Sorrento are all easily reached.

WWW.sita-on-line.it (Buses)
WWW.trenitalia.it (Trains)

Lorac1127

Your Italian family is most likely thrilled that your family is visiting and would probably love to show you the sites. Of course, it is a tremendous help if you speak a little Italian or if at least one of your hosts speaks a little English.

On our last visit, one cousin drove us along the Amalfi coast, stopping in Ravello, Amalfi and Positano and knew where to park and where to stop for photos. He was thrilled to chauffer us around and show us his beautiful Italy and the church where he was married in Amalfi. Another day, they gave us a car, and we drove to Pompeii alone and enjoyed every moment, except when we were lost, but we always get lost.

Of course, there were also huge family dinners with everyone and delicious mozzarella di bufalo and pitchers of wine. We did it all in four days and managed to get a lot of sightseeing in as well.

In four weeks, we are leaving again for Italy and are starting the trip off to visit these relatives in Caserta and Salerno and will be based in Salerno.

We have been emailing back and forth setting up an itinerary. Some of our ideas did not work out because they know the roads better, and what looks close on a map isn't always. So we are leaving the specifics up to their good judgment.

Maybe you can email the family and ask for their suggestions. Our family suggested one full day for Capri, one day for Ercolano and Vesuvius and a family dinner, one day to drive the Amalfi Coast and one day for us to research family roots and another family dinner.

Four days is not a lot of time, but if you plan it right and with their help, you should have a terrific time.

mlnews

Wow Lorac, that sounds like a fun family! My cousins speak almost no English, which was painfully apparent when they came to visit us in DC for a few days last summer. Mamma mia! If it weren't for my father and uncle translating we would have been lost! I am listening to tapes (I should know this stuff...I grew up living with Italian speaking grandparents in the same house!) but fear that they may not understand my emails! Maybe I can borrow your family for the vacation?

Lorac1127

The older cousins do not speak any English at all. But most of their children are 35 to 40-year-old professionals and have lived in Rome or Milan or Florence at various times so English was a necessity but they are definitely not fluent.

That is why our day off alone in Pompeii was so nice...no translations necessary.

Maybe your father or uncle could write the emails in Italian so the cousins would understand what you would like to do and they can plan accordingly. I'm sure they want your trip to be enjoyable, and it is always easier for the host when they know what it is you want to see and do.

There is a boat from Salerno to Capri in the summer. Maybe they can drop you off at the dock and you and your family can go it alone.

But if anyone offers to drive you along the Amalfi Coast, just say YES. My husband could have driven the road just fine. But it was so nice to be able to stop and enjoy the scenery and take photos without worrying about the roads, especially since he's a professional photographer, the photos were very important to him.

Even if the family accompanies you to Pompeii, there are English speaking guides at the entrance and you can join in with a group. The cost is not a lot and very well worth it.

You will have a great time.

Huitres

Hi mlnews:
I called Hotel Plaza directly and booked the room. I speak Italian so it was not a "problema" but if it might be difficult for you, fax them your request in English. There was always someone at the front desk that did know (some) English and they certainly should be able to accommodate you in booking a room.

You will have a wonderful time down there, and do eat lots of mozzarella di bufala (may fav with caprese!)