For Daphne - We will be spending our honeymoon in Italy this September. Can you please post contact information for your driver (Naples to Positano) and the boat charter (for Capri)? Much appreciated!

Hana,

For car transfer, Marcello's email is [email protected]. He answers emails very promptly. Many Fodorites swore by him, and now I can completely understand why.

In Capri, the private boat excursion contact is Gioacchino Catuogno, a terrific experience. phone 081-837-8437.

Enjoy your honeymoon. Daphne

Belatedly trying (again) to post this, after a tip from someone else on how to get past a "Sorry!" message on posting a second time to a thread.

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I didn't mean to suggest that you should be more disciplined,
Historically, some newcomers have complained about losing their posts
because they went over the word limit and lost it. It is still a good idea
to compose a lengthy post in a word processor, and then cut/paste it here.

Glad that del Senato worked out for you. Always valuable to get update
feedback on a trusted hotel like this. Sooner or later, all hotels change
in quality.

I have heard great things about Casa Morgano in Capri. We stayed at Villa Brunella which is also small, personable and beautiful. The key is to be specific about the kind of room you want because even great hotels in Italy have a few less expensive rooms that can be tiny. You really can't go wrong to pick up Karen Brown's Italy book; we always have used her suggestions and love them. In Positano, we stayed at Villa Franca, Deluxe room w/small terrace facing sea. Romantic, quiet, charming. It's above the center of the town so the view is to die for...they have a shuttle to take you down into the center of things and to the sea but we only used it once; we love walking throught the small little streets and peeking in on different establishments. This is how we found some great little trattorias plus it helped to get some exercise with all the wonderful food. Also have heard great stuff about Poseidon.

The idea the previous poster has about staying your first night in Rome before the trek to the Amalfi Coast is a good one. We have always done the trek on arrival into Italy and by the time we get to our hotel, after the 9 hour flight, train ride from Rome to Naples, then ferry to Capri (or cab to Positano) we are absolutely deliriously exhausted. It depends on your stamina, of course. In Rome, we loved the Intercontinental De la Ville, next to the Hassler. They have just redone this hotel and the rooms are lovely. Again, make sure you don't get the standard without a view. I agree with the previous poster that on your honeymoon you want to splurge...especially the first night after flying in...

Thanks Maggy,,

I have thought about staying at the De Ville, the quoted me a superior room. Have yo seen or stayed in one of those rooms? Can you or anyone suggest an itninery for the coast? We are planning staying 6 nights. I want to spend some quiet time in Capri and thought about staying at Palazzo Sasso too. We def want to go to Pompeii but do notknow how to fit it in. I would love some advice on where and when to go to each hotel and location...

Also can anyone suggest where we should stay the first night , we have decided to stay in Rome that night to rest up and would like it to be in a nice hotel...

Thanks for all the suggestions

Regarding your question about the Superior room at De la Ville, I booked a Superior but got upgraded to a Jr. Suite w/large terrace overlooking the city. This was before the refurbishment of the rooms and it was wonderful. I joined the Six Continents Club, which is the premium membership club for the hotel and they upgraded us. I like that it feels like a small hotel even though there are about 200 rooms. If money wasn't an object, though, I would stay at the Russie hotel near Piazza de Popolo. It's more contemporary, yet elegant and charming. Their gardens are gorgeous and they even have a very small indoor pool that would be wonderful after an 8 hour flight.

After our 4 night stay in Positano, we hired a car to take us to Pompeii. We originally planned to take a train back to Rome but he suggested waiting for us and then driving us all the way back to Rome and what a fantastic decision this was! So, save Pompeii for the drive back to Rome, stop for about 4 hours to see Pompeii and then your driver will take you back to Rome. We took trains the entire trip so this was our only real splurge and we loved it.

As far as 6 nights on the coast, I would do the following: 3 nights in Positano, 3 nights in Capri. Go to Ravello as a day trip, have lunch, check out Palazzo Sasso but I don't know if I'd go there for just one night. Many people think 3 nights in Capri is too much since it's so small but the beauty of being there is just lounging and relaxing and discovering your favorite little places and indulging in the scenery and sun and sea. I'm not sure what time of year you're going but we were there in July and thought it would be mobbed but we so much enjoyed watching the gorgeous young and old Italian people doing their thing and then having our beautiful Hotel Villa Brunella to go to to escape the insanity. Definitely have dinner at the hotel's restaurant even if you don't stay there. It's a family owned and family run operation and has an intimate feel to it.

Thanks Daphne,,

I got a quote from Inercontinental for 426 euro a day with a lunch or dinner included daily. Does that sound like a good deal? I wish I did not have to have the option for lunch or dinner , I hate to be tied to have my meals there the whole time I am there...

Anyone have any other suggestions other than staying 3 nights in Positano? Or is it a must. I would love to be able to stay at Le Sirenuse but way out of my budget. I would still like to have a drink there and have dinner that is why I thought about staying across the street at Villa Rosa (I am not sure if that is the rt place though for a honeymoon. I would apreciate any thoughts on where to stay other than Positano for 3 or 4 nights. I also am considering staying at Casa Morgano in Capri for 3 or 4 nights.. But open to any other suggestions on your favorite spots.. thanks everyone ,, all your suggestions is going to make this a great honeymoon

Fairsat,
I stayed at Villa Rosa last year in September and loved it - would definitely stay again. It is charming, the staff was wonderful, we had a huge balcony with a nice view and great to have breakfast served out there every morning. Also, our bathroom was very big and had windows opening onto balcony with views-loved that! I thought the hotel was romantic even though I was with a friend and it's a great bargain. I have heard alot of good things about Miramare as well.
For Rome, I second the Hotel de Russie the back courtyard is heavenly for drinks.
By the way the response that compared the Spanish Steps to Times Square was hilarious. I live in New York and can tell you that they are nothing alike. SS are charming and a great place to people watch and stroll. Also, September is the perfect time to go to Italy, I was in Rome and Positano during that time last year. Have fun!

Dear Fairsat,
I would suggest that you spend three or four days in Sorrento, from there you can take the ferry to Capri for the day. Sorrento is a magnificent town and very romantic.
I have stayed at the palazzo Sasso, and it is fantastic. Very beautiful spot, and one can spend two days there without doing anything but enjoy.
I don't know how long you have but I'd do four nights in Sorrento, Three nights at Sasso, and then I'd go to Rome, Without a car, Positano is tough, Capri is beautiful but not for a honeymoon. Stay at the Excelsior in Sorrento. In Rome, I suggest Ingelterra.
Ciao,
GaiusJulius

Thank you for the post,, we are booked 3 nights at the Santa Caterina (start of our honeymoom) and then we were thinking of spending 3 nights on Capri... We are open to suggestions?? Why would choose Pallazzo Sasso over Capri.. We have thought about spending 3 nights either at the Casa Morgano or Capri Palace ,, any thoughts??

I'm probably going to make all those Rome lovers mad, but I definately think that 5 days in Rome is TOO long. My husband and I spent our one year anniversary in Italy last year. We traveled pretty much the same time you guys are traveling, September 4-21. We went to The Amalfi Coast (stayed in Positano), Capri (one night at the Ceasar Augustus-beautiful!!), Pompeii (just a half day there), Florence, Verona (half a day), Venice, the Cinque Terre and Rome. Rome was my least favorite place out of all (and not much romance there to boot). I felt like I was breathing exhaust all day. We didn't have any set itenerary and just kind of came and went when we wanted which was really nice to have that flexibility. We had a book that we called hotels in the day before we went, even sometimes the day of. We only had trouble finding a hotel once which was in the Cinque Terre but ended up staying in a beatiful hotel called Hotel Rocco in Monterroso. We did the car rental thing and it worked out just fine. For a honeymoon type situation, I highly suggest the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Florence and the Cinque Terre. You could go to Rome but I wouldn't give it more than 2 days tops. We cut time out of the Cinque Terre to spend in Rome and it was our only regret. We only stayed in Capri one night. We probably should have stayed there two being that it takes a little while to get there. You think everything is going to be a lot quicker than it really is. The hydrofoil is quick, but getting to the port and to the hotel isn't as fast as one would expect. It's just a lot of wasted time traveling if you're only there for one day. You didn't even mention Florence at all, is that not on the itenerary? My suggestion is to spend two days in Rome if it's a must. I know a lot of people will disagree with that, but trust me....for a honeymoon experience you don't want to be fighting exhaust and traffic. You may want to do it right away when you get there because then the "best would be yet to come." We did it on the tail end of our trip. My other suggestions would be to pack light, you don't need half of what you think you need and it's pain to haul all that luggage (and we had a car, so I'm thinking it would be much worse traveling on a train). The weather that time of the year was perfect. We had one rainy day in Positano, a cloudy day in Venize and a half rainy day in Rome. Otherwise, it was 70-80's and sunny. Whatever itenerary you decide on after all the advice you get, you're going to have a blast. Italy is so beautiufl and very romantic!! You're going to end up wanting to go back. I'm trying to persuade my husband to go back this year. We want to go to Sicily and Malta this September. So good luck with your plans. I don't usually speak up on these forums, but your mentioning of 5 days in Rome for your honeymoon had me cringing a little.