I will be staying at a beautiful place in Umbria (Narmi) for 3 nights and then trying to decide if I go to Amalfi for 4 nights to a place with beautiful scenery of course, but not as nice a room, or if I stay in Umbria a 4th night and Amalfi only 3.
Keeping in mind it is hot August, should I stay in Umbria a 4th night or head to the water for the longer portion of my stay?
Thanks for any advice.

In Umbria I'm staying in Narni (not Narmi)-sorry!

Hi Jes - I think your decision at will be affected by who has availability.

Your chances on the Amalfi Coast at this late stage aren't that great, I suspect - the best places are long gone.

If you find availabilty - grab it pronto!

Steve

Hi Steve,

I agree...and did find availability. That's why I'm down to the final decision before booking. Any last minute insight?

For me, the Amalfi only makes sense if you have a nice room with a private terrace. Otherwise, I feel stuck in tourist hell. I wouldn't care about the interior of the room (and I wouldn't need a pool). I would just need someplace to get away from all those mobs of tourists.

If I was locked out of Ravello, I'd look for a place in Fuori, Maiori, etc -- down the coast toward Salerno and around Cilento.

If you wanted something really differen, you might head to Italy's other coast. I've never done it. Some people would warn you against it - and they might be right. Only a tiny part of it is even remotely picturesque. But I think I'd have a jolly interesting time in some Felliniesque beach along that coast, perhaps with a few trips into Le Marche.

Will you be going up to the Piano Grande while you are in Umbria?

(Narni is in the lower portion of Umbria, correct?)

My preference would likely be to further explore Umbria from Narni (I am assuming the old city-as Narni Scalo is less than charming).Narni is an amazing gem of a town and often overlooked. We did a lot of hiking near there-don't miss the falls!

One of the best meals of our time in Italy was in Narni: here is the website for the ristorante which is also a great hotel. It is only in Italian, but you can at least check it out with this as a guide.
www.loggiadeipriori.it

JES,

Here are two links you might like to have. They show the location of beaches in Le Marche.

I don't know your traveling preferences, but I think I might really grieve moving out of an untouristed, beautiful hideaway in Italy and finding myself in the middle of the foreign tourist scene in Amalfi.

At the same time, if you have a lot of trouble with heat, you might need some breaks.

The Piano Grande, or anyplace up in the Monte Sibillini should be cooler in temp, but if you'd like to see some water, you might think about heading over to the Adriatic (you'd need a car.)

Here's the lay of the coast:

http://www.le-marche.com/Marche/html/maps.htm

and here's descriptiions of the beaches. You'd want the Southern ones

http://www.le-marche.com/Marche/html/beaches.htm

If you find yourself wanting to catch a sea breeze, the amazing town of Ascoli Piceno en route from Umbria to the sea makes for a wonderful stop -- just for a drink at Caffe Melitti, a few fried olives and to see it's absolutely beautiful marble Piazza del Popolo, one of the most delightful social gathering places in Italy.

http://www.angelorecchi.com/nuovo_bl...f-meletti.html

http://www.le-marche.com/Marche/html/beaches.htm

http://crossfinger.files.wordpress.c...el_popolo2.jpg

http://www.le-marche.com/Marche/html/ascopic.htm

Hi J,

I don't think it makes that much difference, but where on the AC in August?

Funny picture of St Denis! He looks like he's saying:

"Sacre couer!"

USNR,

Right. It's truly one of the greatest sights in Paris. I can't think of sight so important in another city that is so undertouristed.

ooops!

How did this end up in this thread? Sorry!

My trips to the Amalfi Coast are never in August - which I'd personally avoid like the plague.

I think it'd be too crowded to be much fun - but it depends what you want to do.

If you just want to relax - or maybe hike - it might be OK.

If you want to sightsee and use public transport, it might be more problematic. In that case you'd probably be better off basing in Sorrento.

Just my personal opinion ...

Steve

In one trip to Italy, we spent a week in the Amalfi Coast and another week in Umbria (Perugia). We started at the Amalfi Coast and even though there are more tourists there, I wished we had a couple more days there. I found it to be spectacular!!(And we have been back twice after that).

I would head off to Amalfi, if it were me, nice room or not.

Thank you for all of the insight...I'm looking at a hotel in Positano (Albergo Miramare) Sorrento (La Vue d Or) or Praioi. Any thoughts on which area to stay?

>>Praioi<<

Is that Praiano?

yes Zeppole, thank you. I realized after I posted.

If it matters to you, the train journey from Narni to Salerno is almost five hours. Add time to reach Amalfi (or wherever), and you've lost the better part of a day. I'd stay in Umbria.

Although the water flow will be reduced in August, I still recommend seeing the Marmore Falls (Cascata delle Marmore) east of Terni. See Lago di Piediluco a little farther along the road. For that matter, there are several lakes within a relatively short distance of Narni.

I'm back and want to thank you all for your help.

LJ, thank you for the fantastic dinner recommendation in Narni. I never would have seen it without knowing about it and it was also one of my favorite dinners on my trip!

I did stay in Umbria 3 nights and Positano (at Villa Franca) 4 nights. I can't say I would have regretted it either way. I just needed an extra night in each!

Villa Franca was nice but they need to get rid of Rosa part of family that owns it) at the front desk who greets you with a scowl and barely says hello when you pass her in the morning. She's so obnoxious I wouldn't go back for that reason alone. She acts like she's doing a favor by letting you stay in her hotel but forgets you're actually paying a small fortune for it! Some other issues there as well but I'll spare you all and save my bitching for someone that asks!

Positano was incredibly beautiful but incredibly touristy which took away from the experience for me. There was a fire that blocked the underpass to Amalfi so I couldn't explore past Priano. Still, we had a great time.

Thanks again to all!

JES: so very pleased that Loggia Priori in Narni worked out for you: I have a pic on the board beside my desk here of DH, wonderful SIL and her great husband in the courtyard there surrounded by the kitchen staff...we spoke enough Italian between us to comment (very postively) on the grand dinner and the chef brought the whole crew out and we all sat around drinking peppery grappa and toasting life...a fine, fine night and the stuff that great memories of Italy are made of!

LJ,

That is exactly the incomparable Italian experience that draws you back for more. Sounds wonderful!!