britomart

My fiance and I are planning a honeymoon in Positano for September 2005. We have looked at several houses along the Amalfi coast and think we've found the ideal one in Positano. We don't want to rent a car and we'd like to do daytrips. However, we also want to spend a few days just relaxing and "honeymooning" without worrying about going out every day. If we spend 2/3 of the two weeks on excursions, will we have enough to do? Or would you recommend we spend the extra week somewhere else close by?

Also I should mention: we've already been to the main cities of Florence, Venice, and Rome and don't feel like going to them on this trip. We were considering spending the extra week in Tuscany but we really don't want to rent a car. Thanks for any advice!

Steve_James

BM - I think 2 weeks is fine.

There are plenty of day-trip options from Positano, e.g.

Capri, Ravello, Amalfi, Sorrento, Pompei, Ercolano, Vesuvius, Naples, Paestum, Ischia, Caserta/Cassino, Procida, & boat-trips, hikes (Path of the Gods) ...

I'd rather have two weeks there than 2/3 days, that's for sure ...
- especially for a honeymoon

Steve

LoveItaly

britomart, IMHO this idea would be perfect for a honeymoon. One is normally tired after all the wedding festivities so I can't help but think that mentally for you how nice it would be to know that you have a house and 2 weeks to just "chill out" and enjoy such a beautiful area. And as SteveJames said there are so many places to visit from Positano.

I would imagine this honeymoon will be fantastic!

britomart

Thank you both for your responses. We have decided to stay in Amalfi for two weeks, and went to book our house and it is already booked!!! We can't believe it (we thought we were ahead of the game). Our second choice is booked for our preferred dates, so we're checking alternate dates. We had a third choice in Ravello; is that a good place to make a home base too?

GAC

Ravello is exquisite as a base for a honeymoon, but not as convenient for taking side trips by bus, as you've got to transfer in Amalfi to go anywhere, and it's a 25 minute ride up and down the mountain by local bus (1.00 Euro per ride), with departures only hourly. So, you'll lose considerable time taking side trips from Ravello, compared to the Town of Amalfi or even Positano. If you're planning a lot of side trips, this could become tiring. If you're aiming mainly to stay put near the hotel, Ravello is a great place to stay.

panucci

Ravello is Beautiful. We stayed at a house in Praiano. The town is tiny, but everyone there is Italian. It is between Amalfi and Positano so it is very easy to get anywhere. If you can't find a plce to stay have you considered the Italian Riviera?

Weadles

I wouldn't base in Ravello for two weeks. It's inland, and harder to get places than from the other towns.

Have you checked the area around Sorrento? When I was looking into it abut two years ago, there seemed to be many more properties available than in the smaller towns. Also, you'd have a better chance at being on a decent bus line.

Good luck!

britomart

Thanks to everyone for the responses. We've reserved a house in Praiano for one week and a house in Ravello the second week. Perhaps we will spend the first week doing excursions and the second week doing very little except drinking lots of vino.

LoveItaly

britomart, I am so glad you got everything worked out. Have a beautiful honeymoon. And don't forget to post a trip report.

Enjoy planning your wedding, and best wishes to both of you.

DonnieD

britomart ...

Your final arragements sound perfect, you have the best of both worlds: Mountain top Ravello, and seaside Praiano. September is a wonderful time of year to visit.

Melissa5

Praiano and Ravello are both wonderful and very different. Good choices. A week in each is plenty of time.

Melissa5

Now that you've got everything all worked out I'll throw in an alternate thought...1 week in the Amalfi coast area (Positano or wherever you choose); 1 week in Tuscany. You don't have to rent a car. We didnd't. We got a driver to drive us from Sorrento to the Naples train station. We took the Eurostar train, 1st class, to Florence...very much fun riding the Eurostar, relaxing, pleasant. We stayed 3 nights in florence and booked Roberto Bechi, a native Siennese licensed guide, to pick us up from our hotel, take us on a day-tour of the lovely chianti region, and drop us off at our new hotel in Siena.

I loved Roberto bechi, he has a great sense of humor and is very knowledgable and the history and archaeology of the region. I would like to book another day-tour with him next time we're in tuscnay.

so it's a thought. You can see Tuscany and Amalfi area without renting a car if you want.

We saw Amalfi, Positano, Praiano, Ravello, Rome, florence, Venice, siena, Chianti region... Personally I would prefer spending 1 week in the Amalfi coast area somewhere, and spending the other week in tuscany.

I'm sure you'll have a beautiful, romantic honeymoon in bella Italia!

britomart

Hi Melissa. I think when we go to Tuscay we want to devote at least two weeks to it. But it's good to know we don't HAVE to rent a car when we do go. Thanks for the advice!