Itinerary feedback: 2 1/2 weeks in Sorrento/Amalfi/Capri
 

We're finally going to Italy for our 25th anniversary, spending 2 1/2 weeks in the Sorrento/Amalfi area mid-end of October. I would also love to visit Domicella, a small town in Avellino, where my grandparents are from. Please give me your comments/suggestions on our itinerary:

Fly into Naples - 2 nights at Art Resort Galleria Umberto in the heart of the city. I know it's a gritty city, and I'm looking forward to exploring it. And the pizza......oh the pizza.......

To Positano - 5 nights at Hotel Marincanto. We'd like to hike and explore above Positano/Amalfi, get out on the water and relax.

To Capri - 2 nights at La Minerva. This is where it may get tricky getting out to Capri from Positano depending on weather. If it's rough, will we need to go to Sorrento to catch the ferry?

To Sorrento - 5 nights at Hotel Antiche Mura. From here we will explore Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Sorrento. I would also like to hire a guide to take us to Domicella in Avellino for a day, on the eastern side of Vesuvius, near Lauro. I can't seem to find much info about here on the internet. Can anyone offer any info, or names of local/reputable day guides for hire? I don't have much geneaology info, but it's enough to just visit.

Thanks for any and all feedback!

> our 25th anniversary

Congratulatons!

> Fly into Naples - 2 nights at Art Resort Galleria Umberto in the heart of the city. I know it's a gritty city, and I'm looking forward to exploring it.

I love your attitude towards Naples! I was delightedly swept up in it's dynamic energy. Depending on what you want to see, and whether/how you handle jet lag, you might want to add or day or two to Naples.

> To Sorrento - ... From here we will explore Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Sorrento.

Whatever works for you! I trust you realize that it is easy to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum from Naples.

Enjoy!

Thanks kja!

I thought of adding time to Naples and am thinking of trading a few Sorrento days for back in Naples. Do you have any info on hiring a guide for Naples? I'm really interested in seeing the Underground, but would rather go with a guide. Thanks for any info you can add!

You can hire a guide through your hotels.

How are you getting from place to place?

I would change the order of things, putting Capri first and Naples last.

Visit Paestum from Positano.

Sorrento is a nice base, but not really much to see there, doesn't need days for itself - perhaps an afternoon..

You can also easily visit Herculaneum (even Pompeii) from Naples.

At the underground in Naples, they have tours with a guide. You don't do it on your own. Guide is included with cost of ticket. Did you see the program about it on PBS? Very interesting and I enjoyed the tour.

I know people are always telling travelers to slow down and really see an area, but it actually seems like more time than even I would want at one time there - and I love the AC/Naples area. Perhaps with your love of hiking, you will not find it too long.

Had you thought of any other parts of Italy you would like to explore. With 2&1/2 weeks, you could easily spend 10 days Naples/AC and a week in Rome (or someplace else) and not feel at all rushed.

I would switch the order a bit since it's so easy to get to Capri from Naples.

3 nights Naples- one for Avellino, which must be pretty close to Naples since you say it's just on the other side of Vesuvius

Hydrofoil or regular ferry to Capri

2 nights Capri

5 nights Positano

*** yes, if there is rough water, you will have to go into Sorrento instead, and make your way to Positano by bus or cab

4 nights Sorrento

Don't rely on the hotel to set up guides. Hotels will charge you way too much.

There are plenty of transfer/tour companies that will take you to Avellino.

I can highly recommend TOUROFITALY.com. We've used their services for over ten years. They specialize in taking Italian American clients to their family's hometowns, etc. They also do tours of the AMalfi Coast, and pickups at the airports.

There are other companies available, too. If you do a search for transfers on the Amalfi Coast, you will find lots of recommendations.

Hi Travlinmad - Your trip sounds wonderful. My husband & I will be following a similar itinerary next year. We're going to skip Naples but spend 4 nights Positano, 2 Capri and 4 Sorrento. We've even chosen the same hotels with the exception of Positano where we'll stay at Albergo Punta Regina. From Positano will visit Paestum and Ravello. From Sorrento tour Pompeii and Herculaneum. I will follow this thread with great interest. Please write a trip report when you get back. Enjoy!

Perhaps an idea to start acquainting yourself with Google's translation facility, since there's not a lot about Domicella in English?

Rather more on the Italian version of Wikipedia however:
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domicella

.. and, with also some how to get there instructions (Come arrivare)...

http://www.viaggioinirpinia.it/item_...itle=Domicella

..........................

To look for a guide based in that area, you might do worse than trying to contact their Pro Loco - sort of a grass-roots, bottom-upward local tourist board....

http://www.marigliano.net/_articolo....articolo=25659

Its younger members should include someone able to cope with an enquiry in English!

Seems they may be more active on Facebook than the internet?
http://www.facebook.com/proloco.domicella

Proper guides aren't meant to also act as drivers, or vice versa - so you may have to decide which to have.... or both!

Should be easy enough to get at least to somewhere like Nola by public transport - within fairly easy reach of Naples, though with the usual big gap in the morning trains - after those for workers, students etc - to watch out for!

And perhaps then hire a taxi based there:
http://nola.paginegialle.it/campania/nola/taxi.html

Good luck....
Peter