Just returned from Amalfi Coast
 

Just back from 8 days on Amalfi coast. Stayed at Belvedere Hotel in Coca di Marini, just a 10 min. bus ride from Amalfi. All the surrounding towns were less than 30 min. drive by local bus. The bus stopped directly in front of the hotel. Driving a car on small winding mountain roads can be scary. many people that rented cars left them in the hotel parking lot and used buses the week we were there. Simple to get to Ravello and Capri. Anyway, temps in the low 80's and sunny the whole time. no rain. warm enough to swim. This was a beautiful area of Italy. Friendly warm people, wonderful to Americans, great food, plenty of ATMs for easy cash. I repeat, Wonderful to Americans!!!! My travel dollars will certainly always go to the Italians.

I am curious to know whether you ever had a problem boarding one of the SITA buses due to overcrowding? Could you always find a seat? Were the buses fairly on time?

Buses were always on time. get a bus schedule from your hotel front desk. you can even get your bus tickets at hotels. 1Euro a ticket good for one hour of travel. we got early buses 7:45 or 9:45 and always got a seat. If you get to the bus stop 10 min before you can pretty much be the first on board to get a seat. I am sure in high season july and august it was more crowded that is why we planned on september. be sure to validate your ticket when you board! sometimes patrols get on board and if you do not validate your ticket you can get a fine. no one will tell you to validate including the bus driver.

People have asked whether the buses are air conditioned? Were they? All of them?

Blue and gren SITA buses along the Amalfi Coast were always air conditioned although some of the locals opened the windows anyway. The smaller orange buses running up to Ravello and in Positano were not AC'd.

Can you tell us about staying at the Belvedere Hotel? How did you like the room, the views, etc.? What did you do in the evenings? What are the things around Conca that are interesting to do and see?

Dick, It was a beautiful hotel which was originally a villa. All of the rooms have a terrace looking out over the water. There are only 35 rooms. Food is excellant!! elegant service and menus not buffets. bottle of wine and water is included with your meal. Breakfasts are also not buffet but waiter service. Breakfast is out on a terrace and dinner in a dining room overlooking the sea. If you decide you want to go to another restaurant for dinner they tell you to have lunch at the hotel if you want to give up the dinner. The Hotel is in tiny Conca de Marini and only ten min. from Almafi which was very crowded even in sept. The hotel has an elevator in the lobby that takes you down the cliff to the pool.Also steps going down from the pool take you to the sea where you can swim also. We stayed in room 104 which was lovely!! look up their website which is belvederehotel.it
The whole staff spoke perfect english, german and italian. when we were there many guest were from England and quite a few from Germany. The sita bus stops right in front of the hotel which makes it easy to "sight-see" during the day. After dinner we had drinks or coffee in the lounge with friends. There is not a very big nightlife on Almafi. After a full day of exploring the surrounding towns, spending late afternoons at the pool, and dinner around 8:30 all of us did not really miss not having a big nightlife. We had a mix of ages including a few couples on their honeymoon. Everyone seemed like they were having a great time. The place is really nice. check it out.