My husband and 4 year old are travelling to Italy in May. We'd like to make a 2 or 3 day stop on the Amalfi coast. A few people on this site have suggested La Sirene in Praiano. Is this a kid friendly hotel? What kind of activities in the area are there for kids? Any advice would be great!

vanb, La Sirene is a small hotel in a small town on the coast. There is not much for a child or adult to do in Praiano except go down to the water or play in the church square.

I spent some time watching the local kids play ball and chase each other in the square some days, but that is about all I can think of for a four year old to do, but even that can be fun.

Hi van,

When we were there last Oct, there were 2 families with kids.

Every evening the town's children assemble in the church square, about 1 blk, from the hotel, to run around and play for about an hour.

3 or 4 adults are there to watch.

I think your child will enjoy that.

The town 'beach' is about 1/2 km away.

Since Ira repeated what Natalia wrote I will just add that in Praiano there is not much for anyone to do, really.

There are a few restaurants, some hotels, an internet cafe, shops mostly for the locals (such as butcher, grocer), the square by the church and that is about it. There are some rocky outcrops at the water's edge to sun yourself and there are beautiful views, not much else.

Hey SeaUrchin,

That sounds like a wonderful place to spend 2-3 days on the Amalfi Coast with a small child.

PS You can take a hike up to the "Walk of the Gods" above Praiano.

The two best restaurants in town are La Brace and La Strada.

Don't eat olives direct from the tree. They are amazingly bitter.

I'm really liking the way this place sounds! What about taking short day trips - is that feasible from this hotel? Are there any sights close by?

Ira, I know you love Praiano and I like it too but I just wanted to say that there is not that much "to do" there.

I did think of another thing a four year old would like, running along the paths below the church such as the one leading to La Sirene and then taking it as far as you can in each direction.

Vanb, you will be in the middle of distance between Amalfi and Positano so you can take the SITA busses to each of them as well as Sorrento and Ravello.

OK one more question. How long would it take to get to Praiano from Rome?

Hi SeaUrchin,

>... there is not that much "to do" there.<

I think we agree, and I think that that is why this might be the right place for

Vanb

Short day trips: Positano, Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello, Paestum, Capri.

See my trip report: Ira?s Trip Report
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

To get to Praiano from Rome you take the ES* (more reliable than the IC) to Naples. You then go downstairs to the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento (You can stop at Pompeii if you wish) and take the SITA bus to Praiano.

This is the same way you get to Positano. Praiano is 6 km east of Positano.

It's a lot easier than it sounds. School kids do the Praiano/Naples route evry day.

You might want to consider using a limo service from Naples to Praiano, about 90E.

PS it's LE Sirene
(As I learned, La Siren (singular), Le (pronounced as the French les) Sirene (plural))
You now know more than you ever wanted to know

www.lesirene.com

Thanks for all this great info. ira - you sold me on this place - your trip report was great! I'll let you know how it all turns out!

Have a great trip,

and remember to write a report.