May Honeymoon in Sorrento?
 

My fiance and I looking for a spot to honeymoon in Europe, and the top of our list right now is Sorrento. We will be traveling in early May. We're also considering Croatia, and Cinque Terre, but are open to all suggestions. Our criteria is that it's fairly easy to get to (we're coming from Boston), it's easy to get around once we're there, and it's relaxing. We disagree with each other on how long to stay at museums so we don't want to go somewhere with a ton of "must-see" museums or sights, but aren't opposed to a few things. We like the idea of waking up and not feeling like we HAVE to go do anything, but we have the option to see some things and walk around if we'd like. We want to hang out on our hotel balcony with our coffee and have nice relaxing dinners out. This is why Sorrento sounds like a good idea- we could do day trips to Capri, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and Naples or possibly split the trip into 2 of those places (suggestions welcome), but still have a few lazy days. We could do about a 10 day trip (including travel time). Assuming we decide on this general area, I'm not set on Sorrento if anyone has a better idea.
Please let me know if my line of thinking is correct on this whole trip or if I should go down a different path. Thanks!

Congratulations! We did a similar plan in 2014, although not for a honeymoon.

We flew Boston to Napoli, rented a car and drove. We stayed Hotel Corallo in St. Agnello, a 15 minuts walk from Sorrento. It was lovely, Google it! But, there are several gorgeous hotels right in Sorrento.

We enjoyed Sorrento immensely, and has the mix of relaxation and sightseeing you seem to be looking for. Easy boat ride to Capri, train to Pompeii,boat to Naples. You can also visit the other islands nearby, IsChia and Procida (which we didn'the do).

On a previous trip, we visited Le Cinque Terre, before it became so famous, and it was truly lovely. So, you could stay in Liguria somewhere and visit CT. Plenty to offer relaxation and gorgeous landscapes there, too.

It's your honeymoon, do exactly what you and your fiance wish to do, not what you think might be expected of you.

Both choices would be lovely, especially in May.

Sorrento certainly has the options you are looking for when it comes to not feeling guilt about lazing on the terrace all day instead of sightseeing, but if you get bored or it rains, it is very well located for some fascinating excursions, only a few of them involving museums.

Le Cinque Terre much less so. In addition the weather is more unreliable and few easy excursions if there is bad weather. Another consideration might be that the local cuisine, while delicious, is much more limited in le Cinque Terre, especially with regard to what's on restaurant menus.

For 10 days I would want an apartment even if I never cooked in it. But having a fridge & a washing machine, and more space would appeal to me more than a hotel desk & a packaged breakfast.

Can't comment on Croatia but think being further south helps with swim and suntan weather in early May.

Your plan for Sorrento sounds OK. It's a good spot from which to take day trips to Naples and Pompeii via train. You might consider an overnight trip to Capri, either at the beginning or end of trip. If you're flying back home from Naples, you could save that city for the end of the trip and spend a night there.

One possible (rough) itinerary would be:
Arr Naples, go directly to Capri via train to Naples, ferry to Capri.
Spend one or two nights in Capri.
Ferry to Sorrento. 4-5 nights.
Train to Pompeii for day tour. Then train to Naples.
Spend 1-2 nights in Naples.
Leave.


CT, for me, is worth a few nights, but I wouldn't choose it as a base for several nights. It's a little isolated if you want take day trips, more so than Sorrento.

Only change to above, Capri 3 N plus Sorrento and st least one night in Naples.

Look up the difference between Sorrento and the smaller places on the Amalfi coast, so you can ensure you get exactly what you want. You can change locations to maximize your ability to do day trips (island and/or Amalfi Coast plus Naples is my ideal itinerary).
Early May could be nice in Croatia, but it could be cool or rainy--it won't be swimming weather in either place. It would be a good time to beat crowds though!
Liguria could be nice as well, but I definitely would not stay all the time in CT.

Sorrento is much larger and bustling than Amalfi or Positano. I particularly like the area near Amalfi for the scenery. Although Amalfi can get very busy with the large ships, we stay above the fray up the mountain toward Ravello.
There is good transportation from Amalfi

I agree with HappyTrvlr

I stayed in Sorrento as a base and also went to Ischia, an island comparable to Capri- I liked it just as much.

I think it is possible that if you switch hotels every 3 or 4 days you will feel obliged to do sightseeing every time you go to a new area. And you will feel obliged to schedule your visit to Pompei or Ischia before you leave Sorrento because it is too hard to visit these places from the Amalfi coast.

Thanks everyone. Trying to come up with the best itinerary for us taking into consideration everyone's advice. This is what I'm thinking so far. Thoughts?

4/30 leave Boston in evening
5/1 arrive in Naples around noon- take bus to ferry station-ferry to Capri
5/2 full day in Capri
5/3 full day in Capri
5/4 Sorrento via ferry
5/5 Sorrento
5/6 Sorrento- day trip to Positano & Amalfi
5/7 Sorrento
5/8 train to Pompeii in am (20 min), then to Naples (35 min)
5/9 Naples
5/10 fly home

looks great to me.

my only query might be whether you should take a night from Capri and add it to Sorrento - have you checked that there is enough for you to do on Capri to fill 2 full days? [I've only been there on a day trip and that was 40 years ago so my memory is sketchy].

You would not run out of things to do in Sorrento.

I like your itinerary and in my experience, there is plenty to do on Capri. We were there for three days and nights and didn't have time for a couple of things that I wanted to do. It's very beautiful.

Perfect -- except I would take a taxi from the Naples train station to the ferry dock for Capri.

For your day trip from Sorrento to Positano & Amalfi, suggest taking the bus one way and a boat back if schedule permits.

Great suggestion. Seeing the towns from a boat is so impressive.

A fun ride is the bus ride from Capri to Ana Capri. Hold your breath!!

I think yorkshire has given you some excellent advice to compare Sorrento to other places on the Amalfi Coast. Given your interests, I must admit that I’d go for Amalfi or Positano rather than Sorrento, but that’s just me….

And I think you are wise to aim for the Amalfi Coast, rather than Croatia. Your time frame can work much better with the Amalfi Coast, IMO.

Whether to give Capri 1 night or 2 or 3 really depends on your interests. For my interests, 3 nights would be too much, so I’d likely switch one to somewhere on the Amalfi Coast – but obviously, people have different preferences, and viva la difference!

If the OP takes massimop’s comment into consideration, I’m confident that the OP and her spouse can manage the area, even if they choose to stay in more than one location.

And I’m about to say something I never thought I would say: I agree with massimop (!!!) that you should take a taxi from the train station in Naples to the ferry port.

While on Capri, consider finding time for the Villa San Michele.

While on the Amalfi Coast, consider making time for Ravello’s magnificent gardens (the Villa Rufolo AND Villa Cimbrone) – and, if time permits, stop in Ravello’s cathedral for (at least) its magnificent ambos and stop in Amalfi’s cathedral for (at least) it’s impressive cloister.

Congratulations and best wishes!

I would take one nite from Capri and add it to Naples. Naples has a lot to offer, particularly if you have any interest in Roman and Greek archaeology. A whole underground Greco-Roman city is accessible from San Lorenzo Maggiore Church. And of course, the wonderful National Archaeological Museum with the things taken from Pompeii and Herculaneum. And of course pizza.

One consideration: ferries to and from Capri can be canceled when the seas are rough. Unlikely in early May but not impossible.