Kay

I didn't think Le Sirenuse could get any better, but it did, with the addition of the spa. Instead of dinner last night, we opted for a massage. Positano is always more beautiful than I remember. Vito with Flavio Gioia auto service picked us up at the airport and drove us here. This is the third time we have used their services and they are warm, wonderful people. It is a family owned business. We have just been relaxing around the hotel and in town, but plan a speed boat trip to Capri tomorrow. The regular hydrofoil is having mechanical problems and the ferry looks to be very crowded, so we are splurging on the boat. I will let you know if I think it is worth the cost for a private boat trip to Capri. The next day Vito will be driving us to Taormina. It will be our first trip to Sicily. More later. Kay

kay

We went to Capri today on the St Tropez with Carmen as our Captain and Julia. They were wonderful. We went through the Faraglioni and then to various emerald grottos. I didn't really like Capri and especially didn't like the harbour, but Anacapri had great views. The harbour looked beautiful from a distance. I understand that Capri is much nicer if you spend the night, but it still seems to me you would be a captive in your hotel during the day unless you love hugh masses of people! I am glad after three trips to Amalfi I finally saw Capri, but I doubt I will ever go back. However, I wonder why I am going from Sicily to Spain this trip when I would probably be just as happy here in Positano for a month. Our Captain took us to a rustic village called Nerano where we had a wonderful meal at Maria Grazia. The fish melted in your mouth. I really enjoyed our day on the motor boat and am glad we were able to avoid the crowds, at least while we were in transit to and from Capri. I can highly recommend our boat too. It had a cabin and a restroom and was a very comfortable ride. On the way back we toured close to the coastline, very relaxing. <BR>Last night we went to La Tagliata, Via Tagliata, 14 above Positano. The manicotti (sp) was the best I have ever had. The chef used to be at La Cambusa in Positano, but apparently when folks ask for him they won't tell you where he is. It is a wonderful Trattoria and I highly recommend it... very casual and friendly. They have a web page at www.latagliata-positano.it. I haven't checked the web site out, just posting it from the card I picked up. Tomorrow we are off to Taormina. More later. Kay

Kay

I forgot, re: clothes. As Capo mentioned, jeans are all the rage, everyone wears them, also the bowling shoe look is definitely in. I bought some red ones in Capri today. I wish I had brought at least one pair of jeans. I didn't because they are so heavy in the suitcase, but next trip I will wear them on the plane. We arrived in Italy the day of a strike and really didn't have any problems, but apparently a few days ago a few airline passengers were stranded for about 4 hours. We missed that strike by one day.<BR><BR>I would be happy to answer any questions about Positano I can. Kay

Nancy

Kay, the same service, Flavio Gioia, is picking you up and driving you all the way through the boot to Taormina? That sounds great, we may do that also. What are the prices if I may ask?

Kay

Vito, with Flavio Gioia drove us from Positano to Taormina today. We have used their services three times and feel like family, but I don't know that we get any kind of discount. We paid 600 Euros and it took 8 hours. This included tax and the ferry cost to Messina. I love this famiy and don't shop their prices, so I don't know if it is comparable. They charged us 150 Euro to pick us up in Naples and drive us to Positano. Some on this forum say this is high, but we know they will be there for us. I wouldn't consider anyone else. We are staying at the GH Timeo and it is a wonderful surprise. My research paid off. It is an incredible property, rivals Le Sirenuse (I never thought I would find one that did) and is 1/2 the price. Consider staying here! I will set up a web page when I get back mid-June and will post photos. Have a great trip. Tonight is my wedding anniversary, so I am signing off, romance awaits. Kay

Kay

Nancy, my husband reminded me that we always stop when we transfer from Naples. This time we stopped for about 2.5 hours in Pompei, so Flavio Gioia is probably more reasonable rather than more expensive than others. Last time we transfered we stopped at the arch. museum in Naples so we always add a few hrs. to the transfer. Just let them know in advance if you want to stop somewhere. Once we stopped at Don Alfonso's for a meal on the way to the train station. They will not disappoint you! Take care, Kay

Kay

We saw the Greek theater this morning after a very extensive buffet breakfast. We always book where we can get a great breakfast and then skip lunch. We changed our room, the first one had a drop-dead view,but you had to go outside your room, walk up steps and stand up to see over the balcony. You couldn't sit and view. This morning they were very gracious about finding us another room and it is perfect with a large balcony and a view of the sea and Mt. Etna that can be seen from the bed! I am on vacation after all!!! This hotel is very, very beautiful and the staff is very friendly. A word of caution though, if you arrive on a weekend, you can't get laundry done until Monday. We luckily got ours out late Friday night, so they tell us we will get it back tonight. We have been traveling a week and needed laundry. I hand wash intimates, but needed other things from the laundry. I just can't wait to post photos on my return, because this place is just lovely. Check out Grand Hotel Timeo's web site, but even it doesn't do the view justice. There are beautiful views from the Greek Theater, much like our hotel views. More later...take care, Kay

Kay

We went to Agrigento for the Valley of the Temples. I would say the Villa Athena has a 5* view, friendly service, but definitely not a 4* hotel. I would agree with previous fodorites assessment of this hotel. I think we had the best room, 205 and the room was large, but the bath was definitely substandard and there was no hairdryer. <BR><BR>Then we flew to Milan and stayed at the Villa D'Este. A fabulous hotel, service is perfect, food is perfect, but a little more formal dress, although the staff was very friendly. We enjoyed riding the ferry for hours at a time and loved Varenna. Bellagio was beautiful,but a little too touristy for us.<BR><BR>On to Villa Gallici in Aix-en-Provence. A charming place, 4*, no comparison to Villa Athena, but they have a new cook apparently and I could only eat dessert. Our dinner tab was $158 Euro and they offered to fix me something else, but I declined. Breakfast is also not included and expensive, so the second day we walked into Aix center, which is about a 10 min. walk and had breakfast there for about 5 Euro! It is 26 Euro/person for pastries, coffee, and juice. The staff if very nice and the rooms are lovely, with great views (we had a garden view looking at the church.) I would definitely stay again, just not eat there. I enjoyed Aix, but it is hard to drive there and construction is still going in the Cours Mirabeau.<BR><BR>We drove from Aix to Menerbes and are here now at La Bastide de Marie. Check that post if you are interested in this lodging. The light is really better here. I want to paint!!! (and I can't paint.) <BR><BR>Take care, Kay<BR><BR><BR>

Kay

I don't think anyone is reading this, so I will not spend much time on finishing the report. If you have questions, I will be happy to answer them. We loved Barcelona, found it to be a very modern and vibrant city, did a tour with debiness and I will write a separate report when I get home about that - she is very nice - and we are now in Mallorca. We go home Saturday. I will write an hotel report when I get home too. Take care, Kay

Julie

What a fabulous trip. You seem to be staying at every hotel I've ever researched and then given up on as too costly. Must be wonderful to do things in such luxury and style. Keep telling us more. If ever I decide to go all the way it would be on a trip that includes Positano and Provence, etc. While in Barcelona did you go to El Bulli the 3 star restaurant of Ferran Adria outside Roses? I tried but we went just as he was closing for the season. Also interested in El Raco de can Fabes, another Michelin 3 star 40 miles east of Barcelona someone on Chowhound website called better than El Bulli. So you see, someone is reading your report and is hungry for more. Enjoy and keep the report coming.

Kay

Thanks Julie. I read your report several times in planning my trip. We are now in Mallorca. It is almost dinner time and I am trying Sabastian's tonight. I will see what I can find out about the restaurants you mentioned. I will be back in Barcelona tomorrow and will give Debbie a call and see what she knows about them. I didn't have enough time in Barcelona, only 4 days total, and was so tired at the end of each day, I didn't go to any great restaurants in the evening... and as you already know, I am spending all my money on hotels!!!! Botafumerio was recommended to us but we didn't try it. I will definitely provide more info when I get home. The food at La Bastide de Marie has definitely been the highlight of the food on the trip. The food at La Residencia in Mallorca is good too! Take care. Kay

Julie

Kay, did you ever post more when you returned? Or have you not yet returned? I'm interested in your time on Mallorca. We're thinking of doing it in the spring and I'd like to hear your comments about the sites overall and hotels in particular. Hope you see this and respond.

DJ

Kay,<BR>What a wonderful report, I particularly enjoyed the Positano piece and I share your view on Capri. We stayed in Sorrento and did go to Capri. My husband and I preferred Anacapri as it was much more exclusive and the views were outstanding.<BR><BR>We had hired a driver to take us along the Amalfi coast and down to Paestum. I highly recommend going to Paestum but I do not recommend trying to do all this in one day. <BR><BR>We would like to return and this time we would stay in Positano and in Ravello.

Kay

Hi Julie, This is my 4th time to try to post an answer to you...I am having trouble. I will post this and if it takes, I will try again.

Kay

Deia is a lovely quiet village, and while on the water, from La Residencia, you get a beautiful mountain view. If you have read my European Luxury Trip Report, you know not to book a suite with a pool. This is a place to relax. There isn't much to do, little shopping. They do have several local artists that you can visit on a tour. The food at La Residencia was excellent. We never tried El Oliveo because other guests tried it, thought it was extremely expensive and not as good as the more casual main restaurant. We really liked the food there and ate there several times. We also liked the lunches at the pool and we ordered Guacamole crepes 2 days in a row. We also had dinner at Sabastian's and it was wonderful. It is a very short walk (5 min.) from La Residencia. We were told the spa restaurant had good food too.

Kay

I guess my other posts were just too long! We tried to sail 2 days in a row but the weather was too bad so we took a drive (hired a driver) through the villages to Cap de Formentor. I thought that was a waste of $400. What we really needed was a rental car or a guide. We drove through some lovely villages, (I will see if I can find my map and get back to you late on that)but we didn't stop and by the time we got to Formentor and spent about 30 minutes, we decided to take the highway (fast road) back because we ended up spending about 6 hours on the road! I particularly noticed Valldemossa which was lovely too. It is a little larger than Deia and looked like there was a little more going on there. Of course, they had more tourists shops too. I did not call Debbie about the restaurants in Barcelona, I apologize, but you could email her at [email protected] and if she knows about them, I am sure she would be happy to help. We ate at a restaurant in Barcelona called 4Gats (moderately priced) that we really liked. I loved Barcelona (my first time there) and hope to go again. If I do, I would probably go to Majorca again for a few days because I love small, beautiful villages, but otherwise would not choose it as a destination by itself. I hope this was of some help. Take care. Kay

Kay

Hi DJ, I answered you in an earlier post but it was too long and it disappeared. We took a day trip to Paestum the first time we were in Positano and I enjoyed it, but agree it is a hard day trip. I love staying in Positano and I think I would like staying at Ravello too, now that I have seen most of the sights and could just relax there for a few days. What surprised me was how much I loved Taormina. If you like the Amalfi coast, when you take your next trip, add Taormina, but be sure to go shoulder season. It was starting to get crowded in May. I appreciated the feedback. Take care, Kay

Mary

Kay,<BR><BR>I enjoyed your trip report. We are going to Taormina at the end of August. Trying to decide where to stay. They only reason we ruled our Timeo is because it does not have a pool, and my children would really want to stay at a hotel with a pool. We will be staying in Sicily for a few weeks at my family's house and will go to Taormina for a couple of days. I'm still trying to figure out where to stay though. Maybe San Domenico Palace. Did you see this one?<BR><BR>I have also been to the Amalfi coast (a couple of years ago) and thought it was beautiful. We stayed in Ravello. Loved the view! I hope Taormina is just as beautiful!

Kay

Mary, Taormina is so beautiful. When posters here told me they preferred it to Positano, I just couldn't imagine it. They are both fabulous. Taormina was crowded, even in May, and I haven't experienced those type of crowds on the Amalfi Coast. The worst starts about 3pm. I think we noticed it so much because the entrance to the Greek Theatre is right next to the Timeo entrance, so from about 3 pm on, you could hardly get through the crowds to the hotel entrance.

Mary

Wow, if it was that crowded in May, it will probably be worse in August. Although someone said a little less crowded after the August 15. Did you see some of the other hotels?