After realizing how long, costly and tiring it might be to travel from Boston to Rome and then from Rome to Praiano I revised my plans for my 2 week trip to Rome and the Amalfi coast this September (2008). this way I can take the Marozzi bus from Rome to Praiano without any time issues as it only leaves 1 -2 times a day. would love some feedback, especially on where to stay the last night in Rome before my flight the next day.....thanks!

Wed Day 1
Flight to Rome

Thurs Day 2
7:30 am – arrive in Rome
stay at Hotel Panda

Fri Day 3
Rome

Sat Day 4
Rome

Sun Day 5
Rome

Mon Day 6
7 am bus from rome tiburtina to Praiano
11:45 am – arrive in Praiano
stay at Le Sirene

Tues Day 7
Amalfi Coazt

Wed Day 8
Amalfi Coast

Thursday Day 9
Amalfi Coast

Fri Day 10
Amalfi Coast

Sat Day 11
Amalfi Coast

Sun Day 12
Amalfi Coast

Mon Day 13
Ferry from Sorrento to Capri
Blue grotto
stay at Aiano B&B

Tuesday Day 14
Anacapri
Chair lift, hike down

Wed Day 15
Back to Rome
Ferry from Capri to Sorrento
Bus from Sorrento to Rome
stay again at hotel panda or hotel closer to train/airport?

Thurs Day 16
Flight home

Sounds like heaven. Can I come?

Stay in Rome your last night. You can take a car service or taxi to the airport or the train if cash is running low.

also if I am planning on visiting Naples, Sorrento, Pompeii and Herculaneum during my time on the Amalfi Coast would it make more sense to base myself in Naples or Sorrento for a night or 2 instead of staying the entire time in Praiano?

while staying in Praiano I hope to hike a little bit and take time exploring Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello other than that I planned to do the stuff above (naples, etc..)

thanks!

ok so how does this plan look? sorry for the multiple revisions....

Rome 9/11, 9/12, 9/13, 9/14 (hotel panda?)

Amalfi Coast - Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, Ravello, Paestum 9/15, 9/16, 9/17, 9/18, (le sirene?)

Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvis, Sorrento 9/19, 9/20, 9/21, (villa ana?)

Capri 9/22, 9/23, (aiano?)

Rome 9/24 (hotel near termini/airport?)

flight home 9/25

A night or two in Sorrento would facilitate the day trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples. How about nights 11 and 12, right before your ferry to Capri?

Just missed your revision. It looks good. Can't comment on the hotels.

I still say spend the last night in Rome and not at the airport.

thanks so much Jean for your most helpful replies!!!

LizaMarie..I am doing a similiar trip this May (1st thru 15th)also from Boston..however, upon landing in Rome I am going ahead to Terracina for one night (its about 1.5 hour drive from Rome) and then on to Sorrento/Amalfi area for 7 nights, head back to Rome, stopping in Sperlonga for 2 nights...then 3 nights in Rome...remember you most likely wont be able to check into your hotel in Rome until early afternoon...and there is nothing worse than not having access to a room after the long flight....good luck...Mikek

LizaMarie -

We did Capri/Positano/Rome in 2005. We stayed at Villa Brunella on Capri. I loved the hotel and would highly recommend it.

We then took the ferry from Capri to Positano. It was a beautiful ride. In Positano we stayed at Hotel Savoia. I felt it was moderately priced for Positano and had a fabolous balcony overlooking the town and the water. There is also a little store right around the corner so it made for wonderful happy hours on the balcony. We are staying there again in MAy.

Enjoy your trip. Hope this helps.

thanks so the great replies everyone! I think I am revising my itinerary again to stay in Positano rather than both Sorrento and Praiano. It just makes more sense, will make it easier to travel around the Amalfi Coast and also to Naples, Pompeii, etc. I hate to switch hotels so frequently!!
so rome, then positano, then capri, then back to Rome for one night. this enables me to take the marozzi bus to and from rome and the amalfi coast which is cheaper than the train/bus/ferry combo.

HI LM,

>Amalfi Coast - Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, Ravello, Paestum 9/15, 9/16, 9/17, 9/18, (le sirene?)

The SITA bus between Sorrento and Amalfi goes through Praiano.

You can change buses in Amalfi to Salerno and take the train to Paestum.

However, we took the Orange bus to Positano and the ferry to Salerno. The ferry docks are abt 3 Blks from the train station.

For the return, take the train back to Salerno and the SITA bus from the train station (or very close to it) to Praiano via Amalfi.

The nighttime ride on the coast road is quite beautiful.

Enjoy your visit.

Sounds like a great trip. You will love Sorrento and Capri, the ride on the chair lift is sooo beautiful and when you get to the top its about 1800 feet straight down to the Mediteranean. Unbeleivable view. Be careful in Naples. Naples for me was dirty and crime ridden. I got the same warning before I went to Naples from 2 differnt people who used to live ther, (hope not to offend anyone). Once again that is a great itenirary. Have fun. Chuck

LizaMarie

It sounds like a great trip. I am going to stay at the airport (FCO) because my flight leaves at 7 am. Staying in Rome is always a great idea, but I just can't get up that early.

Also, the Leonardo Express to the airport won't start running early enough for us. Any later, and I would agree that staying in Rome would be great.

Hi LizaMarie,

How did you get the information on the Marozzi bus leaving at 7am. I've been looking for a schedule on line and have been having no luck. Their website is in Italian.

And how much does it cost?

thanks!!
dina

The price is 20 euro to Positano:



http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35105770

thanks, escrunchy.

i just read that thread, followed the great instructions, and the website is just not cooperating for me!

wondering if and how i can book ahead

I did find a schedule on that site but it was from 2005! The site seems a bit balky to say the least!


Steve James will probably see this and be able to help..

dina4 - I found this schedule on the website for Hotel Onda Verde in Praiano

http://www.ondaverde.it/coming_bus.htm

here are more detailed instructions for booking your ticket on the marozzi bus.
-go to their website. www.marozzi.it
-then go to prenota marozzi,
-then prenotazione,
-then be sure to change the date in the left hand corner - the bus only runs from Rome to Positano in the summer at 7am. so if it has in todays date it won't let you even choose positano as a choice only Sorrento and it is only 3pm.
-next for localita partenza scroll down and choose roma (if leaving from rome,
-for localita destinazone choose positano
-it then will show you to the right: roma-sorrento-amalfi departing 7am at tiburtina station arriving at 11:30 am at chiesa nuova.
-then below that on the left it says the cost is 20.5 and
-on the right it shows the seats available.
-after choosing your seats
-then choose at the top right corner "carrello"
-it then shows you the tickets you want to purchase, like a shopping cart would on any site you buy things from.
-then hit prenota... it will pop uo asking for your email.
-hit accepta after typing in the email and
-then hit prenota again.
-it then brings you to a page to chose visa, and other payment options.
-chose one.
-hit procedi.
-it shows the total euro at the top.
-then put in your credit card info....

I haven't gotten past this step as I am not ready to book yet. but getting thru all those stpes went fine so I assume it will go thru after that. will let you all know.

and we have changed the itinerary once again - here is my updated version....

Wed Day 1
Flight to Rome

Thurs Day 2
7:30 am – arrive in Rome
stay at Hotel Panda

Fri Day 3
Rome

Sat Day 4
Rome
9:15 am - scavi tour confirmed
11:30 am - hoping for vatican tour, have to email them closer to the date.

Sun Day 5
Rome

Mon Day 6
7 am bus from rome tiburtina to Positano
11:45 am – arrive in Positano, chiesa nuevo
stay at LA TAVOLOZZA

Tues Day 7
Amalfi Coast

Wed Day 8
Amalfi Coast

Thursday Day 9
Amalfi Coast

Fri Day 10
Amalfi Coast

Sat Day 11
Amalfi Coast

Sun Day 12
Amalfi Coast

Mon Day 13
Ferry from to Capri
Blue grotto
stay at Hotel La Tosca

Tuesday Day 14
Anacapri
Chair lift, hike down Mt. Solaro

Wed Day 15
Back to Rome, either ferry to sorrento and bus from there OR ferry to Naples and train from there. stay again at hotel panda

Thurs Day 16
Flight home

will be taking day trips from the amalfi coast to sorrento, pompeii and naples (visiting the archaeological museum), as well as hiking the coast seeing ravello, amalfi, praiano, etc.

while in Rome we will be seeing the majority of the major things, spending a half day or more in Vatican city. will not be going to the borghese gallery - DH and I are just not into it. we didn't see the accademia or uffzi in florence either and don't care! definitely want to take in the churches, squares, the catacombs and crypts. and just walk!