NAPLES Hotels...questions about two possibilities
Jun 12th, 2007, 10:36 AM
#21
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Sigh, isn't there someone out there I can get to finance my retirement and traveling?? So hard to choose when the trips and time are few and far between. I've been thinking the next trip needs to be somewhere other than Italy (Germany & Netherlands), but.....
Jun 12th, 2007, 01:05 PM
#22
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Dayle you can always keep wishing and hoping! Meanwhile, I would return to Italy 25 times before making another trip to Germany..just my own taste..
On the bright side, it looks as if there is no shortage of good hotel choices in Naples...
On the bright side, it looks as if there is no shortage of good hotel choices in Naples...
Jun 12th, 2007, 11:58 PM
#23
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ekscrunchy, to me it would be too far to walk backwards & forwards between Chiaia & the historic centre every day. I'd need to get a bus, and the buses are nearly always unpleasantly crowded.
I'll see if I've still got my notes of which other hotels were on my shortlist. I did consider the Sansevero ones early on, since they were in 'Charming Small Hotels' or something like that, but deleted them after reading bad reviews somewhere - Tripadvisor ? Venere ?
I'll see if I've still got my notes of which other hotels were on my shortlist. I did consider the Sansevero ones early on, since they were in 'Charming Small Hotels' or something like that, but deleted them after reading bad reviews somewhere - Tripadvisor ? Venere ?
Jun 13th, 2007, 04:42 AM
#24
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Caroline that may clinch my decision, as we say here on this side of the ocean. I do not want to be crammed into a hot bus! And the Constantinopoli 104 gets gushing reviews on TA. Honestly perhaps the most important consideration is to be able to walk to good restaurants at night..would I be ok in that area? (sorry for appearing to be such a ninny..)
All this talk of Naples has confused my plans a little. I had been planning to spend two nights in Sorrento mainly to use the town as a base to visit Pompeii, and then move south to Amalfi before heading into Naples. Now I am wondering if I should skip Sorrento and head straight for Amalfi, go to Pompeii from Amalfi, then drive (be driven) to Naples for extra time in that city...
I remember that the Iras stayed in the Albergo Sanseverano B&B and he told us it smelled like sewage and was a bad value for the price. It sounded fairly gruesome. in his report if I remember correctly. But I see there are a few hotels by that name..
Caroline have a wonderful trip! Will you be in Naples at all this trip?
All this talk of Naples has confused my plans a little. I had been planning to spend two nights in Sorrento mainly to use the town as a base to visit Pompeii, and then move south to Amalfi before heading into Naples. Now I am wondering if I should skip Sorrento and head straight for Amalfi, go to Pompeii from Amalfi, then drive (be driven) to Naples for extra time in that city...
I remember that the Iras stayed in the Albergo Sanseverano B&B and he told us it smelled like sewage and was a bad value for the price. It sounded fairly gruesome. in his report if I remember correctly. But I see there are a few hotels by that name..
Caroline have a wonderful trip! Will you be in Naples at all this trip?
Jun 13th, 2007, 05:09 AM
#25
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Hi ekscrunchy. That area is fine to walk around at night - like I said in my trip report, just take the normal precautions you'd take in any big city.
If I were planning to stay in Amalfi & Naples I wouldn't bother with Sorrento.
Thanks for your good wishes. We'll only be passing through Naples this time - we fly to Naples & spend a week in Ischia, fly to Venice & spend a week there, drive to northern Tuscany & spend a week there, fly home from Pisa.
The weather here is making me even more impatient to get there - 9.5 degrees on the way to work this morning !! In the middle of June !!!
If I were planning to stay in Amalfi & Naples I wouldn't bother with Sorrento.
Thanks for your good wishes. We'll only be passing through Naples this time - we fly to Naples & spend a week in Ischia, fly to Venice & spend a week there, drive to northern Tuscany & spend a week there, fly home from Pisa.
The weather here is making me even more impatient to get there - 9.5 degrees on the way to work this morning !! In the middle of June !!!
Jun 13th, 2007, 10:16 AM
#26
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Caroline thanks again..I will now rethink the stated plan and consider splitting the time between Amalfi and Naples.. I asked Steve James on another thread about the logistics of getting to Pompeii from Amalfi..
Have a wonderful, wonderful trip!
Have a wonderful, wonderful trip!
Jun 13th, 2007, 11:40 AM
#27
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ek - Pompeii is almost exactly halfway between Naples and Sorrento, a 30 min. train ride from either direction, so you could plan to visit Pompeii from Naples. I was planning a very similar segment for our trip that we enjoyed last month, and while I was considering Amalfi, I found out that there is only one direct bus per day to Pompeii. It leaves at something like 6:30 AM, takes 90 min., gets to Pompeii well before they open, and the only return is late in the afternoon, I think 4:30. That did not sound very appealing.
Jun 13th, 2007, 11:45 AM
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Oh, and by the way we really loved Naples. I was very pleasantly surprised by this vibrant city. We did stay in Chiaia, which I thought was lovely and very safe feeling, but used a combination of the Hop-on/Hop-off bus, and the bus pass that came with the 3-day Campania Artecard (a great deal for museums and transportation) to go to the centro storico. I did not find the buses, at least the ones we caught, to be overcrowded, altho some routes are sure to be more so than others.
Jun 13th, 2007, 11:46 AM
#29
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Thanks, Hazel. Steve James responded on another thread and apparently there is also the possibility of taking the ferry to Salerno and then taking the train to Pompeii...
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35015329
I know you can get there from Naples but I had read so many bad resports about the Circumvesuviana ride on that stretch I guess it turned me off...am I just being overly anxious?
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35015329
I know you can get there from Naples but I had read so many bad resports about the Circumvesuviana ride on that stretch I guess it turned me off...am I just being overly anxious?
Jun 13th, 2007, 12:04 PM
#30
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I took the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Pompeii in mid-May. It wasn't the finest train experience of my life, but I didn't find it problematic. There are routine departures, it was easy to find, and it took only about 40 minutes. Hope that helps!
Jun 13th, 2007, 01:37 PM
#32
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...actually my last comment made me think of my "bad" experience in Palermo a couple of years ago. the policemen who helped me were from Naples and they kept admonishing me to come to their city where that kind of thing would not happen...!
Jun 13th, 2007, 01:51 PM
#33
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Eks,
I've used the Circumvesuviana several times back and forth over 2 different trips and didn't find it a problem in the least. Not even crowded.
I also used the Naples metro (on a Saturday) and it wasn't crowded either. In fact a nice young man (student age) offered help with my small (but full) suitcase and a nice train employee GAVE me a ticket to use as we waited for our train. The ticket office at the Museo stop (for Arch Museum) was closed. I have no idea why. I even had a super nice taxi driver who carried my suitcase across the street to the hotel for me. He was fun to talk with too while we navigated the Friday rush hour Naples traffic. It was a blast.
I wouldn't be concerned. Have fun!
I've used the Circumvesuviana several times back and forth over 2 different trips and didn't find it a problem in the least. Not even crowded.
I also used the Naples metro (on a Saturday) and it wasn't crowded either. In fact a nice young man (student age) offered help with my small (but full) suitcase and a nice train employee GAVE me a ticket to use as we waited for our train. The ticket office at the Museo stop (for Arch Museum) was closed. I have no idea why. I even had a super nice taxi driver who carried my suitcase across the street to the hotel for me. He was fun to talk with too while we navigated the Friday rush hour Naples traffic. It was a blast.
I wouldn't be concerned. Have fun!
Jun 14th, 2007, 02:57 AM
#34
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Dayle, thank you for those comments. It certainly seems as if I am overly worried! So I will add Naples to the plan...now if only I could figure out whether or not to drop Sorrento...?
Jun 14th, 2007, 07:50 AM
#35
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Eks,
I haven't stayed in Sorrento, but have traveled though it several times. It would NOT be my choice. I have stayed in Praiano twice, Capri and Naples once on the last trip. Visited Positano for the afternoon. I would choose any of those above Sorrento. Just my opinion and impressions.
I haven't stayed in Sorrento, but have traveled though it several times. It would NOT be my choice. I have stayed in Praiano twice, Capri and Naples once on the last trip. Visited Positano for the afternoon. I would choose any of those above Sorrento. Just my opinion and impressions.
Jun 14th, 2007, 11:49 AM
#36
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Dayle I am really glad to hear your opinion. I know there are some Sorrento fans here but I am a little worried about staying there...all this talk of fish and chip shops and tour groups..if I had more time it would not matter so much and I would love to spend a few nights there just to experience the place, but since we have only one week I do want to make the most of the time and choose base towns and hotels very carefully..
I know the whole Amalfi coast is tourist-central but my partner has never been and it has been so long since I have been there.. So I am now thinking just Amalfi and Naples...would love to hear other opinions if people are not sick of my endless questions on the subject...
I know the whole Amalfi coast is tourist-central but my partner has never been and it has been so long since I have been there.. So I am now thinking just Amalfi and Naples...would love to hear other opinions if people are not sick of my endless questions on the subject...
Jun 14th, 2007, 12:04 PM
#37
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Hi ek,
>Now I am wondering if I should skip Sorrento and head straight for Amalfi, go to Pompeii from Amalfi, then drive (be driven) to Naples for extra time in that city...<
I would visit Pompei Scavi from Naples rather than Amalfi. You could skip Sorrento and add the time to Amalfi and/or Naples.
You can easily get to Naples from Amalfi by taking the SITA bus to Salerno and the train to Naples.
>... Ira stayed in the Albergo Sansevero
They closed that particular hotel.
>Now I am wondering if I should skip Sorrento and head straight for Amalfi, go to Pompeii from Amalfi, then drive (be driven) to Naples for extra time in that city...<
I would visit Pompei Scavi from Naples rather than Amalfi. You could skip Sorrento and add the time to Amalfi and/or Naples.
You can easily get to Naples from Amalfi by taking the SITA bus to Salerno and the train to Naples.
>... Ira stayed in the Albergo Sansevero
They closed that particular hotel.
Jun 14th, 2007, 12:30 PM
#39
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Jun 14th, 2007, 12:32 PM
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I know you asked for Ira but I thought I would pipe in again.
I spent time in Sorrento, but not on the trip I went to Amalfi. It's a nice town. Bigger than Amalfi. But it doesn't rank as one of my top places in Italy. Fine though for a few days. If you want the Amalfi Coast proper though, I would stay further south.
As you are going to Naples (which I think you are and hopefully staying at Constantinopoli), if it were me I would split my time between Naples and either Positano or Praiano or possibly Capri or Ischia. But you saw my trip report, so you know that Amalfi wasn't my favorite.
And I would spend more time in Naples than the rest!
Sally
I spent time in Sorrento, but not on the trip I went to Amalfi. It's a nice town. Bigger than Amalfi. But it doesn't rank as one of my top places in Italy. Fine though for a few days. If you want the Amalfi Coast proper though, I would stay further south.
As you are going to Naples (which I think you are and hopefully staying at Constantinopoli), if it were me I would split my time between Naples and either Positano or Praiano or possibly Capri or Ischia. But you saw my trip report, so you know that Amalfi wasn't my favorite.
And I would spend more time in Naples than the rest!
Sally
