Naples, Positano, Capri...and then some for 10 days?
Dec 12th, 2012, 10:11 AM
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Naples, Positano, Capri...and then some for 10 days?
Hi Fodorites! We have used this site before and have had lots of success with our trips. We (meaning hubby and I) are planning a trip to Italy for our 50th birthday. We have seen Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Venice so now we would like to see the Almalfi Coast. My thoughts are as follows and our dates are flexible:
Plans are to go mid-late September although we are very flexible with dates.
Fly out of Naples - stay here for 3 nights
Onward to Positano - thinking private driver from Naples and staying here 4 nights
Take ferry to Capri - hopefully 3 nights here
Ferry back to Naples - fly home that day or stay overnight and fly back next day
1st question: We would like to visit Pompeii, Herculeum and maybe Ravello. Is it easiest to do from Naples or Positano? Should I take a night from Naples and add it to Positano or Capri instead?
2nd question: Places to stay? I know I could do a search on this site but are there any places that we absolutely should not miss? We would love romantic and quaint places to stay with terraces overlooking the sea. It's been 6 years since we have been wanting to go back so trying to make this vacation extra special without breaking the bank!
3rd question: Is a private driver worth doing to Positano. I'm assuming it's easiest to just fly into Naples rather than Rome. Is this correct?
4th question: Oh, and where else should we not miss?
Millie Grazie!
Plans are to go mid-late September although we are very flexible with dates.
Fly out of Naples - stay here for 3 nights
Onward to Positano - thinking private driver from Naples and staying here 4 nights
Take ferry to Capri - hopefully 3 nights here
Ferry back to Naples - fly home that day or stay overnight and fly back next day
1st question: We would like to visit Pompeii, Herculeum and maybe Ravello. Is it easiest to do from Naples or Positano? Should I take a night from Naples and add it to Positano or Capri instead?
2nd question: Places to stay? I know I could do a search on this site but are there any places that we absolutely should not miss? We would love romantic and quaint places to stay with terraces overlooking the sea. It's been 6 years since we have been wanting to go back so trying to make this vacation extra special without breaking the bank!
3rd question: Is a private driver worth doing to Positano. I'm assuming it's easiest to just fly into Naples rather than Rome. Is this correct?
4th question: Oh, and where else should we not miss?
Millie Grazie!
Dec 12th, 2012, 10:37 AM
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Not overlooking the sea, but with a nice terrace, and quiet even though in the middle of the old town: http://www.fodors.com/news/story_5369.html
We really liked it, but the web site is misleading. There is no view of the sea.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/5932332955/
We really liked it, but the web site is misleading. There is no view of the sea.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/5932332955/
Dec 12th, 2012, 10:41 PM
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To answer your Q3 we used this car service and were very happy with the service http://www.cuomonet.it/
Dec 13th, 2012, 03:36 AM
#5
ladyYogi - depending on your flight times, i might be inclined to put the Naples section at the end, so you as close to the airport for the flight home - it saves wasting a day at the end of the trip, especially as traveling to your first destination can be a good way of using up the first day when jetlag may make you unwilling to both which much serious sight-seeing.
that would give you an extra night to play with.
that would give you an extra night to play with.
Dec 13th, 2012, 03:20 PM
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Thank you everyone! I think we will take your advice annhig and do Naples at end of trip. Unless you think we should avoid Naples altogether.
Jamikins - I sent email to car service to check rates.
kja - we love to explore all areas, hike, visit the ancient ruins, would like to visit beach, and eat and drink wine!
Michael - thank you for suggestion but I really, really would love a room with terrace if possible.
Planning this trip is exhausting!
Jamikins - I sent email to car service to check rates.
kja - we love to explore all areas, hike, visit the ancient ruins, would like to visit beach, and eat and drink wine!
Michael - thank you for suggestion but I really, really would love a room with terrace if possible.
Planning this trip is exhausting!
Dec 14th, 2012, 01:37 AM
#9
nooo, don't avoid Naples - you must have wanted to see it as it is one of the main parts of your trip.
there are several recent threads about Naples - search this forum and the threads should come up.
re having an apartment, you can find them for 4 nights but 7 is more common. If you can find one that ticks all your boxes [eg a balcony/terrace and sea view] why not? you don't HAVE to eat in at all - on our last trip to Rome we rented an apartment but never ate in at all, not even breakfast. but it was nice to have the extra space and to be able to make tea, coffee etc, when we wanted.
there are several recent threads about Naples - search this forum and the threads should come up.
re having an apartment, you can find them for 4 nights but 7 is more common. If you can find one that ticks all your boxes [eg a balcony/terrace and sea view] why not? you don't HAVE to eat in at all - on our last trip to Rome we rented an apartment but never ate in at all, not even breakfast. but it was nice to have the extra space and to be able to make tea, coffee etc, when we wanted.
Dec 14th, 2012, 01:59 AM
#10
LadyYogi - there is another thread going about visiting the area around Naples.
someone there recommends this hotel in Sorrento:
http://www.hotelcorallosorrento.com/
looks nice, has rooms with a view, and Sorrento makes a great base for exploring the whole area.
someone there recommends this hotel in Sorrento:
http://www.hotelcorallosorrento.com/
looks nice, has rooms with a view, and Sorrento makes a great base for exploring the whole area.
Dec 14th, 2012, 04:38 AM
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Good gracious no - stay in Naples for three nights as planned!
Pompeii and Herculeum are easiest to visit from Naples (via train), BTW, do you really want to do both? Ravello is easist from Positano (via bus).
FWIW, I think 2 nights in Capri is plenty. It's quite small.
YES - Fly into Naples. It cost just a little more than flying into Rome (and saves the considerable time/expense of getting from Rome to Positano).
In Naples, you DON'T want a sea view as the better area to be is in the historic center - a bit back fro the Naples waterfront. I strongly suggest THIS place - nice, PERFECTLY located and very well priced (saving you money for Capri where hotels are MUCH pricier). Enormous rooms in a converted 1600's pallazzo. http://www.decumani.com/en/
In Capri, we loved this place. Gorgeous rooms, enormous terraces with sea view and much better prices (about half) than the hotels right in Capri town - though town (village?) center is less than a 5-minute walk. It's STILL expensive though, especially compared to Positano and Naples, but in Capri it is what it is ($$$). http://www.laminervacapri.com/
Cannot comment on Positano hotels as we stayed in Amalfi but I suspect it will be easy to find terrace and sea-view hotels as the whole town is on a cliff-side facing the sea..
Pompeii and Herculeum are easiest to visit from Naples (via train), BTW, do you really want to do both? Ravello is easist from Positano (via bus).
FWIW, I think 2 nights in Capri is plenty. It's quite small.
YES - Fly into Naples. It cost just a little more than flying into Rome (and saves the considerable time/expense of getting from Rome to Positano).
In Naples, you DON'T want a sea view as the better area to be is in the historic center - a bit back fro the Naples waterfront. I strongly suggest THIS place - nice, PERFECTLY located and very well priced (saving you money for Capri where hotels are MUCH pricier). Enormous rooms in a converted 1600's pallazzo. http://www.decumani.com/en/
In Capri, we loved this place. Gorgeous rooms, enormous terraces with sea view and much better prices (about half) than the hotels right in Capri town - though town (village?) center is less than a 5-minute walk. It's STILL expensive though, especially compared to Positano and Naples, but in Capri it is what it is ($$$). http://www.laminervacapri.com/
Cannot comment on Positano hotels as we stayed in Amalfi but I suspect it will be easy to find terrace and sea-view hotels as the whole town is on a cliff-side facing the sea..
Dec 14th, 2012, 05:17 AM
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Thank you annhig and bardo! Bardo - the Decumani looks great and I am definitely considering it. LOVE, LOVE la Minerva and I am trying to come up with a way we can stay there. So, now I am thinking of staying in Almalfi instead of Positano after reading some posts that Positano is very crowded even in September. Is it just as easy to get to Capri from Positano?
Dec 14th, 2012, 08:25 AM
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You can easily get a direct boat to/from Capri from many places. Look here: http://www.capritourism.com/en/timetable-and-prices
Dec 23rd, 2012, 06:42 PM
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We loved our hotel in Positano. It is called Hotel Marincanto. We had a wonderful seaview room. The hotel has an amazing infiniti pool that looks like it drops into the sea and this hotel even has it's own private beach. It was our favorite part of our European trip. I believe it was only 210 Euro per night, but if you pay in cash they give you a little discount.
Dec 25th, 2012, 04:44 AM
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We spent three weeks in Naples and the AC in June. Our third or fourth visit, can't remember! Anyway, some thoughts...
We stayed on the waterfront in Naples at the Hotel Exelsior, and were very glad we did. It's a longish walk to the historic center from there, but I really enjoyed returning to a room with a terrace overlooking both the castle and harbor after a day of sightseeing. And it was much quieter/less congested in that area than it was in the historic center.
In Positano, we always stay at the Hotel Poseidon, a small family-run hotel just uphill from Le Sirenuse. You get much better views when you are father up from town, and it keeps you away from the crowds and noise. Yes, Positano will be busy in September, but if you can escape to a nice room with a beautiful view over town and the water, it won't matter.
This time we stayed in the FUNNY SUITE, which is on the top floor of the hotel. The room has a small bedroom, small living room with five tiny steps that connect to a HUGE terrace with a sweeping view of Positano. The terrace ran about half the length of the hotel. It really made our stay.
I will admit that I'm not an Amalfi fan. I don't think Amalfi can match the views and ambience of Positano, especially at night after most of the tourists have left. And during the day it's possible to escape the crowds by spending your time slightly out of town at FORNILLO BEACH rather than the town beach which is wall to wall people. Fornillo is an easy walk from town along a seaside path that starts at the hotel in back of the town pier. ( I am temporarily forgetting the name)
About transportation to Capri: Yes, you can USUALLY get to Capri from Positano, but you should be aware that some days the boats may be cancelled due rough water. And this can happen even on a gorgeous, sunny day. This happens less often in Sorrento.
Finally, if you decide to use a driver, I can highly recommend tourofitaly.com. We have used the Gargiulos-father and son- for many years, and highly recommend them for transfers and tours of the coast.
We stayed on the waterfront in Naples at the Hotel Exelsior, and were very glad we did. It's a longish walk to the historic center from there, but I really enjoyed returning to a room with a terrace overlooking both the castle and harbor after a day of sightseeing. And it was much quieter/less congested in that area than it was in the historic center.
In Positano, we always stay at the Hotel Poseidon, a small family-run hotel just uphill from Le Sirenuse. You get much better views when you are father up from town, and it keeps you away from the crowds and noise. Yes, Positano will be busy in September, but if you can escape to a nice room with a beautiful view over town and the water, it won't matter.
This time we stayed in the FUNNY SUITE, which is on the top floor of the hotel. The room has a small bedroom, small living room with five tiny steps that connect to a HUGE terrace with a sweeping view of Positano. The terrace ran about half the length of the hotel. It really made our stay.
I will admit that I'm not an Amalfi fan. I don't think Amalfi can match the views and ambience of Positano, especially at night after most of the tourists have left. And during the day it's possible to escape the crowds by spending your time slightly out of town at FORNILLO BEACH rather than the town beach which is wall to wall people. Fornillo is an easy walk from town along a seaside path that starts at the hotel in back of the town pier. ( I am temporarily forgetting the name)
About transportation to Capri: Yes, you can USUALLY get to Capri from Positano, but you should be aware that some days the boats may be cancelled due rough water. And this can happen even on a gorgeous, sunny day. This happens less often in Sorrento.
Finally, if you decide to use a driver, I can highly recommend tourofitaly.com. We have used the Gargiulos-father and son- for many years, and highly recommend them for transfers and tours of the coast.
Dec 25th, 2012, 04:52 AM
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One more thought... There is a fast train that runs both ways between Naples and Rome. It only takes about 90 minutes. So if you want to spend a day or two in Rome and go home from there, this would make sense. Or if you want to land in Rome and take the train down to Naples from there, you can also do it this way. Good luck!
Dec 25th, 2012, 06:35 AM
#17
We loved Naples. We liked it so much we never left the city to do any day trips as we had planned. Spent 4 nights in Naples upon arrival at the Albergo Palazzo Decumani (http://www.palazzodecumani.com) and loved the hotel & its location in the historic center. Returned for a couple nights at the end our our trip and stayed at a small B&B, Orsini 46
http://www.orsini46.it. This was located right near the waterfront and I much preferred the location in the Historic Center.
The beginning our our TR is about Naples http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...a-short-tr.cfm
http://www.orsini46.it. This was located right near the waterfront and I much preferred the location in the Historic Center.
The beginning our our TR is about Naples http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...a-short-tr.cfm
Jan 21st, 2013, 11:59 AM
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Hello again, still trying to plan our trip to the Almalfi region. Also still trying to decide whether to fly into Naples or Rome. We are lucky that we have frequent flyer miles on United and noticed we would have to connect into Munich if we decide to take a flight to Naples. I guess my concern there is missing the connecting flights or lost luggage. We can take a direct flight into Rome, but then would have to take a train to Naples. Can someone tell me whether you have to leave the Rome airport for the train and would we have to take a taxi to the train station from the airport?
Last time we went to Italy we flew directly into Rome but we also stayed in that region so we flew home from Rome as well. This trip we plan on staying in Almalfi region.
After reading the forums, we decided to stay a few nights on Naples so that we can also visit Pompeii probably toward the end of our trip.
I really just want to book these flights so that we can then decide on hotels.
Last time we went to Italy we flew directly into Rome but we also stayed in that region so we flew home from Rome as well. This trip we plan on staying in Almalfi region.
After reading the forums, we decided to stay a few nights on Naples so that we can also visit Pompeii probably toward the end of our trip.
I really just want to book these flights so that we can then decide on hotels.
Jan 21st, 2013, 03:00 PM
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Fly into Naples. You won't miss your connection (how long it the layover BTW?)
You cannot take a train from FCO to Naples, you would have to take a commuter train from FCO into Rome center city and then transfer to a different train to continue on to Naples. And then the REVERSE of all that for trip home.
Flying with a connection in Munich, is quicker, cheaper, and easier. Make it easy for yourself and don't worry about some hypothetical glitch that in all likelihood won't come up.
You cannot take a train from FCO to Naples, you would have to take a commuter train from FCO into Rome center city and then transfer to a different train to continue on to Naples. And then the REVERSE of all that for trip home.
Flying with a connection in Munich, is quicker, cheaper, and easier. Make it easy for yourself and don't worry about some hypothetical glitch that in all likelihood won't come up.
Jan 21st, 2013, 05:24 PM
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I only say this because I think you deserve an opposing point of view. Me, I don't like Naples.
IMO, and it's only mine I know, it is dirty and rough. The above ground air tanks are unattractive. If there are charming shopping areas, I didn't find them. If you have a thing for cheap underwear shops, Napoli is your city.
I did like the Archeological Museum very much, but even that was poorly maintained. The corruption that affected the city for so long seems to me to have taken its toll on the streets, the people and the institutions.
I've been to Italy several times, and worked for a company based there for a few years. I just don't put Naples very high on my list of places to visit in Italy.
IMO, and it's only mine I know, it is dirty and rough. The above ground air tanks are unattractive. If there are charming shopping areas, I didn't find them. If you have a thing for cheap underwear shops, Napoli is your city.
I did like the Archeological Museum very much, but even that was poorly maintained. The corruption that affected the city for so long seems to me to have taken its toll on the streets, the people and the institutions.
I've been to Italy several times, and worked for a company based there for a few years. I just don't put Naples very high on my list of places to visit in Italy.
