We are going to Italy for two weeks in October. We will fly to Rome, rent a car at the airport and drive south.We want to spend 3-4 days there and go on day trips from there. One day Capri, another Pompei and Sorrento, another Positano and Amalfi Coast, and of course, Naples. What should we make our base? Naples seems to have the best geographic location, it's in the middle. But I read many negative things about Naples, and don't want to think about safety all the time and not being able to relax and enjoy it. Positano seems to be everybody's favorite, but if I understand it correctly, the road that lead to it is winding and it will be time consuming to drive from there every day to a different destination. How are the roads from Sorrento or Salerno - are they winding and will take forever to get to Pompei, let's say. Help! I am confused. Though it seems that we have enough time I want to start shopping for hotels there, but don't know where.
The rest of the ininerary:
Drive to Florence
Spend 3 days there,
drive to Tuscany and spend 3 days in hill towns
and finish with 3 days in Rome.
We are also looking for nice, but reasonably priced castle/monastery to stay in Florence and Tuscany. Any suggestions?

We visited Capri, Positano, Pompie, Ravello, Minori and the Almalfi while basing our selves in Sorrento. We found the location to be great, central and would not stay in Naples if we had to do it again (too far out). You will spend more time driving/travelling from Naples than anything else. Also, 3-4 days is tight on time to see a lot of the south, and I would try to extend it if possible. Once you get there, you won't want to leave. Have a great trip.

For your itinerary I'd choose between Positano and Sorrento rather than Naples as a base. As you will have a car, both are equally convenient.

There are regular ferries/hydrofoils from Sorrento to Capri (20 mins). In high season there are also hydrofoils to Capri from Positano, but these may no longer be running in October.
But you will not be able to take the car to Capri.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Hi,

I agree, stay in Sorrento and visit Naples for day.

I agree with Steve James. I'd stay in either Sorrento or Positano, depending on your preference. Sorrento is a medium-sized city but has magnificent views of the Bay of Naples and offers easy connections by train to Pompeii and Naples, and by boat to Capri, Positano and Amalfi ( although I don't know what these schedules are like in October). Positano is much smaller, has a tiny beach as opposed to the rocks in Sorrento, and has dramatic views of the sea from many restaurants and terraces.From Positano, you would have to take a car to Pompeii, but traffic in October should be considerably lighter than during the summer.

Good luck, and have a great trip!

We just stayed in Naples as base (Excelsior Hotel) for 4 nights, taking day trips to Pompeii, Amalfi @ Capri.

While I really enjoyed Naples, I would have preferred spending the time in a small resort town with a pool.

Capri, once you get out of the main part and onto the hiking paths, is spectacular. The trip from the Arco Naturale (past Villa Malaparte) to the Piccolo Marina is fairly easy and stunning. Perhaps AnaCapri is less touristy.

We drove to Pompeii from Naples...very easy, but would be just as simple from Sorrento or Amalfi.

We tried to do the Amalfi Coast - actually we drove from Salerno all the way around to Sorrento, but could not find ONE parking place. In October, however, parking shouldn't be the same problem.

If you're not comfortable driving in hectic, urban situations, avoid renting a car. Take the boat/ferry from town to town. Nice anyway, I'd imagine.

But don't miss Naples altogther - its a vibrant, lively city full of great museums, churchs. And best of all - gelato and pizza.

Ciao

Coachboy

good evening. kiramoli
If I were to base, I would and h ave used Sorrento because of the following:
1. it is the start of the bus route
from Sorrento to Salerno over the
Amalfi and stopping at all towns along
it.
2. by the NG railway you can back track
to Pompeii..
3. You can take the NG railway back to
Naples and spend the day and early evening, returning on a later train.
4. Take the ferry over to Capri to spend
the day there.
Sorrento is more central to all these
four places......

www.starnet.it/
onda-verde/orari_trafhetti.htm..
www.napoli.com/
www.uniplan.it/sita/orari.html.
www.cib.na.cnr.it/
touristicsite.syrene.it/
www.sorrentoweb.com/
www.syrene.it/
www.caprionline.it/
wwww.circumvesuvania.it
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Thanks to everybody for the information.
It was very helpful.
I will take the advice and we will stay in Sorrento. Can somebody tell me if the road from Sorrento to Naples is a winding road and how long it may take us to get to Naples by car. Also, the archeological museum in Naples - would you recommend to go there before Pompei or after? Should we hire a private guide in Sorrento or we can find somebody in Pompei on site? I am concerned that OCtober is a low season and there may be no guides at Pompei.
I am looking to book one of the four-star hotel in Sorrento. How do I find the best prices.
What grotto is a 'must' - Blue Grotto(capri) or Emerald?

Hi,

I suggest that you forget the car and take the train from Rome to Naples. You can then have a driver pick you up in Naples and take you to Sorrento. For an extra fee they will stop at Pompeii while you visit.

As far as the grottos go, some people say theat both the Blue and the Green were wonderful and others say they were ripoffs. Your choice.

Have a great trip.

I agree - skip the car and take the train. It's several hours train ride, and you can relax. Car theft is a problem in Naples too. Besides, I think the highway route is rather boring scenically, unless you take the coast road through Gaeta.
Guides will be waiting at the gates of Pompeii - I would chat with several to find the most knowledgeable and best english speaking one. October is still a popular time to be in south italy - many Germans used to head for the natural warm water spas on Ischia around then. If it fits into your schedule, I would visit the museum after the site; if it doesn't, don't worry, it is cool anyway anytime. I heard about some Secret Room tour lately, ask about that too. Just be alert at the Napoli train station and outside the museum, and keep your money close. Pickpockets, you know. The only problem I foresee with the train is carrying all those pretty bottles of limoncello back to Rome...have fun!

I agree with the other posters. I'd take the train from Sorrento to Naples, or possibly the ferry.

In SOrrento, we stayed at Hotel Tramontano, a 4-star right on the Bay of Naples. It had a medium-sized pool and great location, easy walking distance to Piazza Tasso ( main square) and the old town in Sorrento.

One other I'd recommend:
Bellevue Syrenee, down the block from Tramontano, also obviously on Bay of Naples, but no pool.


I know that Ambasciatori, Royal, Bristol, and Capidamonte (sp) are all 4-stars, and that most of these have pools, but haven't seen rooms, etc.

We visited the Blue Grotto this July, and even though it's incredibly touristy, I felt it was well worth the trouble. There's a Capri tourist office just around the corner from the funicular exit on the main square, and they should be able to help you in deciding when and how it's best to get there. Also their pricing may be somewhat cheaper than what you could arrange through your hotel.

By the way, if you're planning on visiting Positano for a day, I would advise taking the boat from Sorrento ( about 45 min) instead of your car. Much more scenic and much less hassle!

Good luck!

kiramoli--Did anyone else mention that Naples is not in the middle of the spots you mentioned? Sorrento would be closer to the middle.