PLEASE HELP !!!- amalfi coast questions
 

Has anyone stayed at the Grand Hotel Tritone in Praiano? <BR>What is the Amalfi Drive like as far as danger? My husband and I like to be adventurous but we took a trip to Muir Woods north of San Fran last September and thought we would fall off the edge, seriously we thought we were going to die. Is it better to go by bus or splurge for a driver? What would a driver cost anyway? I assume it would be expensive. <BR> <BR>Last question...we are planning to take a train from Florence to Naples, rent a car, spend the afternoon in Pompei and then on to our hotel in Praiano. Therefore, we would be leaving our luggage in the rental car. Is this a big mistake? Are we asking to have our luggage stolen? Thanks for any tips. <BR> <BR>

We drove the Amalfi Coast and greatly enjoyed the beauty. But, before you drive from the rental lot, make sure you know where the reserve gear is located with a manual clutch.. Ours was over, push straight down and then shove back. Knowing that enabled us to slam on brakes, reserve at full speed as an on-coming tour bus was NOT stopping nor slowing on a very narrow hair pin curve. <BR>Also---we drove back the coast at night to Sorrento. NEVER EVER AGAIN will we drive that drive in the night. VERY dangerous. Cars parks here and there, people just gathering to talk in the black night with no highway lights, no car lights on,other cars passing at full throttle on tight curves. It was exceptionally scary. <BR> <BR>PS--we are not novices with traffic as we live in the Atlanta area.

You are, in fact, taking a big chance leaving your luggage in the car. There are only a couple of parking lots at the entrance to Pompeii Scavi (the excavations of the old city) and they're not very secure. <BR> <BR>The previous poster's comments about reverse (which is what I assume reserve meant!) are also very true. My rental car in Naples had a special ring around the gear shifter that you lifted up on to be able to shift into reverse, and it took some getting used to. <BR> <BR>The Amalfi Coast drive made me so sick to my stomach that I moved to the left side of the bus and closed my eyes. I drove as far as Sorrento but knew I couldn't do the rest of the road, so switched to a bus. While you are on blind curves, motorcyclists and scooters are still passing you on both sides. It is VERY unnerving.

If your Muir Woods experience was difficult, you would not want to drive the Amalfi Coast. <BR> <BR>The drive has sheer cliffs on left and right - part of the charm and wonderful scenery. The road is 100% switchbacks, curves, up and down. <BR> <BR>The road is very narrow with many mirrors that are use as assists. Buses are plentiful and many, many times slow to a crawl to negotiate a bend - they take the entire road to do this with obvious effect to oncoming traffic if you chose to drive. <BR> <BR>Suggest you look into a short bus tour that stops at one or two hotels and cities. The Amalfi Coast should not be missed - it is an exceptional area.

Are there lockers at Pompeii or at the train/bus station there where luggage could be stored for an afternoon?

The Amalfi Coast drive sounds frightening and dangerous - although we will most likely do it this time anyway when we visit the area this summer. The farthest we've been was to Sorrento. We are planning to stay in Massa Lubrense when we go this time, so can anyone tell me about the ride like from Sorrento to Massa Lubrense? Also, is there only one way to get to Ravello? I don't like high, scary, narrow roads. Thanks.

If you don't like high scary narrow roads, don't go to Amalfi or Ravallo. Seriously, the above posters have told you. If you were uncomfortable driving around Muir Woods and Mt Tamalpais, you will not like Amalfi. I've driven both, several times, night and day. I don't want to sound flippant, but Amalfi is not as bad as some of the hype. It's actually better at night. You can see the headlights approaching from around the corner. <BR>Hey, it's narrow, no center line, and the busses need to back up to make some of the hair-pin turns. But you drive slow, and enjoy the adventure. We had a small car, and the side mirrors collapsed against the car body, which we had to do a couple of times for the busses. But there is a 2-3 foot concrete/stone wall on the cliff side, and you can go slow. <BR>The drive from Vietre su Mar west to Positano is the most breath-taking, stunning and beautiful coastal drives I have ever been on. I can't imagine not seeing it. From Positano to Sorrento, the road mellows out, as it gets away from the coast and goes over the ridge. <BR>There is no other way to get to Ravello, unless you walk, and it is seriously up hill. <BR>The villages along the coast road provide respite, and if you allow yourself enough time, you can do it. Go slow, take it easy, and enjoy the view. What a story you'll have! <BR>

My two cents. the above response is certainly encouraging. However having been on both the drive to Muir Woods, The Amalfi Coast and for that matter Calif.'s highway 1 coast. You will not want to drive the Amalfi coast. The Muir Woods drive is I-5 on a slow day through the Central Valley bu comparrison.