spidertlaw

Hello all,

For the first two weeks of April, my fiancee and I are travelling to Italy for our honeymoon, each for the first time and staying four nights in Positano (Villa Rosa). I have done lots of research on this board (thanks to all) but have a few more specific questions:

We will arrive in Positano very jet lagged on a Monday afternoon around 4-5pm (Fly into Rome, EuroStar to Naples, PSC to Positano). I know this sounds dumb but does anyone recommend a restaurant close to Villa Rosa that will be 'easy' for the first night? Should I make reservations?

I'd like to set up a massage/spa for the next day. Does anyone recommend a spa in positano? I saw Le Sireneuse and wonder if it is the best. I believe it is close to VR.

Finally, my fiancee loves shopping, especially clothes and gifts. Does anyone recommend specific stores in Positano, Ravello, Amalfi that they enjoyed shopping in? What did you buy?

Thanks to everyone for your help.

grandmere

Folks who own VR will be able to make recommendations; can't imagine you'd need reservations in April. There are lots of restaurants very close to VR. Le Sirenuse is just across the street from VR. The VR is a great little deal for the money; have a wonderful time! The view is spectacular!

Grinisa

Many of the restaurants will still be closed at the beginning of April so it's a good idea to ask the people at the hotel what is open. I like the restaurants up in Montepertuso, the little village above Positano. Da Costantino is excellent, very laid back, has an excellent view (better in the daytime) and has a complimentary car service to pick you up and take you back to your hotel. Donna Rosa is also very good. The spa at the Sirenuse is the ultimate pampering experience and of course its restaurant is excellent, romantic and has a wonderful view too, but it's very expensive. As for shops, there is one in Positano, right on the main ramp down to the beach, that specializes in lemon products, especially limoncello in pretty bottles. You will see many ceramic shops all over but my favorite is Ceramiche d'arte in Ravello.

spidertlaw

Thanks Grinisa, thats helpful. Unfortunately the Spa at LS is only open to Hotel guests of which I am not. Anyone know of Spas open to the public?

I'll check out the shops you mentioned. Anyone else?

Thanks

Tsali

I believe the Laura Elos Spa located in the Poseidon is open to the public. I had a Turkish bath and an hour massage there the day of my wedding and it was one of my most memorable experiences.

You will find info. on the spa on the Poseidon's website: www.hotelposeidonpositano.it

Congratulations and you will LOVE Positano!

Jessica

JAFA

I second Grinisa's Donna Rosa recommendation. My husband and I had dinner there twice the last time we were in Positano. The food is amazing, and the owners are extremely nice. Request a table with a kitchen view if you're at all interested in food/cooking.

Have a wonderful time. And, congratulations!

Weadles

Totally agree with the Donna Rosa recommendations from other posters. Also the spa at the Poseidon is quite good, but the food is HEAVEN, and the view from the restaurant terrace is quite spectacular. You may want to go there your first night, since it won't entail too much travel. Out of curiousity, just wondered why the Eurostar out of Rome instead of a private car service? Seems like it would be less exhausting this way after a long trip. We did it this way two years ago and were quite glad to be able to hop into the car after the long flight. I'm sure that your hotel could make the arrangements if you're interested, or, if you'd like, I'd be happy to recommend the driver who picked us up. Good luck, and have a wonderful time!

spidertlaw

Thanks to all for the input. Weadles, to answer you question, the Positano Car Service wanted 410 euros for the trip from Rome to Positano and the Eurostar from Rome + car from Naples is about 200. I definitely would have done it if the cost had been closer.

What treatments did you like from the Poseidon and how far was it from the VR. Dinner there sounds like a great idea.

Steve_James

Quotes vary by over 100 Euros for Rome-Positano.
Positano Car Service is the most expensive.

You could get a Rome-Positano transfer for about Euro 300

Steve

Weadles

Spidertlaw,

I don't honestly know how far the Poseidon is from VR, but it is a very small town, so I can't imagine the distance is that great.
I am very surprised by the quote you received for Rome-Positano. Granted it was two years ago, but we paid much less- I think in the $200-225.00 range. On the off chance you'd like a quote from the drivers we used, I'm posting their e-mail which is: [email protected]. Their names are: Giancarlo and Giovanni Gargiulo, and I got their names here on the forum. They were really excellent, charming drivers. We plan to use them again this July, unless we have to cancel due to the world situation. Anyway, good luck, and have a lovely time in Positano!

jillrapuzzi

I am flying into Rome in July and booked Renato Cuomo Car Service operated out of Sorrento - to pick me up at Rome Fiumicino Airport and take me to Naples - specifically to the hydrofoil to get to Capri and they quoted me 280 euro. I thought that sounded like a good deal. FYI.

spidertlaw

I did think that 410Euro from Rome-Positano sounded expensive but read good things about PSC on this forum. Weadles, I wrote an email to your service for a quote and will post here when I get it back.

Jillr-we are taking the EuroStar from Rome to Naples and its less than 100 for 2 of us, and that's first class. Pick up shuttle in airport to train station and its less than 2 hours to Naples. Might be something to consider to save 180.

jillrapuzzi

Thanks, I'll consider that. Part of me wonders if after a long flight I will just want to be picked up and not have to get on shuttles, trains etc - but I have to cut costs somewhere, this might be a good place. Thanks for the suggestion.

spidertlaw

I just received email from Tours of Italy. For Mercedes travel, they charge 320 Euros from Rome to Positano and 100 from Naples to Positano. PCS charges 410 from Rome and 100 from Naples.

IgorVodov

Spidertlaw,
We have used tourOfItaly last year for
our transfers from Naples to Positano.
Giovanni (the father) was our driver. He turned out to be a very witty and entertaining man in addition to being a very reliable and professional driver. We were very glad that we chose his service. I believe he charged us 83 Euros each way (he also took us back from Positano to naples). If you decide to take a train from Rome to Naples, the second class tickets are cheapers (about 24 Euros) and there is very little difference between 1st and 2nd class anyway. Have you thought about spending a couple of nights in Rome first so that you won't have to go through the very tiresome journey from Rome to Positano after arriving in FCO?
Hope this helps.

CHeinze

My wife and I honeymooned in Positano last May. There are many good restaurants in Positano that a fairly reasonably priced. Da Constantino, which was already mentioned, has a great view. A better restaurant, and at least twice as high up is the Tagliata, which also offers car service. I also liked the Il Fornino (sp).

For shopping, my wife and I purchased mostly ceramics. The options for vietro ceramics were better than other neighboring towns, such as Ravello, Almafi or Capri. We had a great experience at a ceramics shop just past the bus stop near the bottom of the hill in Positano - bottom floor was antiques, top floor was the ceramics - if you go, ask for Lorenzo!

Tess_Durberville

-
During my first trip to Italy several years ago, I visited Positano and bought several items at Ceramica Casola. Let them ship most of stuff to me, which arrived everything intact. It's on the main roads, just outside central portion of Positano. They now have a website > > > http://www.ceramicacasola.com/shopping/default2.htm

spidertlaw

Thats very helpful, thanks all.