My husband & I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in March (awww!). We are planning a week in Italy (while Grandma minds the cherub). We were thinking 4 nights at La Fenice or Villa Rosa in Positano and 1 night at Mamela in Capri and would like to plan another night somewhere else. Any suggestions?? I assume we will fly into Rome (from Paris) but could do Pisa also and drive down the coast to Positano. Ideas....Suggestions.... <BR>Thanks, Stephanie

Unless you love sitting in the car, don't drive from Pisa to Positano. You're looking at a long, not particularly scenic 3+ drive, more with traffic. <BR>Fly to Rome (or, even better, if you don't want to spend time in Rome on this trip, fly directly to Naples). Then, you might consider spending a night or two in Naples. It's been cleaned up, the world-class Capo di Monete museum renovation is complete and its fully open, as is the magnificent new museum of th history of the city, the Certosa di San Martino. If it's your 10th anniversary, I recommend a front room (with a magical postcard view of the Castel dell'Ovo)at the waterfront Hotel Vesuvio. It's expensive but worth every lira. Plus Naples has great food, better streetlife, and is convenient for your Positano and Capri destinations.

I stayed in sorrento on my last trip to italy , just for three days , but went to pompei , boated to capri , just for the day , which was plenty for me. I suggest hotel belview serene in sorrento, ( I believe its spelled) , it is wonderful , right on the cliffs over the water with a view of capri and vesuvius...its in town , so shopping is just a short walk. <BR>the rest of my holiday was in positano,where I boated to amalfi and ravello.. a must see. have fun

I can't say enough about driving or Positano. My advice though is perhaps to fy into Naples, rent a car and drive to Positano. My suggestion is to stay <BR>at the Le Sirenuse. It is by far the most beautiful and even takes you out on their private yacht. Capri was disappointing as it is just Rodeo Drive or West Palm Beach. I think that you should just stay in Positano and possibly then rent a boat to go out on your own if you like. The water is so great but wear sunscreen. I got the worst sunburn of my life and I never burn and I grew up in Florida and California. You could go to a spa on Ischia if you wanted somewher else to go. SPlit the time up between Positano and Ischia. Trust me many people are disappointed in the touristy Capri and I stayed at the Mamela. <BR>Good Luck, You will love it <BR>Diane

Someone mentioned the Hotel Bellevue Sirenuse in Sorrento earlier (I too don't remember the spelling but I think I'm closer) and I would also highly recommend that hotel. Location is beautiful and rooms and bathrooms are spacious. Ask for room w/ terrace over looking the Naples Bay. Front desk is very helpful w/ taxi's, restaurants and so forth. We hired a driver for the day do to the amalfi coast( so we could admire the beautiful coast) $100 for the day. Sorrento to Amalfi and back. I dont see where the capri bashing comes from, I was there 7 years ago and stayed at Punta Tragara on the far end of the island for three nights and it was one of the most romantic spots I have ever been to. Stunning views, quiet from the tourist areas with a steep walk down to beach and alfresco restaurant we found for lunch.

Stephanie, <BR> <BR>I've been to the area a few times. I, too, love Naples. What you could do is spend some time in Naples, take the hydrofoil to Capri and spend the night. People who go for the day don't like it - it's after they leave that the place turns magical! I stayed at the Scalinatella - a white marble hotel built into the side of the mountain with a handsome Italian who brings breakfast to the terrace overlooking the sea! The ferry to Positano - we had a car delivered to our hotel (Le Sireneuse) and drove all around the area - dropping the car off at the Naples airport... <BR> <BR>Have a wonderful trip... <BR> <BR>Dona

Stephanie <BR> <BR>If you want to stay somewhere really special, I would recommend Ravello. It is a beautiful village perched on a hilltop above Amalfi. I visited in 96 and it is absolutely one of my favourite places in the world! <BR> <BR>Palazzo Sasso is popular for honeymoons and anniversaries and is very luxurious: <BR> <BR>http://www.palazzosasso.com/ <BR> <BR>The Villa Maria Hotel has a beautiful location and a lovely terrace restaurant where I can safely say I had the best meal I have ever had! <BR> <BR>http://www.villamaria.it <BR> <BR>In Ravello, there are 2 delightful gardens to visit - Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. It really is an idyllic spot - quiet, peaceful and brimming with charm and beauty. <BR> <BR>More info on Ravello: <BR> <BR>http://www.ravello.it/welcome_eng.html <BR> <BR>Have a wonderful trip, whatever you decide! <BR> <BR>Zoe

I'd echo Zoe's recommendation to visit Ravello. My suggestion fly to Naples, spend a few days there and get the train to Pompeii (Vesuviano line) You can then spend all day there- rather than a rushed trip. Then the same rail line goes to Sorrento, take the bus to Positano from just outside the station. I'm a confident driver but I wouldn't think of driving along the Amalfi coast. Anyway you want to concentrate on the view rather than the road..yes? Stay in Positano as there's boat trips along the coast to Amalfi (bus from there up, up, up to Ravello (Villa Rufolo Gardens for the most spectacular views) and over to Capri. <BR>Have fun!

I'd visit Ravello, sure, but I wouldn't stay there - better off in Sorrento unless you like reading or playing cards ad nauseam

Do just as Areli recommends. See Positano and Capri, but use Naples as your base.

If you're looking for another destination, I recommend the island of Ischia. It's a short ferry ride from Capri or Sorrento and isn't as crowded...but still has all the charm. <BR> <BR>Check it out at my website....www.jimtardio.com/italy.html <BR> <BR>click on the "Ischia" or "Capri" link.

hi, <BR>take a look at: http://www.charmingitaly.com/accommod/amalfi.htm here you can find a lot of romantic and nice hotel. i really recommend Le Sirenuse at Positano.

Definitely Sorrento!

Stephanie, <BR> <BR>Another vote for Sorrento! My husband and I loved it, actually more than Capri. Carpri is very pretty with great views, but Sorrento has more of an authentic ambiance. We werre told by a guide (and I don't know if this is true or not) that Capri was built for tourists. It is pretty though and definitely worth a visit. <BR> <BR>I've also read really nice things about Ravello, which you could easily get to from Sorrento or Capri. I would use either Naples or Sorrento as a base, and then go from there.

What! Drive a car to Positano...are you crazy?! We took the train from Rome to Naples. (No problems) We were going to rent a car and the rental agency was closed for a mid day nap. So Very GLAD!! <BR>This is cliff madness. Narrow roads with steep drops on one side and Mts on the other... with bus drivers hogging the roads. Try the Train..but be sure your luggage is on wheels. Take a cab into Positano and around the area take the bus and survive the trip! PS we took the BOAT to Capri and the BUS to Revello!!

I stand back in admiration for those of you who managed to survive staying in Naples. We have stayed in Sorrento twice and have found it most enjoyable as a base. On our last holiday we decided to go to naples for the day having enjoyed an organised coach tour to look at the archaeological musem. Once we arrived I was ready to go back to Sorrento. The traffic was fast and horrendous. The drivers seemed to treat red lights as an insult and trying to cross on pedestrain crossings was a hazardous experience. Maybe I lack a real spirit of adventure but I was glad to get back to the ferry and go onto Ischia for a quiet stroll and a delicoius meal. By the way the hotel in Sorrento mentioned previously is the Bellevue Syrene. We stayed at the Tramontano which is next door and I was told the Bellevue Syrene is generally booked up a long time in advance so it is not a hotel that you can just stay at on the spur of the moment or so I am led to believe.

Rome, Naples, Positano, Amalfi, Sorrento, Vietri sur Mare: Terrific !!! <BR> <BR>I have stayed at Hotel Villa Maria in Sorrento and loved it ... <BR>The La Fenice Restaurant in Sorrento has also very good value food

Hi Zoe, <BR>I read your comments about Ravello and I have a question. My husband and I are going to Amalfi coast in May and we are staying at the San Pietro for 4 nights and Ravello for 2. We're considering staying in Ravello for 3 nights because San Pietro is booked for 1 of the nights that we want. Is it possible to commute from Ravello to Positano and back to Ravello easily while we're staying in Ravello. Is 3 nights in Ravello too long? We're staying at Palazzo Sasso. Thanks for your help. <BR>Josie Stern

We stayed at the Palazzo Sasso in Ravello for 4 nights, summer of 1998. The hotel is wonderful and Ravello is by far one of the loveliest places on earth. We drove to Naples & to Sorrento, where we swam in the sea. Even my then 5 yr old son had a blast!

As a good guide say: between Capri and Ischia the right choice is : Procida.