Positano or Ponza
 

Hi everyone! I am doing my first Europe trip this summer and am wondering which is a better location to go - Positano or Ponza?

I will be travelling in from Florence, have 4-5 nights on the coast then will be heading to Rome.

PS it will be high season (mid July!)

Our original plan was Positano with day trips to Capri and perhaps Ravello (and maybe do Pompeii on the way into Rome).

We really want beautiful scenery and to swim! also excited about grottos which I believe are in both Capri and Ponza.

I know a lot about transportation in Positano (as this was my original plan) but am curious about transportation in Ponza. Do you need to use a ferry to explore there? Can you rent a boat? What is a good spot to be in?

Thanks to everyone!!

Ponza is a very small island - smaller than Capri -- so if you spend 4 or 5 days there, then you need to be happy with the idea you will be in a village and need to amuse yourself and day trips are not really feasible. And you would have to give up the idea of seeing famous spectacular sights found in guidebooks, although you would see a special side of beautiful Italy.

You would really be doing an unusual thing to go to Ponza instead of Positano, so you would need to do your own research. But here is information about renting boats on Ponza and how to get there, where to say

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/tr...ter-ponza.html

http://www.frommers.com/destinations....5t3tk7Og.dpbs

http://www.frommers.com/destinations....7jCPehEw.dpbs

http://www.yourguidetoitaly.com/ponz...chipelago.html

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/instant-home

http://www.revealedrome.com/2014/06/...lfi-coast.html

But there is nothing wrong with your original plan if you are very curious to see the Amalfi Coast. There will be crowds in both places, hugely so on weekends, and summer prices, and the Amalfi Coast is much more set up for foreign visitors.

Sorrento would be a easier transport hub for day trips to Positano - Ravello, Capri and Pompei.
Ponza is a small Island where everything can be reached on foot. Very scenic. Most visitors are Italians. Hotels have to be booked early for July.
Catamarans from Anzio (Rome) and ferries from Formia.
http://www.italiantouristoffice.se/sv/docs/179.pdf

Check out THE NYT, May 6, 2011 for an article on Ponza. Not to be overly rude, but if you're going to ask for so much information on the AC then switch over to Ponza, you need to do SOME of your own research.

If you choose Ponza bear in mind you'll need your Google translate - its not geared toward English speaking tourists.

Thanks everyone. I think I am just going to stick to the AC - its hard when a new idea gets thrown your way that puts you off track! I appreciate everyone on this forum for all your help! Rest assure - I have done a ton of research I just want to be sure we make the best choice possible as we will likely not make it back within the next 20 years!

I think there is nothing wrong with asking all the questions you want to ask. Some people are trying to help you get the vacation you want, as best as they can understand what you might be looking for, and some people like WWK aren't interested, they don't have to answer posts. Maybe they should SOMETHING better with their time.

Glad you are going to stick with the AC. There is plenty there to see for 4-5 days. I respectfully disagree that Sorrento would be a better base than Positano for seeing Ravello and Capri. It is easy to see Pompeii on your way to or From Positano.

See www.coopsantandrea.com for ferry schedules from Positano.