Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Positano or Praiano for a base? Also, flight ? re: Alitalia or Air France

Positano or Praiano for a base? Also, flight ? re: Alitalia or Air France

Old May 5th, 2009, 08:57 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Positano or Praiano for a base? Also, flight ? re: Alitalia or Air France

Now that my itinerary has been praised by the fodorites, on to more details. We plan to base ourselves in an apartment on the Amalfi Coast for 5 nights. Is Positano or Praiano the best base? Is Praiano quieter and less touristy? We are taking public transport and I understand there is a Praiano-Positano direct bus.

Another question for you experienced travelers. We have two options on air for our arrival. We could get a direct, but due to work the connections fit our schedule better. We want to leave Thursday NIGHT, not afternoon.

The first is ATL-Venice-Rome. The Venice-Rome connection is thru Alitalia.

The second option is ATL-Paris-Rome. The Paris-Rome connection is via Air France.

Both arrive at approximately the same time. Are either Alitalia or Air France generally more dependable?
alw1977 is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 09:09 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Praiano is definitely quieter and less touristy than Positano.

Air France is much more dependable than Alitalia.
Zerlina is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 09:16 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks. Problems getting back to Praiano later at night (after 8:30?). I've read the public buses only go up until about 8:30 and we will NOT have a car.
alw1977 is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 09:26 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We stayed in Positano this past September for our first trip to the Amalfi Coast. We really enjoyed it, but I told my husband that next time we would definitely stay in Praiano. Positano was a great base for the coast, but it was also pretty touristy.

I would say your decision should be based on how you want to spend your days. If you plan to do a lot of day trips, then perhaps stay in Positano. If you want a more relaxing stay, then go for Praiano.
sherhatfield is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 09:36 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I see a bus at 11:50 on the schedule valid until June 15:
http://www.flaviogioia.com/dettaglio.php?sez=Orario+Positano+-+Praiano&n=Valido+dal+27+marzo+al+15+giugno+-+dal+1+ottobre+al+2+novembre+-+dal+23+dicembre+al+6+gennaio
clicca+sulle+frecce+per+visualizzare+la+tabella &iddettaglio=44&id_sezione=8&id_categoria=17&p=dx

The summer schedule hasn't been posted.
Zerlina is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 09:38 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That didn't work. Just go to www.flaviogioia.com. There's an English version, but the schedule itself is only in Italian.
Zerlina is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 10:01 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That site makes no sense to me. Where is the schedule?
alw1977 is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 10:13 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
www.flaviogioiagroup.it site is good. I was just there.
TravMimi is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 12:24 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Both sites work. TravMimi's also has the summer schedule.

If you click on the British flag (for English), then on Public urban service on the left, then on Positano-Praiano,
then on the arrow below the various dates given (do I need to say that giugno is June and that settembre is September?), it will show you the schedule. I cannot tell you where the stops are, but you can ask your hotel or locals.

If you're so evidently upset that "That site makes no sense", I suggest you take a deep breath and prepare yourself mentally for the fact that you will encounter many things in Italy that "don't make sense" to you. You can either get worked up about it or you can grin and bear it. Or you can decide that Italy is not for you.
Zerlina is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 12:35 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Zerlina, I do appreciate your assistance. I believe the downside of the internet has struck our communication - and that is that you cannot hear my tone. When I said "that site makes no sense" I didn't mean it in an upset manner, I was more bemused than anything. When I clicked on the dates provided, the site showed me no further info or links to a calendar, unlike the site TravMimi provided. It may be a problem with my work computer not loading certain applets, but I cannot be sure. There was simply no info under the various timeframes given.

I am well-traveled and have navigated several very confusing foreign countries (though not in Europe) with a great sense of adventure and humor. I anticipate I will handle Italy in the same manner. It is not getting "upset" to say the site makes no sense and ask a follow-up question regarding where a calendar is located. I am sorry you misunderstood me.
alw1977 is offline  
Old May 5th, 2009, 05:47 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Air France is MUCH more reliable than Alitalia. As for Praiano, it depends how quiet you like it. There's only a handful of restaurants in town, and not much going on after dark. Positano is more touristy, but you can walk to plenty of restaurants and shops, as well as the town beach and dock.
Weadles is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jfra5
Europe
10
Dec 16th, 2018 01:49 PM
irenen
Europe
17
Feb 13th, 2008 03:13 AM
anabelle
Europe
10
Jan 30th, 2008 04:15 AM
hidebs
Europe
20
Feb 15th, 2007 01:41 AM
steviegene
Europe
12
Feb 27th, 2004 03:35 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -