My husband and I are considering visiting the Amalfi Coast next year for our 30th anniversary but am concerned as most forums talk about the number of steps sightseeing in positano, ravello, capri. We are considering staying at either the Santa Caterina in Amalfi or Il San Pietro, Le Serenuse or Marincanto in Positano and wondering if anyone has stayed at either of these three properties and could weigh in on their thoughts as well as if I am being overly cautious.

Thanks..

Hi Cooper2
Not sure whether your title was devised to generate interest, it certainly got me to look at it. It will be intersting to see if the title brings in the answers you need but good luck, and if you dont get any responses, consider a more appropriate one.
Steve

You're right about there being no stupid questions (well, almost), but there are better ways to get your questions answered than by posting "remember there are no stupid questions." You'll get more responses and more useful feedback if you reword your information request.

Ignoring the title (but it is a good way to generate interest), are you concerned about the number of steps/stairways due to physical limitations or simply would rather not make your vacation into a non-stop cardio workout?

While I have not stayed at either of the locations, many places on the coast can be quite the climb if walking. Are you going to be renting a car or relying on public transportation? These things all come into play.

Also the time of year matters. Summer is hot and humid, winter can be wet, so once again these come into play, especially if walking.

You question is not at all stupid, but be prepared to get stormed with some harsh replies on your title. Regardless, have fun!!!

dave

we will be traveling in early june, and will not be renting a car. Will be relying on a combination of private transportation and public transprtation. The question wa about steps was not because of physical limitations, but more because rading the forums.

"The question wa about steps was not because of physical limitations, but more because rading the forums." !!!

Still needs clarity, Cooper, in my view.

If you don't have physical limitations then the steps will be no problem. If you do have a limitation such as being overweight, out of shape, hip replacement, arthritis, etc, then you may have difficulty.

We stopped in to Il San Pietro on our trip this year just to see the place, and stairs shouldn't be a big problem there. I recall there was a lift down to the beach. There are going to be stairs everywhere on the Amalfi Coast so you won't avoid them altogether and you will do a lot of walking, which is something I like when traveling. I feel better about all the wonderful food I'm eating when I spend a lot of time walking. It will be warm the first week of June. We were there May 14-21st and had some very warm days. Have a great trip.

Positano is on a steep hillside. You can't see much of it without climbing stairs. The central part of Amalfi is close to the beach and relatively flat. But it soon turns hilly. Google images of the church in Amalfi; it has a huge flight of stairs.

There may be no stupid questions, but some do appear to get asked quite often...

Perhaps the extra information in this will be of interest:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...-i567-k4836103

Peter

This one is close, very close !!

"Who's buried in Grant's tomb?"

>remember there are no stupid questions <

Are you sure?

cooper2,

I for one admire you for posting the title you did. Not only is it true when it comes to travel planning, but Fodor's regular posters on the Europe board, especially for Italy and France, welcome's newcomers with sarcams, insults, guffaws and turn questions as amusements, targets for mean mockery. The swagger and loud-mouthing passes for "travel intelligence." You hit a nerve with your title, hence the string of sour responses and instructions to change

Anyhoo, yes, there are very steep stairs in the Amalfi towns, Positano being the worst for verticality. Mimar's answer is very good. You can always find a hotel with fewer steps than another, and one willing to help you with luggage as well (not all will).

But if you want to see something other than the hotel, climbing staircases and multiple flights of stairs is unavoidable.

hi coop,

If you don't have health issues, I suggest that you train for your visit by doing more stair climbing than you usually do.

The folks who live there get by with little difficulty.

All of the towns on the coast have a lot of steps - as in hundreds. How many steps you would have to climb depends on the locations you pick to stay and those in which you want to shop or eat. You always have the option of getting a cab if you don;t want to/can;t climb steps - but it could be inconvenient waiting for one. I would not go assuming you can ignore all of those steps.

The town of Capri is fairly flat - once you have taken the funicular up to the town from the Marina Grande. But transit is basically by foot within each town - so you need to assume a fair amount of walking. (Didn't seem like much to me but I;m from New York and we consider anything under 2 miles easily walkable - but I know many suburbanites never walk more than the length of a mall.)

If you want a flatter place to stay you could look at Sorrento. This has a flat center - although many hotels are in the hills above the city. We stay at the Excelsior Grand Vittoria which opens onto the town;s main square - although there is a large and beautiful garden with pool in between the piazza and the hotel. You can see a substantial amount of the town on the flat or a modest incline. The other side of the hotel is on top of a cliff overlooking the Bay of Naples and the dock for ferries and hydrofoils, but the hotel has a private elevator down to the dock for guests only.)

What about the Covo dei Saraceni in Positano. It is down on the beach already and it is a beautiful hotel.
http://www.covodeisaraceni.it

We stayed across the street from one of your considered hotels, La Sireneuse, and although we are very active and fit seniors, we found the walk there extremely tiring. Would do it again though.

michelene,

where did you stay?

My, what a welcoming environment this place is.

cooper2, yours was hardly a stupid question for someone who hasn't been to the area before. I haven't been either, or I'd help you out. Hopefully you'll find the answer you need, and congratulations on your milestone anniversary.