Rome/Almafi Coast Honeymoon Itinerary - Suggestions?
Mar 9th, 2003, 09:18 AM
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Rome/Almafi Coast Honeymoon Itinerary - Suggestions?
Hi everyone. This is my first message on Fodors. I'm getting married on May 17 and my future wife and I will be honeymooning in Italy. Here is what I have so far, regarding our itinerary. I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions.
We'll be arriving in Rome on Monday the 19th and plan to stay there until Friday morning (already have reservations for this). Then we would like to travel to the Almafi Coast and also see Pompeii and Capri while we are there (we've written off Venice <sigh> not enough time). I'm considering staying in Positano, after reading some of the posts here. Naples, I have heard, isn't really worth the time, nor is Sorrento. How much trouble is getting from Positano (or Praiano, or Almafi) to Capri and Pompeii? Will separate day trips to Capri and Pompeii be a good idea, or would anyone recommend just staying in Capri to start with? I'm trying to avoid too much luggage lugging and switching hotels every day. We will have Friday the 23rd through Wednesday the 28th to explore the Almafi coast, before returning to Rome to catch our flight home on the 29th. Also, are 3.5-4.5 days in Rome enough?? --we could get back to Rome for an additional day after Almafi. We're interested in finding decent hotels/B&B's with private baths for about $100-150 US. Thanks for any help you are able to give!
Martin
We'll be arriving in Rome on Monday the 19th and plan to stay there until Friday morning (already have reservations for this). Then we would like to travel to the Almafi Coast and also see Pompeii and Capri while we are there (we've written off Venice <sigh> not enough time). I'm considering staying in Positano, after reading some of the posts here. Naples, I have heard, isn't really worth the time, nor is Sorrento. How much trouble is getting from Positano (or Praiano, or Almafi) to Capri and Pompeii? Will separate day trips to Capri and Pompeii be a good idea, or would anyone recommend just staying in Capri to start with? I'm trying to avoid too much luggage lugging and switching hotels every day. We will have Friday the 23rd through Wednesday the 28th to explore the Almafi coast, before returning to Rome to catch our flight home on the 29th. Also, are 3.5-4.5 days in Rome enough?? --we could get back to Rome for an additional day after Almafi. We're interested in finding decent hotels/B&B's with private baths for about $100-150 US. Thanks for any help you are able to give!
Martin
Mar 9th, 2003, 09:41 AM
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Hi and congratulations!
It's actually easier to get to Capri from Sorrento than Positano, because sometimes in Positano boats are cancelled due to rough water. In Sorrento, there's a real harbor, so it's easier for boats to get across to Capri despite any water conditions.
I think generally you'll find a wider range of prices for accomodations on the Amalfi Coast than you will in Capri, which is typically pretty expensive. If you're interested in Positano, I'd check into it as soon as possible, although given the world situation, travel there may be lighter than usual even in the spring-summer. There've been numerous posts about hotels in the range you quoted on this site. One that seems to get a lot of talk here is Villa Franca.
From Positano, you could certainly do a daytrip to Pompeii, although rather than having to travel back and forth, you might want to consider going to Pompeii with a driver on your way back to Rome.
Good luck-- and have a wonderful time!
It's actually easier to get to Capri from Sorrento than Positano, because sometimes in Positano boats are cancelled due to rough water. In Sorrento, there's a real harbor, so it's easier for boats to get across to Capri despite any water conditions.
I think generally you'll find a wider range of prices for accomodations on the Amalfi Coast than you will in Capri, which is typically pretty expensive. If you're interested in Positano, I'd check into it as soon as possible, although given the world situation, travel there may be lighter than usual even in the spring-summer. There've been numerous posts about hotels in the range you quoted on this site. One that seems to get a lot of talk here is Villa Franca.
From Positano, you could certainly do a daytrip to Pompeii, although rather than having to travel back and forth, you might want to consider going to Pompeii with a driver on your way back to Rome.
Good luck-- and have a wonderful time!
Mar 9th, 2003, 12:22 PM
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Martin -
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
Your trip sounds wonderful. There are only 2 suggestions I might have to your plans. Staying overnight in Capri is important to me since the whole place changes after the last tour boat leaves. If you only go for a day trip, Capri is just another beautiful touristy paradise! LOL I would stay 1 night.
Also, I love Naples - have been there twice and would return in a second. Regarding your trip, I would probably go to Rome, then Friday morning go to Naples for the night, then hydrofoil to Capri for 1 night and end up in Positano for the remainder - with a day trip to Pompei.
I'm sure that whatever you decide to do will be wonderful - have a great time.
Dona
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
Your trip sounds wonderful. There are only 2 suggestions I might have to your plans. Staying overnight in Capri is important to me since the whole place changes after the last tour boat leaves. If you only go for a day trip, Capri is just another beautiful touristy paradise! LOL I would stay 1 night.
Also, I love Naples - have been there twice and would return in a second. Regarding your trip, I would probably go to Rome, then Friday morning go to Naples for the night, then hydrofoil to Capri for 1 night and end up in Positano for the remainder - with a day trip to Pompei.
I'm sure that whatever you decide to do will be wonderful - have a great time.
Dona
Mar 9th, 2003, 01:23 PM
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I think you have the right idea aboout spending enough time in only a couple of places and not packing and unpacking a lot. So I don't think you should spend a night in either Naples or Capri on this trip,although both are certainly worth going to and staying there for several days on another occasion. I think Positano is a more romantic spot than Sorrento for a honeymoon and you can daytrip to Capri from there. Yes, when the seas are rough boats to Capri may not be running but they usually don't run from Sorrento then either. I agree to try and see Pompeii on your way to Rome.
Mar 9th, 2003, 08:38 PM
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We absolutely loved Sorrento. There is a harbor there where you can take boats or ferries to Capri, and there is also a train station that takes you direct to Pompei.
We stayed at the Hotel La Tonnarella, and it was priced at about $150 per night 2 years ago. The hotel has a small private beach (down an elevator and some stairs) and a great restaurant.
The town of Sorrento had great shops (lots of antiques) and was less touristy than some of the other Amalfi Coast towns.
We did Pompei easily in a day trip. I recommend connecting with one of the many tour guides that wait outside the entrance to Pompei. Otherwise you can wait in a long line for tickets.
We also did the bus ride down the Amalfi Coast (quite dramatic) to Amalfi, then took the hydrofoil back (fast but noisy and no view).
Enjoy! We are longing to go back and will stay at the same place.
We stayed at the Hotel La Tonnarella, and it was priced at about $150 per night 2 years ago. The hotel has a small private beach (down an elevator and some stairs) and a great restaurant.
The town of Sorrento had great shops (lots of antiques) and was less touristy than some of the other Amalfi Coast towns.
We did Pompei easily in a day trip. I recommend connecting with one of the many tour guides that wait outside the entrance to Pompei. Otherwise you can wait in a long line for tickets.
We also did the bus ride down the Amalfi Coast (quite dramatic) to Amalfi, then took the hydrofoil back (fast but noisy and no view).
Enjoy! We are longing to go back and will stay at the same place.
Mar 9th, 2003, 11:01 PM
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While qualifying my response by saying I've never been to Positano, I would recommend staying in Capri. I agree with the above posts about overnighting in Capri; the place really does change after the last boat leaves. You have the place to yourself. It's really a magical island. Of course, I've heard Positano is beautiful and romantic too, but... it's not an island! ;-)
If you stay in Positano, Sorrento will likely be a hub for you of sorts. From there, you can catch the boat to Capri (as others mentioned), and you can hop on the Circumvesuviana train, which terminates at Sorrento, up to Pompeii (about 30-45 min. I think).
As for Rome, just enjoy yourself and see what you can see, and throw a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi fountain to ensure a return visit. I spent seven days there, and still have lots to see next time.
Congratulations, you couldn't have picked a better spot for a honeymoon, in my opinion.
If you stay in Positano, Sorrento will likely be a hub for you of sorts. From there, you can catch the boat to Capri (as others mentioned), and you can hop on the Circumvesuviana train, which terminates at Sorrento, up to Pompeii (about 30-45 min. I think).
As for Rome, just enjoy yourself and see what you can see, and throw a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi fountain to ensure a return visit. I spent seven days there, and still have lots to see next time.
Congratulations, you couldn't have picked a better spot for a honeymoon, in my opinion.
Mar 10th, 2003, 06:38 AM
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Raymond says
>...throw a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi fountain to ensure a return visit. <
Do you throw the coin
left hand over right shoulder
left hand over left shoulder
right hand over right shoulder
right hand over left shoulder
or doesn't it matter?
>...throw a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi fountain to ensure a return visit. <
Do you throw the coin
left hand over right shoulder
left hand over left shoulder
right hand over right shoulder
right hand over left shoulder
or doesn't it matter?
Mar 10th, 2003, 08:59 AM
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We are in the process of planning our honeymoon for October and are focusing on the amalfi coast. We've decided to stay first in ravello (3 nights)rather than positano and just wander around there, amalfi, and probably positano, also Paestum. Then, we are going to stay for 3 nights in sorrento and use this as a base for capri, pompei, herculaneum. I know you don't have this much time, but i think ravello just looks magical.
Mar 10th, 2003, 09:36 AM
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Lindenbusch,
Congrats. I'm also planning a honeymoon similar to yours. We're leaving in 3 weeks to spend 2 weeks in Positano, Rome and Florence (4 nights in each).
In Positano we're staying in Villa Rosa (www.villarosapositano.com) and its 130 per night. It's very well spoken of on this board. We're also doing a driver to see pompeii on our last day back from Positano to Naples, then EuroStar to Rome. Same method of travel from Rome to Positano.
Have a great trip.
Congrats. I'm also planning a honeymoon similar to yours. We're leaving in 3 weeks to spend 2 weeks in Positano, Rome and Florence (4 nights in each).
In Positano we're staying in Villa Rosa (www.villarosapositano.com) and its 130 per night. It's very well spoken of on this board. We're also doing a driver to see pompeii on our last day back from Positano to Naples, then EuroStar to Rome. Same method of travel from Rome to Positano.
Have a great trip.
Mar 10th, 2003, 09:46 AM
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To insure your return to Rome, throw a coin over your Left shoulder into the Trevi Fountain. It doesn't matter which hand you use but you'd have better aim just flicking backwards from your left hand. Don't waste a 1 or 2 Euro coin--a penny or any other coin works just as well.
Mar 14th, 2003, 04:27 PM
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I want to thank everyone for all the worthwhile information. We've settled on staying in Positano at the Villa Rosa. It seems like a very nice place and we've seen good comments about the place here on Fodors. If anyone has any other experiences with the Villa Rosa, please feel free to expound 
Martin
Martin
