Rome to Pompeii to Amalfi Coast drive to Capri?
Nov 22nd, 2010, 10:24 PM
#21
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210lisam,
Maybe another option to consider:
- Tour Pompeii as planned
- Have a private driver pick you up in Pompeii
- From Pompeii head to Ravello. You can reach Ravello in about 40-50 minutes by going up and over the mountain pass (watch out for goats and donkeys!)
- Spend a little time in Ravello and see Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo (great views and iconic scenery from up here)
- Bus or taxi down into Amalfi (attenzione! taxis to Amalfi are expensive!)
- Ferries run from Amalfi and even Positano in the summer months. Timing is less frequent, so you have to double check the ferry schedule.
That would give you a nice sampler of the iconic towns of the Amalfi Coast and you'd get up above to get the great views of the coast.
Just a thought...
Maybe another option to consider:
- Tour Pompeii as planned
- Have a private driver pick you up in Pompeii
- From Pompeii head to Ravello. You can reach Ravello in about 40-50 minutes by going up and over the mountain pass (watch out for goats and donkeys!)
- Spend a little time in Ravello and see Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo (great views and iconic scenery from up here)
- Bus or taxi down into Amalfi (attenzione! taxis to Amalfi are expensive!)
- Ferries run from Amalfi and even Positano in the summer months. Timing is less frequent, so you have to double check the ferry schedule.
That would give you a nice sampler of the iconic towns of the Amalfi Coast and you'd get up above to get the great views of the coast.
Just a thought...
Nov 23rd, 2010, 04:52 PM
#22
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"ggreen" thanks..
My interests include seeing new places, but not traveling with a tour group, driving to "off the beaten track" places and different types of food.
Thanks for the suggestion to post a separate thread for Rome. We have been there a couple of times before, so was looking for some additional input on personal favorites relating to hotels and restaurants.
My interests include seeing new places, but not traveling with a tour group, driving to "off the beaten track" places and different types of food.
Thanks for the suggestion to post a separate thread for Rome. We have been there a couple of times before, so was looking for some additional input on personal favorites relating to hotels and restaurants.
Nov 23rd, 2010, 05:21 PM
#23
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Ah, you sound like my (and a lot of other Fodorites) kind of traveler! 
...If you do make a post with questions for Rome, be sure to mention up front what you have/haven't done; did/didn't like on your prior visits (e.g., I've stayed at Hotel X but want to try something new for Reason Y) -- or you might get some passionate replies about doing your research first LOL.
This past spring, I went to the Amalfi Coast for the first time ever (though I'd been in Naples before). You'll be there so early in the year that I imagine it will certainly feel "off the beaten track"! We were there in the first week of May; it was temperate and there were plenty of other visitors in the area, but nothing like what I've heard it becomes in the summer.
On our trip, we spent 2 nights in Amalfi (Hotel Miramalfi, chosen because of a good price and totally fine for our purposes), then 3 in Sorrento, which was great for proximity to things we wanted to do but definitely felt like a tourist town. We stayed in town about a 15 minute walk to the train station; it was nice to be out of the fray a bit but get to walk through it. Of course if you'll have the car, you'll want to look for a place with parking!
While Positano is of course very romantic and beautiful, we really liked the laid-back and more local feel of Amalfi. We hiked the Sentieri Degli Dei (Walk of the Gods) from Nocelle to Praiano; I wish we'd had time to go to Ravello...
...If you do make a post with questions for Rome, be sure to mention up front what you have/haven't done; did/didn't like on your prior visits (e.g., I've stayed at Hotel X but want to try something new for Reason Y) -- or you might get some passionate replies about doing your research first LOL.This past spring, I went to the Amalfi Coast for the first time ever (though I'd been in Naples before). You'll be there so early in the year that I imagine it will certainly feel "off the beaten track"! We were there in the first week of May; it was temperate and there were plenty of other visitors in the area, but nothing like what I've heard it becomes in the summer.
On our trip, we spent 2 nights in Amalfi (Hotel Miramalfi, chosen because of a good price and totally fine for our purposes), then 3 in Sorrento, which was great for proximity to things we wanted to do but definitely felt like a tourist town. We stayed in town about a 15 minute walk to the train station; it was nice to be out of the fray a bit but get to walk through it. Of course if you'll have the car, you'll want to look for a place with parking!
While Positano is of course very romantic and beautiful, we really liked the laid-back and more local feel of Amalfi. We hiked the Sentieri Degli Dei (Walk of the Gods) from Nocelle to Praiano; I wish we'd had time to go to Ravello...
Nov 23rd, 2010, 07:12 PM
#24
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That's great/helpful input (ggreen), thanks. Which hotel did you stay in Sorrento??
I like the idea of also staying in Amalfi, this would give us more time to wander around the town.
Do you have any restaurant suggestions for Sorrento and/or Amalfi?
I like the idea of also staying in Amalfi, this would give us more time to wander around the town.
Do you have any restaurant suggestions for Sorrento and/or Amalfi?
Nov 23rd, 2010, 08:30 PM
#25
>>Keep in mind, in March you won't be there during tourist season,<<<
I've been to Capri in March and there were still plenty of tourists (and day-tripper tour groups).
john21w - I agree with ggreen about starting your own thread since your concerns about the coast are different from the OP's and we don't want to hijack the OP's thread.
I've been to Capri in March and there were still plenty of tourists (and day-tripper tour groups).
john21w - I agree with ggreen about starting your own thread since your concerns about the coast are different from the OP's and we don't want to hijack the OP's thread.
Nov 24th, 2010, 05:38 AM
#27
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Sorry, I should have said <i>high</i> tourist season. As I said subsequently, <i>there were plenty of other visitors in the area, but nothing like what I've heard it becomes in the summer</i>.
john21w, do start a new topic and I'll reply there. Put it in the Europe forum and tag it for Italy; it's useful to include in the title words like "fine tune", the time of year, places you want help on...
john21w, do start a new topic and I'll reply there. Put it in the Europe forum and tag it for Italy; it's useful to include in the title words like "fine tune", the time of year, places you want help on...
Nov 24th, 2010, 06:00 AM
#28
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Re "When driving the coast, does it matter what side of the road we're on, or will the views be great either way? Most trips seem to go west to east, whereas I'm thinking about going east to west", since nobody else seems to have mentioned it. The views are lovely both ways but bear in mind that going west to east you are next to the sheer drop - you may see that as an advantage or a disadvantage.
OP, your original plan would be far too action packed for me but if ferry/hydrofoil times allow I'd agree with getting the train from Rome to Salerno, getting a driver to take you from Salerno to Amalfi to Sorrento (with a detour to Ravello if there's time) then back to Naples to get the ferry/hydrofoil to Capri - I'm sure they run later from Naples, for local commuters. You may be able to fit in a couple of hours at Pompeii on your way to Naples but it sounds as though you've realised you're not too bothered.
What time is your flight out of Naples ? Could you go to Pompeii on your way back ? Will you have much luggage ?
You can see the mainland from Capri but not in any detail.
Capri is beautiful - speaking as one who's spent two separate weeks there - but I can imagine it may seem a horribly overcrowded tourist trap to many who just go on a daytrip and don't get off the main drag.
OP, your original plan would be far too action packed for me but if ferry/hydrofoil times allow I'd agree with getting the train from Rome to Salerno, getting a driver to take you from Salerno to Amalfi to Sorrento (with a detour to Ravello if there's time) then back to Naples to get the ferry/hydrofoil to Capri - I'm sure they run later from Naples, for local commuters. You may be able to fit in a couple of hours at Pompeii on your way to Naples but it sounds as though you've realised you're not too bothered.
What time is your flight out of Naples ? Could you go to Pompeii on your way back ? Will you have much luggage ?
You can see the mainland from Capri but not in any detail.
Capri is beautiful - speaking as one who's spent two separate weeks there - but I can imagine it may seem a horribly overcrowded tourist trap to many who just go on a daytrip and don't get off the main drag.
Nov 24th, 2010, 08:37 AM
#29
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John21w: No worries about "hijacking" my original post - the more the merrier! You may get more answers that you're looking for on your own post though...
Caroline_Edinburgh: Thanks for the info on the side of the road. Either is ok for me, but my husband is a little afraid of heights, so the inside of the road may be better. No time to see Pompeii on the way back to Naples, but looks like we still may have time to do it before the amalfi coast drive since the last ferry from Sorrento or Naples to Capri isn't until about 7pm. It might be a bit of a crazy day, but I think it will be a lot more relaxing with a driver, and we have several days on Capri afterward to hang out...
FamilyFriendlyItaly : Thanks for the ideas - Ravello sounds great!
Caroline_Edinburgh: Thanks for the info on the side of the road. Either is ok for me, but my husband is a little afraid of heights, so the inside of the road may be better. No time to see Pompeii on the way back to Naples, but looks like we still may have time to do it before the amalfi coast drive since the last ferry from Sorrento or Naples to Capri isn't until about 7pm. It might be a bit of a crazy day, but I think it will be a lot more relaxing with a driver, and we have several days on Capri afterward to hang out...
FamilyFriendlyItaly : Thanks for the ideas - Ravello sounds great!
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