After deciding on a trip to Paris my husband pushed instead for a trip to Italy so....we're going to Italy. We're focusing in on Rome AND either Positano or Sorrento. Here is my question - my thought was we could fly into Naples then travel down to the Amalfi Coast in a lower energy environment to spend our first day which will kind of be an adjustment day. Stay in our Amalfi Coast location for 3 days then travel up to Rome to end the vacation with a bang. Would it make more sense to do just the opposite? Fly into Rome so we can go directly to the hotel and end the vacation chilling out on the coast. I know this could be a personal choice I'm just hoping someone has done something similar and could advise how it went.

Thanks for any advice.

I've done the equivalent of both ways. I get the impression you have the choice of flying into one airport and out of the other, according to your comments so far. If that is indeed the case, my choice would be to fly into Rome, settle there because you are there, then travel to the Amalfi Coast for your last few days, and fly out from Naples.

If you don't really plan to fly into and out of different airports, I suggest you fly into Rome and start there. End the trip with some pleasant days along the Amalfi Coast, but you still have to get back to Rome for departure. That might involve a last night in Rome before leaving. If you fly into and out of Naples, the same kind of problem remains.

I just think it's more pleasant to end a trip in a leisurely fashion. However, if you plan to see the Mt Etna area, you might want to split the vacation by staying in the AC when you go down, then take your last few days in Rome. It's one approach that I haven't tried, but it is attractive.

I agree with Wayne. Start with a bang and end with a relaxing 2-3 days.

My husband & I did a similar trip last year. We flew into Rome, stayed 2 nights, took the train to Florence for 2 nights and then headed south to the Amalfi Coast. We took the train to Salerno, and then took the ferry to Positano. It was great because we got a chance to see the scenic towns like Amalfi, Minori, Ravello etc. from the water. We stayed in Positano for 4 nights at Le Agavi. On our way out we took the ferry from Positano- Naples (so we saw the other side of the coast- Capri, Sorrento,etc.) before getting the train back to Rome where we stayed our final night. I would suggest Positano over Sorrento. Friends of ours stayed in Sorrento and were disappointed. Positano was lovely and a good central point for exploring other towns.
Hope this is helpful...Have a great trip!

My apologies for having my brain in another part of the country when I posted my comment. I meant to say Mt. Vesuvius, not Mt. Etna. Sorry for the slipup.

We did 3 nights in Rome, (train to Naples then ferry to Capri)
2 nights Capri (ferry to Positano)
5 nights Postino (ferry to Naples)
1 night Naples (before flight out the next day).

We liked starting in the hubbub and excitement of the city and ending with the elegance and beauty of the coast. The transportation worked out this way as well.
But it could be done either way!

Hi D,

Check the schedules out of Rome and Naples.

I think you get more choices from FCO.

I would fly into Naples, have a limo take me to Sorrento or Positano, have same limop take me back to Naples Centrale and train to Rome.

Enjoy your visit.

My personal preference is to start out in a city since I'm always charged up when I start out my travels. Going somewhere to chill out and relax at the end of the trip seems to work for me. Positano is the perfect place to relax and wander around the Amalfi coast. We took day trips to Ravello, Amalfi, etc. I haven't spent any time in Sorrento although I've heard it's an easier place to use as a home base. I like the small size of Positano and the unique picturesque layout of this small seaside town.

We just did that exact itenerary in October. We had 5 full days of relaxing in Positano and then 2/1/2 full days in Rome, we were exhausted. We had a big discussion with the other couple we traveled with about this and decided we wish we had done Rome first. You will love Positano. We took a ferry to Ravello and Capri. Also we took the train from Naples to Rome. It was great to see the country. I think it was about 3 hours but nice train. You'll want to get a first class ticket. In Positano we stayed at Hotel Poseidon. It was a great location and the people and food were fabulous.

Have a great trip. I am jealous!

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