Salerno as base for exploring Amalfi Coast?
 

Hi,

I'm spending 7 weeks in Italy starting in June and want to spend a week exploring the Amalfi coast--thanks to some of your suggestions a few weeks ago, actually! My friend and I are on a budget and we've found a very affordable and nice-sounding bed and breakfast in Salerno, with a kitchen we can use. We planned to use that as a base to explore the region: Positano, Paestum, Capri, Pompeii, etc.

Does this sound like a good idea, or is it difficult to access these locations from Salerno? Would we be better off staying in Sorrento, or moving around the region and spending a night or two in each different location? The bed and breakfast in Salerno is 17 euro/night, but I'm wondering if the money we'll spend on transportation around the region might make Salerno an expensive place to stay anyway.

Hi - Salerno would be ideal for Paestum but not good for the Amalfi coast. The coast road along to Positano is so narrow and winding and the traffic is so heavy that travelling along it is very slow and there are frequent traffic jams.

We had a look at Sorrento (just a quick look) and didn't like it much but I imagine some other Fodorites will probably say we didn't look closely enough.

Anyway we stayed at a small hotel perched on the cliffs in a little village called Praiano which is a 10 minute drive away from Positano. I think it was called Hotel Il Pino and whilst not posh was comfortable with gorgeous views and a very good bistro close by. Must ask for a balcony room.

We were stunned by the sight of the wonderful sunsets towards Capri.

We visited Pompeii quite easily from there.

Perhaps other people may be able to give you other recommendations.

It is a beautiful area and we really enjoyed our visit.

Hope this has been of help to you.

Hi whimsicalkid, is this a typing error? You found a B&B in Salerno for 17 euro a night? What are the accomodations like?

Hi kid,

17E/nite pp is an amazingly low price.

As noted, you can easily visit Paestum.

You can get to the AC via SITA bus to Amalfi where you would change to the SITA bus for Sorrento (stops at other towns).

You can take the train to Naples and from there the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento.

However, you will be spending a lot of time traveling to and fro.

Bus schedules at
http://www.sita-on-line.it/

Train schedules at www.trenitalia.com and http://www.vesuviana.it/orari.htm

((I))

PS

Ferry schedule

Salerno (P.zza della Concordia) – Positano:
08,40 – 09,40 - 11,30 – 14,10 – 15,30
(Stops at Amalfi)

Positano - Salerno (P.zza della Concordia): 10,00 – 11,30 – 13,30 – 15,40 – 17,15

5 E 70 min

Hi loveitaly,

Yup, it does work out to about 17 euro per night, forgot to mention that's per person, though--i'll be sharing a room with one double bed with a friend. It seems like a nice place, it's a bed and breakfast run by a Canadian ex-pat. The web site is mysalernoapartment.com. I've heard good things about it, so I'm thinking maybe the accomodation will make Salerno worthwhile as a base even if it a little farther away from everything.

17 euros? Can't beat that anywhere north of Salerno. Considering you're there for seven weeks, sounds like a good plan.

The ferries, though, are subject to cancellation in rough seas. You might end up on the SITA buses, which are fine (and easier to find empty seats on in Salerno than in Sorrento).