My wife and I are planning one week in Italy in April to include several nights in Rome and probably two nights in Sorento or surrounding areas. We are looking for some recommendations on accommodations in Sorento for several nights. Also is it best to train it down to the region from Rome upon arrival, or rent a car? Thanks

Goodmorning, Gary <BR>Have stayed in Sorrento and also on <BR>Capri and I would sugest staying on <BR>Capri. Taking the train from Rome <BR>with a change in trains in Naples <BR>to the CIRCUMVESUVIANA RR. (www. <BR>vesuviana.it) to Sorrento. About 3 hours. The Sorrento Palace is in <BR>a very good location, a 5 star with <BR>390 rooms, the Continental is a four <BR>star with 80 rooms might be more <BR>acceptable, both are on the shore <BR>line on the cliffs above, rooms with <BR>bay views are very nice. We stayed <BR>at the Continental, many moons ago. <BR>I can also suggest the hotel SYRENE <BR>on Capri, also had a wonderful view <BR>of the sea. Check out the following <BR>urls. <BR>www.capri.it/ <BR>www.venere.it/ <BR>www.fs-on-line.it/ <BR>touristicsite.syrene.it/ <BR>www.syrene.it/ <BR>www.sorrentoweb.com/ <BR>www.enit.it/ <BR>www.starnet.it/italy/amalficoast/ <BR>www.capriweb.com/ <BR>Any other questions, don't hesitate <BR>to e mail me and will reply promptly. <BR>Richard of Hickory hills, IL

Renting a car offers the advantage of really being able to see the beautiful Amalfi coast at your leisure. And, it is worth seeing. A bus ride, obviously won't afford you the same flexibility. I'm not sure how busy that area is in April. We went three weeks ago, and we had no problem finding parking spaces anywhere. In season, however, we were told parking is often at a premium on the Amalfi coast. Perhaps someone can offer advice about traffic and parking in April. <BR>If you decide to take public transportation, you can easily get to Capri from Sorrento and can also take a bus ride along the coast. <BR>It should be beautiful there in April.

Several years ago we stayed for three nights in Sorrento at the Bellvue Syrene and would recommend it highly. Great location right on the bay with a view straight across to Versuvius. Most/all rooms have small balconies. The staff could not have been nicer or more helpful. They also had parking. From Sorento we spent a day on Capri and went to Pompeii on another day. <BR> <BR>We had a car and had stayed earlier in our trip in Positano. I think you shoul strongly consider a car for the options it will provide you, particularly for spending a day or two driving the Amalfi coast ---spectacular.

We stayed two nights at Sorrento, three nights on Capri, and three nights at Positano -- a wonderful time. But we did have a car (which we left parked in a cave parking garage near the Sorrento docks when we went to Capri.) One day we took a boat from Positano to Amalfi. The water became rough and all boats were cancelled for the return (which I understand happens a lot). We waited four hours for a bus back to Positano, crowded on and stood jammed with far more than its capacity for a horrible ride back to Positano. Many others did not get on the bus and had to wait hours for another bus. In short, get a car!!! The Amalfi drive, though breathtaking, is not all that bad. About Capri: try to spend a night there. It is jammed with daytrippers during the day, but we found it absolutely magical at night.

Another vote for the Bellevue Syrene. In addition to everything mentioned above, the hotel has a huge flower-filled terrace overlooking the bay and the indoor dining room also overlooks the bay. I loved it!