carey50107

My first trip to Italy is a week villa rental in Nocelle, 5K from Positano, 9-6 through 9-13. We would like to add a 3 day trip to Rome at the end. While the rental in Nocelle is confirmed, we have not finalized travel. Would you recommend flying into Naples and home from Rome? It seems if we do this, we would travel by train from Naples to Rome? Can we expect to pay more for the different arrival and departure airports? I have been reading all your posts and already have a sheet of notes, thanks to all of you! Just ordered Julian Tippett's Sunflower Guide for hiking around Nocelle and Positano. Also have Rick Steve's guide info. for Italy. Any suggestions for a hotel in Rome, centrally located, as we only have 3 days here? Our rental in Nocelle is 5K from Positano--any Nocelle info would be appreciated, local market or eatery. We are planning day trips to Pompei and Naples. Should we have a rental car? Our rental info in Nocelle tells us there is a "public car park" in Nocelle, then a 100m walk to villa. Any suggestions you have will be very appreciated!

SusanP

Yes, you should try to fly into Naples and out of Rome (an open-jaw ticket). It will not be much, if any, more than a round trip to one place, and that way you don't have to backtrack to get your flight home. If your villa is close to the train, that's an easy way to get to Naples and Pompeii, but I have no idea if that's the case.

How much do you want to spend per night in Rome? Do a search here for Rome hotels and you'll get more information than you know what to do with.

Steve_James

Hi Carey - Nocelle? Nice choice . You will feel like you've stepped back in time ...

It's one of my favourite places on the Amalfi Coast - far from the madding crowd, even though it's only a 20 mins bus ride from Positano.

The views are just breathtaking.
http://tinyurl.com/3coedn

It's the start of the famous 'Path of the Gods' hike - and you can see all along the coast as far as the Faraglioni (- Capri).

It's completely car-free - the only parking lot is above the village.
It's only recently become accessible by road. The village is a series of narrow alleyways - and steps, lots of them (- the people who live there must be the fittest in Italy ).

Your most convenient mode of transport to Rome may well be the Marozzi bus service - which departs Positano 16.10 (- arrive Rome 21.00 approx.)
Fare: €20.00 one way (€34.50 return)

For details see:
www.marozzivt.it

For hikes you might find these useful:

http://www.amalfihome.com/member/hikes.html

http://www.giovis.com/sentdei.htm

If I remember there's one shop - maybe 2 - otherwise you'll have to buy supplies elsewhere.

The trattoria in Nocelle - San Croce - has a gorgeous view.

Otherwise you could pop down to Montepertuso (- don't miss La Tagliata
http://www.latagliata.com/
Best lunchtime. Superb views

Also in Montepertuso, Donna Rosa gets good reviews.

Alternatively you're spoilt for choice in Positano.

Whether to have a car? The bus service to Nocelle doesn't run very late - so that may be a deciding factor.

Otherwise you can reach most places from Positano by bus or ferry.

Let me know if I can be of more help ...

Steve

Steve_James

ttt

carey50107

Thank you so much for your responses. We are looking forward to staying in the village. Your references and web links are a great help with our trip planning. Still debating about the car as the rental company for the villa implies we can park in the public park and walk "100m". Thanks for the bus link as we had only considered the train to Italy out of Naples. Your help is invaluable for my first trip to Italy. I will visit all of the links you suggested.

Steve_James

Carey - The Positano-Nocelle bus service runs approximately hourly in September.

You can find timetables on:

http://www.flaviogioia.com/news/defa...mp;id_cat1=116

You can connect at the Chiesa Nouva/Bar Internazionale stop (- upper Positano) for Amalfi Coast services to Sorrento and Amalfi.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

carey50107

Steve, thanks for the bus info. and links! You must have visited recently or traveled this area many times. My notebook is growing with all we'll need for planning this trip. I wish I was leaving tomorrow! We'll be sure to find out the last bus back to Nocelle--the last thing we need is to be out in the evening and miss our ride home; 1700 steps could be daunting after some food and drink! Thanks again, your info. is great.

packed

Nocelle is lovely, but remote and very quiet. While you may call it a village, I would call it a small neighborhood. There is a small square but you don't see anyone there. We have been there twice at the end of the hike during the day and run into very few people. Perhaps that is what you are looking for, and yes there are STAIRS.