Where to go with 3 days on Almafi Coast

Old Apr 27th, 2011, 09:02 AM
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Where to go with 3 days on Almafi Coast

After a trip to Rome I've got three days to spend on the coast- Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Salerno, Capri??? I'd like to pick one town for a home base and explore other towns each day. How to travel- rent a car or take the bus? Any hotel recommendations?

I'm thinking of staying in Sorrento with views of the Bay of Naples, renting a car and driving to Almafi, Positano, or Ravello one day. Maybe a ferry to Capri or Ischia?

I've never been to Italy, traveling alone, please give advice! Thanks!
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Old Apr 27th, 2011, 09:14 AM
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It's not necessarily the prettiest of all the places you've mentioned but, with such a limited amount of time (3 days, 2 nights, I assume?) and lots to see, Sorrento probably would be your ideal base - and a nice place to stay!

This may give an idea of transport times with public transport...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132567370

There's lots of useful stuff about the Sorrento Peninsula and Amalfi Coast in the 'Travel Directory' which you can download from the official tourism website, here...
http://www.costiera.it/weben/index.htm

The direct link is... http://www.costiera.it/images/pdf/Tr...rectory_En.pdf

High time that was updated, so do crosscheck any times, prices etc!

And if you should want some more photos, to make the 'where to go' decision even harder, start here...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

Hope that's a start,
Peter
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Old Apr 27th, 2011, 09:54 AM
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Sorrento would be my first choice. Easy local train to Pompeii (a must-see; spend the money for a private guide, you will not regret it), easy ferries to Capri and Positano, easy (flat) strolling, killer views of the Bay of Naples, wide choice of restaurants, and Davide (look it up).
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Old Apr 27th, 2011, 10:47 AM
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Great info- I have 3 days and nights, returning for an afternoon flight out of Rome the 4th day. I need a train from Rome and back is Sorrento the best location for this/

Zorrof- I'm planning a daytrip from Rome to Pompeii so I can go with my son and his girlfriend, I'm definately excited about that. Great advice about a private guide, can you recommend one? So that doesn't have to fit on my few days on the coast.

Peter- Thanks for the links great info and awesome pics. Why do you say Sorrento is not the prettiest the slide show is gorgeous. Where else would you choose?

So if I have 3 days, what are the three best places to go? One day ferry to Capri or Ischia? One day in Ravello or Positano?
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Old Apr 27th, 2011, 11:12 AM
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Do I understand that you will travel from Rome to Pompeii, then return to Rome, only to return to Naples a few days later? Why don't you travel from Pompei to Sorrento after your tour of the site?
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Old Apr 27th, 2011, 01:59 PM
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You can train Rome to Naples and change for a Naples-Sorrento Train. Pompeii is about 20 minutes by train from Sorrento; I would NOT travel from Rome (where there are MANY things to see and do) for a day trip to Pompeii when you are going to be in Sorrento. As for private guides at Pompeii, they are lined up at the entrance. Just pick one who speaks fair English. Our guide (Mario) was 72 years old, walked our butts off all morning with a most charming and informative tour. While we headed back to Sorrento for nap, he waited to start an afternoon tour!
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Old Apr 28th, 2011, 12:36 AM
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Hi again! Let's do the tedious stuff first...

You'll only be able to get as far as Naples on the national Trenitalia system - whose early morning offerings on weekdays look something like this....

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132357095

... roughly, the faster the train, the dearer the tickets are!

Once in Naples, you'll then change onto the local Circumvesuviana railway, which offers a service directly into the centre of Sorrento:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/124987094

There are three handy maps of the town, its surroundings and the various public transport routes to download, here...

http://www.unicocampania.it/index.ph...mappe_sorrento

And hopefully this will help you with the change of tracks within 'Napoli Centrale' station - both for this visit, and also on your trip to Pompei perhaps...

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-or-pompei.cfm

.....................................

With your plans and - effectively - a long weekend, I'd probably choose Sorrento... but might very well succumb to temptation and have the last night somewhere towards the further (eastern) end of the Amalfi Coast....

Then, on the morning of departure, I'd get up early and complete my circuit of the peninsula by shuffling along to Salerno - and catch the Trenitalia train back up to Rome from there.

And I'd probably pick Amalfi itself, both as the best place for leaving from (it's the terminus both for buses from Sorrento, and to Salerno) and also because it offers the most to see and do, with a quite remarkable history... about which you'll no doubt have already read in the "Travel Directory" I mentioned last time?

Not only are the scenery and geography of the two sides of the peninsula very different, but the places along the AC side see a vastly smaller proportion of British and American tourists than Sorrento - from whom you might be ready for a break by then?

This should give you some idea of who goes where...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/130860382

I've not posted any of my pictures from that side as they're not wonderful, but try for instance...

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=%22amalfi+coast%22

............................................

And when it comes to islands, of course I'd suggest Ischia over Capri - but then I live here, and could just be a little biased?

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/allaboutischia

Peter
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Old Apr 28th, 2011, 08:22 AM
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I will be in Rome with family who want to go to Pompeii. I thought about going there on my last day in Rome and saying our goodbyes while they head back to Rome and I head onto Sorrento. But wondering what to do with my luggage??? I just bought the Osprey Sojourn wheeled backpack but don't think I want to lug it around Pompeii.

So here's the itenary as its shaping up-
May 24-May 29 Rome
May 29 Rome to Pompeii Pompeii to Sorrento
May 30 Enjoy Sorrento
May 31 Ferry to Ischai (or Capri)
June 1 Bus to Amalfi Stay in Almafi
June 2 Amalfo to Rome to Kabul

Can I take a ferry to Almalfi? How long?

Would this be an alternative:
May 31 Ferry to Amalfi
June 1 Bus to Amalfi towns

Peter you are a wealth of info! I checked out the photos and downloaded the guide but haven't read too much yet. I also bought the Naples Sorrento and Amalfi Adventure Guide for my kindle and the Eyewitness Guide to Rome.

I've got a month to have fun figuring this out, but do want a framework so I can make the travel bookings.

Any hotel suggestions for Sorrento and Amalfi??? I want that gorgeous bay of Naples view! From an outdoor deck with a jucuzzi...a charming little Italian room...a delicious breakfast and scrumptious seafood!

Ciao!
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Old Apr 28th, 2011, 08:32 AM
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Just as an aside, probably, but you could have used the site's Left Luggage facility....

http://www.pompeiviva.it/pv/en/serviziofferti.htm

Peter
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Old Apr 28th, 2011, 08:42 AM
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If you want an outdoor deck with jacuuzzi I suggest you look at Positano. The wonderful Eden Roc hotel has just such a room the hotel is a gem, famly run. We loved it.

Positano is stunning,and a good base for Amalfi, Ravello etc.
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Old Apr 28th, 2011, 09:38 AM
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A few thoughts - in no particular order, some more relevant than others, and with no ideas on how you might fit them together...

- Don't forget that you'll need to be on the Sorrento side to see views of the bay of Naples - from Vesuvius round to Ischia...

They can be quite wonderful: try these, not mine but from Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?s=int&...+ischia&m=text

The Amalfi side looks out instead onto the Bay of Salerno!
...........................

- There's also a Left Luggage place by the harbour on Capri, so you could check out from Sorrento, cross to there by hydrofoil or ferry and spend the day, before leaving by boat to Amalfi for that night - or not?

For an idea of services from Sorrento to Capri, select the right voyage here...
http://www.capri.net/en/ferry-schedule?path_id=14

And, for one example of getting from Capri to Amalfi, see...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/133933414

(I'm trying to keep the TA thread mentioned there up to date - as and when I receive the timetable updates!)

..............................................

- Sorrento is, to say the least, a little short on bathing beaches, and you might perhaps be able to do all the exploring you want in the evenings.... leaving that day as the opportunity to visit Positano, some 50 minutes away by bus - which, with the Capri scheme above, you might otherwise leapfrog past?

If staying there, Positano would probably be the more awkward a place to leave from, if you remember this...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132567370

Getting on for two hours by bus and then a train to Naples station, as against a 75 minute bus ride from Amalfi to Salerno?
...............................................

- Or instead, you might want to something like this girl did on her day's visit to Ischia from Sorrento....

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Campania.html

Personally I think she chose the wrong spa, and should have gone to our favourite - Negombo - but you get the idea?

For more, start here... http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/iscstars

............................................

And that's about it, so now headache's all yours, but there must be worse problems to have - and maybe arriving directly from the family Pompei trip might gain you half a day or so?

Sorry that I can't help with accommodation, but we nearly always come home to Ischia after our travels!

Peter
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Old Apr 28th, 2011, 12:27 PM
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Brit in Ischia, you are AMAZING! Mille grazie for sharing your knowledge with all us first-timers to Sorrento and Amalfi Coasts. Thank you, thank you!!!
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Old Apr 28th, 2011, 08:58 PM
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Hope it's useful!

Peter
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Old Apr 30th, 2011, 09:14 AM
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After reading other threads and following all the links here's what I'm thinking- please comment if its doable and is a good plan to enjoy this wonderful area.

I have some concerns about getting around by public transportation but after reading all the debates still don't know what's the best way to get around. I love the water and boating, which is why I decided on the coast area so thinking about getting around with ferries and hydrofoils. A few questions- taking ferries around Capri and also to get around the Amalfi coast- can you get off and on while you visit towns similar to the bus? Also I see posts about hiring drivers- what about hiring day sailors or cruisers to get around? Just thoughts about how to travel by water more than land. Also what about biking? Is it possible for instance to bike between Amalfi and Ravello?

Current thoughts for itinerary:
May 29 Rome to Pompeii to Sorrento- stay in Sorrento
May 30 Boat to Ischia return to Sorrento- stay in Sorrento
May 31 Boat to Capri from Capri to Amalfi- stay in Amalfi
June 1 Explore Amalfi- what to do with one day?- stay in Amalfi
June 2 Amalfi to Rome- what is the best travel to do this? My flight leaves at 15:45 from FCO

So I need 2 night hotel in Sorrento for trips to the island, then 2 nights in Almafi, want bay views in both towns.

Is visiting both islands a good idea which leaves on only one day for Amalfi, or better to do just one of the islands and have more time for Amalfi towns? What about skipping Sorrento/Ischia and going right to Amalfi with 2 days to explore and one day for a boat to Capri and back?

I now wish I had maybe planned a few more days for my trip!
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Old Apr 30th, 2011, 03:43 PM
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I would do only one island and I would not miss the best of the AC---Ravello and Positano. See for yourself:

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=4481
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Old Apr 30th, 2011, 06:26 PM
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If your flight leaves at 15:45, you need to be at the airport by 12:45. I would NOT rely on Italian trains to get you to FCO on the day of your flight. They're just not that reliable: strikes, power outages, etc. And if you're leaving from an island, the ferries add another level of uncertainty.

From Amalfi, you could bus or ferry to Salerno and catch the train there to Rome -- as Brit_in_Ischia said.

Arriving in Naples Centrale, you go downstairs inside the station to catch the Circumvesuviana commuter train to Pompeii and Sorrento.
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Old Apr 30th, 2011, 09:10 PM
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Apologies - June 2nd is a national holiday here and the buses that day are almost certainly going to be less frequent than usual.

It's the Festa della Repubblica, which will probably be celebrated more heartily in this, the 150th anniversary year of Italian nationhood.

Here's the timetable for the SITA buses that covers your stay... approx 75 minutes from Amalfi to Salerno..

http://www.sitabus.it/sitabus/campan...A/QUADROXV.pdf

I'd expect the only ones available will be those coded with G or H... and that none with an F would be running that day... so, for instance, no 06:30, 07:15, 09:00, 11:00, 11:30 etc.... and perhaps more passengers than usual on the ones that are running!

Sorry - the important stuff sometimes gets overlooked, but I at least should have noticed it before now...

Peter
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