We have booked Hotel Parsifal in Ravello for first week of October.

Wendy wants to rent a car so we shan't be taking any buses.

I watched some u tube videos of the Amalfi Coast and Ravello looked good.

Thanks for your help. I am very grateful.

Thin

Wonderful thin! Ravello is gorgeous, next time I'd like to stay there, our landlord in Minori called it "the balcony of the world".

If you have a car it's perfect plus you can drive to Paestum and see those gorgeous Greek temples, and the museum is good there too.

We were there in early October of 2012 and the weather was lovely, sunny and warm but not hot.

I would second bellalinda - Praiano. We had a car, but caught the bus to the different towns mostly. Driving was pretty stressful - my husband earns big kudos points for doing this. It is a beautiful drive for the passenger though.

We stayed in a lovely family owned small hotel. I also recommended this to friends who were travelling in a group of 6 and they booked a villa.

Enjoy!

Thin... We just returned from the Amalfi and we rented a car. Big lesson learned. We rented the second smallest car. Rent the smallest. And ensure one of you is good at backing a manual car up inclines. The buses never back up.

The Parsifal is not the Cimbrone, but OMG, I adored that place! I readily admit that I prefer places that are unpretentious, and that's part of what I appreciated there. I also found stunning views; a small, but very charming courtyard in what was built as a convent centuries ago, and staff who could not have been more welcoming. While there, as you admire the jeweled necklace of lights that adorn the coastline far below, please take an extra sip of wine for me. :-)

Some recommendations for your time in Ravello: Take note of the wonderful fountain in the little piazza outside the hotel, visit the gardens of both the Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, and do step into the Ravello Duomo to see its lovely ambos.

I'm jealous! The Amalfi Coast is on my revisit list, and I would love to stay at the Parsifal, the Cimbrone being way too expensive. I didn't get to Paestum last time, and Ravello would be closer than Sorrento where I stayed on that trip (and didn't much care for). I think ekscrunchy has a TR for that area with some recommendations for eating and for mozarella, you might take a look.

Since you are staying in Ravello and will have a car (hopefully traffic will be better in October), you can easily visit Paestum (the temples and museum) and stop at Vanulo mozzarella farm. But go to Vanulo early, as they do sell out.

I was on a tour of Vanulo a couple of years ago and as we were walking around I asked our tour guide what happened to the water buffalo after they stopped giving milk. She replied "And here we are at our leather goods shop!" They have some really beautiful products that aren't too expensive.

I second Julie's advice on the small car. We had the smallest car they had, thank heavens.
My husband gets full marks for his driving ability on the Amalfi coast and parking ability in very tight spaces sometimes.

It was nice to drive to Paestum and find "normal" parking.

Ooh sounds lovely, I am book marking the Parsifal for a future visit. I hope you will let us know what you think?

This is the TR I was remembering: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-naples.cfm

Hi Thin, One of my art group friends is from the town of Castellabate. She showed me photos of it and it looks very special. If I remember correctly, it's located near Salerno but not on the Vietri side.

Since you've visited some of the more well-known places on the Amalfi Coast, perhaps this might suit. FWIW.

Hope your trip occurs!

Castellabate is a pretty little town; there are really three towns--the medieval hill town with beautiful stone architecture and great views, and two adjacent towns along the sea, San Marco and Sta Maria. I stayed in Sta Maria 2 years ago and would recommend. But it is very different than the Amalfi Coast. The coastal towns are resort towns, but they are much less glitzy (in fact,, pretty glitz-free as faras I could tell) and attract very few daytrippers. Very little English spoken, even in some hotels. NIce beach with good swimming. Really nice, but scenery is not nearly as dramatic as Amalfi Coast. More, I think, for people who have been to Italy at least a few times and are comfortable in places where English-speakers are not commonly found. (No comment at all on the OP, just offering opinion for others who might be interested)

Terrific, Thin! The Moorish columns just inside the Villa Ruffalo entrance photograph beautifully in the changing light.
You will faint!

BE SURE to eat tons of THE BUFFALO MOZZARELLA. It is absolutely amazing!!!!
Near Paestum is an entire street(can't remember the street name) that has 1 buffalo mozzarella shop after another!
The views are just fabulous ....it makes you feel wonderful!
Trend Girl.

Positano

We stayed at Hotel Conca Dora in Positano very reasonable

ekscrunchy, your description of Castellabate (and area) sounds appropriate--for Italy veterans with the language.

Here you can find some tips to help you choose where to stay in Amalfi Coast
http://www.positano.com/en/places

Bookmarking

Ravello has it all. Good hotels and food. Less touristy. Good walks down to Amalfi and Atrani. Majestic views.