Hey Folks.
My wife is dying to see the Amalfi coast and we are going there in late May early June. We have four nights allocated for Sorrento so we can see (possibly Pompei, Positano, Sorrento, Amalfi, possibly Ravello and possibly Capri). My question is should we stay two in Sorrento and then move to say Amalfi or Positano for two nights. My wife really loves the small coastal towns and thats what she wants to see most. Looking for opinions.
Claude
I am generally all for making the wife happy, but I would not do 2 and 2. To best advise you on how to visit Pompeii, we need to know your arrival and departure points and times. For example, you might be able to see Pompeii en route from Naples to the Amalfi Coast.
For me it wouldn't be worth it. The trip from Sorrento TO Positano/Amalfi is part of the experience, both by boat and by bus, but it's better without having to deal with luggage. And then having to check in to another hotel. I have been to the area three times and always based in Sorrento. I'd do day trips - by boat, by bus or one way boat and back by bus. You can easily combine both Posistano and Amalfi in the same day trip (and add in Ravello is you are quick). Pompei is much easier from Sorrento and so is Capri (although that is also possible from Positano). I would pick either Sorrento or Positano and just do day trips if you only have four nights. I've spent 8 at a time in Sorrento and not been bored. Marina Grande is a section of Sorrento that is an old fishing village, I think a lot of people miss that. Sorrento gets a number of cruise ships (so does Positano) and it can be crowded during mid day, so by basing there you can enjoy it mornings and evenings with less crowds. Some people claim in high season (which is May/June as well as July/Aug) that the buses are horribly crowded. I have always gotten a seat but I go to the bus stop early for the first bus.
Stay in one place Sorrento, just take daytrips
I would stay in one place and agree with the other posters, Sorrento makes the most sense for a home base. We had 5 days there 2 years ago and did a tour of the Amalfi Coast one day, a boat tour to Capri another day, and took the train to Pompeii on our own. And there is so much to see in Sorrento too of course. Have a blast!
We stayed at the Hotel Plaza in Sorrento and really loved it. Although it was above our average budget of 140E/night, it was well worth it! The incredible linens, bed, double pained windows, fabulous breakfast buffet, I’d go back in a minute. Sorrento is also more expensive due to the influx of both international and Italian tourists. I wouldn’t move for just 2 night, just day trip to Positano/Almafi/Ravello. To go to Capri, so simple from the port in Sorrento also. Good luck with your choice!
OR . . . if you give up Capri (it's a long way), you could stay in Salerno. I liked it as much as Sorrento - both have their pluses and minuses. Sorrento is more convenient for the archaeological sights and Capri. Salerno is better for the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii is doable by train and longish walk or short taxi ride, and Paestum is also a great option.
Frankly, I was not much taken by the coastal towns themselves, especially in comparison with others in Italy. They are likely to be quite crowded even in late May. What is stunning is the scenery.
Here's the thing. If the wife is 'dying to see the Amalfi Coast', then she's got it in her mind--maybe--that she wants to wake up in the morning, look out the window or the balcony or whatever, and see that iconic view, the houses on the side of the mountain next to the sea. That's what people pay for.
You will not experience that in Sorrento, although it is a better overall base. Problem is, the best way to get over to the A.C. from Sorrento is by SITA bus. And unless you really plan and catch an early bus from Sorrento to Positano, then to Amalfi-town, in late May/early June you will no doubt be frustrated by having to wait for two or three buses until your place in the queue is in front. And to me, time is money when you're in Italy.
So...even though I am usually a proponent of making one base rather than two, in this instance I would do two nights Sorrento, in which you can easily take the Circumvesuviana commuter train to see Pompei, Ercolano or Naples, or Capri by ferry during the day and come back to a nap and a great dinner in the evening. And then you & your wife can experience two nights in Positano, Amalfi or Ravello, or even Minori, Maiori or Cetara, and have those spectacular views described above.
Enjoy your planning!
Dang it Jay...I booked an AirBnb in Sorrento based on the responses last night. Now I am starting to question whether it was the right move. Oh well...next time I am in the Amalfi Coast I will stay in Positano.
Maybe I should change my AirBnB. I will talk to my wife tonigth and see what she thinks.
Dang it Jay...I booked an AirBnb in Sorrento based on the responses
last night. Now I am starting to question whether it was the right
move. Oh well...next time I am in the Amalfi Coast I will stay in
Positano.
Claude, don't worry. Sorrento's much more efficient for you, also it has the best restaurants on the peninsula. Now--is this AirBnB within walking distance of the train/bus station, which is near Piazza Tasso? Hopefully it is. Rule of thumb should be--get an early start on your daytrips if you take the SITA bus, and consider hiring a driver for the day you tour the Amalfi Coast. It will be pricey but it might be worth it. And probably best to make dinner reservations in Sorrento--it will be crowded.
You can't go wrong with EITHER decision!
On our last trip to the Coast, we agonized over the same dilemma.
BUT based on
1. We travel so lightly and don't mind a trip on the SITA bus
2.We wanted that Positano experience
We did 2 nights (we had 2 full days) at La Fenice in Positano so we could hike the Path of the Gods and explore Atrani and Ravello.
Then we stayed 2 nights at Hotel Minerva and we used this base to visit Capri again (which you can access from Positano, too).
No, don't worry, Claude! We really enjoyed Sorrento and I think it's a good base for the first-timer to the region. One particular plus? It can sometimes be too windy/choppy for the ferries to dock in Positano. That's a rare issue in Sorrento so hopping the boat to/from Capri, say, is still usually possible from there on days it might not be from Positano.
There are some very nice overlook spots of the Gulf of Naples in Sorrento, lots of restaurants to choose from, and walking about in the evenings when some of the streets are closed to traffic is fun. In some ways, it felt less touristy/resort-y to us than Positano but maybe just because it was bigger. Dunno.
Anyway, as you said, you can bunk in Positano next time if you like what you see on a day trip this time around? :O)
