Thank you for the responses for our post "Rome Itinerary"for the first leg of Italy tour. Now, I am asking for thoughts regarding leg 2 and 3. We are spending 5 nights on the Amalfi Coast and are able to extend our stay in the region 3 more nights in Naples due to Marriott Rewards. I realize that posts suggest Sorrento as the home base. However, for personal reasons, we opted to stay in Positano the first two nights. Then we go to Atrani for three nights and Naples for three nights. I feel fairly well about our Atrani plans of seeing Amalfi, Ravello, and Paestum but comments clarify my thoughts. The time in Positano and Naples is giving me some trouble. In Naples, our priorities are the feel of the city, Museum Archeological, Palazzo Reale, and a few strolls. Our emphasis is extending our Amafi stay to include day trips to Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri. Unfortunately, there are not enough days out of Naples. So hence my questions: 1. Positano: Is the Emerald Grotto worth the time? Is it a replacement for Blue Grotto? Should we explore the town on our first afternoon, then the next morning do a trip to Sorrento to eliminate the need of an excursion from Naples to make room for a Naples to Capri excursion. 2. How should we travel from Positano to Atrani area? By water to Amalfi or driver? 3. Travel from Atrani to Naples? By water? By train? Would a train trip allow us to stop at Pompeii? Is luggage storage safe? This would eliminate a day trip to Pompeii from Naples and allow a one day excursion to both Sorrento and Capri and allows us to see all of our top sites and leave a relaxing time in Positano. 4. Our last partial day in Naples is on August 15, a holiday, before taking an afternoon train back to Rome. I am having trouble determining what is closed on this day. This platform has given me a tremendous amount of information I would appreciate any additional suggestions.
Karen
Posted by
Portland
3661 posts
The Emerald Grotto isn't worth the time or the money it costs. I don't know the current prices, but whatever it is, it's too much. Here's the drill. First you buy tickets and get on the boat, thinking you're going to the E.G.; but no, you only go as far as the entrance. If you want to go in, you have to pay some more. Inside, there is, indeed, a faintly greenish light. The cave walls have been eroded into many shapes which a highly imaginative someone has dubbed with names; e.g., Abraham Lincoln. The last and most ludicrous is a creche, complete with a plastic baby Jesus doll and the boatman exclaiming, "miraculo, miraculo!" Of all the towns, we found Ravello to be the most attractive - - two gorgeous villas with beautiful gardens to visit, a charming cathedral, and less commercialism than any of the others.
We had great meals at Da Gemma in Amalfi and Trattoria Cumpa Cosimo in Ravello.
Posted by
Tempe, AZ
31 posts
We stopped in Pompeii in route to Sorrento from Rome this June and used the left luggage at Pompeii. It was very easy to find inside the station down the stairs and was quite safe. I believe they charged a fee per bag (a few euros) and gave you a claim ticket. It was quite convenient.