Amalfi reccs w/car sick kiddo

Posted by poonampatel on 02/02/25 10:17 PM

Hi all - we will be visiting Italy (Rome to Amalfi Coast) as a family of 4 (11 yr old/15 yr old) in March and have a few questions:

1) What is the best travel option from Rome to Sorrento for a kiddo who is very sensitive to car sickness? It looks like there is an option for 2 trains Rome to Naples and then to Sorrento - is that pretty smooth?

2) With that in mind, we have 2 nights we were going to stay in Positano post Sorrento, but seeing everything is pretty much closed there, any reccs for 2 nights elsewhere in the area, and again best mode of transport to get there? (Capri, Amalfi, Ravello, etc.)

3) Any family friendly reccs - restaurant's, to-do's, etc?

Thanks!!

Posted by Gail

Downingtown, USA

02/02/25 10:52 PM

2497 posts

Traveled.by train to Naples and then local train to Sorrento. My daughter in law.gets car sick very easily and that was no problem. She took a Benadryl before getting on the bus in Sorrento to go to Positano and sat on the side of the bus behind the driver and was able to hang in there considering that trip is extremely winding . It took.a. few hours to feel.better once we arrived in Positano. Just so you are prepared for this part of the trip.

Posted by CJean

Ontario, Canada

02/02/25 11:01 PM

5730 posts

You need to deal with the motion sickness. Perhaps talk to your pediatrician. The trains only go as far as Sorrento and Salerno, and they shouldn't be a problem. To get to the AC towns in March, you are limited to a car or bus, since the ferries won't be running. The only way to Capri is by ferry, which will be running, weather permitting. But note that motion sickness can also be a problem on ferries, too.

Posted by Kathy

Minnesota 🎒

02/02/25 11:46 PM

16785 posts

What is the best travel option from Rome to Sorrento for a kiddo who
is very sensitive to car sickness? It looks like there is an option
for 2 trains Rome to Naples and then to Sorrento - is that pretty
smooth?

Yes, I'd absolutely recommend taking the trains. The commuter from Naples to Sorrento (Circumsuviana) is a battered, unlovely thing but you're going in March where its lack of air conditioning won't be a factor. Keep a tight hand on your valuables but you'll be OK.

I have motion sickness bad enough to know that there was NO way I could handle movement around the coast via road, even with Dramaine or similar. Take the ferries (if running...which not all of them may be in March) but medicate your youngster with the touchy stomach. I've never experienced motion sickness on Italian trains, and only a bit of that on one of the ferries.

I'm not a Positano fan, and wouldn't recommend it for a family with kids as there virtually nothing to do there but shop, eat and drink. The other reason not to choose that one is that it's the one most likely to close their dock for weather, in which case you're stuck with taxi/ hired car/bus transport. This is assuming the ferries are even running all of the coast in March.