Have Driver, Will Travel...To The Amalfi Coast

We had a small lunch at Il Flauto di Pan, which was affiliated with a hotel in Ravello. Fabulous views from the restaurant, as well as the town. Some years ago. I agree that Ravello is a priority. But it is pedestrianized, so you need lots of time to enter and see the two villas and the (pay) garden.

You have not given the Month of the Year. That is a crucial factor in ANY question about the JAMMED Amalfi Coast. You may be giving insufficient thought to possible delays in getting around, even with a driver.

Because I have NOT been to Vietri sul Mare, I urge you to do enough research to find out whether these really are gems, or if there is no hope of finding a sleepy post-World War II village in this area, with widows wearing black and a shopping basket on their arm. (???) I can understand why people want to stay in Salerno, but it is not clear to me that it's the best place for daytrips in the area. I found purpose-built resort Sorrento to be well-located, with excellent transit. And a view of Vesuvius. We enjoyed a (long previous trip to Italy) few days in Reggio Emilia as a slice of real Italian provincial life. But I would not go the AC for provincial life. There is too much to see and do. Opinion.

When our driver (Sorrento, 8 hours) asked us about "the Pottery Shop" (not near Vietri ... near Positano), we replied, "Oh, do they have toilets for the tourists? We'll stop there, but no shopping, thanks." Positano was a must for me, but we were disappointed by both its presumed (but missing) level of pan-Euro glamor, and the prevalence of the same overpriced boutiques you can see in Rome or Paris.

Oops. Forgot to mention this would take place in early April.

Haven't gotten prices yet, but I'm thinking 10AM-4PM

We were there late April in 2022 and the AC was already busy. We did a 9 hour tour of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello and 4.5 hours were in the car, so 6 hours may not get you a lot of time to really explore. Of the 3, our favourite by far was Ravello. The views from above are amazing. On a separate day we walked the Path of the Lemons between Maiori and Minori. It was about a 1 hour walk with some great views.

Because I have NOT been to Vietri sul Mare, I urge you to do enough
research to find out whether these really are gems, or if there is no
hope of finding a sleepy post-World War II village in this area, with
widows wearing black and a shopping basket on their arm. (???) I can
understand why people want to stay in Salerno, but it is not clear to
me that it's the best place for daytrips in the area.

Tim--

Plan to suss out Vietri. My brother stayed there and said it was fine. He ain't a shopper, though. My two cousins are, however. I have been to both Amalfi & Positano, and like you say, many similar shops can be found in Florence or Rome, and we'll have visited both those places before coming to Salerno. And we're staying in Salerno because I'm familiar with it, and from there we're headed by train to Taormina, Sicily.

You want post WWII sleepy village with widows in black? An hour SE of Salerno is our familial heritage mountain town of Sant' Arsenio, that we visited in 2015. The cemetery was the most interesting part, graves of my grandmother's 1st cousin, part of the cemetery still looking bombed out from attacks 80 years ago. The rest of the town was fairly disappointing, blue collar workers that could give a crap that we were there--I get it, they're just trying to make ends meet. All in all, I liked visiting Sant' Arsenio--once. I don't need to do it again.

My point, Tim, is that I want to utilize the luxury of an inexpensive driver and want to visit 2-3 places that would be a total PITA by public transportation, that's all.

You should reach out to Elizabeth, the owner of Blue Star ferries in Positano. She will know all.

We will be in Salerno (senior couple) the first week in October 2024 and would like to know of a reasonable priced English speaking
driver for a similar day trip leaving from and returning to Salerno. What would be considered a "reasonable price" for 6-7 hour tour and can you share the
name and contact info of the driver you know of? You can personally contact me if you prefer. Thanks

Alan

I spent a few days in Salerno in late February 2023. I took a regional train from Salerno to Vietri. The RR station is above the town, but there is an elevator/lift to take you down. The town is still hilly, though. Salerno wasn't lively on the winter day I was there; I don't remember what day of the week it was, but I have some interest in ceramics, so I'm pretty sure I didn't go on a Sunday.

Salerno is easy enough to reach by public transportation that it doesn't seem a good use of taxi time to have a driver take you there.

Edited to add: I really botched this post. I meant to write that ** Vietri** (not Salerno) wasn't lively when I was there and is easy enough by public transportation that I wouldn't spend taxi time traveling there.

FYI...yesterday I booked a 6-hour tour with a driver, recommended by trusted friends, for next April. Pickup at 10:00 at our hotel in Salerno, drive to the main shopping area of Vietri Sul Mare for an hour or so. Then drive to Garden Ravello ristorante in Ravello for a leisurely light lunch with the tremendous views. Then drive to nearby Minori to the Sal De Riso Pasticceria for pastries. Plan on returning to Salerno around 16:00, plenty of time for a nap, to walk the passeggiata in Salerno's Old Town, and have a chill dinner. Sounds like a good day!

For that they're charging 400 Euro, for 4 people. Initially I thought that was kind of pricey, until I started comparing around. Many drivers charge 100 Euro per hour and more for any Amalfi Coast driving. So I'm happy with my decision.

Jay, who did you book that with? I'm headed out there next month and would like to do something similar.