Trying to plan a trip for my 70th birthday to the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany in the fall of 2022. Been researching and believe the best rate is to fly from the US into Rome. Bus to Sorrento and use it for a base a couple days going to the Isle of Capri and Pompeii. Then bus to Positano and stay a couple of days. Also been told the bus from Sorrento to Salerno ... Ravello is breathtaking. Would like any help I can get with hotel ideas and ... Albergo Settimo Cielo (Sorrento) and Villa Casola (Positano) looked reasonable. What would be the best way to then travel to Tuscany and maybe staying in Sienna with some day trips.
I have never done anything like this before and would love some ideas. Thank you
Posted by
4441 posts
How much time do you have in total?
If you are not spending any time in Rome, I would compare to flying into Naples and out of Florence. Sometimes time IS money. But the plan for the Amalfi Coast/Sorrento looks fine. I would consider some time in Naples if you want to see what was removed from Pompeii.
After Positano, take a ferry to Salerno, train to Florence. That will be a long day, so you might want to spend a night before moving on to Siena.
Posted by
Camano Island, WA, usa
1451 posts
RS has several wonderful Italy tours. I think that they may be cost effective for what they offer. They offer convenience and companionship. No I don't work for them but admire the effort they put in designing their tours. I stayed in Naples long ago and it was convenient to the ferry to Capri and a bus to Pompeii.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Thank you for the information. Thinking 12-14 days ... realizing it will take 2 travel days. So a total of 10 to 12 days in Italy. Not sure our group wants a tour the whole time. And I have not found an RS tour of just the Amalfi coast and Tuscany. I am using the RS travel books on Italy and Florence/Tuscany as resource guides.
Chris
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4893 posts
I agree with valedelphia that a multicity air ticket into Naples and out of Florence might be better (as a BIG time saver). Sorrento is a very good location to day trip from. Naples, Pompeii, and Capri are easily reached. And the previous suggestion of taking the ferry to Salerno and then the train to Florence is probably the most efficient route.
Where to stay in Tuscany really depends on your length of stay and which places you want to see. If you want to rent a car to visit the smaller towns, then Siena might make sense. But check out the availability and cost of parking before making a decision. If you want to take organized van tours, then Florence might be better, since I think you would have more tours leaving from there. Plus, places like Pisa and Lucca are easily reached by train from there.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11199 posts
Have you considered flying into Rome, going to Florence/Tuscany ( train) and then going to the Amalfi coast and flying home from Naples?
If you do choose to do round trip via Rome then keep your original order. Getting to Rome from Florence will be easier than from somewhere on the Amalfi coast
Happy Birthday and enjoy your trip
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2839 posts
As much as we love Siena, basing yourselves there wouldn't be the most efficient way to do what you're proposing. Per CJean, the better option would be to base in Florence and make day trips and take tours from there. Florence is the local rail hub and so excursions to Siena, Lucca, Pisa, etc. would be pretty easy, relatively cheap, and wouldn't require a car.
Being there in Autumn will be a much more pleasant experience, and a lot less crowded, than a visit during the height of summer.
How many people will there be in your group?
Posted by
Washington DC
27196 posts
The initial travel day to Italy will be long and tiring. If you go Sorrento first, you will not get settled into your hotel early, and jet lag/sleep deprivation may hit many (or most or all) of your group. I definitely would not plan to move on after just two nights. Capri needs most of a day; Pompeii needs most of a day. You won't be ready to tackle either one on the day you land in Italy, and you may even be dragging on Day 2.
I agree that your destinations hint at a linear trip, so if you can find an affordable way to use Naples and either Florence or Pisa as your flight gateways, you'll save some time. However, that might be a lot more costly than a round-trip to Rome. If your group will be arriving from different origin points and hopes to meet up at the airport where you land, that may be a bit harder to arrange at one of the less-busy airports.
With your desire for two bases south of Rome and an interest in Tuscany, I'd want every bit of 12 days on the ground. Working with just 10 days would make the trip way too hectic for me.