Hotel in Positano

Is this your first trip to Italy. How much time do you have in Italy total? 11 nights? I would do 2 or 3 in Sorrento with a day trip to the Amalfi coast, 4 nights in Rome and maybe 3 nights in Florence with a daytrip to Siena. But that's just me.

Keep in mind that August will be scorching hot in this part of Italy. Was that why you were thinking of spending so much time in Positano?

Thanks for your reply. I'm limited to any kind of travel that's more than one week to summer time. Positano and the Amalfi Coast is so unusual and charming. Would like to travel to Southern parts of Tuscany, too. It seems like a trip back in time to Medieval and Renaisance time. And end in Rome of course. Just how 'scorching'?

Kathy, it's not surprising that you're having trouble finding lodgings in Positano at that time of the year. It will probably be hot and crowded at that time! I'm not familiar with Hotel Miramare, but if that doesn't work out and your budget will stand the splurge, you might try This Hotel in Positano.

My preference would probably be to spend more time in Sorrento and less in Positano. From Sorrento you can take the Circumvesuviana train to visit Pompeii, take the boats to Capri or other islands, etc. You'll likely have to use that particular train to reach Sorrento from Naples, and this is your first trip to Italy I'm sure that will be somewhat of a culture shock!!! Be sure to wear your Money Belt!

As I understand your Itinerary, you only have 11 days to work with? That's not a lot of time to really see anything properly. One could easily spend a week in Rome and still not see all the sites. If you're planning to spend seven days in Positano and Sorrento, it doesn't leave much time for "a couple of days somewhere else".

One alternative might be to spend four or five days in Rome (don't forget you'll lose the first day in flight) and then use the remainder of the time for Tuscany and Umbria (north of Rome). You could (for example) spend a few days in Orvieto (visit one of Rick's favourite hill towns, Civitia di Bagrnoregio), Siena or other points.

Another alternative would be to spend a three or four days in Rome, and then split the time between Sorrento and Positano for exploring other Amalfi locations such as Capri, Amalfi, Paestum, Pompeii, etc.

The culture in the south is a bit "different" than in the north (I believe Rick describes it as "more intense").

Good luck with your travel plans and hope these few suggestions are of some help.

Cheers!

Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions. I'm starting to rethink my time table. If our flights go on time we should get to Rome on a Monday morning. Go to Positano for 4 days leaving on Saturday for the Southern Tuscany Region. Leave for Rome Tuesday morning and fly home Friday.

I always look at Rick's recommendations but I also love www.tripadvisor.com for hotel advice. To help your timing here's how ours played out this month. We arrived In Rome at 2:00pm (we have been there twice before).To refresh our teen's memories we stayed near the train station & walked the sights,adding Villa Borghese & Ostia Antica. After the second day we took the IC Plus 9:30am train to Naples arriving around noon. Connected to the little train but even though we were efficient by the time we check into our hotel Settimo Cielo (great value at 151 euros (cash) with frig, breakfast, three people,pool, balcony with killer views it was past 3:00. Feel like you'd have no day left without a Sorrento stopover. Sorrento is fun with great views more than beautiful buildings but very convenient. Most romantic lovely spot is the terrace at the Bellevue Syrene Hotel (1820) expensive to stay but gorgeous for lunch or watching the sunset over the sea with wine. Second time we've used Sorrento as a base (last visit Minerva Hotel) because we love our views, cooling pool, and connections. We ferry to Positano, Naples and Capri & train to Pompeii. Last visit we stayed two nights in Positano at the Villa Tartana and it was great but expensive but not too far up the cliffs. Beaches not great and my husband got bit by a huge jellyfish. The only nice water we had was when we hired a boat & driver in Capri and jumped overboard. I personally would rather not be so tied down in Positano that long. I don't know Miramare but you will really need A/C in August. Orvieto is so easy from Rome with a lovely Cathedal & a nice relaxing feel but understand it's not Florence. Fast trains to Florence are very expensive however. In Orvieto we had the best stay at La Magnolia for 65 euros. Perfect location with frescoed ceilings & Serena the owner is great. Ask for the back rooms. Sorry if I've rambled. Guess I'm trying to say that dedicating that much time for Positano really cuts into the rest

Hi,
I was in Italy in May and agree with some of the earlier posters. Sorrento is worthy of more time than Positano -- much more there and nice day trips to Capri and Pompeii. Pompeii is amazing! The whole Amalfi coast is just lovely.

A few days in Rome would be nice and you could easily do some of the hill towns in Viterbo or Umbria. Tuscany might be a little far -- although it is only a few hours by train.

What about heading further south instead? There must be some nice, undiscovered places in Calabria . . .

Thanks you for your input. All the comments I have gotten have helped me to better fine tune my itinerary. I'm planning on 3 nights in Sorrento and 2 in Positano. Will do Capri from Sorrento and Amalfi coast tour from Positano. Then off to Southern Tuscany, probably Orvieto for 2 days. Finally on to Rome. Next, I have to book the rooms. I'm waiting to get confirmation for Sorrento and Positano. So now, I have to research the rest.