How to spend a holiday at the Amalfi coast?

David

Unless you have a car you will have to go by bus or ferry from Sorrento. You could take the bus to Positano explore for a day- then take a local bus(great experience and cheap). to Amalfi- wander there and take a bus up to Ravello. Stay in either for a day then take a day trip to Salerno. I think from Salerno you can catch a train back to Naples.

Great scenery you will love it.

I would stay in NERANO and have the locals take you or rent you a boat and see Amalfi and Positano and other places on the coast from the sea. Nerano is a great little town with a few small hotels. Spend the day on the local beach with the kids diving off the pear. Go fishing or diving. We loved swimming in the deep blue sea off the local fishing boats. Cost is much less than Cappri or Sorento, and the feel is small town local.

We've never visited Nerano but one of our all-time favorite places is very near there -- a tiny town called Marina del Cantone. We stay at Hotel la Certosa, a converted monastery right on the beach. The town consists of a handful of restaurants and hotels and a tobacco shop ... that's pretty much it. In your room, French doors open to a private balcony -- you sleep to the sound of the waves below. It's the most relaxing place we've ever been.

If you're not driving, getting there requires you to catch a bus from Sorrento (and be careful not to miss the last bus of the day).

Once there, you can take a bus to Amalfi or Positano and spend the day. Or you can catch a boat from the pier just steps from the hotel, which will take you to Capri or Amalfi. Or you can just hike around the area. The best part is that you get to come back to your peaceful hotel every night.

On our first visit, we visited Marina del Cantone right after 4 days in Rome and were blown away by the beauty and quiet. This September, we're going back there as our first stop on a journey to revisit some favorite places -- we're splurging and having a taxi pick us up at the Naples airport when we arrive from Colorado, and deliver us right to the hotel (90 euros).

Once in Positano, walk to the path on the right of the harbor and then continue about 10 minutes to the Hotel Pupetto on its own small beach. You'll pass a Saracen tower along the way.

Proceed into the hotel and onto its waterfront patio and request a Lemoncello. They'll pull your glasses from the freezer and pour your drinks.

Then enjoy sitting under the lemon trees and watching the waves roll in.

Did you book lodging already? Will you have a car? These are important. I love the agriturismo www.agriturismoserafina.it. Here is a link for some tips on what each town is famous for etc.. http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Shopaholics-Guide-to-What-to-Buy-on-Italys-Amalfi-Coast&id=1423349

If you plan on driving along the Amalfi Coast, you might find this 5 minute 'driving tip' video very helpful, especially towards the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsv7rMEJx3M

What you really need to remember after watching it? How much of the scenery do you think the driver got to see as opposed to his other choice, which was to not hit anything while driving?

Should not deter you from driving, just letting you know what to expect. Plus, I believe there are also limitations on the days you are ALLOWED to drive on the coast, based on your license plate number - odd days or even days. You might want to confirm that.