Is Praiano a good idea in June ?

You are not going to experience "nice, quieter village life" in Praiano. There's not much of an actual village; a lot of the restaurants are stung out along the busy main road (the Amalfi Drive). There's a little piazza down the hill from the road but it's not the quintessential piazza, surrounded by restaurants and cafes, that you might be imagining.

I will say that I've stayed at quite a few places along this coast, during multiple visits t the area over the years. Praiano (and Furore) were my least favorite towns to base in. I'd give a big vote to Ravello for you, if you cannot entirely skip this coast.

Do you have any idea of what a private water taxi costs? I imagine about 40 euro just to get from Praiano to Positano, but do check. Agree that due to the lack of ferries, this is not a good base to explore other villages on that coast. And because the bus route does not start there, there is a good chance that all seats will be taken when you board, going in either direction,.

A private boat tour from Praiano along the coast would be in the range of 500 euro for a half day; figure more if you go to Capri. But do check these prices. Water in June would be too cold for me to swim.

If you want to visit Ravello, why not stay there?

There's nothing wrong with the "path of the lemons," but -there are so many other walks that are equally beautiful and less familiar to tourists than that one. You'll get gorgeous views from many places in Ravello. If you have a large budget, several hotels there have the most dreamy views. And those views are unobstructed by roofs of other buildings. When booking a room in Praiano, or anywhere along the coast,a you have to be extra careful to get an unobstructed sea view. Just booking a "sea view" room might mean that you can see the sea from your room, but you can also see the roofs of other buildings....that happened to me at the TRAMONTO D"ORO in Praiano....

Also know that is it can be a long, steep walk to reach the beach, depending on where your hotel is in Praiano.

It would be great if you lt us know where you are headed for in Sicily. Would you consider adding more time to Sicily and less on the Amalfi Coast? Where are you coming from--before you arrive on the AC?

Thank you 🙏

Sounds like it wasnt a good experience. I guess I’ve head so many people say they love Praiano. that is quiet, beautiful restaurants and friendly locals, authentic less touristy village. Would you say that’s not the case?
That’s what I was looking for. Ravello sounds amazing and it definitely holds a special something for me the only issue with staying there was we wouldn’t be about to get onto the water as it’s 30 mins up on the mountain.

Mmmm 🧐

Did you go to any of the restaurants there in Praiano?
What was the different in feel of the village from Praiano, Atrani & Minori?
I definitely know what you mean with the bus/ verses the water taxi 🤣

We are heading to Sicily after that.
Was going to stop in Scilla for 2 nights before hoping on the ferry to Messina. Staying in Taormina in a villa up on the hill.

Praiano is none of those things. I told you--its a lot of restaurants strung out along the main road, and then you have to walk either down the steep hill or up a different hill to get to your hotel, unless you stay on the main road.
Which hotel are you thinking of? Of course I went to restaurants in Praiano--I stayed there. The best restaurants are not there--they are in Cetara, and Ravello. Paragon has no ferry stop--do you understand what that means for you if you stay there? Taxi or crowded bus? Or private water taxi.

I love Cetara. What some of those villages must have been 50 years ago, or more.

You are probably not going to be able to get into the water in early June--too cold.
Why can't you stay in Ravello and take the bus down to the coast if you want to go on a boat tour?

Your trip plans are pretty crazy, to tell the truth. (The entire trip, described on another thread)

Can you write out your itinerary, day by day?

You are trying to cram in way too much.

Do you have any hotel reservations yet? It's getting close to your travel dates and many hotels will be filling up.

Write down, day by day, your plan, and I will try to. help you.

Cetara is one of the least touristed town on that coast, but hotels are very limited.
If this is your first trip to the area, it might not be for you. I don't know enough about what you are looking for to be able to tell.

Thank you…
I’m open to change for some things as a lot of what I’ve booked can also be modified.

Early June
1 - Land in rome 2 nights in Trastevere
2- train to Salerno 2-3 nights on Amalfi coast
3- train north to coastal of Liguria ( open to suggestions)
4. French riveria
9- 5 nights in Provence
10- End trip in Tuscany 12 nights
5 nights pienza
5 nights somewhere else (
Maybe coastal)
Fly out from Rome

I suggest you use an official train company site to get some of the very long travel times. You are programming this like it is your only trip to Europe in your lifetime.

Have you considered returning from home from someplace other than Rome, to eliminate some train time? "Multi-city" tab on the airline site. Usually not more expensive.

Are you from a US state that has no access to ocean beaches? I admit I live on the east coast, but I would not spend money to go to Europe and then sit on a beach. Especially if the beach is inferior to most American or Caribbean beaches.

Ha!
Yes it would seem that way for sure..
We live in Australia and have some incredible beaches…😊
I live close to many beautiful beaches.
We really don’t travel much, and may not for awhile, hence fitting in a lot but I also get the too much travel can be exhausting.
I am open to culling a couple of stops…

We unfortunately have to end in Tuscany as we have a concert to see.
And south of France to see some Relatives.
I haven’t seen Italy in 20 years, and I did fall for Sicily.
But I could be persuaded to try something else that would be closer towards France.

I will look more closely later but the one thing that stands out is all that backtracking!!
You are going to stay on the Amalfi Coast TWICE????

Of course, as recommended, above, fly into Rome and go home from somewhere else.

To go to Sicily and to only see Taormina is really a little silly.....

I think you are making the mistake that many novice travelers make..trying to fit in so many place, rushing here and there, and back again...with almost no time to settle in and enjoy. You are really all over the place and it seems that you have little idea of where you are going.....please do not take offense, I'm just telling you how this seems to me.....

For example, why have you chosen Praiano? It has none of the things you seem to be looking for....
Are you going mostly for beach time? That's fine, but if it's the case, why go all the way to Sicily....from the Amalfi Coast you could go by boat to Maratea (I think, you must check) or to the Cilento where the beaches are many times nicer than those below Taormina.

When I want beach and pool time in Italy, this is one of the areas I visit:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/maratea-italy-town-8709454

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccahughes/2024/06/19/for-the-amalfi-coast-without-the-crowds-try-this-secret-seaside-town/

There are plenty of good beaches onSicily but are you really going to travel all that way to go to a beach, when there are so many others closer to Rome???

Even Fregene less than an hour from Rome:

https://www.gonomad.com/169922-fregene-the-beach-next-door-to-rome

But I do think I am offering ideas that you will never pursue, because perhaps you want to visit the famous places that many foreign tourists prefer... Do you want to stay on the tourist trail? Nothing wrong with that but I won't keep posting other ideas if that's the case.....

If you are to be in Tuscany for the concert, then begin somewhere else....maybe fly to Sicily and work your way north, ending in Tuscany. Fly home from there. Forget Paris..you do not have enough time. Take a look at the Ligurian coast---towns like Camogli.....gorgeous!!! From there you could fly home with connection, from Genoa...

Not only that, but it seems as if you have not booked any hotels yet (???). To get a booking in Taormina for two months from now will be difficult unless you have a large budget......

Which guidebook are you using?

I did look at Maratea, before its stunning!
That could be a nice one for sure. My main thing I wanted to do on the Amalfi was the path of the lemons, experience ravello.
In Sicily we’re mainly going to use Taormina as a base, and then day trip to other areas- Cefalu, stairs of the Turks, Etna. ( Sicily was more for the culture,history & food )

It’s definitely annoying the backtracking for sure, but we can’t change the end route as we have a bocelli concert in Tuscany.
But we could fly from Sicily into France, rather than train which may save quite a bit of time. And could scrap Paris & just do 10 days in the south of France.

The Amalfi is not twice but I’m open to scrapping that, the main draw card for me was the path of lemon & ravello, the gardens, views & classical music town.
I love the idea of Maratea, would u choose that over Scilla?

@Tim-“Are you from a US state that has no access to ocean beaches? I admit I live on the east coast, but I would not spend money to go to Europe and then sit on a beach. Especially if the beach is inferior to most American or Caribbean beaches.”
Tim, from NJ, I live on an island and I see/go to the beach practically every other day, but I’d NEVER say American beaches are superior to Mediterranean beaches. Ever. I’ve been traveling to Italy for over 25 years and have lived in the Mediterranean in the past (Italy and other). American beaches can’t even hold a candle to Italian beaches. In fact, on pretty much all of our vacations to Italy and Greece that’s all we do, is look for better and more beautiful beaches. Ocean beaches and See beaches are two different kinds of things. I literally laughed at this comment.

OP- Praiano is a nice place to visit for a couple of hours but I definitely wouldn’t stay there during my vacation. There are nicer and quieter places to stay.

Jon, you are not the only one who chuckled at the comment about Italian beaches!
Maybe the person who scoffed at that idea has never spent time at one. It's not about the beach, per se, it's about there experience of being there, among Italians on vacation....stop me, please, before I ramble on and on!!!

I do not even know here to begin! Vieste, Maratea, Torre dell' Orso and about a hundred other beaches in the Salento...Senigallia and others in Le Marche.....

Last year we had a week in Marina di Ragusa and could barely tear ourselves away....but tear ourselves away we did, only to relocated to the rocky shores of Salina!!

To the OP, is you want to be closer to France, why not visit Liguria? Camogli is a beautiful town, one of many along that coast..and west of Genoa you have many other choices....

I think you are romanticizing the "path of the lemons;" there are many hikes near Maratea. What is drawing you to Ravello? And why base in Taormina if you want to visit Scala dei Turchi...??? Have you even looked at hotels in Taormina for June?

I think I've offered enough info on this thread..you seem to be stuck on the places you originally planned and unwilling to make any major changes to your original plan..... I wish you a wonderful trip and hope you will let us know how it goes!!!

Thank you Tim, and Jon for your wonderful input.

Ek, yes I’m certainly not stuck on my original plan as I said quite a few times. I’m not familiar with areas hence having this kind of input is very valuable. I do love Camolgi and could do that for sure instead of Amalfi.
Would we need to also scrap Sicily as I realise that is the furthered away from the rest.
👋

I do think you should skip Sicily on this trip. But you WILL come back to Italy and then you can see Sicily and other places in the far South!!

Thanks Ek,

For all your tips. Yes definitely not staying in Praiano. Thinking will be Cetara or Ravello, do you have any favourite restaurants there? Also was thinking to leave some luggage in a locker so we can travel lighter upto Ravello. Do you know much about the luggage lockers are they ok?

Going to scrap Paris, though I’ve never been lol, we don’t get to travel much so trying to get a lot in this trip as we may not be back for awhile.
I did fall in love with Sicily all over again after I’ve just watched Rick Steve’s video on YouTube ,so fascinating! 😁
But will save that for another time.
Any more suggestions on towns around Camogli?

I have 16 days to spend in Italy
And 14 for France ☺️

My favorite restaurant in Cetara is ACQUAPAZZA. You need to make a reservation. They have indoor and outdoor seating. It's only one of a few excellent restaurants in that town.

https://www.acquapazza.it

Wonderful thanks so much, what about Ravello?
Also any suggestions on coastal holiday heading towards France from Amalfi?
I have Camogli.. which looks lovely.
Another place I had on my radar would be Sardina as well. For some relaxation. Have you been there?
I see it’s an hr flight from Rome. ☺️

Instead of cutting down, you are adding places!!!

NO NO..you have no time for Sardinia.

I will give you a ton of restaurant recommendations AFTER you decide exactly where you plan to visit.
I love helping you but you are now all over the place....so it makes no sense for us to spend a half an hour typing in restaurants for places you might not visit.

Do you understand how many options there are between Amalfi and the French border??? Like dozens upon dozens of beautiful towns!!!!

You have to begin narrowing this down or you will make me crazy, too!!!!!

And you have to promise that you will come back and report on how the trip went...but for now...

Where will you fly into?
What kind of hotel budget do you have.hotel cost per night for two people?

Will you rent a car?

xx

Ok I won’t add Sardina this time.. though how incredibly stunning 😍

i just need to book something in either Ravello, Cetera, or Minori.
3 nights?
Should we do a Capri boat trip?

So far I’ve looked at these lovely towns
Seveste Levante
Camogli
Santa Margarita Ligure

We can get a car for sure I’m guessing after the Amalfi coast?

Budget is 150-250 Euros a night roughly.

Ok but write down the plan or plans:

Day One. Arrive in …..airport from Australia
Stay where??

Day Two. Relax after long flights????

Day Three.

Day Four.

Write down general plan.

Depending on arrival airport. Maybe 3 nights in Naples then transfer to Amalfi for five nights to include day trip to Ravello. Transfer to Salerno with stop in Cetara. Or a few nights in Cetara.

Then go to Maratea OR a town in Cilento and use as base. Sorry wifi is terrible must continue layer.

250 euro per might for hotel
Per person expected total price for dinner??

Must eat lunch or can skip if breakfast included at hotel????

Thanks so much for your help ! ☺️

Ok will write soon the break down,

Scrapping anything further south past Amalfi as its going the opposite way…We will head to Riverera after Amalfi.
What do you think about Atrani might be better choice, is that an easier walk to Ravello rather than from minori?
Also any nice food in Atrani? We will do 4 nights on Amalfi, things to do- boat tour, lemon path, lunch in Ravello, eat lots of lemons and enjoy taking in the scenery. Looking for a really nice room with a view lol.

I liked A PARANZA in Atrani.