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looking for advice, time in Naples and Amalfi coast

Posted by (Guangzhou China) on

We will be checking in at Minori on December 1 for 3 nights, then on to Naples for another 5 nights.
After some surprises while looking at train schedules, I'm realizing that I wasnt as familiar with the geography as I should have been, and I need to re-think my plans.

From Minori, we will of course visit Amalfi and Positano, probably in just 1 day (depending a lot on the answers I get to this), and from Naples I plan to see Procida one day, return to Naples that night, then another boat to Capri the next day, again returning to Naples that night.

I won't make this into a novel by describing all the options and questions I have about them - I'll just say that I already know that I'm going to be dealing with the Circumvesuvian system to some degree. I'm thinking that the trip from Minori to Naples will probably be best enjoyed by going bus to Sorrento, spend the day there, then bus on from there to Naples, rather than bus from Minori to Salerno, then train to Naples, then bus back from Naples on another day to see Sorrento. I'm also thinking that with the extra time in Minori that I wasn't counting on, I might spend a day in Salerno, or even go on to spend some time in or around Agropoli.

Once in Naples, besides the Procida and Capri days, we'll do the Paestum and Pompeii trip, of course. And today, I just learned about a place called Calitri that sounds good, if it's practical to think about as a day trip from Naples. So that's 3 or 4 of the 5 days in Naples - which makes me think something needs to give, because 1 day for Naples just can't possibly be right. After Naples, there will also be 8 nights in Rome, so a trip back is possible in theory, if wasteful of train money.. but only if my wife has had her fill of Rome, and that's pretty doubtful at this point.

So. What am I not thinking about? How could I put these pieces together in a smarter way, if I knew what I was doing?

Posted by
4105 posts

Jim,
to go to Calitri, would involve a 1.5H bus ride with 1 change in Avellino. about 7E
A.IR bus from Napoli Centrali... kiosk is outside the train station
DiMaio bus from Avellion buy your tickets from the driver
For the ferrys you are interested in go to http://www.ferriesonline.com/company_caremar.htm
Look at ferries from Sorrento also.
I think your best option would be to do Sorrento first, then Amalfi Coast from Minori. Have your lodging hold your luggage on this day, then back to Minori, then head to Naples.
Hope this helps
Gerri

Posted by
4105 posts

Just an additional note. The ferries may not run the full schedule during the winter. Depends on how rough the seas are. Capri does run every day but not necessarily from Naples.

Posted by
755 posts

Jim It doesn't make much sense to plan on visiting Paestum from Naples when you will be in Minori, or perhaps Salerno which is so much closer although plan on a full day to get there and back even from Salerno, especially in the off season. As far as Minori to Naples you can either take the bus to Sorrento and then transfer to the train and on to Naples, or take the bus from Minori to Salerno and then take the train to Naples. The bus along the Amalfi coast is beautiful and if you have the time, I recommend it as the way to travel. Back and forth! Multiple times. And 8 nights in Rome is a lot . . . lots of other places to see.

Posted by
11851 posts

December is very low season on the AC. We just returned from Ravello Monday, and it was shutting down. The owner of the B&B we stayed in said that at this time of year he has a hard time figuring out where to send people for meals if they don't have a car! Minori is really small, too, so you might want to prepare yourselves accordingly.

Sorrento has more dining -- and lodging -- options in winter (although some do close). IMHO Sorrento makes a better base in December. We once spent a week there in December and enjoyed it very much. Sorrento is a bit far from Paestum for a day trip, but I suppose it can be done.

If you do decide on Minori, I would recommend the bus to Salerno and the highspeed train to Naples as easier than bus to Sorrento and CV to Naples. But if you stay in Sorrento, the CV is a good choice. If you stay in Minori, a trip up to Ravello if it is sunny would be in order. Villa Cimbrone is well worth the visit, as is Villa Rufolo.

FWIW 5 nights in Naples is a lot.... A better base for Pompeii, Ercolano, Capri (if the ferries are running) would be Sorrento. Do prepare yourselves for the fact that the ferries may not run. The weather may prohibit going to any islands.

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