Naples and the Amalfi Coast

Why go to Rome? Why not save time and fly to Naples from Spain?

Take the train from Rome to Naples if you have a safe residence in Naples, but if you want beauty, and want to see the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento would be a more suitable base.

Take the Marozzi Bus from Rome to Sorrento, or the train from Rome to Naples and the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Sorrento.

See Pompeii from Sorrento or Naples via the local Circumvesuviana train, and take the SITA buses from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast. It's easier to see Amalfi from Sorrento.

When you leave for Perugia, take the Circumvesuviana from Sorrento to Naples, and the train from Naples to Perugia, usually via Roma.

There are many inexpensive B&Bs in Sorrento.

http://www.bed-and-breakfast-in-italy.com/town.cfm?citta=Sorrento&IDregione=4

In response to Giovanna response - Why go to Rome? Why not save time and fly to Naples from Spain
I have my tickets for many months now- fly Boston to Madrid -Madrid to Rome and thought I would have my friend G pick me up in Rome. Changed those plans but can't change my airline ticket. Decided since I had a week to spare....I would go south of Rome since I have never been there and heard how wonderful the coastal journey would be. I would rather not stay in Naples but don't know how long to get from place to place and what places I can visit from Monday to Friday. Hope this clears some of the vague areas. I need help in where to go and how to get there and what I can see. Again I am a fairly good photographer and and very interested in landscaping, the ocean people and gardens of any kind.

Your question asks a series of questions and is difficult to answer all in one go. I'll tackle a couple of your questions, and leave the Transportation questions for others to answer:

1. From what you've written, it appears you're not making the clear distinction, that is helpful to make, between Naples and the Amalfi coast. Maybe it's just the way you wrote out your question.

Many travelers (here) choose to avoid sleeping in Naples when they have a choice of home basing in Naples or Sorrento.

Women traveling alone have been among those (here) who have chosen not to sleep in Naples. Your friend probably has reasons why he doesn't prefer Naples, and it would be interesting to know what those are and if they (his reasons) have had any affect on your plans.

Those who choose to make Sorrento a home base visit Pompeii and Naples from Sorrento as day trips.

Maybe you can send a follow up that will narrow down your questions, maybe to the Transportation ones, so that it's easier for us to help you?

Thank you for your quick reply. I do know they are two very different areas. I have a full map of Italy in my office. I have a friend who recommended a place to stay in Naples that is very safe. Wouldn't stay there otherwise. I arrive from Spain to Rome on Sunday 09/13 and feel that I can then take a train. Airport arrival at 13.25 hrs. Now I must pick up my luggage and somehow get to the train station in Roma. There I want to take the train to Naples???? I will have 5 full day in the south of Italy and don't need to take a train up to Perugia until the following Saturday, 09/19/09. So this is what my plans appears to be.

If you would rather not stay in Naples then stay in Sorrento, or better yet, stay a few nights in Sorrento and a few nights on the Amalfi Coast.

You would be able to see many places in five days. See Sorrento and from Sorrento also see Pompeii and Naples.

The ferry is a great way to see the coast. Take the ferry or the bus from Sorrento. See Positano, Amalfi and Ravello.

Ravello has two villas with beautiful gardens for you to photograph.

Grazie Giovanna!
I am now getting very excited for the 2nd week. Now to have recommendations of Bed and Breakfasts that Rick Steves travel people have stayed. I can't pay more than 70 euro. Know this is not much but I am on a budget and need to be careful.

You should be really excited because these are some of the most historic and beautiful places in Italy.

The B&B website above has some great possibilities for you, but you could also try Pensione Elios in Sorrento or Hostelworld.

http://www.hotelelios.it/

http://www.hostelworld.com/

Depending on what time you get to Naples (and if planning on staying in Sorrento) you can stop and see pompeii on your way to Sorrento saving some time. Pompeii is absolutley worth seeing and Sorrento is gorgeous! You will get plenty of beautiful landscape pictures.

Naples isn't that bad... I spent 3 nights there. But I agree Sorrento is much nicer and a great base for the Amalfi coast. Pompeii is about 50 min away but a convenient train ride vs. 40 min from Naples.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. How adventurous and "in shape" are you? If you don't mind a "hike" to get to a bed and breakfast (a porter will get your bags), then boy do I have a place for you! It is in Amalfi, and the bus goes right past their ....uhhh, front door. Actually the bus goes past the Hotel Excelsior's front door, and from there you will hike down 300 steps through lemons groves to get to the Le Palme-Amalfi {http://www.lepalmeamalfi.com/index.html} The rooms go for as little as 40 Euro per night. It is within walking distance of town (656 steps to the road below), but I wouldn't recommend the walk back up. That's where the bus comes in handy. The owner's have a restaurant in town and we ordered food and had it delivered to us, the best lasagna I have ever had! This little place is located smack in the middle of a steep cliffside surrounded by nothing but lemon groves. The pictures of the B & B from the ferry boat were spectacular!! If I ever get back to Amalfi, I would do it all over again, 300 steps be damned!!

P.S.--Please get out of Naples as fast as you can. It really is a stink-hole of a city and not a very safe place. My neighbor here in Dallas lives permanently in Italy and has given me a stern warning about Naples and it's train station. Even a local man on the train warned us to watch our luggage while we were stopped in the station.

There is a B&B in Amalfi that is very inexpensive (starts at 40 Euro/night). It is located on the cliffside overlooking Amalfi. It is called "Le Palme". It is a nice accommodation with a very gracious host. OK, so for 40 Euro/night here's the catch. It is a 300 step trek down the mountainside from the road and hotel located above the B&B and another 656 steps down to the road to town. It is quite a hike through the lemon groves, but quite an adventure. They will porter one bag down and up for free, others for a small fee. They have a restaurant in town and you can order from that menu and have it brought to the B&B. They have the best "melt-in-your-mouth" lasagna that I have ever tasted.

http://www.lepalmeamalfi.com/index.html

I would have to agree with most of the replies regarding Naples. I actually like Naples but anywhere on the Amalfi Coast would be a better choice. Sorrento might be your best choice for the sake of convenience, although the €40 hotel in Amalfi sounds like a great idea also. If the hotel is already booked you might try getting a copy of Lodging in Italy's Monasteries (the guide to). I know there is at least one listed in Sorrento which sounded very good (and two or three in Naples for that matter).