Rome-Amalfi Coast Itinerary Suggestions

First, to stay on the Amalfi Coast in June requires you to book a hotel very soon. I'm talking about Amalfi-town or Positano. Probably should check the smaller A.C. towns like Minori, Maiori & Cetara for availability as well. Sorrento--on the peninsula but on the other side--is probably booking up fast too. BTW, Sorrento has the best variety of reasonable cuisine in the area. June is the height of tourist season & despite the A.C.'s picturesque beauty, you will also experience gridlock in getting around the likes of which you've probably never seen before. Salerno is a great alternative as a base--it has a beach but is not on the Amalfi Coast--still beautiful though.

Flying out of Naples Capodichino airport is fine, but if you're basing in Amalfi-town, Positano, Sorrento or Salerno, I would recommend booking a flight noon or later. As I said, any number of issues could thwart your travel to the airport earlier, mostly tourist-related. Even though it will be expensive (100 Euro or more) I'd book private transport from wherever you're staying to Naples.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/amalfi-coast-for-5-days-where-to-set-base-from

If you choose to stay in Sorrento, there's a nice coach bus (from the train station) that will deliver you directly to the Naples airport for 10.00 € apiece:

https://www.curreriviaggi.it/en/naples-airport-shuttle

If you choose to stay in Sorrento, there's a nice coach bus (from the
train station) that will deliver you directly to the Naples airport
for 10.00 € apiece:

https://www.curreriviaggi.it/en/naples-airport-shuttle

Correction, Kate--

It was 11 Euro as of March 2017, but I won't call you a liar for a Euro! :)

FYI we took that bus out of Sorrento station. Left at 8:30 AM, got bogged down in traffic at Castellammare di Stabia, and arrived at Napoli Capodichino at 10:15 AM. Made the 12:30 flight to Munich no problemo. I'd do it again if I was assured I'd have the time.

Hiya there, Jay!
Hmmm, I did a dummy booking for 4 on that site this morning (random June date) just to test it, and it came up with a 40.00 € total. It's also advertising "FROM AND TO SORRENTO € 10". So honest, I didn't think I was telling a fib! Maybe it's € 1,00 more if buying tickets at the station?

They do recommend taking a bus that's departing at least 5 hours before flight time. As the OP is just flying to Paris versus the US, maybe 4 hours - which is about what the margin you had with that traffic backup - is enough?

Hiya there, Jay! Hmmm, I did a dummy booking for 4 on that site this
morning (random June date) just to test it, and it came up with a
40.00 € total. It's also advertising "FROM AND TO SORRENTO € 10". So honest, I didn't think I was telling a fib! Maybe it's € 1,00 more if
buying tickets at the station?

They do recommend taking a bus that's departing at least 5 hours
before flight time. As the OP is just flying to Paris versus the US,
maybe 4 hours - which is about what the margin you had with that
traffic backup - is enough?

Geez, I initially read that as 'Jay, you dummy'. That's not the act of a friend... :)

I think 5 hours before departure time is being safe. I mean, with no traffic it's a 45 minute trip. But this was in March. In June, it could be 2.5-3 hours, maybe longer. So many potential bottlenecks on the way because there's only one real road to take unless you go way out of the way. And although I haven't experienced any real delays flying out of Capodichino twice (and I prefer it to Roma Fiumicino), it can be chaotic there just trying to navigate your way around. It's an older airport & a real rogue's gallery of humans fly out of there. Great people-watching!

If you plan on staying ON the Amalfi Coast, plan on spending your last night in Naples. If you stay in Sorrento, you could do as Kathy and Jay suggest but again I'd stay in Naples so you don't have that mad dash in the morning with the kids.
Simply hop in a cab so you reach the airport an hour and a half before departure.

Look at Easyjet for flights between NAP and Paris ORY.

Thank you all for the great suggestions. So I'm thinking we should do 3 nights on AC and then the last night in Naples before flying out from Naples to Paris. I know Naples can be a little rough compared to northern Italy but maybe my impressions are wrong based on what I've read. Thoughts on staying there the fourth night? Since we have our kids with us, would you recommend doing an AirBNB or VRBO vs. a hotel for AC and Naples? I've done them in the States a number of times but not abroad. Thanks!

If you have been to any other city ever, you'll be fine in Naples. I would not bother with a rental for only a night. Hotel Piazza Bellini is very popular, has spacious rooms and good breakfast, walking distance to archaeological museum and the historic center. They'll book your cab to the airport for you.

Thanks! My husband and I have been to Italy twice (Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Lake Como and Cinque Terre) but this is our first trip with our kids, so I anticipate it will be a little more difficult getting around with them. Plus, we've never been south of Rome. Appreciate the hotel recommendation in Naples!

Look at these two lodgings also.

http://www.booking.com/Share-qbURPI

http://www.booking.com/Share-2w7ZAD

Ones north east of Hotel Piazza Bellini and the other is south of it. All three are in the historic center.

Thanks for the additional hotel recommendations in Naples. I have another question about Pompeii. Is it too much to stop there on our way from Rome to the AC or our way up to Naples? Or should we day trip back to Pompeii while staying on the coast? We haven't figured out where to stay on the coast yet. I know Positano is pricey and fills out quickly so maybe I should consider Amalfi, Ravello or Maiori? Right now, the plan is to stay 3 nights on the coast and one in Naples before flying to Paris. So ideally we should visit Pompeii perhaps on the way to Naples? But we will have our luggage with us and I'm not sure how convenient it will be to store our luggage somewhere in Pompeii.

Do you understand that Ravello is not on the coast and has no (pebble) beach as a result? I don't think you have done enough general research yet, and time is ticking away to get into these towns. You cannot get comprehensive decision making from a single news board thread. Have you used the Search box top left yet?

I also think, Ravello would be boring for children, but I liked it.

Pompeii has large, professional luggage storage counters. No problem there. However, it is inconvenient to get to Pompeii in conjunction with the AC. That is, Pompeii is on the way to Sorrento, from which you can get to the AC. But it's not correct to say that Pompeii is on the way to Amalfi or Positano. Until you understand my odd and cryptic statement, you're not ready to visit Pompeii on the way to somewhere.

Thanks Tim. I know Ravello and the other coastal towns take a while to get to which is why I’m trying to figure out where to base our stay. I am in the process of reading the Rick Steve’s book on Pompeii and the AC and also reading some other travel forums, not just this thread. Ideally I would’ve planned much earlier. I know experienced travelers use this forum which is why I’m consulting your advice. I’ve used this forum in the past for previous visits and found them very helpful. I’m just trying to see how feasible is in to stop in Pompeii on our way back from AC to Naples. But I’ve read the commuter trains are often packed especially in the summer. Hence my need for advice. Thanks in advance.

Lanilalli, thank you for your gracious response to my most recent post. I do not want you to imagine that a less-experienced traveler is less than VERY WELCOME on this newsboard. As you may know, text on a computer lacks conversational "affect", and when I "list useful facts" it can possibly come across as lecturing you, which I apologize for it that happened. NRN

To reach Pompeii Scavi from Rome is really fairly easy.

Rome Termini> Napoli Centrale. You would then change to the Circumvesuvian, Located at the lower level of the Naples station. If your times line up, you could take the Campania Express which is the air conditioned version of the Circumvesuvian. It cost more so locals don't use it. Either will get you to Pompeii Scavi in about 40 minutes. There's luggage storage both at the station ( for a small fee) or at the entrance to the site. To continue on to Salerno, you'll need to Taxi to the main Pompei ( note the spelling one i) station a 5-10 minute ride, then on to Salerno.
From there ferry to village of choice.

https://www.sorrentoinsider.com Circumvesuvian and Campania Express timetables.

Amalfi Coast villages info.

https://travelaway.me/beautiful-places-amalfi-coast/

Ravelll will slow down your travel time along the coast since it's a 30 minute bus ride each way.
But it's IMO the prettiest. Do it as a day trip.

Look at Atrani and Maiori, both have sandy beaches. Minori beach is small pebbles.

Lanialii-

I’ve been to the Amalfi coast area once, May 2019- we had 9 nights- we stayed in Sorrento, Amalfi/Ravello and Salerno.

You have 4 nights, 1 of which really should be in Naples night before your departure. You are going to Paris next? Then where?

It takes time and effort to GET to Amalfi coast and you want Pompeii but are concerned about transpo and luggage, etc.
You’ve got 4 people to get to and from. I’d try to keep it really simple.

Might not be what you envisioned but here’s some thoughts/ideas

Both Sorrento and Salerno are nice bases, different.
You’ll need to book lodgings very soon.

Pompeii is easiest as a day trip from Sorrento or Naples. I would hate to be rushed there.
Pompeii can also be done as a day trip from Salerno

Salerno actually has a beach
We found about 3 hours enough in Positano.

Rome to Salerno 3 nights
1 day trip to Positano/Amalfi /Ravello via ferry/bus- best views of coast - a long day
1 day trip to Pompeii
evenings in Salerno are easy/fun
Salerno to Naples whatever time you want— 1 night

or
Rome to Sorrento 3 nights
1 day trip to Positano/Amalfi /Ravello via bus/ferry or private driver (worth the $$ if in your budget)
1 day trip Pompeii
evenings in Sorrento are easy/fun
Sorrento to Naples whatever time you want— 1 night

Thanks everyone for your help and assistance. Before news about the outbreak of COVID-19 in Northern Italy, I ended up booking our hotel in Positano for three nights as staying on the coast has been on my bucket list. Now as the daily news about this virus continues to create panic and fear, I'm holding off on booking anything else. Fortunately our trip isn't until mid June but my husband thinks we shouldn't even plan to go at all. I told him it's still too early to decide and that we should just monitor the situation in the next month or two. I feel sorry for those who have trips planned in the coming days and weeks, with nonrefundable tickets. Like others have said, it's not only the fear of catching the virus, but it's being stuck in a quarantine situation or bringing the virus home. I'm just praying the situation resolves itself quickly but many articles seem to say otherwise.

Lanialii, you need not wait to book hotels, and I wouldn't wait if your trip isn't until June. I use booking.com quite a lot for reservations, and many, if not most, hotels provide the option of booking either non-fundable or refundable (according to individual policies) rates. While refundable rates are a bit higher, you'd at least have your pick of accommodations which still have open bookings for this very popular destination You'd also have the option to cancel without penalty (within policies) depending on the situation and your comfort level this spring.

I'd also look at the rates/cancellation policies posted on hotels' own websites, if wishing to book more directly.

It's early yet but depending on the amount of trip cancellations, more rooms may open up and rates may even drop a little bit.