Rome and Amalfi coast

Sarah,
This is a very broad question. Do you have Rick Steves' Italy guide? It's a great source for starting to lay out a plan. How many days will you have and what, besides beach time, are your interests? Do you know if you want to stay in a small town on the AC, or in a more central location like Sorrento where you can go to Naples and Pompeii as well? Ciao!

At most, we have a week in Rome and a week on the coast including travel time getting there. Staying on the beach might be best, depending on what the weather might be early October and using it as a base for day trips to other cities. We are very open with our planning.

Sarah, you've got a good amount of time, so you should really be able to enjoy! For the Amalfi coast, I can't really advise re: beaches (as I don't recall seeing that many); but suggest hiring a driver or taking a bus trip from one end (Positano or Sorrento) to the other end (Ravello). The views are incredible the whole way, but Ravello's view is especially wonderful. I'd also suggest staying a night or two on Capri. It's fun to tour the small island in a convertible taxi and then take the chair lift to the very top of Anacapri, where the views are incredible. Capri's main drag can be quite crowded during the day (lots of day trippers), but the island is very pleasant if you get off the beaten path and stay overnight. The Blue Grotto is popular, but I have not personally done that. Since you have so much to choose from, I'd suggest looking at the itineraries some group tours offer (not that I am suggesting you take a group tour, since you want beach time, but...) to see where those tours go/see.........from there you can look up places on TripAdvisor and see photos/read reviews, which may help you select must-see places. Rick Steves offers trips that include the Amalfi as does Tauck Tour's Rome/Capri/Amalfi tour. One last piece of advice, if you take the drive along the Amalfi Coast, return by boat, as the views are beautiful (but different) both ways. Enjoy!

Thanks! Appreciate the help.

Don't know about any beaches, but Steve's book mentions some I think. We were based in Sorrento and spent one day in Pompeii which was truly amazing and one day on a private tour down the Amalfi coast. I highly recommened Raffaele Monetti (also in the Steve's book). He provided a wonderful tour, was very patient when my son got car sick on the drive up from Positano on the windy Amalfi coast, and provided interesting commentary and a wonderful place to eat lunch in Ravello. As far as I could see, there wasn't much in the way of public beaches in Sorrento. There were some private ones that charge to enter but we never used them. Other towns up the coast may have better beaches.

Amalfi town has a beach however it is more cobbles than sand. It is right of the main amalfi coast road and accessible by public bus. Sorreento has hotels w/ pools and I think beach access but beaches are generally small in Sorrento. I have yet to see wide white sdy beaches in Italy. I hope this doesn't disspooint you but it is gd to know in advance. With or without beachtime the amalfi coast is drop dead gorgeous!