I'm helping my daughter plan a 10 night trip with her friends. They fly in and out of Rome and want to do both Cinque Terre and Amalfi. I told her it's too much and you'll be spending a lot of time on trains. Which is better and easiest to get to? I need help convincing her to pick one!!! They plan to spend at least 3-4 days in Rome also.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8337 posts
Most travelers going for their first time will want to see Rome, Florence and Venice. That means that the Cinque Terre would be the way to go.
The Amalfi Coast is about 200 miles south of Rome--in a completely different direction--going thru Naples.
Posted by
112 posts
What time of year is she going? The Amalfi Coast is seasonal and things largely shut down from early October until April. I don't have any experience with the Cinque Terre, so not sure if the same applies.
If she wants to do the classic itinerary, per the above poster - Rome + Florence + Venice + Cinque Terre or Amalfi + a return to Rome would be a lot for 10 nights. She may want to save Venice for a return trip.
Posted by
OP
35 posts
They arrive April 25 in Rome and leave from Rome May 5. They don't seem interested in Florence. I've been to Cinque Terre and Florence so I'm biased and think they should stick with Rome-Florence-CT and back to Rome.
Posted by
112 posts
If they aren't excited about Florence, I'd spend 5 nights in Rome (you can't have too much time in that wonderful city, IMO) and 4 on the Amalfi Coast, then overnight in Rome before they head home. I agree that it would be a shame to miss Florence, but it's their trip.
If they choose the Amalfi Coast, they might consider basing in Sorrento - it's a lovely town and very convenient. Ferries leave regularly from there to the towns along the coast. It's also an easy base for a day trip to Pompeii if that interests them. They could take a 1-hour fast train from Rome to Naples, then transfer to Sorrento.
Posted by
San Franciso Bay Area, USA
1035 posts
I have been to both the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi coast and each have its charms. Since the girls don’t want to go to Florence, I would spend 5 nights in Rome and 5 in Sorrento on the Amalfi coast. While Sorrento isn’t exactly on the Amalfi coast, it has good transport options, especially if they want to go to Capri and the Blue Grotto.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
795 posts
I would say Rome and the AC would be good together, but I would go straight to the AC when they arrive as that day is probably shot for any worthwhile sightseeing (I always hate everyone that first day hahaha), might as well use it traveling! I like the pp's idea for 4 nights in AC and 5 in Rome, if they get bored they can do side trips out of the city.
"Easiest", they could PROBABLY get to the AC with only 3 modes of transport (Train from the airport to Roma Termini, train to Naples, and then the commuter train to Sorrento or train from Termini to Salerno and a bus or ferry to Amalfi). CT would be a much longer trip (just looked on trenitalia and they have at least 2+ changes from Termini and it is at LEAST 4.5 hours depending on which they get).
Posted by
Portland
3644 posts
They need to be aware that Apr. 25 is a national holiday, as is May 1. Many Italians take the days in between as vacation time. Resort areas get super crowded. The young women need to get lodging reservations as soon as possible for whichever they choose.
I agree with the poster who wrote that trying to include both the CT and the AC is a very bad idea. Way too much travel time.
Posted by
OP
35 posts
Thank you all for your ideas! My daughter and her friends decided on Rome and Amalfi Coast only. They are aware of the holidays so they've already booked one B&B hotel in Positano for 6 nights and need to book Rome. Any suggestions on hotels in Rome? Thanks again. I'm having a great time helping them plan and we're using the Rick Steves guidebook.