Rome to Amalfi Coast then back to Rome

Personally I dislike that one-night-before-we-fly stay. Seems so stressful! Assuming you land in Rome in the morning, as most US flights do, you can go directly to the A.C. Give yourself a break and take a taxi from FCO to Termini Station. Book yourselves in 1st class on the FrecciaRossa and take a little nap during the 90 minute train trip. In Naples, taxi to the ferry and take that to Positano or Sorrento, whichever you decide to stay in. Yes it is a long travel day, but you are better off staying awake with only a little nap. Stay out of doors once you arrive and shower to wake up. Have an early dinner (for Italy before 8:00PM is early) and get to bed at 9:00 or 10:00. You'll be practically on local time by the morning.

Enjoy your time on the A.C., then go back to Rome for your remaining nights. One less hotel transfer at a minimum!

I agree that you should just go to the Amalfi Coast as soon as you land. You won't be able to check into your Rome hotel anyway. I also personally prefer the relaxing cost to get over jet lag, as opposed to the hustle and bustle of Rome.

Enjoy!

Hi Paula, I am going in a couple of weeks to Rome and Sorrento. I am doing what the other two posters suggested. I arrive at FCO at 9 AM. I figure I can't check into a hotel until midafternoon anyway. It made more sense to spend that "in limbo" time heading to Sorrento. I booked a discount seat on one of the Frecciarossa trains that leaves Termini at 1 pm to give myself plenty of time to get through the airport and some breathing room if my filght is delayed. If I miss my train, I won't feel too bad about it since the ticket was pretty cheap. I will just get on the next one- the trains run so frequently that I you certainly don't have to book a ticket in advance. It was just cheaper.

I booked a hotel in Sorrento based on other's recommendations that it is a good central location to see that part of the country.

Hi Paula. Why don't you just connect immediately in Rome to Naples? Start your holiday in Naples and then head up to Rome for the last part. That's what I would do.

Hi James,
Yes it was misread :)

We are landing in Rome and staying in Rome for 4 or 5 days. Then we head down the Amalfi Coast.
Thanks for the info -
And everyone else...if we were just overnighting in Rome I would totally take your advice and head directly to the coast!
Paula

Also James,
I'm falling in love with Positano and I've never been! Everything I read about it just calls to me.
We are so looking forward to this!
I feel like we are taking two vacations in one.
Rome: The city. Shopping. The history. The Vatican. The 'everything'.
Coast: The seaside vacation. Wandering little coves and nooks and shops. Beach life if it's still warm.
I'd like to end our vacation on 'that' note before coming back to the hustle and bustle of real life :)

The only reason we're contemplating staying in Rome the night before we fly out is that it will be an early flight and I don't want to miss a train or bus connection etc. Plus, I'll be missing Rome by then ...

Is it true that once you go to Italy your heart aches for it always?

I think a large part of the "draw" of Italy is that there is SO MUCH to see and do, so much history, so much art and architecture, so many beautiful places, such wonderful food and wine, that it is not only a perfect fit to many peoples travel dreams, but that you can't possibly do and see it all within one trip. Too many 1st timers arrive with a checklist of "must see" sights that they want to check off, that they end up zooming around from place to place and not really taking time to appreciate everything, they realize their mistake, and vow to come back to spend the time to really enjoy being there. I know that's what I did on my first trip in 2012. I'm currently planning my second trip for this October, and though I've slowed down bit and will be staying longer, I'm still not going to see everything I'd like to. Guess I'll have to go back again some time, won't I?