Sorrento in August

Lee,

Spending a week in Sorrento will give you lots of time to explore the various sights in that area. However, as you noted it will likely be hot and crowded so if you're OK with that, go for it!

Regarding your questions....

1. As you're flying into Naples, use the Curreri Viaggi Coach directly from the airport to Sorrento. As I recall, the trip is about an hour and the fare is €10 PP (may have increased by now).
2. The Guidebook has lots of good listings, so just pick one that fits your criteria. I'm not sure if THIS HOTEL is in the Guidebook, but if you don't mind being a bit out of the centre of town, you could consider it. They offer a Shuttle Bus which operates very frequently.

Happy travels!

At least in August maybe the Mediterranean will be warmer than in June when we visited. It was a like an ice cold mountain stream.

We stayed two nights in Naples, it was worth it, but it was October. I am afraid August would not be good for me. We took a boat to Sorrento. Much better than hot, crowded Vesuviano train. If the bus from the airport has A/C I would consider it. (We came by train so I am not familiar with the bus from the airport). Hotel in Sorrento: go for Antiche Mura. It has a swimming pool in lemon trees orchard, bar with some food service right next to pool. The hotel is close to the action but at the same time tucked away from busy roads. Train station to Pompei, Herculaneum, Naples is only about 5 to 10 minutes walk from the hotel. Bus station for Amalfi is right in front of the train station. We took bus to Amalfi, then boat to Positano where we got off and then took boat back to Sorrento. Or you can stay on the boat when it stops in Positano and get to Sorrento sooner. Amalfi is of course on the hill but still easier to walk around than Positano. It seems like there is no flat ground in Positano. After some walk up and down we got to nice Fornillo beach. There is a little hotel and restaurant there which name I managed to forget. We went by Vesuviana train to Pompei. Train was hot and crowded even in October. No A/C. Just open windows. Pompei is larger than we thought. Fortunately it was not crowded because unfortunately it was raining. Messing with umbrellas and tickets we somehow omitted to take a map and then had trouble to find our exit. There are several of them and I did not see any signs. I regret that we did not have time for Vesuvius. When you go for bus to Amalfi, get there some time before departure so you can be at the beginning of line and grab front seat on the right hand side of the bus. Cannot give information about Capri other than there is a boat connection from Sorrento. No time for Capri either. When in Italy this last October we stayed in Naples, Sorrento, Avellino and Rome. I enjoyed Sorrento with day trip to Amalfi and Positano the most.

We stayed at Palazzo Montefusco in Sorrento, in September and would definitely recommend it. The location is perfect (right off Piazza Tasso) and the hotel itself is really nice. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly and the rate includes a wonderful breakfast buffet which showcases a different homemade cake every day! The rooms are very comfortable and clean.

If you are interested in hiring a driver &/or guide for Pompeii, Herculaneum or the Amalfi Coast, I can recommend several outstanding ones that we used.

Have a great trip.

We've been to Sorrento 3 times, staying a week each time. It's a good amount of time to really enjoy it all. We've always been there in July/August. I hate high temps (I live a few miles north of SF) but Sorrento in the heat was not a problem for us (unlike Venice, Rome, Paris, London, even Tuscany in the heat). Being right on the water makes a difference, riding boats and the Hop-On Hop-Off bus where you get a breeze also helps. We stayed at La Tonnarella each time, they have A/C and a private beach which we loved. We bought large tubes in town and just floated around on the water, it was relaxing and fun. We also rented a small. private boat on Capri (not expensive - called Banana Boats) several times and spent the day driving around Capri stopping wherever we wanted to swim.

We've gotten to Sorrento from Naples by boat, circumvesuviana train and private driver. Ken's advice to take the bus would be my 1st choice, private driver my 2nd choice, and the train my 3rd choice. The boat with suitcases was a huge negative (long story), we had to wait 1 1/2 hrs for it while gypsies kept bothering us and the boat we took was filled with commuters who closed all the curtains so we couldn't see out the windows, and there was no where to go outside on the boat. So, we saw nothing and had to breathe the engine and gas fumes the whole way - not fun. The boat will bring you to the port in Sorrento and from there you'll have to take a taxi or bus to town. The circumvesuviana brings you right into town.