My son and I have never traveled abroad before. I booked a 10 day tour to start, followed by a week on our own based in Sorrento to explore the Amalfi coast, Capri and Pompeii. I really want to tour by boat one entire day to visit the coastal towns. We will also have an extra day in Rome before I leave. I would appreciate any recommendations for tours and tour companies. As a novice, I’m really apprehensive about finding and choosing tour companies. Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
1065 posts
Mondo Guide Tours is recommended by many on this forum for this area.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17156 posts
Welcome to the forums -
For starters, take a look at the listings under "Shared tours for Rick Steves" and "New shared tours endorsed by Rick Steves" in the menu at the top of the Mondo Guides website:
Any number of posters have taken their tours and had positive experiences. The shared tours are also attractively priced! Just be aware that adverse weather conditions can result in cancellation of any which involve travel via boat.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
5006 posts
I'll vouch for Mondo tours as well, however for the Amalfi Coast I belive they only do a land tour. Capri is easily done on your own via a ferry unless you're also wanting a boat for around the island. We also stayed in Rome overnight after Sorrento and I highly recommend Through Eternity Tours. If you're interested, here's my Trip Report from 2023. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-2-weeks-of-day-trips-from-sorrento
I'd also recommend this RS guidebook for the region. Of all his books I found this the most valuable. https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/amalfi-coast-guidebook
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7948 posts
Mondo has a shared tour to Capri
We had a terrific time on this tour
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17156 posts
This is the Mondo tour I'm seeing for the Amalfi Coast by sea:
https://www.sharedtrips.com/shared-city-tour/sorrento/36/the-amalfi-coast-in-private-boat-max-7-people#tour-details
But you're right, Allan, that formerly their AC tours were all by land (which the exception of Capri, of course). I think this group of shared tours is still fairly new.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA area (USA)
291 posts
If you’re feeling adventurous it’s pretty easy to visit Pompei on your own. You can take the suburban Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to the Pompei Scavi station that’s right by the entrance to the site, then wander through with the map they give you or use an audio guide on your phone. There’s a lunch place inside the site and some other restaurants outside the entrance. The train may be crowded but it’s safe, just keep your valuables in a money belt under your clothes to thwart pickpockets. Good luck with the trip!
Posted by
Canada: True North Strong and Free
394 posts
We will be staying in Sorrento and opted to visit Pompeii and Vesuvius with Golden Tours.
An alternative to Mondo Tours for visiting the Amalfi Coast (via boat) is Cooperativa S. Antionio. https://www.coopsantonio.com/en/
I have heard that doing it by driving involves being stuck in traffic for much of the time and that it's not especially scenic until you get to overpasses/lookouts so we are doing it by water, using the ferry system.
We are also going to use the ferry to visit Capri on our own. It looks pretty straightforward and much cheaper than the tours.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8283 posts
bxrlover, I don't use tours myself. But be aware that those who book a boat tour to Capri want two services that are not included with a ferry ride: A circle around the island, and water delivery to the tiny Blue Grotto boats, wave action permitting. We skipped the Blue Grotto, a notorious time-sucker. Capri is a very big place, and highly pedestrianized.
Posted by
Canada: True North Strong and Free
394 posts
Tim,
Good point. We don't plan on doing either. We opted to do a guided kayak tour of the other side of the island, which seems far less hectic.