My family and I are touring Italy next spring and I’d love some advice as to where to stay. Our group will consist of 6 travelers ranging in ages from 7 to 72. We will be traveling by train/bus but no rental car. I considered Priaino or Ravello but I’m concerned the kids would be bored and transportation may be limited. Positano seems like a good option but pricey. Is it worth it?
Any advice you could give would be much appreciated.
Thanks ☺️
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11367 posts
Your instincts are good: smaller towns like Ravello and Praiano are harder and more time consuming to get to and from.
What do you want to do in the region? How many nights do you have? If you plan to visit Pompeii, Sorrento is a better base. If you want beach time, Ravello is not the spot. Praiano is better for that.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
We would be there for 3 days/2 nights. We all are interested in seeing different things. Pompeii is on the list but so is the blue grotto on Capri. I’ve always been mesmerized by the beautiful cliff side towns on the Amalfi Coast.
Posted by
2532 posts
We stayed two nights in amalfi and two nights in positano. Amalfi is much more central for transportation. Frankly if I had to do again would have stayed 4 nights in amalfi and just day tripped to positano.
Posted by
Chicago
7913 posts
Stay in Sorrento. You have more options to see stuff North and South and West to Capri that way. Pompeii is not part of the Amalfi Coast but easy to get to from Sorrento taking the Circumvesuviana.
We used this bus company based in Sorrento to go to Ravello to Amalfi to Positano back to Sorrento
https://city-sightseeing.com/en/60/sorrento
It costs more but works like the regular Sitabus that covers that area without the long line and you will not have to stand up on the bus
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Stay in sorrento, kids and adults should be happy there as a base.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7366 posts
Sorrento has a bit less atmosphere, but many more housing options, and all your objectives are better achieved from more central Sorrento. It is also cheaper and much less time to access. Plan your departure day schedule fully before you book a hotel anywhere near the Amalfi Coast. If you post again give the month and year.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15607 posts
You need to get to Sorrento or Salerno to get a train to Pompeii. From Amalfi, it's about 1.25 hours on the bus to Salerno, 1.5 hours to Sorrento. It's a shorter ferry ride from Sorrento to Capri, than from Positano or Amalfi and there are likely to be more ferries.
You want to see Capri, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. You probably don't have 3 days because it will take you at least 1/2 day to get to Sorrento from wherever and another 1/2 day or more to get to your next destination. So 2 nights gives you only one full day for sightseeing. You could probably see Pompeii on the way to or from Sorrento, but that means having all your luggage with you. There is bag storage at Pompeii, but you'll have to lug your stuff to/from the train and I'd recommend carrying all your valuables with you while you are seeing Pompeii. Even then, you have to choose whether to go to Capri or the Amalfi coast on your single full day. Getting to and from Sorrento is a pain and if you are only staying 2 nights, you could end up with at least one cranky traveler in your group.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11367 posts
Can you possibly add a night? It's kind of a troublesome trip for only 2 nights/1 full day.
Posted by
Cincinnati, Ohio
303 posts
You have a wide age range. I am now 72, and I have been to the Amalfi Coast. Positano is steep! I was huffing and puffing in this beautiful village. We made our home base in Salerno which we accessed by train from Rome. Salerno is more flat, and it is a transportation hub---trains, buses and ferries. The drawback for you is that it is much further away from Capri. Sorrento would probably be a good pick as it is more flat, has a beach and also has transportation choices. Capri is an easy ferry ride. BTW, if the ferries are running, choose them to navigate between the villages. The view from the water is gorgeous, and all the members of your family will be more comfortable. We only took the SITA bus once and were glad it was only once. Have a wonderful time in this beautiful place!