Amalfi Coast region

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:50:42 -0800, poldy wrote:

In article ,
Ken Blake wrote:

Have you considered the possibility of flying back from Naples instead
of Rome? If you could do that, it should be much more convenient.

I'm paying less than $650 all-in for SFO-FCO. I checked returning from
NAP and the fare shot up to over $1700.



Wow! That's a big difference, and a surprise to me.


You can get to Capri by ferry from either Naples or Sorrento. You
might even want to go from Naples to Capri, then from Capri to
Sorrento, which would take away the need to go from Naples to Sorrento
by train.

Yes, another reason for choosing Sorrento is that I could go from Naples
to Sorrento by train or ferry.


I'm almost sure the train will be considerably faster and more
convenient.


Ferry or hydrofoil would be more scenic
and faster but the transfer from the Naples train station to the port
seems a hassle, with a big suitcase in tow.


Right. I wouldn't do it.


I guess I could go to Capri first but it might be better to get my
bearings first on the coast.


I don't see why. You should choose the order based on what works best
for you.


You can take the funicular from Marina Grande up to the town and take
your luggage up on it. If you take a taxi, it will cost somewhat more,
but like the funicular, it just takes you to the start of Capri. From
there, you will have to walk to your hotel or B&B.

I will have to research the funicular a bit more. I assumed it was more
a people-mover and it didn't sound like something for people with
luggage.


No, that assumption isn't correct. There are lots of people with
luggage using it. I've taken my luggage on it many times.




Any experiences in the lodging choices in the area? Not just on Capri
but also on the mainland?


I know nothing about Capri B&Bs, but I have two favorite hotels in
Capri: Canasta, and La Floridiana. Unfortunately, like so many hotels
in Capri, they are not cheap.

In Sorrento, I stayed at Hotel Mignon Meublè
the last time I was there (about a year
and a half ago). It was fine, very central, and moderately-priced.
Unfortunately, however, it has no elevator.

Some good suggestions in this thread about hotels in Sorrento.

I've seen most of the ones mentioned on Venere.com

--
Ken Blake
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On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:00:33 -0800, poldy wrote:

In article ,
Ken Blake wrote:

2. I highly recommend that whether you choose a hotel or a B&B that it
be in the town of Capri, not in Anacapri, Marina Grande, or Marina
Piccola. Capri is the most central, nicest, and has the best choices
of sights to see, restaurants, stores, etc. From Capri you can get to
Anacapri and Marina Piccola by bus (or on foot if you like long
walks), but a single trip to each of them is usually sufficient.

Thanks, that's interesting to know.


You're welcome. Glad to help.


I first looked at staying near the Marina Grande so I wouldn't have to
deal with lugging the luggage up to the main towns.


Ugh! I'm exaggerating slightly, but that's sort of like staying in a
slum instead of the nice part of town. I strongly recommend that you
do *not* do that.


I heard that Anacapri was less touristy and there seems to be more
family-run B&Bs there. Some very reasonably-priced choices too.


Yes, it's less touristy, because it's much less nice and less
convenient. Anacapri is a much better choice than Marina Grande, but I
wouldn't choose to stay there either.


I like this one:

www.aiano.net

It's in the center of the island and looks to have spectacular views,
although it's not so close to the center of Capri town.


Sorry, I know nothing about it, and don't know where it's located. I
couldn't get their web site either.


It gets raves on Tripadvisor and the price isn't bad, but there are less
expensive options to be had too.

--
Ken Blake
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On 14 Feb, 05:03, poldy wrote:
In article ,
(Poetic Justice) wrote:





*You might consider doing this for your Pompeii visit;

*Go tohttp://tinyurl.com/dloxoqand under 'Eventi a Pompei' there are 5
limited access sites that you can reserve tickets for at Pompeii.

*The site is in Italian but I have managed to book tickets there (I
don't read Italian) a few times.

*Google the Italian names of the sites and it will also bring up pages
in English with info on those sites and then just choose which site
interests you.

*I give directions and info on this post which might be helpful with the
train, Circumvesuviana, historical sites, museum, etc in that area
(Naples-Pompeii).
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34665492

Are the limited-access areas worth it for a first-time visitor? *Or does
it make more sense to go to the more well-known areas?

Yes I was planning to take the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento.

Hopefully not too tricky to find the correct train (looks like some go
to Salerno or is that the regular train?) or the correct stop at the
station in Sorrento.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Knowing this area I'm rather black & white on the issues.
Capri would be a terrible centre. Apart from the logistics of getting
to the mainland and back each time, I usually advise even first-timers
not to bother with even a day visit. Of course it has 'prettiness',
but none approaching other nearby mainland scenery, and it has become
a tourist-ridden monstrosity.

I would always advise central Sorrento as a centre for the entire
area. Very good hotels there and far more interesting in the evenings
that being stuck out in some outlying hotel.

Surreyman

poldy wrote:
Plan to go to the Catania region for about 6 days, first timer.

Was thinking that Sorrento seemed to be the most central, not just for
day trips to places like Positano and Ravello, but also back up to
Pompeii, maybe even Naples.

This is in the first week of April.

Sorrento seems to offer better lodging values than Positano. Obviously
not as scenic but better located (I will be arriving from Rome to Naples
by train and going back at the end to fly out of FCO).

The other idea was to spend a couple of nights on Capri.

Capri.com lists a lot of choices. Lot of small B&Bs which have maybe 3
rooms and gets raves for personal service.

Versus hotels, which still get good reviews but not the same level of
personal attention. Main good thing about the latter is that they seem
more likely to offer transfer or porterage services from Marina Grande,
whereas with the B&Bs, you would probably have to take a taxi up if
you're bringing luggage for a 2-week trip (no I don't pack light).

Any experiences in the lodging choices in the area? Not just on Capri
but also on the mainland?

There's one hotel in Sorrento where we didn't stay, but if I ever go
back I'm determined to stay there - http://www.hotelilfaro.com/ right on
the harbour.

We had planned to take the ferry to Capri, but it was pouring with
rain, so we wandered into the hotel restaurant and idled away an entire
afternoon over an incredible lunch - signed photos on the wall of all
the film stars who'd stayed there - Capri faded into the haze, and the
coffee and cognac got even better - ah well.

BTW if you get the chance while you're in that area, try and get down to
see Paestum - it's the site of the best preserved Greek - yes Greek -
temples anywhere in Europe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paestum

T.

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:56:32 -0800, poldy wrote:

In article ,
(Carole Allen) wrote:

There is a local bus you can take down the coast to Amalfi as a day
trip. I wouldn't try the drive - you'll miss all the scenery!
Sorrento is a good base for Naples, Pompeii, etc.

Do you mean the SITA? That's what I planned on. I considered the drive
for a second. Then saw videos and accounts about blind turns with
narrow roads where only one car could pass at a time.


To me (and I think Carole is saying the same thing) the reason not to
drive the Amalfi coast and take the bus instead is *not* that it's
dangerous to drive. The reason is that such a winding road requires
all your attention, and you therefore hardly get to look at the beauty
of the area.

By the way, I've been on the drive several times, always on a bus, and
I don't remember any narrow roads where only one car could pass at a
time.

--
Ken Blake
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In article ,
Ken Blake wrote:

I like this one:

www.aiano.net

It's in the center of the island and looks to have spectacular views,
although it's not so close to the center of Capri town.


Sorry, I know nothing about it, and don't know where it's located. I
couldn't get their web site either.

It's www.aiano.it. Also a page on it on capri.com.

"poldy" wrote in message
news
You might consider doing this for your Pompeii visit;

Go to http://tinyurl.com/dloxoq and under 'Eventi a Pompei' there are 5
limited access sites that you can reserve tickets for at Pompeii.

The site is in Italian but I have managed to book tickets there (I
don't read Italian) a few times.

Google the Italian names of the sites and it will also bring up pages
in English with info on those sites and then just choose which site
interests you.

I give directions and info on this post which might be helpful with the
train, Circumvesuviana, historical sites, museum, etc in that area
(Naples-Pompeii).
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34665492

Are the limited-access areas worth it for a first-time visitor? Or does
it make more sense to go to the more well-known areas?

You can get a 3-site ticket for Pompeii, Herculaneum and Villa di Poppea at the
ticket office for any of them. The latter is least visited but well worth it -
far less crowded and better preserved than much of the other two.

Get a decent guide book for the sites, the guide they give you with you ticket
is fairly basic. You can get a guided tour for something like 10-20 EUR, well
worth it but it won't take you everywhere so I'd suggest a guide book as well.
The audio guides are quite good too.

You'll probably want to go to the archaeological museum in Naples after visiting
Pompeii - as you'll see several holes in the walls/floors in Pompeii where some
of the best stuff has been moved to the museum.

Yes I was planning to take the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento.

Hopefully not too tricky to find the correct train (looks like some go
to Salerno or is that the regular train?) or the correct stop at the
station in Sorrento.

Was easy, Sorrento is at the end of the line so just look for Sorrento trains.
AIRI there are branches of the Circumvesuvia going elsewhere, but if the
train/platform sign doesn't say Sorrento it's the wrong train.

--
Andy

In article ,
Tom P wrote:

There's one hotel in Sorrento where we didn't stay, but if I ever go
back I'm determined to stay there - http://www.hotelilfaro.com/ right on
the harbour.

We had planned to take the ferry to Capri, but it was pouring with
rain, so we wandered into the hotel restaurant and idled away an entire
afternoon over an incredible lunch - signed photos on the wall of all
the film stars who'd stayed there - Capri faded into the haze, and the
coffee and cognac got even better - ah well.

I was thinking about this one:

http://www.hotelpalazzoguardati.com/en/index.php

Nearby but closer to the center and hopefully, closer to the train
station and the bus stops.

But I'll keep the restaurant in mind.

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:43:18 -0800, poldy wrote:

In article ,
Ken Blake wrote:

I like this one:

www.aiano.net

It's in the center of the island and looks to have spectacular views,
although it's not so close to the center of Capri town.


Sorry, I know nothing about it, and don't know where it's located. I
couldn't get their web site either.

It's www.aiano.it. Also a page on it on capri.com.


It looks nice enough and the rates aren't bad. I'm not crazy about the
location (my guess is that it's about a 15 minute walk to the central
piazza of Capri), but it's *much* better than either Anacapri or
Marina Grande.

--
Ken Blake
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On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:02:43 -0800, poldy wrote:

In article ,
Tom P wrote:

There's one hotel in Sorrento where we didn't stay, but if I ever go
back I'm determined to stay there - http://www.hotelilfaro.com/ right on
the harbour.

We had planned to take the ferry to Capri, but it was pouring with
rain, so we wandered into the hotel restaurant and idled away an entire
afternoon over an incredible lunch - signed photos on the wall of all
the film stars who'd stayed there - Capri faded into the haze, and the
coffee and cognac got even better - ah well.

I was thinking about this one:

http://www.hotelpalazzoguardati.com/en/index.php



I don't know this hotel, but it looks very nice and the rates and
location look good. I think it's probably a good choice. I like that
choice much better (because of the difference in location) than your
choice in Capri.


Nearby but closer to the center and hopefully, closer to the train
station and the bus stops.


You get the bus across the street from the train station. It's
probably about a 10-15 minute walk to the train station from this
hotel.


--
Ken Blake
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