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      02-09-2019, 01:26 PM   #1
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Italy: Rome and Amalfi Coast - input and recommendations please

Going to Italy in about 2 months and looking to book accommodations and asking for recommendations of places to eat/visit (besides the obvious places). I have been there once few years ago as part of my 4 month trip around the globe: visited Florence, Rome, and Sienna. This time I only have about 8 days and landing in Rome first. Will have 3 other people with me so playing a bit of a tour guide. Itinerary and questions below.

Rome
- 2-3 days here to see the major sites and catch up to local time.
- been here before so don’t want to spend too much time
- planning on getting an Airbnb in the Trastevere area (stayed 100m from the Colosseum last time)

Amalfi Coast
- the rest of the time will be in the Amalfi Coast
- should we rent a car? I don’t mind driving but if parking situation sucks I’d rather not.
- which town(s) to visit? Not sure how long the drive is. Since we don’t have that much time and need to make it back to Rome for our flight back, I’m hoping to use one of the towns as a base for 4 days and do 1, maybe 2 day trips.
- this is where I need the most input since it looks like everyone has different intake on which town to visit and whether to drive or take public transportation

Appreciate the input and thank you in advance!
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      02-09-2019, 04:30 PM   #2
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I was there with my wife and kids for 4 weeks, have a ton of recommendations for you. We did Rome for 3 days, rented a car and went to Tuscany, a whole bunch of small towns, Sienna etc...was there for 4 days, then drove to Venice, dropped the car at the airport and took the water ferry in. Stayed there a week, then back to the airport, got a car again and drove down to Naples. Stayed one night, swapped the vehicle to small Audi A3 at the airport in Naples and kept the car the remainder and drove up the Amalfi coast.

We settled in here https://www.excelsior-hotel.it/en/ and stayed the whole time, absolutely loved it and it was central to a bunch of small towns around. It's really close to the town of Amalfi, they have a bus service which will take you into town so you can enjoy the wine and food.

I kept the car the entire time because I hate being restricted to when I can leave or stay if I like where I am. Parking was not a big deal, in Positano they have parking garages in the mountain or lots around town. Never struggled for a spot and I was there in August which is the holiday time in Europe. The normal Positano, Sorrento, Capri, Salerno etc...but my family and I really enjoyed the little towns for their hospitality and quality food. In August they have there festivals so each town it's a small party based on whatever they are famous for. In Amalfi it was lemons, in this town called Conca del Marini, it was my fav!
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      02-09-2019, 04:54 PM   #3
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cmyE93M3 - perfect. I just booked 2 rooms at that hotel for 4 nights. Thank you for the recommendation!

Sounds like renting a car is the way to go, especially when that hotel has parking included. I’ve actually reserved a car with Sixt a few weeks back just in case. Is a 1 series, VW Polo or Golf too big for the small roads of Amalfi Coast?

Last edited by BMW F22; 02-09-2019 at 05:03 PM..
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      02-09-2019, 05:17 PM   #4
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I don't know if you can find an AirBnB for 4 people, take an hotel room in a website like trivago. A medium car like golf is perfect. I think you can't miss to see some cities like Salerno, Sorrento, Positano and the Ischia island. And if you have some more time Caserta and Naples offer many cultural places. Have a nice trip!
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      02-09-2019, 05:52 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by BMW F22 View Post
cmyE93M3 - perfect. I just booked 2 rooms at that hotel for 4 nights. Thank you for the recommendation!

Sounds like renting a car is the way to go, especially when that hotel has parking included. I've actually reserved a car with Sixt a few weeks back just in case. Is a 1 series, VW Polo or Golf too big for the small roads of Amalfi Coast?
If you are use to driving in small towns in Europe, you can even go bigger car wise. The roads are tight but people don't speed, never saw one accident while there and the rental I had never got bumped or scratched.
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      02-09-2019, 05:55 PM   #6
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We stayed at Jk Roma when we went. Loved it. Short walk to pretty much everything.
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      02-09-2019, 06:03 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by omorzo View Post
I don't know if you can find an AirBnB for 4 people, take an hotel room in a website like trivago. A medium car like golf is perfect. I think you can't miss to see some cities like Salerno, Sorrento, Positano and the Ischia island. And if you have some more time Caserta and Naples offer many cultural places. Have a nice trip!
Thanks. Plenty of Airbnb places for 4-6 people. The towns you mentioned are nearby to Amalfi city so can do day trips to those places (or take buses), I think.
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      02-09-2019, 06:20 PM   #8
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Since you booked at that hotel, the 2nd pic was the view towards the town of Amalfi, about 10 mins drive. It has a jetty you can park at, about €4 for an evening. The pic was the view from the balcony of my room. We just had a standard room, but 2 of them (I have teenagers) so they had a room and the wife and I another. 1st pic is the view to the right on the balcony. Third pic is if you find yourself in Tuscany. That hotel called Castel Pietraio, Monteriggioni (town) is very close to Siena. It's very quiet, farmland but staying in a castle that interior wise was completely modernized. They make there own wine it was fantastic, I think €7 a bottle but very good. Hope it helps, if you have questions PM me, not sure how much info you may really need.
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      02-09-2019, 07:15 PM   #9
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      02-09-2019, 08:33 PM   #10
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Can't recommend anything as I've never been there. Will visit there someday, though.

In the meantime, here's a pretty cool live webcam I check all the time just to see how nice it is there in Positano on the Amalfi coast.

http://www.campaniameteo.it/webcampositano/pos002.jpg
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      02-13-2019, 11:12 PM   #11
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Any recommendations on places to eat? I have yet to have a nice spaghetti and meatballs dish in Italy.
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      02-14-2019, 11:32 AM   #12
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Keep this thread alive please. My wife and I are planning to go to Italy in September. Thinking Rome for only 2 days or so, with the rest of the time between Amalfi Coast and Florence.

We'll be there for two weeks. So any recommendations on where to eat and stay in Amalfi as well as Florence would be great.
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      02-14-2019, 12:47 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joekerr View Post
Keep this thread alive please. My wife and I are planning to go to Italy in September. Thinking Rome for only 2 days or so, with the rest of the time between Amalfi Coast and Florence.

We'll be there for two weeks. So any recommendations on where to eat and stay in Amalfi as well as Florence would be great.
We were very happy at the Hotel David in Florence.

I'll have to go back and try to see where we ate, but there was a good family owned place just a little ways away from the hotel (taking a quick look I think it was Trattoria Gigi Di Lippi Luciano).
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      02-14-2019, 02:55 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joekerr View Post
Keep this thread alive please. My wife and I are planning to go to Italy in September. Thinking Rome for only 2 days or so, with the rest of the time between Amalfi Coast and Florence.

We'll be there for two weeks. So any recommendations on where to eat and stay in Amalfi as well as Florence would be great.
Pretty cool! A colleague of mine is planning for September with his family as well. Would be nice to give him some recommendations.
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      02-14-2019, 03:26 PM   #15
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The amalfi coast is great, but if you want to go to the best area of italy that looks like the amalfi, but doesn't have the same tourists as the amalfi (it's where the italians go for vacation) check out Castellabate. I stayed at Approdo https://www.approdothalassospa.com/

There is also a ferry walking distance from that hotel that takes you to Capri...
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      02-15-2019, 02:38 PM   #16
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Was just there for 10 days in Sept. Stay in Positano and not Amalfi. Nicer town and a lot less crowded. Take the ferries over to Amalfi and Capri. Capri is a must see. If you go, take a bus to Anacapri first. Then, get on the single chair lift up to the top. It's about 15 min ride up. The views from up there are spectacular. Highly recommend visiting Ravello. Beautiful mountain town with great restaurants and again, the views are amazing. Sorrento is another day trip. Go to the Hotel Execelsior and have drinks or lunch. Incredible views and great food. Also recommend going to Pompeii which is really cool. Only 85% of Pompeii has been restored and there's still more to go. You can't find bad pizza in the area since you're close to Naples (birthplace of pizza). The Amalfi coast is seriously one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Just be prepared to do a lot of walking! Don't think about renting a car as the roads are so narrow and filled with buses and scooters. They are also crazy drivers.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joekerr View Post
Keep this thread alive please. My wife and I are planning to go to Italy in September. Thinking Rome for only 2 days or so, with the rest of the time between Amalfi Coast and Florence.

We'll be there for two weeks. So any recommendations on where to eat and stay in Amalfi as well as Florence would be great.
So, Curaçao one day and Italy the next... hmmm, has anybody audited your company lately looking for embezzlers?

I’ve done Rome and Florence but not Amalfi coast, so I can’t help. And as far as eating the only one I remember is a little outdoor cafe right by the Colosseum and I remember them because I left an expensive pair of sunglasses on our table because a, the sun had gone down, and b, I had my fair share of vino, and I figured they were gone but went back the next day and they had them... that impressed me.
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      02-15-2019, 03:18 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by Haywood View Post
Was just there for 10 days in Sept. Stay in Positano and not Amalfi. Nicer town and a lot less crowded. Take the ferries over to Amalfi and Capri. Capri is a must see. If you go, take a bus to Anacapri first. Then, get on the single chair lift up to the top. It's about 15 min ride up. The views from up there are spectacular. Highly recommend visiting Ravello. Beautiful mountain town with great restaurants and again, the views are amazing. Sorrento is another day trip. Go to the Hotel Execelsior and have drinks or lunch. Incredible views and great food. Also recommend going to Pompeii which is really cool. Only 85% of Pompeii has been restored and there's still more to go. You can't find bad pizza in the area since you're close to Naples (birthplace of pizza). The Amalfi coast is seriously one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Just be prepared to do a lot of walking! Don't think about renting a car as the roads are so narrow and filled with buses and scooters. They are also crazy drivers.
I changed the location from Excelsior Grand hotel in Amalfi to a nice airbnb place is Praiano. Positano seems to be a bit too touristy so figured that Praiano is a good option in between. Also renting a car. Did the numbers and the cost one way to go from Rome to Amalfi Coast for 4 people is the same as renting a car for 5 days, not to mention the hassle of switching trains/buses and we still have to make it back to Rome for our flight back. Only spending 4-5 days there so definitely will have to pick and choose what we see and do. Can’t possibly cover everything.
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      02-16-2019, 04:59 PM   #19
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lived in Italy more than a 1 year.. apart from the obvious places if i were you i d rent a car go to very small cool towns.. writing down some nearby places where you ll be around..

Matera, Sorrento, Brescia, Ravenna, Mantova, Capri, Padua (a bit dull city but still) these can be daily trips as far as i can guess better check the milage though..

i believe the best recommendation i can give is not to rush to see a lot places but going to tourist-free places by car.. navigate on the way according to mood.. cause for me Italy's best thing is not its coffee but its nature and not a bit less stoney towns..
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      02-18-2019, 12:23 PM   #20
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^ got a car reserved so we’ll definitely drive for sure. Will look up those places you mentioned. Thank you.

Any thoughts on tours? Usually do the free walking tour so will do that. I’m asking specifically about the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Got quoted E170 + cost of entrance for a 3 hour tour for 4 people. The Colosseum/Forums we can do without the tour and use Rick Steve’s audio walk for information (same with Vatican Museum).
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      02-20-2019, 09:04 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joekerr View Post
Keep this thread alive please. My wife and I are planning to go to Italy in September. Thinking Rome for only 2 days or so, with the rest of the time between Amalfi Coast and Florence.

We'll be there for two weeks. So any recommendations on where to eat and stay in Amalfi as well as Florence would be great.
We stayed at the most amazing AirBnb in Florence, a penthouse right by the Ponte Vecchio. A 2 BR with decks with amazing views, very modern.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1090833?guests=1&adults=1
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      02-20-2019, 12:06 PM   #22
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going to italy with my wife 9/2-9/13. we've previously spent a couple weeks in tuscany and rome, so we are planning to spend most of our time in the naples, positano, sorrento, capri area. we generally like to have a "home base" in the middle of everything and have been leaning towards sorrento, but any suggestions would be appreciated. i'm guessing we will also stay in capri for a couple nights.

have a great trip everyone!
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