Rachellaura81

We are planning to go at the end of June 2016. We were advised from a friend to not visit the Amalfi Coast on a summer weekend due to crowds. However, as it turns out with our itinerary of cities to visit, it might make the most sense for us to stay in the AC from sat-tues. Do you think this is a big mistake?

An important note: we are traveling with my 3 and 5 year old daughters. I know this will already be a challenge in and of itself.....

Thanks!

ekc

I rent an apartment the last week of June each year and love it. If possible, try to stay at close to the sea as possible, to eliminate the steps you need to take with the girls.

Also, try and book ASAP. Many of the better places book a year in advance. Crazy, I know, but nonetheless true.

nytraveler

June is not nearly as bad as August. But agree to pick lodging carefully since you don't want to have to carry the kids everywhere due to all of the steps.

Also decide how you will travel, since little kids sometimes get motion sickness and the local bus may be an issue. (We traveled only by car or ferry - but in May - and our hotel in Sorrento had free parking.)

Rachellaura81

We will be traveling from Florence to AC by car. I just started looking into lodging.... trying to pick carefully bc of the kids. Open to any advice, all suggestions welcome!! Thank you for your responses!

ekc

Having a car on the Amalfi Coast at the end of June is generally a terrible idea. Parking is expensive and very very scarce. If you find lodging with parking, you will likely leave the car parked the entire time you are in town.

Rachellaura81

I guess I misunderstood.... we are getting a car service TO the Amalfi Coast but not keeping a car there. Thanks!!

ekc

Ah, that makes more sense! That is a heck of an expensive service though! Any thought to taking the train to Naples, then a car service from there?

Rachellaura81

Sure, we would be open to that! We haven't looked into prices yet. This is a retirement once in a lifetime trip for my dad. He is willing to splurge a bit and suggested a car service to make things easier with my kids. But if the train to naples and then a car service is significantly cheaper, yes, we would definitely want to look into it. Thanks for the suggestion!

Back to my question at hand though.... How is it on the weekends in the AC as opposed to the week? Our friend seemed to insinuate that we absolutely should not go on the weekend. But we would really have to do a lot of rearranging with our itinerary to make that happen. So I would prefer not to if we dont have to. Will it be so crowded there that it will not be enjoyable?

WWK

Rome to Positano runs about E500 with a private driver for a family of five or six. Napoli to Positano runs about E125. Trip time from Rome to Positano is about three hours. From Naples, it's about 1.5 hours. You'll have to weigh the convenience and the cost.

Now about the AC: Mid-June onward is the start of the season, so it's pretty crowded. Yes, it will be more so on weekends, but if you plan well- get out early, take breaks- you'll be fine.

You'll have to choose a hotel carefully in Positano, preferably close to town/beach. I don't know what your budget is, but I love BUCCA DI BACCO for its rooms, location, and views. If you need a pool, look at COVO DEI SARCENI, although it's right at at the port, and there can be a good amount of noise. Also look at RESIDENCE ALCIONE.

I don't know if any of these will have availability since Positano hotels often get booked a year ahead.

Lastly, would you consider Sorrento? It's much flatter territory, with no stairs back and forth to town/ hotels. There's a lovely waterfront area to walk and the old town is easy to navigate. Plus, it's got good ferry/hydrofoil connections to Capri.

Sorrento is not as romantic or charming as Positano, but it might make more sense with the kids. Good luck!

LouisaH

I don't know about June but we were just in Positano in mid-September and it was mobbed.

Regardless, we took the fast train from Rome to Naples, excellent, and we were picked up by Transferelax and driven to our hotel in Positano for €90. Giuseppe was wonderful! He also quoted €350 to pick us up in Rome and drive to Positano but the train worked better for us. http://www.transferelax.com/

Also, we stayed in a suite at the Residence Alcione, which was excellent. However, they do not have an elevator and so that might be an issue and it is also a bit of a walk from town.

Rubicund

The AC in summer is busy every day of the week and more so on weekends. There are some Italians day tripping, but weekend is a big change over time for holidaymakers.

Rome to Positano by road is a bit more than 3 hours, probably 4, especially on a Saturday and the Naples to Positano trip is a better idea cost-wise. You could also take the train from Naples Station to Sorrento, although it is a commuter train and can get busy. It's only a few euros per person. However, if you have lots of luggage or the kids are a problem when travelling, then a car from Naples might be the answer.

When choosing your hotel, bear in mind that Positano is built on a steep cliff from the road through the village down to the sea and even if you stay on the beach, every time you go out you'll have to walk up. There's no road and it's a lot of steps. If it's within your budget, then the Palazzo Murat is near the top.

http://www.palazzomurat.it/

or you could try the Savoia which is less expensive:

http://savoiapositano.it/en/index.php

If you can't handle the steps down/up, then you might prefer Amalfi. It's a lot less steep although it doesn't have the "wow" factor of Positano, it's a perfectly lovely place to stay.

ekc

If you are looking for the quintisential Amalfi Coast town, then stay in Positano.

The driver we always use charges $100 euro to take us from the Naples airport to our apartment rental in Positano. A driver from Florence to Positano would be around $700 euro, I am guessing, and it would take forever (think 7 hours). The train from Florence to Naples takes 2.5 hours, which means you can be in Positano in time for a late lunch.

I usually stay in Positano for 8 nights, so experience it both during the week and on the weekends. Honestly, I can't say it to SO much busier on the weekend - I have never really noticed it. It is just really busy all the time. But there certainly are ways to deal with it - many nooks and cranies where you can avoid them. Just go - it is absolutely worth it!!

WWK

I have to agree with ekc that Positano is "the quintessential Amalfi Coast town." You just have to time things to avoid the heavier crowds. Try to base at or close to ground/beach level, and get out both early in the day and late in the day when possible. I know that might be tough with little kids along!

Also spend some time at Fornillo Beach instead of the beach in town which is usually wall to wall chairs/people. Fornillo is about 1/2 mile walk along the seaside path that starts at COVO DEI SARCENI. There are some casual seaside cafes/snack bars right on Fornillo Beach.

But before you get to Fornillo- about half way there - is our favorite pizza/pasta restaurant, LO GUARACINO. It's on the right hand side up a small staircase from the seaside path. The restaurant is family-friendly, reasonable, has good food, and outstanding water views.

Rachellaura81

Thank you all so much. Now I feel like I want to get this booked and planned ASAP. I honestly thought I was ahead of the game and didn't realize places would already fill up.

We are planning on traveling from Florence to the Amalfi Coast and then to Rome, so all our your transportation suggestions were helpful as well. I really appreciate it!

WWK

If you take the train from Florence to Rome, you can then get on the fast train (70 min) to Naples. Then continue on from there with private driver.

And yes, absolutely get on it soon. There are many repeat guests to the AC who have "standing reservations" year after year, plus the usual summer tourist crowd.

ekc

To get to Rome from Positano, you can take the ferry to Salerno, then direct train to Rome. The train station in Salerno is an easy 10 minute walk from the ferry dock.

ekc

And I second WWK's suggestion of Lo Guaracino. Always on our dinner list!