Holiday plans - May 2009

[PennyWhite]

We are at a very early stage of planning a holiday in the Campania area and wonder what advice is on offer... at present the vague thought is to fly into Naples (or are there better places?) see Pompeii, drive the Amalfi coast and then do some off the beaten track exploring, possible over two weeks + from two centres. Have had excellent advice in the past from this forum leading to fabulous holidays in Tuscany and Umbria/Le Marche, so looking forward to what is on offer....
thanking you in advance!

[Sebastiano]

Originally Posted by PennyWhite

We are at a very early stage of planning a holiday in the Campania area and wonder what advice is on offer... at present the vague thought is to fly into Naples (or are there better places?) see Pompeii, drive the Amalfi coast and then do some off the beaten track exploring, possible over two weeks + from two centres. Have had excellent advice in the past from this forum leading to fabulous holidays in Tuscany and Umbria/Le Marche, so looking forward to what is on offer....
thanking you in advance!

personally i would fly into Naples,i wouldn't bother driving in it which is next to impossible for most people and i certainly would not drive round the amalfi peninsula( because i have done it and it is also quite nightmarish)=,better to take a ferry from naples and use local transport to visit around the coastline there.
take a car by all means when you have finished staying in naples to leave the place to go elsewhere.you can also easily visit by ferry capri,ischia and procida also from naples and in those places you can't take a car anyway.do visit both pompei and herculaneum both fantastic places,also visit the Reggia di caserta (the royal palace there) if you have time and want a quieter venue the coastline below Salerno is very nice and Paestum-Agropoli are worth going to as the gulf of Policastro further south the interior of which is mostly national park.all the above worth visiting staying at ,have a good vacation.

[AngelDiMana]

I agree with Sabastiano, i scootered around the area & from Pozzouli to Pompei, along the coast road around eight years ago and can remember how hectic, disorganised and crazy the traffic seemed to be. I know that in most suburban areas of Italy, traffic seems to be worse than in the UK but down in Naples, its the worst i've seen around all Europe.
There are though, loads of great sights! Pompei is highley reccomended but please take some suitable walking shoe's and plenty of refreshments.
If you are staying near Pozzouli there is an old roman amphitheatre, the Pozzouli Solfatara (Volcano) and there some good restaurants near the port. I'm not sure i would reccomend you stay in Pozzouli though. I remember the area being a bit of a dump!
Have a good holiday & drive safely!!

Nige

[juliancoll]

Penny, fly into Naples if you are going to spend the whole two weeks in Campania - it's a perfectly good airport. Whether you choose to drive in the city or not is up to you, but there really is nothing to be scared about - the bark is far worse than the bite and the reputation is somewhat undeserved - but - parking is an absolute pain in the ass. Sure, there is no doubt Naples is chaotic and crowded, but think of it this way, if you were to have a bump with another car, the speed would be so slow that injury would be unlikely anyway - anyway, public transport is excellent so don't worry.

I disagree with others and would suggest you hire a car for your trip to the Costiera Amalfitana and although it can be slightly nerve racking for the first 5 or 10 minutes, it's an experience not to be missed, especially as you are going in May - not too many tourists and some fabulous views, combined with late Spring/early Summer flora. Having a car gives you the freedom to explore and there is so much more to this area than just the coastline. Head up into the hills behind Amalfi to experience the lesser (and unknown) small towns and villages. If this type of thing interests you, then let me know and I'll dig out some more suggestions.

[Romano]

Whatever else you do, don't miss Ravello or Positano and Pompei is quite amazing!

[alan h]

Originally Posted by PennyWhite

We are at a very early stage of planning .........at present the vague thought is to fly into Naples.........see Pompeii, drive the Amalfi coast and then do some off the beaten track exploring, possible over two weeks + from two centres........

Did a great holiday a few years ago in the area,

First week - flew to Naples and bussed it to Ravello to start a weeks walking holiday along the Amalfi Coast [ with ATG], where you are given maps and notes of each walk to walk on your own, often alon the mule track near the top of the cliffs, and the company moves your luggage on from hotel to Hotel. We have done a few walking holidays, but this one was undoubtedly the best ever. [Tip - stay in the superior hotels, the ones in Amalfi and Positano were out of this world]
http://www.atg-oxford.co.uk/pdf/trip/tac.pdf

We followed this up with a week's stay at Il Nido hotel, outside Sorrento [hotel did its own minibus service.]
Hotel Il Nido - Sorrento Hotel

This second week we visited Capri Vesuvius Pompeii etc, and did some walks shown in the Sunflower Amalfi walks book.
Sorrento walks, Amalfi walks, Sorrento car tours; walking in Sorrento, walking in Amalfi

Then back to Naples by bus

Brilliant holiday - no car necessary

[PennyAW]

Wow thank you all so much, lots of info already.
Excuse change of persona, I have changed computer and internet provider and my details seem to have got lost in the ether, so I am starting again.
We will get our thoughts together and no doubt be asking more questions. Juliancoll, you seem very much on our wavelength. Sadly, husband would not be prepared to do the walking Alan H, but that sort of break might be one to do with my walking chums some time.

[PennyAW]

An update, found flights from Northwest tend to go to Rome rather than Naples, so have extended the holiday to three weeks (oh dear what a shame) and having three and a half days/4 nights in Rome (staying at Hotel Campo de Fiore), pick up hire car and heading south, bypassing Naples (hubby lived there as a child and does not want to return) and have contacted Azienda Agrituristica Ricciardelli in Contrada (does any know it? Any good?) for the rest of the week, then to Positano for two weeks at Hotel Puppeto, head back to Rome, hand back car and last night in Rome (same hotel) and then morning flight back to Manchester. Any comments/suggestions/recommendations? We have Pompeii / Capri / Amalfi Coast / Ravello so far on our list, probably Paestum (sp? Greek ruins) as well.

[Noble]

If you are staying in Campo dei Fiore then eat at Carbonnara where the romans eat. Closed Tuesday....yummy.

[iwanttobeinitaly]

Pompeiii and Paestum definitely worth the visit (haven't been yet to Paestum and feeling sheepish as everyone we have spoken to has said it is a "must do"t)
Ravello we also loved but, hey, if you are staying in Positano. - what a place!
Sounds like a fabulous trip so far!