The Amalfi Coast

[billy]

Hello everyone,
I just wondered if anyone has driven along the Amalfi coast.I hope to manage a couple of days there in September. I`ve been looking at Hotels in the Maiori/Minori area and am anxious to know how difficult the drive is between Salerno and Minori. Once there, the car would be parked until I returned to Scalea and I would use another form of transport---Either bus or boat--- to see the sights.
Regards, Billy.

[maisy]

Hi Billy
Alan and I went to Minori although fair to admit we were being driven by someone else but I remember my breath being taken away on the trip there. We seemed to climb up to an enormous height and then come back down but it was certainly well worth the journey.
Amalfi coast is beautiful and also if you go to Naples you can go to either Capri or Ischia
by various slow or fast boats and thats definately worth a visit.
Cheers Maisy

[Niamh]

Hi Billy,

We travelled the Amalfi coast but were not driving ourselves. Absolutelyl beautiful.
It's a pretty hairy drive which isn't a problem to an experienced driver but the only problem is if you are concentrating so much on the road you are missing some breathtaking scenery.
If you had an alternative I would take it. Either way................Enjoy !
Niamh

[MarKel]

Hello Billy (and Sheila),
Had lunch with you in June on your balcony, where we discussed my planned trip to Sorrento. So here is an update, since you are planning a similar trip.
We took the Salerno to Naples motorway, and exited at Castellamare for the coast. Sorrento was signposted, the road was okay ( if you discount the millions of scooters we met), and that part of the journey was relatively short. It seems like ages ago!!
There is a bus service from Sorrento to Amalfi,via Positano, which runs about twenty times per day. We did not use it , but I presume it takes the coast road. You can also take a boat to Capri and/or Ischia from the marina, and the local Circumvesuviana train will take you to Pompeii or Naples should you wish to visit.
The hotel we stayed in was about 15mins walk from the centre, and considerably less from the station. It cost us €90 per room per night, with an extra charge of €15 per night for the hotel car park.
If you decide to approach the Amalfi Coast from the Sorrento side and need any further info, you can let me know. Enjoy your trip.
Markel

Central Hotel, Sorrento (Sorrento hotels - Colonna hotels group - hotel 4 stars sorrento-italy)

[vtrusty]

Billy having done this trip several times, can I suggest you do the trip Sorrento to Amalfi, as for some reason I always think you get a better view this way, and Positano is a must.

Enjoy

Val (P.S. I am formerly Kirkintilloch.)

[bella_ciao]

Originally Posted by vtrusty

Billy having done this trip several times, can I suggest you do the trip Sorrento to Amalfi, as for some reason I always think you get a better view this way, and Positano is a must.

Enjoy

Val (P.S. I am formerly Kirkintilloch.)

I second the above suggestion, having done the trip both on a Thomson's tour bus several years ago and then on a local bus at a later date. The latter way is much cheaper, although there was standing room only on the way into Amalfi from Sorrento - you get a brilliant view this way but it's obviously not as comfortable and you need a good stomach! The trick is to make sure you get in the queue for the bus early there and back - also, watch out that you don't miss the last bus back for your return destination and make sure you give yourself enough time to get back to the terminal. I believe the bus service varies, depending on the season, but they can get pretty crowded in season.
Definitely, Positano is a "must see" - a beautiful town built into the mountainside - lots of steps but you can also take the long walk around the roadway down to the beach to see all the wonderful little couture shops (this is the real centre of Italian clothing design). Or, if you find that too difficult, there are buses that will take you to the bottom. You have to use the steps to explore the town itself, though, as there are no other routes. The last time we visited Positano, it rained all day but we still had a great time because it was so interesting and beautiful and wouldn't have missed it for the world.
One thing about that area in general is that there are so many different sights to see, you can go back time and time again to explore. Hence the song: "Torna a Surriento"!
Have a great time - I'm most envious!
Ciao,
Francesca.

[jessie]

Another great way to see the Amalfi coast is to take one of the organised boat trips down the coast from Sorrento and you can either get off at Positano or Amalfi. They normally happen about twice a week. It is more or less a full day outing and you can have a simple lunch on the boat too. First of all, the boat goes over almost to Capri and anyone that wishes can jump into the sea for a swimabout for 10 minutes or so. Then the boat goes back over towards the coast and continues on down to Positano and Amalfi. There are loads of deckchairs and everyone comes in their sunbathing gear and enjoys the beautiful views in the most relaxing way. After dropping off at Positano, the boat continues to Amalfi and you are free to do your own thing for about 3 hours or so. Then everyone gets back on and he calls at Positano to collect the others. Also, I think that some who had gone down by bus were actually able to pay and join the boat journey on the way back. I would definitely recommend it and it wasn't too expensive either.

Jessie

[billy]

Hello All,
Thanks for the helpful suggestions regarding my Short Amalfi trip. I've been to Sorrento and Capri in the past but never made it to the Amalfi Coast. I'm afraid I've chickened out of driving there and have decided to go by train and local bus instead for a couple of nights---train to Salerno then bus to Maiori where I have booked a small hotel for 2 nights.The train leaves Scalea at 0830 and arrives in Salerno at 1019 and if the bus runs on time it leaves Salerno at 1030 for the coast road to Amalfi. On the third day the train I've booked leaves Salerno at 1731 so I should have a few hours in which to explore Salerno itself before returning to Scalea. So , roll on next Saturday when we---Sheila, Gordon and myself will be on the Prestwick to Rome flight and hopefully will have an enjoyable 3 weeks in Italia.
Thanks again, Billy.

[brynithel3]

Hi Billy

Have a good trip. You will have to report back and let us know about this excursion and if the trains and buses were on time.

Ciao

John

[maisy]

Billy what website did you use to book the bus from Salerno please?
Maisy

[billy]

Hello Maisy,
I haven't booked the bus from Salerno to Maiori--- only the return train journey from Scalea to Salerno has been booked. The train arrives at Salerno at 1019 am and according to the SITA bus timetable there are buses at 1030,1100,1130 so they should run every half hour or so[fingers crossed]. Bus tickets can be purchased at the newspaper shop inside Salerno railway station.I think the fare to Amalfi is approx.2 Euros or a 24 hour ticket can be purchased for 6 Euros and a 3 day ticket costs 15 Euros. Whether these prices take in the entire Amalfi coast or just the coast between Salerno and Amalfi I'm not sure. I know that to go further along the coast to Positano and Sorrento etc. you have to change buses at Amalfi.

Hello John,
I 'll let you know if the trains and buses run on time. From past experiences I've always found the Italian trains to be more or less on time but I can't speak for the buses. If all else fails I can try to catch a boat!
Regards, Billy.

[Italy4me]

Sounds like a great trip!
We have some friends coming soon who are staying here for a week then they are having a week in Maiori before flying home from Naples.
If you have done the trip before they set off from here I'm sure they would be interested to know your thoughts and if you have any tips.
PS: Seamas has left me his guitar as he insists I should be able to learn how to play it easily - little does he know I have two left hands. But anyway I now know that you can sing a capella so we don't need an accompanist for a sing-song!
Hope to see you soon,
L & B

[billy]

Hi Lesley and Brian,
We go to the Amalfi coast on the 10th September and return on the 12th---It's just a short trip. We are meeting friends who are staying in Minori for a week. We are staying at a small hotel in Maiori and will be back in Scalea at about 1930 on the Friday. About the singsong---I think I had too many beers that night in Seamus and Caroline's.
Hope to see you soon, Billy.

[billy]

Cheers Everybody,
I've just returned home late last night after 3 great weeks in Italy---Can't wait until the middle of October when I go back to Scalea for another 3 weeks.Many thanks to Jacqui and Ray, and Lesley and Brian for one of the greatest eating experiences ever!!!
Now about the Amalfi trip. We caught the 0830 train from Scalea to Salerno [which was spot on time] and caught the bus along the Amalfi coast just outside Salerno Railway station.We then dumped our suitcase in the Hotel in Miaori, caught another bus to Amalfi where we caught yet another bus to Ravello and had lunch there in the Cumpa Cosima trattoria which is renowned for it's pasta dishes and generous helpings.While in Ravello we visited the Gardens at Villa Rufolo from where there are brilliant coastal views.The bus from Ravello back to Amalfi was a great experience---the driver could give Lewis Hamilton a run for his money!
The next day we took the bus from Amalfi along the coast to Sorrento and back which meant we were able to see the entire Amalfi coast from both directions. We crushed quite a lot into a 2 night stay. The buses proved to be a very economical mode of travel and ran at regular intervals---I raise my hat to the Sita bus drivers---the way they can negotiate these narrow twisting roads has to be seen to be believed. We will certainly visit the Amalfi area again and possibly for a wee bit longer than 2 nights.
The train we had booked for the return journey Salerno to Scalea also was spot on time so a great time was had by all.
Cheerio for now, Billy.