Rome + somewhere near Naples/Positano/Capri for 1 week
Replies: 8 - Last Post: Apr 2, 2013 8:01 AM Last Post By: CandioAdvice
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Rome + somewhere near Naples/Positano/Capri for 1 week
I am a masters student in the UK, and my mom is coming from California to join me for a wonderful week in Italy. All of those ridiculous comments on how the trip is too short aside, this is what we are working with, and it will be amazing no matter the details. That said, I would love some opinions.We will be arriving to Rome on a Friday in the end of May, and departing from Rome the following Saturday evening. We like history and culture, and are beyond excited to do the Rome usuals of museums, etc., though I'm feeling pretty inspired by this outlook of breezy picnic days with a couple of destinations each day: http://travel.ninemsn.com/internationalinsiders/rome/655413/rome-one-week-itinerary
My mom and I aren't too particular - we like to learn loads before going somewhere, but as soon as we get there we drop the books and feel it out! Even going with the above "7 day" itinerary over 3 or 4 days is fine - maybe there's long lines at the Vatican so we skip it, etc. Don't get me wrong whatever we get to will have our attention!
To balance out the long distance she's traveled, the long time we have spent apart, and the beauty of Italy....we are looking to split the week between Rome and somewhere else - possibly Positano, Capri or Sorrento. Is there somewhere else to consider within a couple of hours of Rome? Which of these three (or somewhere I haven't considered nearby) options would make the best base for a 3-4 days?
1
Is your mother coming to the UK first, and then do you go to Italy together? Or is she flying to Italy from California?If she hasn't already got flights, she could fly to Rome and return from Naples, or the reverse. You save a half day of train travel that way.
You could split your time between Rome and Sorrento. Buses and ferries from Sorrento take you to Capri and the Amalfi coast. Or take a train to Pompeii.
2
All of those ridiculous comments on how the trip is too short aside,
I don't think anybody here ever says a trip is too short. We all understand that time is a constraint and the number of days may be limited. The issue is that often people cram too many places into a trip. That doesn't mean the trip is too short. It means the itinerary is too busy. Different things.
With 7 days you can easily split them between Rome and Amalfi/Sorrento/Capri Indeed, flying out of Naples, if possible, would save time and backtracking.
3
Just to add, Sorrento is probably the most touristy of the places you mentioned south of Naples, but it is a good centre with direct trains to Pompeii and Naples, buses down to Positano and ferries round the coast and across to Capri. There is also a direct bus ev ery couple of hours to Naples airport so a fly-into-Rome and home-from-Naples trip can make good sense. If you're into museums, don't overlook the world class ones in Naples.Book the high speed train from Rome to Naples in advance (up to 90 days) on the trenitalia site to get the best prices.
4
You have a strange attitude...as MTL says,no-one has ever argued that a trip is 'too short,.We go for short trips all the time..I went to the mountains last weekend.I didn't try to see Paris,Nice,the CT and Venice in 3 days though....
Having said that...7 days is enough time for two places IMHO.Rome followed by Sorrento (that is by far the best base of those 3)
As mentioned...flying out from Naples would be a good idea to save you some travel time (and money).
5
You're really going to have to prioritize your time in Rome if you'll be heading elsewhere. I strongly doubt the "7-day itinerary" would suggest the same things in the same order if it was a 3-4 day itinerary.If you're planning on visiting the Borghese Galleries, remember that the itinerary you link to is incorrect. Reservations are not recommended--they're mandatory. And well worth it, in my humble opinion.
You can also reserve tickets to the Vatican Museums for a specific time slot and skip the line through the official Vatican museum website.
You wouldn't get bored in Rome if you stayed the entire week. You'd save travel time and transport money. And you might even have an opportunity to enjoy "the sweetness of doing nothing," a phrase coined in Rome. It's a luxury that tourists staying only 3-4 nights can't afford.
The people-watching in front of the Pantheon can't be beat, day or night.
7
The weather should be generally very pleasant, even if the water's usually not warm enough for much more than a cooling dip after sunbathing!Here's how the nearby island of Ischia -some 20 miles away - has looked that month in recent years...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/mayisch
You'll note the very small number of swimmers?
Peter
8
Stay in Capri Island for 2/3 nights will be a best choice to discover the gorgeous beauty of this Isle. A day trip will result too short and stressful. Capri is amazing, but you need some tips to enjoy it.Choose an Hotel in Anacapri, 10 minutes from Capri center, less crowded and more authentic, you will find a better quality for a more reasonable price. In Anacapri you can visit to the Blue Grotto, Monte Solaro, Villa Axel Munthe, do not miss a swim in the clear water of the lighthouse. In Capri I suggest you a tour of the island with a private boat, via krupp and punta tragara.
The Bus service Anacapri-Capri run 24h every 10 minutes. On trip advisor you will have a panoramic of the best hotels in Anacapri.
here you have a timetable:
http://www.capri.net/en/ferry-schedule
Have fun
Canio
