lisamarc

We are a family of 5 and want to stay in great accomodations (saving for quite a while). Our three kids are 13,12,10. Should we rent a villa? Stay in a hote? Which location for the week and what accomocdation?
We'd like to have a week "home base" and see capri, positano, pompeii from there?

Please give advice! Thanks, Lisa

Steve_James

topping ...

Marianna

When we (family of 6 - me, husband, son, two mothers and my sister) went to Italy a few years ago, we rented villas (a week in one and a week in another due to the availability of one I really wanted to stay in) in Massa Lubrense (close to Sorrento). For us, it was perfect - more space, indoors and out, flexibility for eating in or going out to eat, ability to wash clothing as needed, and we found it more relaxing than staying in a hotel. There are also some very nice apartments in the Sorrento area. We are staying in one in July which is on the grounds of the Parco de Principi Hotel in Sant Agnello. If you want specific info, let me know and I can post villa and apartment website.

lisamarc

Marianna:

Thanks so much, please do post info as you suggest. Do you know anything about Maiori, Amalfi Coast? Thanks, Lisamarc

Marianna

Hello lisamarc,

Here's the website for the company we used when the family came with us to Italy. I enjoyed working with this company - they were reputable and helpful. We called them several times during our search to ask many questions. While on a business trip, my husband actually went to see the villas a few months before our trip just to make sure we would be happy with them. We were!

The villas we rented were Bouganville and Il Frutetto which were both in Massa Lubrense. They were less expensive then than they are now, but they were both lovely. There are lots more to choose from - the browsing is fun!

http://www.villeinitalia.com/index.shtml

The Sorrento apartment we rented is Villa Cavalieri (first floor) on the grounds of the Parco dei Principi in Sant Agnello. It is a large, bright, clean apartment. You have use of the hotel pool and other facilities.

http://www.hotelparcoprincipi.com/

There are lots of other websites for rentals. I usually Google "sorrento italy rentals" or "apartments in sorrento italy". Enjoy looking and let us know how you make out.

Have a great trip!

lisamarc

Thank you so much... if you go to that site, the villas that interest us are Villa Maria, Villa Turiello, and Il frutteto (as you suggest). For frutetto, did you find the views amazing, did it feel private, is it a shared pool? Did you use a car? THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.. am going to check out http://www.hotelparcoprincipi.com/
Lisamarc

Marianna

Il Frutetto had magnificent views - we loved them the best because the villa is above the town, not at sea level. The view of the bay stretched from Mt. Vesuvious (my mother was born in Torre del Greco near the base of Mt. Vesuvious) all the way to Capri. It was so interesting to watch all the boats going by all day. The bay-side patio area was so fabulous for outdoor dining - and the sunsets - just amazing! It is a very large villa with two bedrooms (one large and one with a sofa bed - more like a tiny den) on the first floor and four bedrooms (two opening onto the large terrace and those views and two at the back) on the second floor. There's a laundry room off the larger, first floor bedroom. This bedroom has a large bathroom. Upstairs, if I remember correctly, there are two full baths off the hallway - one with shower only and the other with a great little tub - leave the window opened and soak and relax.

It was very private - there are a few villas below which you can hardly see and one beside Il Frutetto (the one named Las Pampas, I think). Although people were staying in the next one while we were there, we never saw them. The pool was not there when we went, but I think it is for use of Il Frutetto renters only. There is another patio area near the pool in the back of the villa. Front patio area is sunny while the back one is shady. By the way, most of the furniture in the livingroom is new - it was different when we were there. It is a great place for a large family. The apartment is much smaller (2 bedrooms and a sofa bed) but still very nice.

Yes, we rented a car. It is necessary when staying in Massa Lubrense. There are taxis but having a car is so much easier. The town center is very nice - shops, bakeries, butcher, restaurants, etc. - a small center but fun to walk around. There are several very nice restaurants in the area.

Hope this helps. If you type in Massa Lubrense in the search here, you will find out a lot about the area and maybe some of my post posts will still be here.

Let me know what you decide. Have a wonderful time!

PS: Have never been to Maiori.

Marianna

Meant to say "past posts".

lisamarc

Thanks you so much Marianna! It's so helpful to get the opinions of someone who has stayed there. We were most concerned about views... the photos at all of these villas look lovely but it's hard to tell which are better.
The only other villa that is in the running that is in the same area is called Villa Turiello... it is a bit cheaper (not by much!)... do you know anything about this one?

The last question I have is if the owner speaks English? When we arrive, what is the best way to get info about the area... getting to the ferry/hydrofoil, things to do with the kids, etc... Thanks again for all of your help, you have been wonderful! Lisa & Marc (Boston, MA)

Marianna

Lisamarc,

I live in the Boston area also - a town about 25 miles north of Boston right up 93! Small world.

Yes, the people at villeinitalia speak English. We worked with Caterina but I'm not sure if she is still there. No, sorry, I don't know about the other villa. Sometimes, on trip advisor, people post reviews of villas.

I will have to say that we loved the Il Frutetto. It does not have AC (it was not necessary when we were there) but the contact person went out and bought 5 new fans for us and, as luck would have it, they put in a new washing machine while we were there. That was fine with us - no worries about a broken machine. We had a lovely lady (provided by rental agency) who came every day to clean. That was great also.

Massa Lubrense is a short ride to Sorrento - 10 or 15 minutes. We never had a problem parking and we had a 7 seater van! In the center of ML, there is a very helpful tourist office. They will tell you all you need to know. From Sorrento, it is easy get to Capri by hydrofoil. From ML, you can drive along the Amalfi Coast and go to other lovely towns close by. Where do you arrive - Naples or Rome or other? It is about an hour or so from Naples and about 3 or so hours from Rome

I found that I had saved the reports I wrote from 2001 but I don't think they are available here any longer. I could cut and paste if you are interested. Not sure if that is allowed here anymore though.

Betsy

If you're still looking around for a villa, go to www.slowtrav.com. There's a wealth of info there. Plan to spend some time browsing the website.

lisamarc

Hi Marianna:

Thanks for all of the great info. Actually, we will be flying into Venice and out of Rome... just easier. I did find some of your other postings and printed them... you were providing suggestions to Dick and SeaUrchin and LoveItaly who were also most helpful. You had recommended a lovely restaurant and we will put that on our to do list for sure! I think we will stay at Il Frutteto... never thought about AC in this location...hope the fans are still there! Our kids are also so excited and are at ages that is so much fun. I think Massa Lubrense will be perfect for us and a great place to venture out and see the sights which appear to be endless! Marianna, I read that some people have the villa agency stock their kitchens with the essentials upon arrival for a reasonable fee... have you heard of this? We will be driving from Rome so this might be handy until we can get out the next day to shop.

Lastly, I posted another question a few minutes ago around "beautiful and reasonable" accomodations for several days in Venice, Florence (Tuscan countryside preferably) and Rome... I'm thinking we may want to look into short term rental apartments in these locations? Might be more cost effective, any ideas?

You're great, thanks! ps) in Wellesley

Marianna

Hi Lisamarc,

I am so excited for you and your family! We loved that place (the villa, the location, the town, the people) and hope you and your family do also. I remember arriving at the villa on a very warm, beautiful July day. My husband was unloading the van while the mothers sat on the patio for a little rest. I went upstairs onto the huge terrace and just took it all in - Vesuvious, the Bay of Naples, Capri. I just felt I belonged there. The church bells started ringing and I was flooded with childhood memories of my grandparents singing Italian songs about the land and sea they loved so much and here I was looking at it! We found Massa Lubrense to be a place where you can get a sense of what it is like to live in Italy - my teaching retirement dream!

Yes, I know that rental agencies offer to stock the fridge with a few essentials. It's a good idea since you have the children and also if you arrive after a long day of travel. It certainly makes it easier upon arrival to the villa. I do not know if villeinitalia offers this, but they do respond to email, so you could ask. My husband and son went out and got the groceries (we had some leftover from the first villa - Bouganville which was also beautiful - won a "best villa" award a while ago - magazine was on the coffee table!) while the mothers, my sister and I settled in - unpacking, figuring out the bedrooms, etc.

Our moms took the one downstairs which made so much sense for them. My son graciously gave up one of the bedrooms with a view and we took the other one. He loved his room though. We used the fourth bedroom upstairs for our suitcases and clothing.

I'm glad you found some of my posts and found them helpful along with the comments by other Fodorites. This is a geat place to get lots of info!

We have not yet been to Venice - it's on my list - so I can't offer any help with that, but I'm sure others here will have lots to share with you.

I'm happy to help, even if it is just a little bit.

PS: Andover

lisamarc

Hi Marianna: Not just a little help... so much! We are excited. My husband's family is from Italy (Abruzzo and Sicily)and his Nona passed away so this will be a trip to remember her and show our kids this beautiful country. It's so hard to figure out where to stay, how to get along so your help is greatly appreciated. If you think of other things in Sorrento or along the Amalfi Coast, don't hesitate. Like you, we will cook at the villa, eat out 1-2 nights and visit with the locals. We'll be taking our Italian course over the next few months. We speak French but need to get better with Italian..it's so much fun when you can speak with the locals. In fact, on our honeymoon, we were in Pisa, eating at a local trattoria, and the family who owned it invited us to attend a football game with them the next day. We didn't speak well but we got by... amazing what a glass of grappa will do! Thanks again.

AJAbbott

The most beautiful place to stay (in my opinion) is the HOTEL ONDA VERDE in Priana (between Amalfi and Positano). Look it up on the internet. From the road you take an elevator DOWN to the hotel. You can walk down and swim in the bay by the hotel, or take a boat from there to Postano, and on to Capri. The food is great -- and there is also another restaurant a few yards away. I loved it!

Marianna

I speak very little Italian but I can understand it. As children, we spoke mainly Italian since that's all our grandparents (one of my grandmothers was from Abruzzi) could understand. When we started school, teachers insisted that we stop speaking Italian at home so, as a result, I have forgotten it. But, strangely enough, it all comes back to me when I am in Italy! It is great to know how to say a few things. Have fun learning the language!

The first time we went to Italy was in 1988. It was my mother's first time back since she left when she was 12 years old. Our son was 12 at the time and just loved it! We saw her home in Torre del Greco, met my mother's cousins, and saw a woman who was my grandmother's best friend! We returned to Italy two more times since then and will be going back this July and taking my son (now almost 30) and his girlfriend with us.

As for the villa, the kitchen has a door which we kept opened while we cooked to get a view of Vesuvious. I also enjoyed sitting in the hammock at the back all by myself and just listening and looking. The bedroom with the angled bed is the one on the lower level (first floor for us) where the mothers stayed. The green bedroom is the one we took while my sister had the one with the daisies. Our son used the red room. They don't show the fourth room on the website though, nor do they show the little den.

After sunset, we would watch the lights of the surrounding towns coming on at night from that upstairs terrace. The villa you see near the pool is Las Pampas. I think they use the same parking area as Il Frutetto but it was never a problem as it is a big space for parking. We had our Italian family visit us while we were at Il Frutetto and had a magnificent dinner on out on that beautiful patio with the tiled table.

There are supermarkets in Sorrento and shops for fish, meat, bread, vegetables, pastry, etc in the area towns. Be sure to go to that tourist office for info - my son picked up some beautiful posters of the area.

Best regards and have a fabulous trip!

AJAbbott, that hotel is lovely! I saved the website for future reference. Ira, who often posts here on Fodor's, loves staying in Praiano.

lisamarc

HI Marianna:

Great info... now trying to book Venice and Tuscany for three nights each... learning a lot as we research locations. Thanks again for all of your help. Best, Lisa

lisamarc

Marianna:

Do hope you can help me. You mentioned that you also stayed at Villa Bougainvilla... do you know anything about this apartment at the same property? If so, is it as beautiful as Il frutetto? is it private? the views spectacular? Please advise ASAP.
It is at the same site and it is called Villa Montano.

http://www.villeinitalia.com/House.j...p;currency=EUR

Marianna

I just saw this when I clicked your name to read past posts. I don't know which place you chose for sure, but the views are amazing from the Il Frutetto.

lisamarc

Marianna, we almost did but instead selected the other you described... part of Bougainville (?)... it's next to it with smaller accomodations.

Can't wait... and we will visit that restaurant you write about so lovingly... If you think of anything else while we are in Massa Lubrense.. don't hesitate... leaving next week..YEHAAAAAAAAA! Lisamarc