RobynFrance

Hi Fodorites,<BR><BR>You provided so much great info as we prepared our trip. Now, I am here to share a few items which I hope will be helpful to you.<BR><BR>First Positano:<BR><BR>We used Positano 5 star limo for pick up from Rome airport--it ran about $50 less than the other limos which advertised and was just fine. The driver was very nice, drove well, and the only item I might mention was that we were picked up in a nice small family van, rather than a Mercedes. We were fine with it--$250 was a very reasonable price for the drive and got us right to our destination.<BR><BR>La Fenice---fabulous view, the nicest owners, room was a billed on this site and others, large, plain with few special amenities. The exterior was to die for and perfect for us--we enjoyed sitting on our terrace overlooking the sea late each afternoon, I sketched and painted there in the morning--breakfast terrace was beautiful and we met several other travelers we enjoyed visiting with. We shall return. One warning---it is only for the physically fit--we stays at the bottom cottage and it was a big hike up to the road and then to breakfast, great for us as we were afraid we might not get our exercise.<BR><BR>Sorrento--took a day trip there on the bus--to me not anywhere as beautiful, but a real city. Had lunch in Onix House--was lovely, had live music which caused all the restaurant patrons to start chatting, and was great fun.<BR><BR>Positano restaurants--don't miss Da Bruno, fairly near the bus stop to Sorrento in Positano. Very reasonable, good food, casual, fill early--if u want an outside table, you must reserve. La Tagliata in Monterpertuso was incredible fun--no menu, I think they may speak a little English (I speak Italian) food was delicious and it was a very campy casual spot which overlooked Positano from a VERY HIGH vantage point. They send a car service for you at no charge--we just tipped the driver. Our whole bill was around $50--we shared antipasto, pasta, each had a main, wine and coffee. Many locals arrived and some tourists--we loved it.<BR><BR>Drove to Pompei--quite incredible--spent the day--get the audioguide--it allows you to get as much information as you could ever want, easy to follow, much more reasonable than the guide and you go at your own pace.<BR><BR>Drove to Ravello--pretty, the road up was quite unbelievable--I'm not as high on it as some others are--didn't seem like much to do there and it was quite a distance to anywhere else on a dangerous road. <BR><BR>Drove to Paestum--Greek temples are quite lovely and interesting--but it is a very long drive from Positano- 2+ hours each way. My husband is an antiquities nut, so for us it was worth it--for others, I probably would think twice as there is nothing there. (For anyone who read Carlo Levi's Christ stopped at Eboli, many years ago, this is beyond Eboli--ohmygod!!!)<BR><BR>All in all, this part of our trip was lovely--will report on the next stops later.<BR><BR>One caveat--spent our last night of the trip at Hotel Flora in Frascati--the hotel was beautiful and the town had so much potential, but if one was not on a tour to see the castelli romani, we found Frascati to be a bust--dirty,(the cafes were filthy), covered with graffiti and very unsavory. They definitely need a Chamber of Commerce there to put them on track--the place could be gorgeous, but it seemed poor and deprived.

Robyn France

Just remembered one thing I meant to include. Took the boat ride to Capri with Gennaro--only 6 ohters on the boat for a full day--we had a beautiful sailing day and a very personalized trip. Spent 3 hours in Capri and then on to the Blue Grotto, follwed by an enormous and delicious meal of many antipasto dishes, 2 pastas, dessert, wine and coffee at Le Sirene in Nerano---then on back to Positano. It was $80 per person, well worth it--the meal went from 3:15 until 6--was lunch and dinner and our group enjoyed it so much. Would highy recommend it as well. On to Montalcino in the next episode.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Robyn France

Judy

Welcome back Robin France,<BR>I have been waiting for you to return, your trip is so similar to mine,its amazing. We land in Rome end June and head off to Frascati, Hotel Flora for two nights. It seemed to me that there is so much to do in the Castelli Romani area, and the hotel looked so beautiful on their site. More info on this please.<BR>After Frascati we planned to go to Caserta for the day for the palazzo reale. Then off to Sorrento for 2 days and Positano (La Fenice) for 5 nights. My concern is I understand there is no airconditioning and we will be there in July, what do you think? We were warned about the vertical situation of the hotel, my husband and I are in good shape and look forward to the exercise as well. I've noted all your tips anything else would be appreciated.<BR>Thanks Judy

Robyn France

Hi Judy, <BR><BR>So glad to check in with you before you go. Here was our take on Frascati. The hotel was truly beautiful, with more amenities than anywhere else we stayed. However we are travelers who like to do things on our own, and as we were there for just an afternoon and evening before departure, we decided to just enjoy the town rather than get invovled in tours to the castles--it was really too late at that time, and we were told some were closed.<BR>Frascati itself was anything but charming, not even earthy--dirty, a few attractive shops, but nothing special. We couldn't find a clean cafe, even on the main square--they were filthy, everyone was nice enough. Signs pointing to centro storico led to a very depressed looking area, down many flights of stairs, about half-way we decided against finishing the walk there. If you are going on a castles tour, I think u will be fine, if you are thinking that Frascati is a pleasant center to locate, I would think again--ran in to a British couple who said few restaurants (we could only find one open on a Monday which wasn't a pizza/video joint, no tourism office( we followed the signs, the office was completely empty)and they were turned off--they were on a tour, and any time they spent exploring on their own was a disappointment. So I would rethink the location if you like to get out and enjoy the area by foot. We did have a nice dinner at a little ristorante called Pinnochio--reasonable, pleasant and if u go, get the serve yourself mixed vegetable antipasto.<BR><BR>One idea for you may be to locate yourself in Rome and take a tour out to the casetelli romani for 1 day, and enjoy some of Rome in the evening and the second day. Others may have different ideas, but I would not recommend Frascati, period, paragraph--poor and dirty.<BR><BR>We didn't visit Caserta, but we enjoyed a day in Sorrento. It is a good jumping off point to get to Pompeii and Capri with public transport available and easy to use.<BR><BR>It was quite warm in Positano while we were there, but we kept the windows open at night. In July, it is probably a good idea to ask if fans are availbable--I actually didn't notice anything about AC, so I don't know. It cooled down each evening, so we were fine.<BR><BR>Good luck and let me know if I can help further.<BR><BR>Take care,<BR>Robyn France

Alexia

Help! I am going to Frascati for 5 days for a conference and am a bit put off but your description of frascati. We are staying at Villa Vecchia in Monteporozio Catone. Is MC any better than Frascati? Is Frascati safe enough - trains etc? Any other comments of interest? Thanks

Diane

We are looking at Villa Flora or Hotel Adriano in Tivoli for our last night in Italy. Both are within an hour's drive to the airport. With this report on Frascati, I'm now thinking that Tivoli might be a better alternative. It also has a renowned restaurant ....vs. looking for one in Frascati.<BR>Anyone been to Tivoli?

Steve James

Hello Diane,<BR><BR>Tivoli's O.K. if you want to see Villa d'Este or Villa Adriana, - but probably wouldn't be my choice for a last night stay. <BR><BR>My suggestion would be Castel Gandolfo, - IMO the nicest of the Colli Albani hilltowns, with lovely views over Lake Albano.<BR><BR>About an hour's drive from FCO, I think.<BR><BR>Steve

Diane

Steve,<BR>thanks. I have found a room at the Villa Delgi Angeli. Are you familiar with the hotel?<BR>

Steve James

Diane - No, I don't know that hotel. <BR>I hope you enjoy Castel Gandolfo - Buon Viaggio!<BR><BR>Steve <BR>

Robyn France

Hi all--and Steve, we so appreciate your advice for our trip.<BR><BR>I stand by my skip Frascati thoughts, and would follow Steve's advice for an alternate place to stay. That last night is no easy to find a pleasant spot.<BR><BR>In the end, we decided that we could take our time o the last day getting to the airport location, enjoying the day and arriving in time to settle and and clean up for dinner--that way, it really takes the pressure off for getting to the airport in the morning--we had some unexpected delays and road blocks due to the international summit which was a new item on the horizon since we started our trip.<BR><BR>If there is a nice restaurant in the hotel, then one can celebrate a last lovely meal and do away with the morning stress of any traffic or driving problems.<BR><BR>I thought I would share those thoughts for what they are worth. Good luck--we had such a wonderful time and wish u the same.<BR><BR>All best,<BR>Robyn France<BR>

roco

Hi Robin,<BR><BR>I'm anxiously awaiting info---all you can think of on Montecatini. I will be on my first trip to Italy, on a group tour, the first week of November. We will be in Montecatini the whole week, with daily bus trips to Florenence, Lucca, Pisa, etc. Howevers, are evenings and a.m. will be spent in the town.<BR><BR>Anything you can think of to help prepare us, i.e., location of ATM, farmer's market, pharmacia, grocery, enoteca, whatever you remember.<BR><BR>Gratefully......There is very, very little on this site regarding that town.

Robyn France

Will try to work on a reply before we leave for jazz club!

JillL10

Hi, Robyn. We are leaving for Italy in two weeks for our honeymoon (we were just married last Friday in the California Wine Country, on a vineyard). I was most interested in your comment on the sailboat from Positano to Capri for the day. Can you give me the link or information where we can book this now? This is the most reasonable I have seen and it seems that you had a nice day! Thanks for all of the info and feedback on your trip!

Italybound07

bookmarking

Budman

This thread is over 4 years old. Might I suggest you just post a new thread and ask the question. I recall reading several threads concerning boat trips around the Amalfi Coast area.

Steve_James

Jill - Here's a thread on Positano boat trips:

http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....ano+boat+trips

Hope this helps ...

Steve

JillL10

Hi, Steve. Didn't even notice that- thank you! I was specifically looking for a sailboat, but by searching around here, I think I may have found something...seems like everyone in this chain and the other used Gennaro, but it looks &quot;touristy&quot; and a bit crowded for we honeymooners! Thank you very much for sending the other string to me...have a great day!