🚕TAXI: We had a great experience with Eduardo, who had a clean, large vehicle similar to an airport shuttle (could hold a group and luggage) and was a dream to work with. Reach him through WhatsApp (his English is great and WhatsApp also translates): +39 335 668 5657 🏨 ACCOMMODATIONS: We highly recommend Casa Villani if you want to stay in Agerola. It's at the doorstep of the Path of the Gods. Take a look at the property, which we highly recommend (our feedback is in the comments of the property, but then go ahead and book direct and save some money: www.booking.com/hotel/it/casa-villani-pianillo.html // direct: g.co/kgs/MdZwjvt ⛴ FERRY SYSTEM: We recommend that you book directly versus through the popular third-party vendor called FerryHopper. There may be issues with weather and other variables, so ideally book through NGL or Travelmar. At the time of year we visited (early June), the lines in person weren't a hassle, but it could be another story during the height of summer. Travelmar: www.travelmar.it/en/index NGL: www.nlg.it/en/ You can see a wide schedule here (www.positano.com/en/ferry-schedule) and then book directly from the vendor versus the third party (Positano.com).
Thank you so much, Glenn, for your very kind words! I've done voiceover work as a hobby, but I always appreciate the person who can sound like the boy or girl next door. I haven't figured out how to master that yet, but I appreciate your feedback and maybe I need to let go of my expectations for myself! Your perspective means a lot! -Judy
BW, you have no idea how much I had to hear this today! I was asking Kevin to consider stripping out my voice and trying a different plan because I worried that my voice sounds too slick or commercial and not "every man." Thank you for your kind words! Sometimes we all are just too self-critical of ourselves! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie I for one would be absolutely heartbroken if you decided to do that. it really adds richness to the videos with your expertise description. I’ve everything that helps us navigate those places that you have been to much better than us trying to do it without watching your video first.
Thank you so much, BW. We would have worked something else out, but I think that's why Kevin and I make such a great team. We collaborate well and balance each other out. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed this episode! ♥️ -Judy
I was in Rome last summer and actually almost died of exhaustion, overheating and the people. I’m not even 50! I’m planning to go to Positano in April. And hopefully I will walk or take boats to go around. Thank you for your video
It can be really hot in Italy in the summer, Noemi! I think April in Positano sounds like a great idea. We have a series from Amalfi, including an episode dedicated solely to Positano. I'll also link to our full series from Italy. Since I am working on my Italian dual citizenship, we've spent a lot of time there, even before we became full-time travelers. We've explored some great places if you want some new ideas beyond the time you spend in Amalfi. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
We stayed in Positano for five days at the end of September, and everyone kept warning us about the mobs, but it wasn't bad. At times there were some crowded streets, but entirely manageable and we had no trouble getting around. We'd recommend taking ferries - we found it very, very easy to get to Amalfi by ferry. Positano is a bit more expensive, but it's kind of the hub. If you want something central, but a bit more quiet and inexpensive try Praino.
Hi John, Late September and October are some of the best times to visit for reduced crowds. Ferries are great, but there are times when they aren't running. But overall, we agree, and that's why we would recommend staying in Positano if you can afford it or else in Amalfi, which is central to everything except Ravello. We are so glad to hear that you had a great trip! We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast if you're interested in reliving some of your time there! -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thanks, your TH-cam post is awesome, I'm going to subscribe. By the way, I'd add that Anacapri is worth the trip up the hill ss it's much less crowded and touristy than Capri.
@@johncraik7480 Thank you so much! We kicked ourselves a bit for missing Anacapri and choosing Capri over it. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm sure for how much our daughter enjoyed our time there that she will want to return again!
Lovely video. We chose to take a train early in the morning from Naples to Salerno, and then take the Ferry to Positano and Amalfi and back. No hurries, no traffic jams, no crowdie, always seated, nice view of the cost from the Ferry.
Thanks for watching! What time of year did you visit and how long did it take to get to Salerno by ferry if you remember? Was it prohibitive to get to Ravello, which we loved?!
@@FindingGinaMarie We traveled in early October and it took 50 minutes aprox. from Salerno to Positano, 20 minutes from Positano to Amalfi, and 30 from Amalfi back to Salerno. We skipped because of lack of time.
Surprisingly, @denisefalzon8446, this year the weather in early June was perfect, and not too hot. I actually really enjoy September. November can sometimes be too cold or things in certain places close down in certain cities (Lecce and the coast of Sicily particularly). But we agree that avoiding the high season is best if possible! -Judy
We went to Positano in 2023, early May, a week and a half. This year we went late May for two weeks. Absolutely fantastic. In 2025 we’re going late September. You need to be fit and have few physical issues. Certainly our courteousness is not reciprocated while getting on a bus or ferry. It is “every man for himself.” Go with it. We love southern Italy!
@@FindingGinaMarie yes we keep it in the Positano area. I don’t want to name it as it is a refuge from the madness. It is physically restrictive anyhow. I can see by your opening video that you’ve been there. Also, we enjoy IL Ritrovo in Montepetruso. Very nice restaurant. Locals go there and tourists. We took busses to Amalfi and Sorrento a few times. Yes, if you’re on a Northern European or a U.S. schedule you may be frustrated. Naples and south is a different world. The Wild West. There are no rules only suggestions.
I don't blame you for keeping your location a secret! We didn't visit Montepetruso, but it sounds like there are a lot of little villages we haven't made our way to, yet. We thought this might be a one-and-done, but maybe not! And you're absolutely right about Southern Italy! -Judy
We traveled to there last September. Less people in September. Weather was beautiful. We made our home base Maiori and took the water taxi everywhere. Worked out fantastic and Maiori was a beautiful village. Very welcoming and less tourists. Highly recommend.
I'm so glad you had a great experience, Michele. Thanks for the recommendation! Were you there in early or late September? I heard it could still be crowded in early September, but I might be off on that. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and for watching! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie we were there mid September to later it was the third week in September. So fortunate to be able to go. My family is there in Naples. We were able to meet them as well.
How wonderful for you, Michele. My understanding is that I have family in Naples area as well (my grandfather originally was from Summonte). Since I'm adopted and only recently met my Italian birth mother, I haven't really been able to connect with family there. But I love this so much for you! -Judy
Thank you so much! And it's encouraging to hear that mid September already will have reduced crowds. The water is probably ideal at that time of year, too! -Judy
Salerno should also be considered as an excellent base from which to visit the Amalfi coast. I am just back after spending a week in Salerno early to mid June. It has ferry, bus and train service to get you anywhere quite easily. By ferry, I visited Amalfi, Positano, Minori, Maiori, Cetara and Capri. I did the Path of the Gods hike by using the Travelmar ferry and their dedicated shuttle to Bomerano which worked wonderfully. I also used the train to go to Paestum, Pompei and Ercolano. The one snag was Ravello and that was because of the infamous bus. Getting up was no problem, but getting back down was. I ended up getting a shared taxi with a bunch of other people for 15 euro each, which turned out to be a great option. The other plus is that Salerno lodging is very reasonable compared to the villages on the Amalfi Coast and also Sorrento. I had a lovely B & B for 50 euro a night, in the center of the old town (nice room with a little balcony and own bathroom).
We can't recommend Salerno because we didn't stay there ourselves, but we totally appreciate your recommendation. Several of our viewers have been recommending Salerno, so it sounds like a place we should try to visit. We really enjoyed Ravello, but yes, that's not an easy place to get to/from. Our episode this Saturday is about our hike on the Path of the Gods and "the perfect day" in Positano. The price for your B&B is outstanding. Thanks so much for letting us know. My understanding is that Salerno is worth visiting even if you don't visit the other areas along the coast. -Judy
We're going to the Amalfi coast in September. Although, we've been to Italy many times and always planned the trips ourselves, we signed up with a tour company for this trip. We don't want the hassle of arranging transportation in that region. Your vlog confirms our decision.
Hi Kathleen, I don't think you'll regret your decision. Where will you be based? It's a beautiful part of Italy. We hope you have a wonderful time. A link to the rest of our Amalfi Coast series is below. Ravello and Positano were our favorites! -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thank you so much for watching, Luiz, and for your kind words! We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast if you're interested. Also, I am working on my Italian dual citizenship and we have a series of videos from Italy you might want to watch. They're all linked below. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
Thank you for your great video. Sorry about your experience with the bus. I’m planning a trip next year for my husband and I to go to Amalfi. Your video and all the comments here are very helpful. Sounds like ferry is one of the best ways to go when possible.
Hi Amberly, It was a good way to learn what works and what doesn't! If you can afford to stay in Positano, it's definitely going to save you a lot of trouble with transportation. We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast linked below if you're interested. And I'll also link to our series from Italy, which is one of our very favorite countries! We hope you have an amazing time! -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
How awesome, Betsy! What was your home base for your trip? The only issue with water taxi is that there are times when it doesn't run due to weather issues. But if you were located in Positano, that would be ideal and so much better than being in the mountains! -Judy
Thank you so much for watching, Linda! We had no idea what we were in for. Because we were doing fast travel and had to play catch up after returning to Europe from Asia, our daughter did the majority of the planning for Amalfi because it was a bucket-list place for her. I had always been intimidated due to the drive along the coast because I get car sick. I did okay, but I didn't enjoy it and was grateful I had a seat on the buses we took. Our Airbnb host gave us good tips, but I don't think we fully appreciated them until we were faced with late buses and all the crowds. I think it's one thing to hear about but something else entirely when you see it! -Judy
I might have to agree, @nicolettastrada5976. Although the area pretty much closes up from November to March, so people do rely on it to cover them through the down season. -Judy
Hi, I have been watching videos about Amalfi coast, since we went there yesterday and we joined a group tour from Rome. Can you imagine we paid only 100 euros each, from Rome to Sorrento by bus, then a private boat that took us to Positano, Amalfi then back to Sorrento and finally back to Rome. we are so happy we enjoyed at a cheaper price except there was less time to swim however we were able to see all the highlights of these 3 islands - Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi!
Hi Melody, Were you able to wander through the streets of Positano at all? It is well worth doing! If not, we have a full video series of the cities we explored on the Amalfi Coast-Positano and Ravello were our favorites, but we also visited Capri. Here's a link so you can check them out. What you paid is very inexpensive to get a taste of the Amalfi Coast. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Great video. We visited the coast in November and it was awesome! We rented a car , drove ourselves everywhere and we had plenty of parking. We stayed in three separate hotels over five nights and if we ever went back we would go again at that same time. Safe travels! When we retire in a few years we plan to stay in Italy the full 90 days❤
@IramisandGerry We had been told that most things are closed down at that time of year (by the first week in November). Did you have any trouble finding restaurants and other activities that were open? Was the ferry operating at that time? Thank you so much for watching, and we are glad to hear you had such a good experience! We are still looking to experience more of the world before we settle down, but I am working on my Italian dual citizenship so that we don't have to do the Schengen dance forever! -Judy
Thanks for watching, Tom. It's a beautiful area, but it is very crowded and challenging to navigate. Our full series is linked below. If you go in May or October, you'll avoid the bulk of the crowds but still get to avoid the crowds. We enjoyed Lecce, but we froze when we were there! We have two videos from there if you plan to include it on your trip to Puglia. We'd love to hear where you end up because there's much of that region we've yet to experience. -Judy 🎥 Lecce Travel Tips: th-cam.com/video/hcdyiRYfrlc/w-d-xo.html 🎥 First Impressions of Lecce: th-cam.com/video/YTsr-jErZF8/w-d-xo.html 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thanks for watching, Erin. We had no idea that it would be so complicated. We never had the Amalfi Coast on our bucket list due to the twisty, winding roads, but we are glad we made the effort this time. It was beautiful, but we probably wouldn't do it again. The roads fortunately didn't feel like you could fall off of them like Highway 1 in California (never again for me!), but I still had to deal with feeling a bit carsick. And in no way were we prepared for the bus situation. I can't imagine when the crowds are in full force! -Judy
We went to Positano the end of May 2018, perfect weather and flowers. We stayed at a VRBO private villa we rented for 7 nights - slept 12 and had two kitchens for the 11 of us.. The villa was up on the second hill from the main Positano Beach so it was a good 20 minute walk down the road to the beach but there are unique shopping stores all along the way and restaurants and cafes and even two delis. We spent one day on capri (Blue Star boat from Positano so no ferry timelines to worry about) and took the chair lift to the top, and our boat captain took us to the Blue Lagoon (row boat into the grotto) and we swam in the green grotto. We also rented a van and went to Pompeii and had a guide for 4 hours - enough time in the hot sun to see much of it. We went to Furoma Beach by bus one day. We skipped the garden of the gods as it would take a full day. we wanted a two days at both the beaches in Positano. Restaurants in Positano are excellent. Yes, plenty of tourists there in May, I hear much more crowded in July and August.
Hi Kathy, It sounds like you had a terrific trip. We definitely preferred Positano over Amalfi, but it is more expensive to stay (unless you got an amazing day early in the season!). Our episode this Saturday takes you with us on our Path of the Gods, and actually you can do it in a few hours and actually goes only to Nocelle, not all the way down to Positano. The extension of the path is an extra portion, but everyone told us to skip that part, so we listened! But gosh, you did so much that it's hard to say you actually missed anything. Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us! -Judy
This is an excellent video thanks and the commentary sounds very professional. We have been to Italy many times and thought we might take in the Amalfi coast on our next adventure but now we are not sure that it is worth either the effort or cost. Much to consider but we really appreciate this very helpful video.
Thanks so much for watching, Mark. It's a stunning part of the world, but we recommend coming closer to late September/October or May/early June for the best experience. I can't imagine how wild it is in the height of the season. We have a full series from our time there that may be helpful. We'd have been happy with a home base either in Positano or Ravello. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
by all means go, but do so in late September or even early October. It's beyond me why anyone would want to go in the peak of the tourist season - we were there in late September and had hardly any crowd or transportation issues.
Hi @johncraik7480, I don't think people necessarily choose to go during peak tourist season if they can help it. We visited in early June because that's when our daughter could get time off of work. But at other times people are at the mercy of school or university holidays. But I agree wholeheartedly about avoiding peak season whenever possible wherever you are headed. We've saved money and avoided crowds when we've visited places in the shoulder season. And best of all, you still tend to get halfway decent weather. -Judy
Ugh, Amalfi Coast in the summer. When we next visit, it will either be in late April or early October. There's just no getting around the crowds otherwise. Everything closes in the winter months. You guys are brave!
LOL, We actually were so grateful that we were there before tourist season was in full swing! Our daughter originally wanted to visit in early July and we discouraged her. This worked out so much better for us! But I can imagine that especially early October would be great because the water will still be warm. Our daughter surprised us with a private cruise along the coast and the captain mentioned that there would be 5-6 times the number of boats on the water compared to when we were there. It sounded overwhelming! Did you have a favorite area where you stayed that you would return to? Was that also your home base? -Judy
We hope you have an amazing time, Jane! We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast that might be helpful to you, which is linked below. Thanks for watching! -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thank you for this extremely informative video on the trials and tribulations of navigating the Amalfi coast. So many other You Tubers that share their travels of this region paint a very different picture. While the Amalfi coast is beautiful, it is moving further down my travel bucket list. This is a must see video for anyone considering the Amalfi Coast as a vacation. I do hope you both had some great coffee experiences to make up for the bus fiascos.
Thank you for watching, Tina! We had no idea of the chaos we would encounter, and I can't imagine visiting during the height of the season. For as beautiful as it is, I had always been worried about the drive along the coast because I get car sick. I managed fine, but I would have been an absolute wreck if Kevin had rented a car (we don't ever during our travels, so it wouldn't have been an issue). I think tourists think they are way better drivers than they are, especially when they drive too fast without knowing what's around the next corner! Our cappuccino experiences took a little bit of a hit because after the mountains, I had no desire to put anything in my stomach for a while! Kevin did grab one while us girls were getting ready in the morning, but they weren't quite as relaxing as when we were in Orvieto! We appreciate your support and encouragement! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMariethank you for this very good video about the actual state of affairs. I too get car sick so I appreciate the feedback. If I had to go I d do it in October.
@denisefalzon8446 Some of our viewers are recommending staying in Salerno and then taking ferries to get around. The drawback is that if there is bad weather, they don't operate, so you have to hope for good weather. It is a very scenic part of Italy. We'll be bringing you with us this Saturday on our "perfect day" in Positano! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie that is a good point. The sea in the Mediterranean can turn rough really quick. We usually enjoy quite seas at this time of year yet swimmers have been told not to risk going to the beach for the last couple of days as it s rough.
@@denisefalzon8446 Wow, interesting. Thanks for sharing this information. It makes sense that swimmers would be impacted as well, but I guess I thought it would be okay close to shore. The advisory is probably wise, but I'm sure that's a bummer. -Judy
WOW!!! The transportation issues is a real bummer as are the over crowding. I may rethink visiting there unless it’s just me and my hubby and maybe some friends or family. There is so much more of Italy that if I miss the Amalfi coast I will be okay. That said, if I can do it by parking myself in Sorento and using the ferry to get around the peninsula and out to Capri, then okay. Thanks for this honest review of an otherwise beautiful area.
Thanks so much for watching and for your comment, Rebecca. It is an extremely picturesque part of Italy and the getting around process is quite time consuming. We also were in some small towns on Lake Como and have some ideas about potentially how to consider that area as an alternative to the Amalfi Coast if you want to see mountains and water! And yes, we completely recommend the ferries over the bus system or taxis, so location is absolutely critical. Sorrento is a good option if you will be visiting Naples, Pompeii, and Mt. Vesuvius, even though it's not technically part of the Amalfi Coast. Otherwise, get yourself to Amalfi and stay on the coast versus up in the mountains. There are affordable options there if you book early. Even though it wasn't our favorite place, Amalfi is very central to everything. We'd be curious to know what the experience is like in Sorrento, since we've heard both good and bad things (but in fairness, we hear that about everyplace in that part of Italy!). -Judy
Another get travel guide. I love the editing and thank you for sharing. I’ve been to the Amalfi Coast. It’s a lovely place, but, I love Cinque Terre better for it’s more rustic feel. Surprisingly, we ended up meeting a few local travelers while traveling through Europe and when they find that we’re Americans, their dream is to visit Los Angeles and NYC. I also recommend they visit DC for the National Mall and also Miami Beach. So it’s great to hear that Europeans also want to travel the USA.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Iris! We ended up visiting two of the towns in Cinque Terre, but it rained the day we visited, which put a damper on our experience. As far as meeting up with travelers who want to visit the US, you are right! When we originally were considering moving to Italy versus traveling full time, we talked to Italians in the cities we were visiting and they were shocked we'd consider their town to settle in when they couldn't wait to visit LA or NYC. Admittedly, it was partially because they see all the Hollywood movies and want to experience those cities for themselves. (But we're the same about visiting European cities, too!) I've been to Miami Beach, but embarrassingly, we've never been to DC. We should figure out how to do that, although our time in the US is usually consumed with visiting family and it's one of the most expensive countries for us these days! -Judy
Thank you so much for watching, Syu. We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast if you want to learn more, including episodes from Positano, Ravello, and Capri. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
As others have mentioned, going off-season is the best plan if that is an option for you (March-May or Sept-Oct). We loved staying in Praiano, where there are less tourists and you can hike up to the Il Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods). Hiking and photography are the best pursuits on the Amalfi Coast, as there is a huge network of trails. For instance, you can walk from Amalfi to Ravello and then down the other side to Atrani and back to Amalfi. Or, walk from Praiano to Positano (or vice-versa) via the Path of the Gods. You'll go through villages like Nocelle and Montepurtuso which are quaint and less visited than other places along the coast. Be sure to get a place with a balcony overlooking the sea.
Hi Dan, Our next episode will be of the Path of the Gods and "the perfect day" in Positano. We didn't do much in the way of hiking, but this was a good one. The views are stunning walking along the coast! Our balcony in Agerola faced the main piazza, which was sort of fun because there was a church festival going on the day we arrived, and we could watch it from our balcony. Not nearly as wonderful as overlooking the sea, but still a little fun! Thanks for watching, and for your comment, as always! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie - A balcony overlooking the square sounds lovely! Will look forward to your next video, as there's nothing like the Amalfi Coast! Cheers!!
Thanks, Dan. We had such a great time! We know not everyone loves this part of Italy, but we have a at least one other video to share after Saturday's that will at least include Ravello! -Judy
Thank you so much for your kind words, Atif. We ended up really enjoying the Amalfi Coast, but it's critical to be prepared! The views are incredible and the hiking is great, but there are downsides as well. We've got more videos from the Amalfi Coast coming beginning this Saturday! -Judy P.S.: Here's a link to our full series (so far) from Italy: 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
@@atifmanzoor63 In fairness to them, November through March is fairly dead for them and tourism is nearly non-existent. They're having to cover the down season from the profits they make during the high season. Also, that drive is fairly harrowing and getting to/from places requires them to spend a lot of time in traffic to get to the locations with tourists. It seems that they lose a lot of time in each direction without a fare. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMariewe re just back from the Amalfi coast and the views are stunning very much enjoyed it but most of it you said about the buses and the cas was true we arranged a private transfer from our hilltop hotel near Sorrento to Ravello and we asked the driver to stop at Positano for 2 hours and we paid him like 70 euros per hour extra and he was making up things like he needs to pay 30 euros for a police permit and then he kept going on about his tip so in the end we nearly paid about 400 euros for that ride also when we were picking up the hotel shuttle from Sorrento to the next hotel up the hilltop the bus driver was very rude because we had luggage as there was 6 of us travelling and he didn’t want to get of his seat to open the luggage hatch
Hi, great video and very informative, love it. I really feel sorry for the locals who need to use public transport on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing guys. ❤Zeljka
Hi Zelijka, We agree about the locals! I'm not sure how they manage it, either. I don't understand driving in it, either though, because I just do not trust non-locals to know what the heck they are doing. I think some people have an overconfidence of their driving skills on unfamiliar roads, and accidents are inevitable. Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
Thanks for watching! Here’s our full series from the Amalfi Coast if you’re interested. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
We are so glad to hear it, Vickie! We have an entire series from Amalfi you can watch (our final episode from there is this Saturday). If you are visiting, we hope you have an amazing trip! -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thank you so much for watching! We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast, which I think will be helpful for you. We hope you have a great trip! -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thank you so much for watching! Yes, and this wasn't even the height of tourist season. It's still beautiful enough that despite everything it's worth visiting at least once. -Judy
Thank you for watching! We had no idea that the Amalfi Coast could be so complicated and that so many people brave all the complexities to visit! However, we loved Positano and Ravello the most. You can see our other episodes regarding this picturesque part of Italy in our series linked below. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
Hi Carolen, We were there in early June before the bulk of the crowds had arrived. It may depend whether you arrive in early or late September to know what the crowds will be like. I'm finding that September can actually still be fairly crowded, especially the first week or two. We have a full series from Amalfi linked below if you want to learn more. Our favorite locations were Positano and Ravello. We hope you have a terrific time! -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thanks for watching, Genevieve! We recommend that you book directly versus through the popular third-party vendor called FerryHopper. There may be issues with weather and other variables, so ideally book through NGL or Travelmar. At the time of year we visited (early June), the lines in person weren't a hassle, but it could be another story during the height of summer. -Judy Travelmar: www.travelmar.it/en/index NGL: www.nlg.it/en/ You can see a wide schedule here and then book directly from the vendor versus the third party (Positano.com): www.positano.com/en/ferry-schedule
Thank you so much for watching, Sandi. It was one of the most beautiful areas we've ever visited. Our full series from the Amalfi Coast is linked below. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thanks for watching, Robin. Our episode from Ravello comes out next Saturday! We loved it, too. It's a beautiful, charming city. We did like Positano as well and had a lovely time there. The Path of the Gods and the boat excursion we took was more interesting to us than window shopping! -Judy 🎥 The Perfect Day in Positano: ❤️ th-cam.com/video/wO_m6MbXTrw/w-d-xo.html
@@FindingGinaMarie Oh... I know, I know...I'll tell you why I said. "wow". Just the ordeal of the buses and uncertainty of your transportation options plus the stair climbing kind of made me reconsider going there by myself. There just comes a time! ♥
@@enriquesanchez2001 We hear you there! Of course there are stairs because how else are all those villages on hills, but sheesh. We never had thought about how to get around and how hard it would be! It's a beautiful place, but we also found beautiful scenery with mountains and water in one particular town on Lake Como that might be a good alternative for you and our viewers to consider. -Judy
Hi thanks for the video! Im planning to visit amalfi and the rest of the island for about 3 days, wheres a good place to set up my base? Im coming from Naples. Or should i be doing day trips off Naples, taking a ferry. Im quite concern about the bus rides and time wasting. Travelling in november end, yes its off peak 😮
Are you able to afford to stay in Positano? If not, then you might consider staying outside Salerno in the town of Vietri Sul Mare. It's the only Amalfi town with a train station and has bus and boat connections. We much preferred Positano (and Ravello) to Amalfi itself. Thanks so much for watching and happy to answer any additional questions you might have. Bear in mind that some places may be closed because of the off season, but prices and crowds will be better! Here's the rest of our series so you can get a glimpse of Positano and the other areas we visited. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thanks so much for watching, Ralph! We are delighted to have you along on this journey with us! Below is a link to the rest of our Amalfi Coast series and also our Italy series if you are interested. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
They certainly can be! Some people choose to stay in Salerno or Sorrento. Salerno has more ferry options, but if the weather is stormy, the ferries don't run. That's why it's so important to choose your home base wisely! Your bus rides sound lovely, though! -Judy
Hey👋🏽Jacquie here, me and my husband are going to do an Italy cruise 🚢 next year from Rome Greece, turkey Naples, and then back to Rome. Any suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated never traveled abroad just a little leery. we would like to visit Tuscany from Rome. We’re going ahead about three days before the ship set sale and we were thinking about going up to Tuscany from Rome.
Hi Jacquie, Your trip sounds like it will be fabulous! We've never taken this type of cruise, so we hope you have an amazing time! We have videos from our visits to Rome, Greece, Naples, and various Tuscan cities you might want to check out. Suggestions we have for you are to not overpack, don't overfill your days, but rather allow yourself to be immersed in the places you are visiting. Since you may not have time to do everything you want to do because you are cruising, skip the shopping. Even if you don't plan excursions in every port, try to walk around and see as much as you can. You will be in places with beauty, history, and incredible culture in all the places you'll be visiting. People will be kind and understanding, so don't worry if some things don't go according to plan. And don't sweat the small stuff! You might consider spending your days in Tuscany in Florence. We recommend these tours from Walks of Italy-we aren't sponsored by them in any way and don't earn any commissions from recommending them, but they are tours we enjoyed very much. The day trip was outstanding and we much preferred it to renting a car. We would be happy to answer any questions you might have if you can think of them! -Judy 🚐 Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano: www.walksofitaly.com/florence-tours/tuscany-day-trips-from-florence/ ⚜️ Florence in a Day with David, Duomo, Uffizi & Walking Tour: www.walksofitaly.com/florence-tours/florence-tours-full-day/ 🎥 How to use Google Translate and more: th-cam.com/video/HRyXqMV_BXs/w-d-xo.html 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html 🎥 Greece playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0EvAnWdYy22GE_jpCp5J9c.html
@@FindingGinaMarie thank you so much for all the information. I do have a problem with walking long distance are there bus tours you know of that will take you around.
Hi Jacquie, bus tours will take you around, but typically there are periods where you will be walking. I'm not sure how compromised your mobility is, but you might consider looking at some of these options which I have linked that are activities for people with limited mobility. Tuscany is a hilly region and some parts of it don't allow vehicles in the city center. You might want to consider the types of activities you are looking to do and go from there. I'm not sure if you're able to walk through museums, but there also are cobblestones to navigate. It can certainly be done so long as you adapt to your limitations. We hope you have a wonderful trip! -Judy www.sagetraveling.com/tuscany-accessible-travel
Thank you so much for watching and for subscribing! Here’s our full series from the Amalfi Coast if you are interested as well as our ongoing series from Italy! We are so happy to have you with us! -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
Hi Soubia, We weren't especially impressed with Amalfi. It was more of a convenient location to launch from if Positano is too rich for your budget and you want to avoid all the extra traveling that we incurred by staying in the cheaper town of Bomerano. As far as views, Amalfi seemed flatter, so it was less scenic. It felt like you were walking through a town versus all the gazing you're able to do in Positano. The souvenirs/shopping seemed geared to more budget travelers than upscale ones and it didn't feel as pristine. We don't shop, so that part didn't matter to us, but my daughter and husband had zero interest in spending more time there compared to Positano and Ravello. Thanks so much for watching. Our full series from the Amalfi Coast is linked below if you're interested. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
@@FindingGinaMarie thank u for the reply we travelled from Canada and i was feeling like we went to positani and also capri but didnt visited Amalfi so may be we missed soo much i was feeling like that..we loved positano we didnt see much in capri we were in the port enjoyed the beach it was lobely and some window shopping ..but the view from solentro to positani from a ferry is just stunning ..and i loved the coloourful homes on the mountains in positano and the view is lovely thanks for ur details reply❤️
It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! Even when we stay somewhere a month, we still miss seeing some things. We mark them down and then when we're planning a trip somewhere, we decide whether we want to see what we missed or see somewhere new. Often it's the latter, but there are occasions when we do return. In fact, we'll be covering that in our next episode on Saturday. We visited Verona four times, but this is the only time we took the funicular to see the top of the city. It was worth it! -Judy
We went March last year and did the train from Napoli to Salerno followed by a bus westwards to Cetara (which was our base). Cetara is on the coast and the main bus route. It is so small that everywhere in town was walking distance from everywhere in town (and you don't need to schlep luggage very far). That said, March was still a busy season for bus travel; but, nothing like your video! While every bus was full(ish), we got on with ease! Sure, March is very much off-season; however, the Path of the Lemons and the food in all the restaurants still delivered 100%. The beaches were empty - but so was the water (it's a temperature thing!) Would we go again? Yes and no. Yes - because it's an amazing coast and everyone needs to go! No - because the windy roads and slight stress of bus availability makes it more favorable to visit many of the other wonderful places in Italy instead for our next trip. That said, if you've never been to the Amalfi Coast, then you should go at least once in your life! Ciao!
Thanks for watching, Martin! You raise an interesting point. For as beautiful as the Amalfi Coast was, I'm not sure we'd do it again, either. It was so much work to get everywhere. We actually enjoyed Positano a lot and Ravello, but you are right, there are so many fabulous places to visit in Italy, that it's not likely to be a trip we do again unless someone requires us to be there! We wouldn't go dragging our feet, but the getting around was such a hassle. Our daughter did the primary planning for this trip, so Cetara wasn't even on my/our radar. Would you recommend that location? Positano as a home base would be great, but the prices there are prohibitive, especially since you'd ideally want to be on the coast, not in the mountains, which kind of defeats the point. -Judy
Typical of Americans sulking and complaining about transport without knowing that it’s a miracle that big buses are running on those narrow roads some of which are thousand years old plus Amalfi etc are leisure places whats the big deal about time and schedules. Appreciate the miracles of nature that’s blessed Italy which’s truly Gods own country
We aren't complaining about transport. We're letting viewers know what to expect when they come to the Amalfi Coast, and during high season, it can be very crazy and the transportation costs are very expensive. We're encouraging people not to rent cars and to avoid the high season. It's not a leisurely place when people push and shove to get on overcrowded buses. We absolutely love Italy and have spent time in 30 cities and I am working on my Italian dual citizenship. -Judy
Our daughter was studying interior design in Firenze in 2019 and we visited her there in May before heading to Napoli, Pompeii, and Sorrento. We took a day trip to from Sorrento to Amalfi and Ravello, traveling by bus there and by ferry back. We took the ferry back because the bus ride was a little terrifying (I had the Bobs’ song “Bus Plunge” playing in my head the whole way). For me, at least, a single day on the Amalfi Coast was plenty. Just too touristy for my taste.
What an incredible experience it must have been for your daughter to be studying in Firenze! Before arriving on the Amalfi Coast, I had similar fears about ground transportation along the route. I was absolutely terrified. For whatever reason, it didn't bother me as much as I expected as far as falling off the cliffs, but I did have to deal with feeling a little car sick. But there is no way on earth that I would have allowed Kevin to drive. Then I really would have been terrified, even though he's a great driver! We tried to take the ferries as much as possible, too. We enjoyed Ravello and Positano the most, but we also didn't enjoy them enough to visit again, especially when there is so much interesting history and charm in other, more accessible, parts of Italy. Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Wow Definitely not a place to visit that time of year. 😮 That's the beauty of slow traveling the world. 🌎 80% of the time one can avoid the crazy tourist areas during high season. What would you say helped the most while visiting the area right at the beginning of high season? What would be your top 3 places to stay during June, July, and August? 🤔🦘
You are right about the benefits of slow travel, but you still have to be very intentional so that you are in the right parts of the world at their most affordable times. Unfortunately, that doesn't always mean you'll want to be in Europe during the summer because it is high season. Visiting the Amalfi Coast in early June works well because there are parts of the world where school is still in session, so families can't always get away that early in the season. Also, Europeans usually take their own vacations during July and especially August, so in June you're not fighting everyone else. Late May isn't bad if you avoid the Memorial Day holiday in the US, when some Americans might be traveling. The water will be colder, but the beaches aren't sandy, so maybe not being in the water isn't such a hardship. We're actually struggling a bit to find affordable places in Europe in July and August, but I'd suggest places that are cheaper and less touristy. Surprisingly, Kraków is pretty affordable even in the summer months. We would entirely avoid Italy in August because except in the most touristy places, locals aren't there because they're on vacation, so I don't think you'll have the most enriching experience. It was extremely hot in early July in Genoa and Turin, but they aren't super touristy places, so I think they could work. Verona also is less touristy and a bit cheaper of a city. We will be in Tirana, Albania, which is overall an affordable country plus it has the benefit of being outside of Schengen, which can be important/helpful for full-time travelers. Otherwise, we liked Paphos, Cyprus, which has a ton of beaches if you can tolerate the heat. Serbia and Romania both are more affordable countries, too. We keep hearing Prague is affordable in those months, but we aren't seeing bargain prices for accommodations. Budapest and Istanbul would also fit, but we have yet to visit either of them (although we are looking at Antalya, Turkey for November. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie Great points. 👍 Turkey sounds like a wonderful option. Have you thought about South of the equator options ? Would Australia be an option with some house sitting? 🤔 South America? In the future of course. Thanks again for sharing your journey and experiences.
@@livingworkingoutsidebox We have tried everything possible to make Australia/New Zealand work this year, but we can't (we were considering it for October/November this year). We'll be in South America for three months beginning in December, so we definitely have it on our list of places to visit. We've considered house sitting, but it may be more than we want to deal with on top of our work on TH-cam and our blog, and we also don't want to drive. It's asking a lot for house sitting to be in a major city and for enough time that it offsets the cost of getting to and from that part of the world. We are going to try again for 2025. -Judy
We talk about them at the end of the video but we don't refer to them there as hidden costs per se. We mention in our Tip 2 at the end that although accommodations in Bomerano were cheaper than Positano, because we were making daily trips to other areas of the coast and the buses were often full, we ended up paying for taxis that would run us $100 for each one-way trip we took. Those costs will add up fast and offset a lot of the savings you think you're getting by being high in the mountains. Thanks for watching. Here's a link to our full series from the Amalfi Coast if you're interested! -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
It wasn't really our intention! I think we assumed we covered it well enough that it was clear, but not making it more clear probably would have been helpful. You're the first person who's asked, so it's probably good that it wasn't a ploy to get comments! -Judy
Hi @1vespa, It's better in the north than in the south, but no, they don't. Although to be fair, there's only a percentage of Italians that are on the buses, so it's a lot of non Italians causing problems. BUT the Italians aren't doing anything to restore or instill order, either! Here's the rest of our series from the Amalfi Coast if you're interested (psst Positano was our favorite!) -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you. I only went to Rome (twice), and got a great image of the good humored Romans. I'll be in southern Italy in mid December. Hope to have a glimpse on Positano but since I'll be driving, probably I won't. Will stop at Amalfi because there is more room and parking. The problem with December is that days are too short to travel around. Stay well.
@1vespa We felt like those hairpin turns would have made us very nervous to the uninitiated. There are rails, so it doesn't feel as precarious as Coastal Highway 1 in California, but the route is very narrow and you can't trust that people are taking up only their part of the lane (or that the area you are driving even has two lanes). I personally would not be comfortable at all having to back up for a vehicle who ends up having the right of way, but your mileage may vary! We hope you have an amazing trip. It will be cold, but fun, I'm sure! -Judy
It was crowded during the summer as you would expect for the beaches of Italy, but I wouldn't say they were dirty or sad. I'm not sure what gave you that impression. You can see the beauty of Amalfi in our other videos where we spotlight our favorites-Positano and Ravello. I don't think you need to visit Amalfi to appreciate Italy since there are many less crowded and charming cities, but it is a beautiful area. -Judy 🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
🚕TAXI: We had a great experience with Eduardo, who had a clean, large vehicle similar to an airport shuttle (could hold a group and luggage) and was a dream to work with. Reach him through WhatsApp (his English is great and WhatsApp also translates): +39 335 668 5657
🏨 ACCOMMODATIONS: We highly recommend Casa Villani if you want to stay in Agerola. It's at the doorstep of the Path of the Gods. Take a look at the property, which we highly recommend (our feedback is in the comments of the property, but then go ahead and book direct and save some money: www.booking.com/hotel/it/casa-villani-pianillo.html // direct: g.co/kgs/MdZwjvt
⛴ FERRY SYSTEM: We recommend that you book directly versus through the popular third-party vendor called FerryHopper. There may be issues with weather and other variables, so ideally book through NGL or Travelmar. At the time of year we visited (early June), the lines in person weren't a hassle, but it could be another story during the height of summer.
Travelmar: www.travelmar.it/en/index
NGL: www.nlg.it/en/
You can see a wide schedule here (www.positano.com/en/ferry-schedule) and then book directly from the vendor versus the third party (Positano.com).
I’m sound engineer with decades producing voice over and video content. Your narration definitely works! Great content, and enjoyable to watch.
Thank you so much, Glenn, for your very kind words! I've done voiceover work as a hobby, but I always appreciate the person who can sound like the boy or girl next door. I haven't figured out how to master that yet, but I appreciate your feedback and maybe I need to let go of my expectations for myself! Your perspective means a lot! -Judy
I’ve commented on this before, but Judy, you have the best voice when you narrate. I just can’t get over how amazing it is.💕
BW, you have no idea how much I had to hear this today! I was asking Kevin to consider stripping out my voice and trying a different plan because I worried that my voice sounds too slick or commercial and not "every man." Thank you for your kind words! Sometimes we all are just too self-critical of ourselves! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie I for one would be absolutely heartbroken if you decided to do that. it really adds richness to the videos with your expertise description. I’ve everything that helps us navigate those places that you have been to much better than us trying to do it without watching your video first.
Thank you so much, BW. We would have worked something else out, but I think that's why Kevin and I make such a great team. We collaborate well and balance each other out. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed this episode! ♥️ -Judy
I was in Rome last summer and actually almost died of exhaustion, overheating and the people. I’m not even 50! I’m planning to go to Positano in April. And hopefully I will walk or take boats to go around. Thank you for your video
It can be really hot in Italy in the summer, Noemi! I think April in Positano sounds like a great idea. We have a series from Amalfi, including an episode dedicated solely to Positano. I'll also link to our full series from Italy. Since I am working on my Italian dual citizenship, we've spent a lot of time there, even before we became full-time travelers. We've explored some great places if you want some new ideas beyond the time you spend in Amalfi. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
We stayed in Positano for five days at the end of September, and everyone kept warning us about the mobs, but it wasn't bad. At times there were some crowded streets, but entirely manageable and we had no trouble getting around. We'd recommend taking ferries - we found it very, very easy to get to Amalfi by ferry. Positano is a bit more expensive, but it's kind of the hub. If you want something central, but a bit more quiet and inexpensive try Praino.
Hi John, Late September and October are some of the best times to visit for reduced crowds. Ferries are great, but there are times when they aren't running. But overall, we agree, and that's why we would recommend staying in Positano if you can afford it or else in Amalfi, which is central to everything except Ravello. We are so glad to hear that you had a great trip! We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast if you're interested in reliving some of your time there! -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thanks, your TH-cam post is awesome, I'm going to subscribe. By the way, I'd add that Anacapri is worth the trip up the hill ss it's much less crowded and touristy than Capri.
@@johncraik7480 Thank you so much! We kicked ourselves a bit for missing Anacapri and choosing Capri over it. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm sure for how much our daughter enjoyed our time there that she will want to return again!
Lovely video. We chose to take a train early in the morning from Naples to Salerno, and then take the Ferry to Positano and Amalfi and back. No hurries, no traffic jams, no crowdie, always seated, nice view of the cost from the Ferry.
Thanks for watching! What time of year did you visit and how long did it take to get to Salerno by ferry if you remember? Was it prohibitive to get to Ravello, which we loved?!
@@FindingGinaMarie We traveled in early October and it took 50 minutes aprox. from Salerno to Positano, 20 minutes from Positano to Amalfi, and 30 from Amalfi back to Salerno. We skipped because of lack of time.
@Pelorchoplus From all the locals we talked to, that is one of the very best times to visit for reduced crowds! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie I d say most of the popular sites in Italy are best visited in October and November or April and May to avoid the heat and crowds.
Surprisingly, @denisefalzon8446, this year the weather in early June was perfect, and not too hot. I actually really enjoy September. November can sometimes be too cold or things in certain places close down in certain cities (Lecce and the coast of Sicily particularly). But we agree that avoiding the high season is best if possible! -Judy
We went to Positano in 2023, early May, a week and a half. This year we went late May for two weeks. Absolutely fantastic. In 2025 we’re going late September. You need to be fit and have few physical issues.
Certainly our courteousness is not reciprocated while getting on a bus or ferry. It is “every man for himself.” Go with it. We love southern Italy!
We're so glad to hear this! Where do you keep your home base when you're visiting? Positano? It's pricey, but worth it if you have the funds. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie yes we keep it in the Positano area. I don’t want to name it as it is a refuge from the madness. It is physically restrictive anyhow. I can see by your opening video that you’ve been there.
Also, we enjoy IL Ritrovo in Montepetruso. Very nice restaurant. Locals go there and tourists.
We took busses to Amalfi and Sorrento a few times. Yes, if you’re on a Northern European or a U.S. schedule you may be frustrated. Naples and south is a different world. The Wild West. There are no rules only suggestions.
I don't blame you for keeping your location a secret! We didn't visit Montepetruso, but it sounds like there are a lot of little villages we haven't made our way to, yet. We thought this might be a one-and-done, but maybe not! And you're absolutely right about Southern Italy! -Judy
We traveled to there last September. Less people in September. Weather was beautiful. We made our home base Maiori and took the water taxi everywhere. Worked out fantastic and Maiori was a beautiful village. Very welcoming and less tourists. Highly recommend.
I'm so glad you had a great experience, Michele. Thanks for the recommendation! Were you there in early or late September? I heard it could still be crowded in early September, but I might be off on that. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and for watching! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie we were there mid September to later it was the third week in September. So fortunate to be able to go. My family is there in Naples. We were able to meet them as well.
@@FindingGinaMarie I will be back for sure. Thank you for sharing your travels. I enjoy your stories as well.
How wonderful for you, Michele. My understanding is that I have family in Naples area as well (my grandfather originally was from Summonte). Since I'm adopted and only recently met my Italian birth mother, I haven't really been able to connect with family there. But I love this so much for you! -Judy
Thank you so much! And it's encouraging to hear that mid September already will have reduced crowds. The water is probably ideal at that time of year, too! -Judy
Salerno should also be considered as an excellent base from which to visit the Amalfi coast. I am just back after spending a week in Salerno early to mid June. It has ferry, bus and train service to get you anywhere quite easily. By ferry, I visited Amalfi, Positano, Minori, Maiori, Cetara and Capri. I did the Path of the Gods hike by using the Travelmar ferry and their dedicated shuttle to Bomerano which worked wonderfully. I also used the train to go to Paestum, Pompei and Ercolano. The one snag was Ravello and that was because of the infamous bus. Getting up was no problem, but getting back down was. I ended up getting a shared taxi with a bunch of other people for 15 euro each, which turned out to be a great option. The other plus is that Salerno lodging is very reasonable compared to the villages on the Amalfi Coast and also Sorrento. I had a lovely B & B for 50 euro a night, in the center of the old town (nice room with a little balcony and own bathroom).
We can't recommend Salerno because we didn't stay there ourselves, but we totally appreciate your recommendation. Several of our viewers have been recommending Salerno, so it sounds like a place we should try to visit. We really enjoyed Ravello, but yes, that's not an easy place to get to/from. Our episode this Saturday is about our hike on the Path of the Gods and "the perfect day" in Positano. The price for your B&B is outstanding. Thanks so much for letting us know. My understanding is that Salerno is worth visiting even if you don't visit the other areas along the coast. -Judy
Could you please link the information to the Airbnb?
@underanafricansun7742 what was the name of the B & B
@@cookingwithchantal1248 It is Il Guiscardo, highly recommend
We're going to the Amalfi coast in September. Although, we've been to Italy many times and always planned the trips ourselves, we signed up with a tour company for this trip. We don't want the hassle of arranging transportation in that region. Your vlog confirms our decision.
Hi Kathleen, I don't think you'll regret your decision. Where will you be based? It's a beautiful part of Italy. We hope you have a wonderful time. A link to the rest of our Amalfi Coast series is below. Ravello and Positano were our favorites! -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Hi what tour company did you use? Planning a trip for my husband and I next year.
Hello! Excellent video! Full of tips&pricies !!! ❤
Thank you so much for watching, Luiz, and for your kind words! We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast if you're interested. Also, I am working on my Italian dual citizenship and we have a series of videos from Italy you might want to watch. They're all linked below. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
Thank you for your great video. Sorry about your experience with the bus. I’m planning a trip next year for my husband and I to go to Amalfi. Your video and all the comments here are very helpful. Sounds like ferry is one of the best ways to go when possible.
Hi Amberly, It was a good way to learn what works and what doesn't! If you can afford to stay in Positano, it's definitely going to save you a lot of trouble with transportation. We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast linked below if you're interested. And I'll also link to our series from Italy, which is one of our very favorite countries! We hope you have an amazing time! -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
Two weeks in September. Was amazing 7 days on the Amalfi Coast, car and water taxi, water taxi wins❣️
How awesome, Betsy! What was your home base for your trip? The only issue with water taxi is that there are times when it doesn't run due to weather issues. But if you were located in Positano, that would be ideal and so much better than being in the mountains! -Judy
It looks beautiful, but clearly a lot of strategic planning is needed to make sure everything goes reasonably well! Thank you for all the tips!
Thank you so much for watching, Linda! We had no idea what we were in for. Because we were doing fast travel and had to play catch up after returning to Europe from Asia, our daughter did the majority of the planning for Amalfi because it was a bucket-list place for her. I had always been intimidated due to the drive along the coast because I get car sick. I did okay, but I didn't enjoy it and was grateful I had a seat on the buses we took. Our Airbnb host gave us good tips, but I don't think we fully appreciated them until we were faced with late buses and all the crowds. I think it's one thing to hear about but something else entirely when you see it! -Judy
Strategic planning 😱 they are place meant to have much much much less tourism I’m afraid
I might have to agree, @nicolettastrada5976. Although the area pretty much closes up from November to March, so people do rely on it to cover them through the down season. -Judy
Hi, I have been watching videos about Amalfi coast, since we went there yesterday and we joined a group tour from Rome. Can you imagine we paid only 100 euros each, from Rome to Sorrento by bus, then a private boat that took us to Positano, Amalfi then back to Sorrento and finally back to Rome. we are so happy we enjoyed at a cheaper price except there was less time to swim however we were able to see all the highlights of these 3 islands - Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi!
Hi Melody, Were you able to wander through the streets of Positano at all? It is well worth doing! If not, we have a full video series of the cities we explored on the Amalfi Coast-Positano and Ravello were our favorites, but we also visited Capri. Here's a link so you can check them out. What you paid is very inexpensive to get a taste of the Amalfi Coast. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
What was the cost of the tour and how much time did you have to explore in each place?
Great video. We visited the coast in November and it was awesome! We rented a car , drove ourselves everywhere and we had plenty of parking. We stayed in three separate hotels over five nights and if we ever went back we would go again at that same time. Safe travels!
When we retire in a few years we plan to stay in Italy the full 90 days❤
@IramisandGerry We had been told that most things are closed down at that time of year (by the first week in November). Did you have any trouble finding restaurants and other activities that were open? Was the ferry operating at that time? Thank you so much for watching, and we are glad to hear you had such a good experience! We are still looking to experience more of the world before we settle down, but I am working on my Italian dual citizenship so that we don't have to do the Schengen dance forever! -Judy
This was super helpful! In fact it made us rethink our trip to this area. We did an about face and will be going to Puglia instead!
Thanks for watching, Tom. It's a beautiful area, but it is very crowded and challenging to navigate. Our full series is linked below. If you go in May or October, you'll avoid the bulk of the crowds but still get to avoid the crowds. We enjoyed Lecce, but we froze when we were there! We have two videos from there if you plan to include it on your trip to Puglia. We'd love to hear where you end up because there's much of that region we've yet to experience. -Judy
🎥 Lecce Travel Tips: th-cam.com/video/hcdyiRYfrlc/w-d-xo.html
🎥 First Impressions of Lecce: th-cam.com/video/YTsr-jErZF8/w-d-xo.html
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
@@FindingGinaMarie we watched your other vids already. All wonderful!
Thanks for the specific tips. So helpful. Very beautiful.
Thanks for watching, Erin. We had no idea that it would be so complicated. We never had the Amalfi Coast on our bucket list due to the twisty, winding roads, but we are glad we made the effort this time. It was beautiful, but we probably wouldn't do it again. The roads fortunately didn't feel like you could fall off of them like Highway 1 in California (never again for me!), but I still had to deal with feeling a bit carsick. And in no way were we prepared for the bus situation. I can't imagine when the crowds are in full force! -Judy
We went to Positano the end of May 2018, perfect weather and flowers. We stayed at a VRBO private villa we rented for 7 nights - slept 12 and had two kitchens for the 11 of us.. The villa was up on the second hill from the main Positano Beach so it was a good 20 minute walk down the road to the beach but there are unique shopping stores all along the way and restaurants and cafes and even two delis. We spent one day on capri (Blue Star boat from Positano so no ferry timelines to worry about) and took the chair lift to the top, and our boat captain took us to the Blue Lagoon (row boat into the grotto) and we swam in the green grotto. We also rented a van and went to Pompeii and had a guide for 4 hours - enough time in the hot sun to see much of it. We went to Furoma Beach by bus one day. We skipped the garden of the gods as it would take a full day. we wanted a two days at both the beaches in Positano. Restaurants in Positano are excellent. Yes, plenty of tourists there in May, I hear much more crowded in July and August.
Hi Kathy, It sounds like you had a terrific trip. We definitely preferred Positano over Amalfi, but it is more expensive to stay (unless you got an amazing day early in the season!). Our episode this Saturday takes you with us on our Path of the Gods, and actually you can do it in a few hours and actually goes only to Nocelle, not all the way down to Positano. The extension of the path is an extra portion, but everyone told us to skip that part, so we listened! But gosh, you did so much that it's hard to say you actually missed anything. Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us! -Judy
This is an excellent video thanks and the commentary sounds very professional. We have been to Italy many times and thought we might take in the Amalfi coast on our next adventure but now we are not sure that it is worth either the effort or cost. Much to consider but we really appreciate this very helpful video.
Thanks so much for watching, Mark. It's a stunning part of the world, but we recommend coming closer to late September/October or May/early June for the best experience. I can't imagine how wild it is in the height of the season. We have a full series from our time there that may be helpful. We'd have been happy with a home base either in Positano or Ravello. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
by all means go, but do so in late September or even early October. It's beyond me why anyone would want to go in the peak of the tourist season - we were there in late September and had hardly any crowd or transportation issues.
Hi @johncraik7480, I don't think people necessarily choose to go during peak tourist season if they can help it. We visited in early June because that's when our daughter could get time off of work. But at other times people are at the mercy of school or university holidays. But I agree wholeheartedly about avoiding peak season whenever possible wherever you are headed. We've saved money and avoided crowds when we've visited places in the shoulder season. And best of all, you still tend to get halfway decent weather. -Judy
Amalfi è un vero paradiso ❤
You are right, Maddalena! The getting around can be stressful, but the views are stunning! -Judy
Ugh, Amalfi Coast in the summer. When we next visit, it will either be in late April or early October. There's just no getting around the crowds otherwise. Everything closes in the winter months. You guys are brave!
LOL, We actually were so grateful that we were there before tourist season was in full swing! Our daughter originally wanted to visit in early July and we discouraged her. This worked out so much better for us! But I can imagine that especially early October would be great because the water will still be warm. Our daughter surprised us with a private cruise along the coast and the captain mentioned that there would be 5-6 times the number of boats on the water compared to when we were there. It sounded overwhelming! Did you have a favorite area where you stayed that you would return to? Was that also your home base? -Judy
Thank you for this video. This helps me a lot. Planning to go next summer
We hope you have an amazing time, Jane! We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast that might be helpful to you, which is linked below. Thanks for watching! -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thank you for this extremely informative video on the trials and tribulations of navigating the Amalfi coast. So many other You Tubers that share their travels of this region paint a very different picture. While the Amalfi coast is beautiful, it is moving further down my travel bucket list. This is a must see video for anyone considering the Amalfi Coast as a vacation. I do hope you both had some great coffee experiences to make up for the bus fiascos.
Thank you for watching, Tina! We had no idea of the chaos we would encounter, and I can't imagine visiting during the height of the season. For as beautiful as it is, I had always been worried about the drive along the coast because I get car sick. I managed fine, but I would have been an absolute wreck if Kevin had rented a car (we don't ever during our travels, so it wouldn't have been an issue). I think tourists think they are way better drivers than they are, especially when they drive too fast without knowing what's around the next corner! Our cappuccino experiences took a little bit of a hit because after the mountains, I had no desire to put anything in my stomach for a while! Kevin did grab one while us girls were getting ready in the morning, but they weren't quite as relaxing as when we were in Orvieto! We appreciate your support and encouragement! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMariethank you for this very good video about the actual state of affairs. I too get car sick so I appreciate the feedback. If I had to go I d do it in October.
@denisefalzon8446 Some of our viewers are recommending staying in Salerno and then taking ferries to get around. The drawback is that if there is bad weather, they don't operate, so you have to hope for good weather. It is a very scenic part of Italy. We'll be bringing you with us this Saturday on our "perfect day" in Positano! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie that is a good point. The sea in the Mediterranean can turn rough really quick. We usually enjoy quite seas at this time of year yet swimmers have been told not to risk going to the beach for the last couple of days as it s rough.
@@denisefalzon8446 Wow, interesting. Thanks for sharing this information. It makes sense that swimmers would be impacted as well, but I guess I thought it would be okay close to shore. The advisory is probably wise, but I'm sure that's a bummer. -Judy
WOW!!! The transportation issues is a real bummer as are the over crowding. I may rethink visiting there unless it’s just me and my hubby and maybe some friends or family. There is so much more of Italy that if I miss the Amalfi coast I will be okay. That said, if I can do it by parking myself in Sorento and using the ferry to get around the peninsula and out to Capri, then okay. Thanks for this honest review of an otherwise beautiful area.
Thanks so much for watching and for your comment, Rebecca. It is an extremely picturesque part of Italy and the getting around process is quite time consuming. We also were in some small towns on Lake Como and have some ideas about potentially how to consider that area as an alternative to the Amalfi Coast if you want to see mountains and water! And yes, we completely recommend the ferries over the bus system or taxis, so location is absolutely critical. Sorrento is a good option if you will be visiting Naples, Pompeii, and Mt. Vesuvius, even though it's not technically part of the Amalfi Coast. Otherwise, get yourself to Amalfi and stay on the coast versus up in the mountains. There are affordable options there if you book early. Even though it wasn't our favorite place, Amalfi is very central to everything. We'd be curious to know what the experience is like in Sorrento, since we've heard both good and bad things (but in fairness, we hear that about everyplace in that part of Italy!). -Judy
Another get travel guide. I love the editing and thank you for sharing. I’ve been to the Amalfi Coast. It’s a lovely place, but, I love Cinque Terre better for it’s more rustic feel.
Surprisingly, we ended up meeting a few local travelers while traveling through Europe and when they find that we’re Americans, their dream is to visit Los Angeles and NYC. I also recommend they visit DC for the National Mall and also Miami Beach. So it’s great to hear that Europeans also want to travel the USA.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Iris! We ended up visiting two of the towns in Cinque Terre, but it rained the day we visited, which put a damper on our experience.
As far as meeting up with travelers who want to visit the US, you are right! When we originally were considering moving to Italy versus traveling full time, we talked to Italians in the cities we were visiting and they were shocked we'd consider their town to settle in when they couldn't wait to visit LA or NYC. Admittedly, it was partially because they see all the Hollywood movies and want to experience those cities for themselves. (But we're the same about visiting European cities, too!) I've been to Miami Beach, but embarrassingly, we've never been to DC. We should figure out how to do that, although our time in the US is usually consumed with visiting family and it's one of the most expensive countries for us these days! -Judy
You guys are so professional ❤❤ Thanks for sharing🎉
Thank you so much for watching, Syu. We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast if you want to learn more, including episodes from Positano, Ravello, and Capri. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
As others have mentioned, going off-season is the best plan if that is an option for you (March-May or Sept-Oct). We loved staying in Praiano, where there are less tourists and you can hike up to the Il Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods). Hiking and photography are the best pursuits on the Amalfi Coast, as there is a huge network of trails. For instance, you can walk from Amalfi to Ravello and then down the other side to Atrani and back to Amalfi. Or, walk from Praiano to Positano (or vice-versa) via the Path of the Gods. You'll go through villages like Nocelle and Montepurtuso which are quaint and less visited than other places along the coast. Be sure to get a place with a balcony overlooking the sea.
Hi Dan, Our next episode will be of the Path of the Gods and "the perfect day" in Positano. We didn't do much in the way of hiking, but this was a good one. The views are stunning walking along the coast! Our balcony in Agerola faced the main piazza, which was sort of fun because there was a church festival going on the day we arrived, and we could watch it from our balcony. Not nearly as wonderful as overlooking the sea, but still a little fun! Thanks for watching, and for your comment, as always! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie - A balcony overlooking the square sounds lovely! Will look forward to your next video, as there's nothing like the Amalfi Coast! Cheers!!
Thanks, Dan. We had such a great time! We know not everyone loves this part of Italy, but we have a at least one other video to share after Saturday's that will at least include Ravello! -Judy
This is the best informative video out there thanks for being very precise about the transport issues around the Amalfi coast
Thank you so much for your kind words, Atif. We ended up really enjoying the Amalfi Coast, but it's critical to be prepared! The views are incredible and the hiking is great, but there are downsides as well. We've got more videos from the Amalfi Coast coming beginning this Saturday! -Judy
P.S.: Here's a link to our full series (so far) from Italy: 🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
@@FindingGinaMarieit’s sad how the taxis don’t charge a fair price considering all the work there is for them out there
@@atifmanzoor63 In fairness to them, November through March is fairly dead for them and tourism is nearly non-existent. They're having to cover the down season from the profits they make during the high season. Also, that drive is fairly harrowing and getting to/from places requires them to spend a lot of time in traffic to get to the locations with tourists. It seems that they lose a lot of time in each direction without a fare. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMariewe re just back from the Amalfi coast and the views are stunning very much enjoyed it but most of it you said about the buses and the cas was true we arranged a private transfer from our hilltop hotel near Sorrento to Ravello and we asked the driver to stop at Positano for 2 hours and we paid him like 70 euros per hour extra and he was making up things like he needs to pay 30 euros for a police permit and then he kept going on about his tip so in the end we nearly paid about 400 euros for that ride also when we were picking up the hotel shuttle from Sorrento to the next hotel up the hilltop the bus driver was very rude because we had luggage as there was 6 of us travelling and he didn’t want to get of his seat to open the luggage hatch
Hi, great video and very informative, love it. I really feel sorry for the locals who need to use public transport on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing guys.
❤Zeljka
Hi Zelijka, We agree about the locals! I'm not sure how they manage it, either. I don't understand driving in it, either though, because I just do not trust non-locals to know what the heck they are doing. I think some people have an overconfidence of their driving skills on unfamiliar roads, and accidents are inevitable. Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
Very thorough thank you for sharing this
Thanks for watching! Here’s our full series from the Amalfi Coast if you’re interested. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
@@FindingGinaMarie yes! Thank you 🙏
Thank you.. this information is awesome
We are so glad to hear it, Vickie! We have an entire series from Amalfi you can watch (our final episode from there is this Saturday). If you are visiting, we hope you have an amazing trip! -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thank you for the tips. We are planning a trip for May 2025.
Thank you so much for watching! We have a full series from the Amalfi Coast, which I think will be helpful for you. We hope you have a great trip! -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Great tips!! Crazy crowds!😮
Thank you so much for watching! Yes, and this wasn't even the height of tourist season. It's still beautiful enough that despite everything it's worth visiting at least once. -Judy
Great information
Thank you for watching! We had no idea that the Amalfi Coast could be so complicated and that so many people brave all the complexities to visit! However, we loved Positano and Ravello the most. You can see our other episodes regarding this picturesque part of Italy in our series linked below. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
Thanks for the vlog… what month of the year did you go? Thanks. We plan September next year.
Hi Carolen, We were there in early June before the bulk of the crowds had arrived. It may depend whether you arrive in early or late September to know what the crowds will be like. I'm finding that September can actually still be fairly crowded, especially the first week or two. We have a full series from Amalfi linked below if you want to learn more. Our favorite locations were Positano and Ravello. We hope you have a terrific time! -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Thank you for this video! Question, what is the name of the ferry system in that area to book in advance?
Thanks for watching, Genevieve! We recommend that you book directly versus through the popular third-party vendor called FerryHopper. There may be issues with weather and other variables, so ideally book through NGL or Travelmar. At the time of year we visited (early June), the lines in person weren't a hassle, but it could be another story during the height of summer. -Judy
Travelmar: www.travelmar.it/en/index
NGL: www.nlg.it/en/
You can see a wide schedule here and then book directly from the vendor versus the third party (Positano.com): www.positano.com/en/ferry-schedule
Great video
Thank you so much for watching, Sandi. It was one of the most beautiful areas we've ever visited. Our full series from the Amalfi Coast is linked below. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
Ravello. Mostly because it’s cooler, harder to get to, so less busy.
Thanks for watching, Robin. Our episode from Ravello comes out next Saturday! We loved it, too. It's a beautiful, charming city. We did like Positano as well and had a lovely time there. The Path of the Gods and the boat excursion we took was more interesting to us than window shopping! -Judy
🎥 The Perfect Day in Positano: ❤️ th-cam.com/video/wO_m6MbXTrw/w-d-xo.html
WOW.... just wow! ♥
We only shared a small portion of the beauty of the Amalfi Coast, so stay tuned for more! Thanks for watching, Enrique! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie Oh... I know, I know...I'll tell you why I said. "wow". Just the ordeal of the buses and uncertainty of your transportation options plus the stair climbing kind of made me reconsider going there by myself. There just comes a time! ♥
@@enriquesanchez2001 We hear you there! Of course there are stairs because how else are all those villages on hills, but sheesh. We never had thought about how to get around and how hard it would be! It's a beautiful place, but we also found beautiful scenery with mountains and water in one particular town on Lake Como that might be a good alternative for you and our viewers to consider. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie Aw thank you! I am fascinated by pictures of Lake Como!
@@enriquesanchez2001 ♥ We will have an episode from the area around Lake Como soon! -Judy
Hi thanks for the video! Im planning to visit amalfi and the rest of the island for about 3 days, wheres a good place to set up my base? Im coming from Naples. Or should i be doing day trips off Naples, taking a ferry. Im quite concern about the bus rides and time wasting.
Travelling in november end, yes its off peak 😮
Are you able to afford to stay in Positano? If not, then you might consider staying outside Salerno in the town of Vietri Sul Mare. It's the only Amalfi town with a train station and has bus and boat connections. We much preferred Positano (and Ravello) to Amalfi itself. Thanks so much for watching and happy to answer any additional questions you might have. Bear in mind that some places may be closed because of the off season, but prices and crowds will be better! Here's the rest of our series so you can get a glimpse of Positano and the other areas we visited. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
just subscribed!
Thanks so much for watching, Ralph! We are delighted to have you along on this journey with us! Below is a link to the rest of our Amalfi Coast series and also our Italy series if you are interested. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
Oh , I love bus journeys, just been all over Andalusia Spain and Portugal, but these buses at Amalfi look like too much effort and stress 😟
They certainly can be! Some people choose to stay in Salerno or Sorrento. Salerno has more ferry options, but if the weather is stormy, the ferries don't run. That's why it's so important to choose your home base wisely! Your bus rides sound lovely, though! -Judy
Hey👋🏽Jacquie here, me and my husband are going to do an Italy cruise 🚢 next year from Rome Greece, turkey Naples, and then back to Rome. Any suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated never traveled abroad just a little leery. we would like to visit Tuscany from Rome. We’re going ahead about three days before the ship set sale and we were thinking about going up to Tuscany from Rome.
Hi Jacquie, Your trip sounds like it will be fabulous! We've never taken this type of cruise, so we hope you have an amazing time! We have videos from our visits to Rome, Greece, Naples, and various Tuscan cities you might want to check out. Suggestions we have for you are to not overpack, don't overfill your days, but rather allow yourself to be immersed in the places you are visiting. Since you may not have time to do everything you want to do because you are cruising, skip the shopping. Even if you don't plan excursions in every port, try to walk around and see as much as you can. You will be in places with beauty, history, and incredible culture in all the places you'll be visiting. People will be kind and understanding, so don't worry if some things don't go according to plan. And don't sweat the small stuff!
You might consider spending your days in Tuscany in Florence. We recommend these tours from Walks of Italy-we aren't sponsored by them in any way and don't earn any commissions from recommending them, but they are tours we enjoyed very much. The day trip was outstanding and we much preferred it to renting a car. We would be happy to answer any questions you might have if you can think of them! -Judy
🚐 Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano: www.walksofitaly.com/florence-tours/tuscany-day-trips-from-florence/
⚜️ Florence in a Day with David, Duomo, Uffizi & Walking Tour: www.walksofitaly.com/florence-tours/florence-tours-full-day/
🎥 How to use Google Translate and more: th-cam.com/video/HRyXqMV_BXs/w-d-xo.html
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
🎥 Greece playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0EvAnWdYy22GE_jpCp5J9c.html
@@FindingGinaMarie thank you so much for all the information. I do have a problem with walking long distance are there bus tours you know of that will take you around.
Hi Jacquie, bus tours will take you around, but typically there are periods where you will be walking. I'm not sure how compromised your mobility is, but you might consider looking at some of these options which I have linked that are activities for people with limited mobility. Tuscany is a hilly region and some parts of it don't allow vehicles in the city center. You might want to consider the types of activities you are looking to do and go from there. I'm not sure if you're able to walk through museums, but there also are cobblestones to navigate. It can certainly be done so long as you adapt to your limitations. We hope you have a wonderful trip! -Judy
www.sagetraveling.com/tuscany-accessible-travel
😊 New subscriber
Thank you so much for watching and for subscribing! Here’s our full series from the Amalfi Coast if you are interested as well as our ongoing series from Italy! We are so happy to have you with us! -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
We were in positano last week its beautiful didnt go to Amalfi is it different or same view?
Hi Soubia, We weren't especially impressed with Amalfi. It was more of a convenient location to launch from if Positano is too rich for your budget and you want to avoid all the extra traveling that we incurred by staying in the cheaper town of Bomerano. As far as views, Amalfi seemed flatter, so it was less scenic. It felt like you were walking through a town versus all the gazing you're able to do in Positano. The souvenirs/shopping seemed geared to more budget travelers than upscale ones and it didn't feel as pristine. We don't shop, so that part didn't matter to us, but my daughter and husband had zero interest in spending more time there compared to Positano and Ravello. Thanks so much for watching. Our full series from the Amalfi Coast is linked below if you're interested. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
@@FindingGinaMarie thank u for the reply we travelled from Canada and i was feeling like we went to positani and also capri but didnt visited Amalfi so may be we missed soo much i was feeling like that..we loved positano we didnt see much in capri we were in the port enjoyed the beach it was lobely and some window shopping ..but the view from solentro to positani from a ferry is just stunning ..and i loved the coloourful homes on the mountains in positano and the view is lovely thanks for ur details reply❤️
It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! Even when we stay somewhere a month, we still miss seeing some things. We mark them down and then when we're planning a trip somewhere, we decide whether we want to see what we missed or see somewhere new. Often it's the latter, but there are occasions when we do return. In fact, we'll be covering that in our next episode on Saturday. We visited Verona four times, but this is the only time we took the funicular to see the top of the city. It was worth it! -Judy
We went March last year and did the train from Napoli to Salerno followed by a bus westwards to Cetara (which was our base). Cetara is on the coast and the main bus route. It is so small that everywhere in town was walking distance from everywhere in town (and you don't need to schlep luggage very far). That said, March was still a busy season for bus travel; but, nothing like your video! While every bus was full(ish), we got on with ease! Sure, March is very much off-season; however, the Path of the Lemons and the food in all the restaurants still delivered 100%. The beaches were empty - but so was the water (it's a temperature thing!) Would we go again? Yes and no. Yes - because it's an amazing coast and everyone needs to go! No - because the windy roads and slight stress of bus availability makes it more favorable to visit many of the other wonderful places in Italy instead for our next trip. That said, if you've never been to the Amalfi Coast, then you should go at least once in your life! Ciao!
Thanks for watching, Martin! You raise an interesting point. For as beautiful as the Amalfi Coast was, I'm not sure we'd do it again, either. It was so much work to get everywhere. We actually enjoyed Positano a lot and Ravello, but you are right, there are so many fabulous places to visit in Italy, that it's not likely to be a trip we do again unless someone requires us to be there! We wouldn't go dragging our feet, but the getting around was such a hassle. Our daughter did the primary planning for this trip, so Cetara wasn't even on my/our radar. Would you recommend that location? Positano as a home base would be great, but the prices there are prohibitive, especially since you'd ideally want to be on the coast, not in the mountains, which kind of defeats the point. -Judy
Typical of Americans sulking and complaining about transport without knowing that it’s a miracle that big buses are running on those narrow roads some of which are thousand years old plus Amalfi etc are leisure places whats the big deal about time and schedules. Appreciate the miracles of nature that’s blessed Italy which’s truly Gods own country
We aren't complaining about transport. We're letting viewers know what to expect when they come to the Amalfi Coast, and during high season, it can be very crazy and the transportation costs are very expensive. We're encouraging people not to rent cars and to avoid the high season. It's not a leisurely place when people push and shove to get on overcrowded buses. We absolutely love Italy and have spent time in 30 cities and I am working on my Italian dual citizenship. -Judy
Our daughter was studying interior design in Firenze in 2019 and we visited her there in May before heading to Napoli, Pompeii, and Sorrento. We took a day trip to from Sorrento to Amalfi and Ravello, traveling by bus there and by ferry back. We took the ferry back because the bus ride was a little terrifying (I had the Bobs’ song “Bus Plunge” playing in my head the whole way). For me, at least, a single day on the Amalfi Coast was plenty. Just too touristy for my taste.
What an incredible experience it must have been for your daughter to be studying in Firenze! Before arriving on the Amalfi Coast, I had similar fears about ground transportation along the route. I was absolutely terrified. For whatever reason, it didn't bother me as much as I expected as far as falling off the cliffs, but I did have to deal with feeling a little car sick. But there is no way on earth that I would have allowed Kevin to drive. Then I really would have been terrified, even though he's a great driver! We tried to take the ferries as much as possible, too. We enjoyed Ravello and Positano the most, but we also didn't enjoy them enough to visit again, especially when there is so much interesting history and charm in other, more accessible, parts of Italy. Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Wow Definitely not a place to visit that time of year. 😮
That's the beauty of slow traveling the world. 🌎 80% of the time one can avoid the crazy tourist areas during high season.
What would you say helped the most while visiting the area right at the beginning of high season?
What would be your top 3 places to stay during June, July, and August? 🤔🦘
You are right about the benefits of slow travel, but you still have to be very intentional so that you are in the right parts of the world at their most affordable times. Unfortunately, that doesn't always mean you'll want to be in Europe during the summer because it is high season.
Visiting the Amalfi Coast in early June works well because there are parts of the world where school is still in session, so families can't always get away that early in the season. Also, Europeans usually take their own vacations during July and especially August, so in June you're not fighting everyone else. Late May isn't bad if you avoid the Memorial Day holiday in the US, when some Americans might be traveling. The water will be colder, but the beaches aren't sandy, so maybe not being in the water isn't such a hardship.
We're actually struggling a bit to find affordable places in Europe in July and August, but I'd suggest places that are cheaper and less touristy. Surprisingly, Kraków is pretty affordable even in the summer months. We would entirely avoid Italy in August because except in the most touristy places, locals aren't there because they're on vacation, so I don't think you'll have the most enriching experience. It was extremely hot in early July in Genoa and Turin, but they aren't super touristy places, so I think they could work. Verona also is less touristy and a bit cheaper of a city. We will be in Tirana, Albania, which is overall an affordable country plus it has the benefit of being outside of Schengen, which can be important/helpful for full-time travelers.
Otherwise, we liked Paphos, Cyprus, which has a ton of beaches if you can tolerate the heat. Serbia and Romania both are more affordable countries, too. We keep hearing Prague is affordable in those months, but we aren't seeing bargain prices for accommodations. Budapest and Istanbul would also fit, but we have yet to visit either of them (although we are looking at Antalya, Turkey for November. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie Great points. 👍 Turkey sounds like a wonderful option. Have you thought about South of the equator options ?
Would Australia be an option with some house sitting? 🤔 South America?
In the future of course.
Thanks again for sharing your journey and experiences.
@@livingworkingoutsidebox We have tried everything possible to make Australia/New Zealand work this year, but we can't (we were considering it for October/November this year). We'll be in South America for three months beginning in December, so we definitely have it on our list of places to visit. We've considered house sitting, but it may be more than we want to deal with on top of our work on TH-cam and our blog, and we also don't want to drive. It's asking a lot for house sitting to be in a major city and for enough time that it offsets the cost of getting to and from that part of the world. We are going to try again for 2025. -Judy
WHAT ABOUT THE HIDDEN FEES THAT YOU DIDN'T SAY ABOUT AT THE END OF YOUR VIDEO?!
We talk about them at the end of the video but we don't refer to them there as hidden costs per se. We mention in our Tip 2 at the end that although accommodations in Bomerano were cheaper than Positano, because we were making daily trips to other areas of the coast and the buses were often full, we ended up paying for taxis that would run us $100 for each one-way trip we took. Those costs will add up fast and offset a lot of the savings you think you're getting by being high in the mountains. Thanks for watching. Here's a link to our full series from the Amalfi Coast if you're interested! -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
@@FindingGinaMarie catching viewers 🤣
It wasn't really our intention! I think we assumed we covered it well enough that it was clear, but not making it more clear probably would have been helpful. You're the first person who's asked, so it's probably good that it wasn't a ploy to get comments! -Judy
Jesus, Italians don't queue? That's awful. Anyway the only place that I got mad because of bus queue was at the Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles).
Hi @1vespa, It's better in the north than in the south, but no, they don't. Although to be fair, there's only a percentage of Italians that are on the buses, so it's a lot of non Italians causing problems. BUT the Italians aren't doing anything to restore or instill order, either! Here's the rest of our series from the Amalfi Coast if you're interested (psst Positano was our favorite!) -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you. I only went to Rome (twice), and got a great image of the good humored Romans. I'll be in southern Italy in mid December. Hope to have a glimpse on Positano but since I'll be driving, probably I won't. Will stop at Amalfi because there is more room and parking. The problem with December is that days are too short to travel around. Stay well.
@1vespa We felt like those hairpin turns would have made us very nervous to the uninitiated. There are rails, so it doesn't feel as precarious as Coastal Highway 1 in California, but the route is very narrow and you can't trust that people are taking up only their part of the lane (or that the area you are driving even has two lanes). I personally would not be comfortable at all having to back up for a vehicle who ends up having the right of way, but your mileage may vary! We hope you have an amazing trip. It will be cold, but fun, I'm sure! -Judy
Looks sad. Dirty and congested
It was crowded during the summer as you would expect for the beaches of Italy, but I wouldn't say they were dirty or sad. I'm not sure what gave you that impression. You can see the beauty of Amalfi in our other videos where we spotlight our favorites-Positano and Ravello. I don't think you need to visit Amalfi to appreciate Italy since there are many less crowded and charming cities, but it is a beautiful area. -Judy
🎥 Amalfi Coast video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1fVxdvZFnUzb1Li20fORsM.html
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html