Sorrento, Italy

[Tobes Rafa]

Right, we've finally decided on Sorrento for our honeymoon in May so thanks for all your tips and replies in my thread a few weeks ago.

 

Have any of you been to Sorrento? Can you recommend any day trips that I mightn't have read about eg. Pompeii, Mt Vesuvius, Capri, Rome etc.

 

Do you have any tips on nice restaurants to eat in? Nice wines to sample etc. etc.

 

Anything at all?

 

Much appreciated!

[matty]

I've been but only for a day. It's beautiful, and as you say, lots of day trips within reach. Naples is well worth a visit. Some brilliant seafood and stuff to see.

 

If you're hiring a car you must do the Amalfi coast road. Very romantic, she'll love it!

[Gilps]

Went there for my honeymoon a few years back. We had a great time.

 

Pompeii and Herculaneum are both well worth a visit. I'd also recommend taking a drive round the coast to Amalfi. Some of the most stunning coastline you'll ever see, with some lovely little towns to stop off in, such as Positano. Amalfi is a really nice town to look rouund too and if you get time, go up from there to Ravello, high up on the coast with stunning views.

[Tobes Rafa]

I heard the Amalfi coast road is beautiful but I also heard that it is not a good idea to hire a car in Italy as they are all maniacs. Apparently we can either take an organised tourist coach or just hop on a local bus which goes along that route for a lot cheaper. We'll play it by ear I suppose. I'l brign my driver's licence with me jsut in case I'm feeling particularly brave.

 

Thanks Matty, and we love seafood so Naples will certainly go on the to do list.

 

Gilps, just read your post so thanks to you too. I heard that Herculaneum has a less touristy feel to it than Pompeii. Would you say that would be right and if you had to choose one or t'other which way would you swing?

Edited January 23, 2006 by Rikster

[Bailo]

I heard the Amalfi coast road is beautiful but I also heard that it is not a good idea to hire a car in Italy as they are all maniacs. Apparently we can either take an organised tourist coach or just hop on a local bus which goes along that route for a lot cheaper. We'll play it by ear I suppose. I'l brign my driver's licence with me jsut in case I'm feeling particularly brave.

 

Thanks Matty, and we love seafood so Naples will certainly go on the to do list.

Nothing to do with Sorrento, but my Dad drove us for a holiday in Italy (Tuscany) and while Milan was a bit mental and fast, the rest of the country was fine.

[matty]

I certainly wouldn't advise driving in Naples. THE worst city for traffic in Europe probably. Rest of the place is fine.

 

They do say that traffic lights in Milan are instructions, in Rome they're suggestions, and in Naples they're Christmas decorations.

[robfar1]

Stayed there for a couple of days this summer as part of my honeymoon. Lovely part of the world...Positano is close by and we stayed there for a few days also....we probably preferred Positano actually but there's not much in it, you should definitely have a day trip there. Ravello further along the coast is beautiful as well and is rated by many as the most picturesque.

 

We also stayed in Capri and that's also worth a trip. When you arrive in Capri get a taxi to take you to the Hotel Cesar Augustus. Go to the restaurant there, it's on a cliff top and overlooks the bay of naples....you get a stunning view and the food's good. Lunch is the best time to go.

 

As for food in the other places there are so many fantastic restaurants that the best thing to do is wander around and choose at the time, in Sorrento there are a couple of places on the water by the church that do excellent seafood, again have a wander down to the waterfront and see what you think. We had a great time there...enjoy!

Edited January 23, 2006 by robfar1

[Gilps]

Gilps, just read your post so thanks to you too. I heard that Herculaneum has a less touristy feel to it than Pompeii. Would you say that would be right and if you had to choose one or t'other which way would you swing?

 

If you only do one, opt for Pompeii due to the sheer scale of the place.

 

Herculaneum's a smaller site and far less busy, but what's there is probably better preserved. Especially some of the wall paintings.

[John am Rhein]

When driving in Italy just remember the primary rule of the road - the most 'assertive' driver has right of way.

 

Oh, and don't wear a seat belt, it's bad luck.

[Tobes Rafa]

Caruso's in Sorrento

 

There's a big-ish intersection down by the Hotel Gran Excelsior Vittoria (?) and as you face the hotel, on the left there's a big chasm thing leading down to the sea. On the left of that chasm (at street level but with a wee side entrance) is Caruso's - http://www.ristorantemuseocaruso.com/

 

Absolutely stunning grub, good service. I had one of the most memorable meals of my life in there.

 

There's also a stunning place right at the bottom of Positano. Keep walking down the main drag to the beach and then on your right is a place that has big windows on three sides that open up onto the beach. Cracking seafood.

 

And get someone to drive you around - the roads are dire and frankly, parking a nightmare. We had a bloke in a 30 year old stretch merc with about 400,000k on it. Worked a treat.

 

There's a great coffee place on the little junction outside Caruso's too. Little street cafe place.

 

And DO NOT buy Lemoncello

 

Cheers Tosh - I think I might just try those.

[Tobes Rafa]

Trty Giovanni's for the best Pizze I've ever tasted. Great views of the unicorn fields as well!

 

Thanks, Tosh speaks of your restaurant very highly too.

[MarkD]

Who are you going with?

[matty]

Who are you going with?

 

one would hope he's going with his wife.

[Tobes Rafa]

Who are you going with?

 

My new bride all being well .

 

We'll be going with Thomas Cook if that is what you are asking.

[cymrococh]

menage a three?

 

Disgusting.

[MarkD]

My new bride all being well .

 

We'll be going with Thomas Cook if that is what you are asking.

 

You, your new wife and Thomas Cook? Did you vote Lib Dem?

[matty]

threesomes are great! though the monkey gets jealous.

[cymrococh]

[matty]

one of Jon Hall's more flattering portraits.