Praiano: The best views

Positano is every bit as beautiful as the photos. The colourful buildings cascading down the cliffs are postcard-perfect, and wandering through the narrow streets with an ice cream in hand is exactly what you imagine an Italian summer should feel like.

But we chose to stay just outside Positano instead, in Praiano.

Instead of looking out from Positano, we had an incredible view across to it. Waking up each morning to see the famous cliffside town from our balcony was really special. We got to see it in the morning at breakfast and lit up at night over dinner too or from local bars/restaurants. When you’re in Positano, you don’t quite get the same view!

We could easily hop on the local bus whenever we wanted to spend the day exploring Positano, before escaping back to somewhere quieter in the evening.

There were some practical benefits too.

• Better value hotels, bars and restaurants
• Much easier to navigate with luggage 
• Fewer steep steps to climb after a long day exploring
• A quieter atmosphere while still being close to Positano

We would definitely do it this way again and the hotel we stayed in was gorgeous.

Capri: Two Completely Different Experiences

Capri surprised us. The main town wasn't really our scene. It's was too glamorous for us haha. It was very geared towards luxury shopping in designer boutiques, but great for people-watching. Expect high hotel prices and a can of coke to set you back around 15 euros.

Anacapri was a completely different story. It was one of our favourite places of the whole honeymoon. The chairlift up to Monte Solaro was a highlight. If you're nervous with heights, it might test you a little because you're travelling up the mountainside on individual chairs, but once you reach the top it’s totally worth it, the views are spectacular.

We spent ages sitting with a glass of wine at the top overlooking the sea, enjoying the sunshine and views before taking the ride back down.

Back in Anacapri itself, we wandered through peaceful streets filled with family-run shops selling handmade ceramics, pottery and local crafts. I really wish I’d bought more to bring home from here.

Looking back, I think I would have preferred just a day trip to Capri which is easily doable from plenty of Amalfi bases. Although it’s hard to predict how long a trip to the Blue Grotto will be depending on sea conditions. If they’re really bad it can be postponed until the following day, so that’s something to take into consideration.

Ischia: The Relaxing End to Our Honeymoon

After Capri, we slowed the pace completely with a stay on the beautiful island of Ischia. This was our time to switch off after quite a busy start to the trip. The sunsets from our balcony here were stunning.

We booked a half-board hotel so we didn’t have to think too much about dinner plans, but we still spent time wandering around the local town and visited one of its famous thermal spas. We chose Poseidon Gardens.

If you're planning to visit, my biggest tip is go as early as you possibly can and follow the thermal pools in order before the crowds arrive. We made the mistake of arriving later in the morning and by then every sunbed had been claimed and all the pools were packed. We still enjoyed some of the pools, but it was impossible to find anywhere to relax between them and we ended up going back to the hotel after lunch. Also note that children under 12 are not allowed in the thermal baths.

Next time I'd love to try Negombo Thermal Park instead to compare the two.

Getting Around

We travelled between each destination by ferry, which was straightforward and easy to organise. One thing to bear in mind is that ferry services are very weather dependent.

During our trip, rough seas caused delays and cancellations, so I'd always recommend leaving a little flexibility in your itinerary rather than booking connections too tightly together, especially if you’re getting a ferry to Naples for a flight!

A Few Things to Know Before You Go

The Amalfi Coast is every bit as beautiful as people say, but it's also chaotic.

The roads are incredibly winding, the summer heat can be intense, and some areas are undeniably geared towards tourists, but that's all still part of its charm.

You'll find lemon groves, incredible seafood, fresh pasta, delicious limoncello and one of my favourite discoveries, delizia al Limone, a light sponge cake filled with lemon cream.

Every corner seems to reveal another incredible view, another colourful village or another hidden café where you can simply sit and watch the world go by. Italy is my number one for people watching.

We'd Go Back

We still feel like we've only scratched the surface of the Amalfi Coast. There are so many beautiful towns we'd love to explore next time, from Amalfi itself to Ravello, Sorrento and beyond.

One thing you'll probably notice from our itinerary is that we like to move around and experience as much as possible. For us, travelling between destinations is all part of the adventure, and we'd happily unpack our suitcase a few times if it means seeing more of a destination.

That said, everyone travels differently. You might prefer to choose one beautiful hotel as your base and take day trips by ferry or private transfer, rather than moving hotels every few days. Or perhaps you'd rather experience the Amalfi Coast as part of a Mediterranean cruise, waking up in a new destination each morning and also visiting places like Greece, Croatia, France or Spain on the same holiday. This what I’m doing next year starting from Rome.

That's exactly why I tailor every itinerary to the people travelling. There definitely isn't a one-size-fits-all Amalfi Coast holiday.

If you're dreaming of visiting this beautiful part of Italy, I'd love to help you plan a trip that suits your style of travel, your pace and your budget. Whether that's island hopping like we did, settling into one stunning hotel for the week, or incorporating the Amalfi Coast into a wider Mediterranean cruise, I'll help create an itinerary that's perfect for you.

If you'd like to start planning your own Amalfi Coast adventure, get in touch via my enquiry form. I'd love to help.