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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Tips for Sorrento in April please.

38 replies

DrMadelineMaxwell · 16/01/2020 21:43

We're booked there for a week. Me, one history mad adult DD and one teen DD who is just looking forward to a holiday. I've always wanted to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum since I was a little girl so they are definitely on the list.

What else to do/see?
Where to eat? We are half board but like to have a few meals out and about.

How to go about getting to Pompeii etc? The tripadvisor tales of being ripped off or pickpocketed on the circumvesa train has put me off using that!

OP posts:

ritzbiscuits · 19/01/2020 08:34

Get the bus that travels along the Amalfi coast. You can visit Positano, Amalfi then get a short bus up the hill to Ravello. Ravello is beautiful you need to visit Villa Cimbrone. Gorgeous!

Also you could visit Capri by boat? It's touristy but lovely to see, do the cable car in Anacapri.

It's a lovely area, we got married there many years ago. Sorrento is definitely the best place for sightseeing but touristy and very expensive. Be glad you're half board!

CaptainMyCaptain · 19/01/2020 09:06

We went to Capri by hydrofoil, a lot of people including DH were sick on the way there but it was perfectly calm and took about half the time coming back. To be honest, it's lovely but there wasn't a lot to do once there and it's very expensive. We walked to the other side of the island and back and that was about it, I suppose it's there to be done , though, if you have time.

Ginfordinner · 19/01/2020 09:11

Some people in our hotel said the trip to Capri made them ill as well. We took a boat trip to Amalfi via Capri and everyone was fine. I wonder if it was specifically the hydrofoil that made them queasy?

Thomasthechick123 · 19/01/2020 09:17

You can do Herculaneum and Vesuvius in a combined day trip.

I’d avoid Capri and do a trip to Ischia - it’s a island with naturally volcanic spa’s fab for a day of relaxation in among busy day trips.

If you want to do Amalfi I’d do a day trip on a bus, that way you all get to see the beautiful scenery and they stop at lots of little towns along the way. I wouldn’t drive along that road - think sheer drop and big buses!

For brilliant food avoid the tourist places and go further do the side streets- we never had a bad thing to say about the food.

partysong · 19/01/2020 09:19

Can I join in? Would this holiday be any good with a toddler? I want to take my mum who is desperate to go but wonder if I should wait until DS is older?

CaptainMyCaptain · 19/01/2020 09:29

I wouldn't have thought it was a particularly toddler friendly place. There are lots of narrow streets and any beaches in the area tend to be accessible only via cliffs. We were in a restaurant, though, where there was a large Italian family group with toddlers and I thought it was a nice touch that the waiters served the toddlers first so they were settled while the rest of the family waited for their meals. Italians do seem to be quite child orientated.

LIZS · 19/01/2020 09:40

Not toddler friendly. Too many cobbles, busy narrow streets and tiny beach you have to pay to use. Very little shade at the Roman sites.

Ginfordinner · 19/01/2020 10:16

Can I join in? Would this holiday be any good with a toddler?

Absolutely not. The pavements are very narrow, and the traffic on the narrow streets is horrific. The uneven surfaces to walk on, especially at the historic sites, the steep road down to the harbour, the small, expensive beaches and the lack of facilities for toddlers would make for a very stressful holiday for you.

Your child needs to like walking and has an interest in history. DD was 12 when we went, and she loved it.

Original poster

DrMadelineMaxwell · 19/01/2020 10:39

Not fussed by Capri esp as dd and I are both seasick. But the Roman ruins sound like just the ticket!
More likely to space our Pompeii and Herculaneum and do them on different days.

OP posts:

partysong · 19/01/2020 11:15

Thank you so much everyone. Will give it a miss then

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 20/01/2020 23:10

Pompeii is definitely a full day - you'll end up walking about 6 miles going round the site and there's so much to see.

HolidayBaby · 21/01/2020 19:37

OP lucky you! In addition to your trips to the ancient ruins which are amazing....A must see are the three towns of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. They are listed there in the order of number of tourists however! Ravello is the least popular simply due to being a bus / taxi ride or hike up the mountain - but believe me it is absolutely stunning!!! Please don't miss Ravello even if you just pop through the other two! The gardens of Villa Cimbrone are incredible and the views are simply stunning - magical. There are lots of restaurants hotel restaurants in Ravello where you can have a gorgeous lunch overlooking the views. You can fit all 3 in if you catch the ferry from Sorrento at breakfast time and be back early evening if you get up earlyish.

Second recommendation if you like pizza - Pizzaria de Franco on Corsa d'Italia in Sorrento. The BEST pizza in Sorrento. We later travelled to Naples the home of pizza and ate at Sorbillo's the famous place with queues round the block, and we still preferred Franco's!

Enjoy x

HolidayBaby · 21/01/2020 19:51

I should add that I found Positano a bit too touristy and 'Disney-fied' - it is stunning but you can imagine what it would have been like before the tourists all arrived iyswim. I therefore recommend just staying there an hour or so to wander round, but factor in the whole afternoon for Ravello. Hope that helps x

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