7 Reasons to Explore the Amalfi Coast

When you think of the “Amalfi Coast” you probably think of Beyonce and Jay Z and chartering a Luxe $900,000-a-Week Yacht for Her Italian Birthday Vacation.

The Amalfi Coast is known for luxe vacationers wearing expensive caftans and sipping rosé as they sit cliffside in a boutique hotel overlooking the Mediterranean.   And you’d be partly right but my husband an I are not rich by the stretch of anyone’s imagination.   This gorgeous stretch of coast in Southern Italy does attract its share of rich and famous, but it’s by no means exclusive. In fact, if my hubby and I can go to the Amalfi Coast so can you!

How To Pay For Your Once in a Lifetime Luxury Vacation?

Did you know Delta Airlines offer layaways for vacations? Delta Vacations gives you the flexibility to pay for vacation over time.  Flying to Italy can be very expensive and hotels aren’t much better so imagine having everything already paid for before you even get on the plane.

Delta Vacations allow you to put down a 10% deposit on the total cost of your trip which will include airfare hotel and rental car.  After you make your initial downpayment you can pay as little or as much per month as you like as long as the entire trip is paid off 30 days prior to your departure date.

Sit Back and Relax

All you have to do now is imagine yourself with sipping on limoncello while overlooking the Mediterranean.  I believe people save for things that are important to them so instead of spending money on the latest gadget book your getaway today,  head over to Delta Vacations select SHOP NOW, fill in your information and select the Luxury icon, located under the Hotel Amenities to view all of the Luxury vacations Delta has to choose from.

Let My Dream Vacation on Italy’s Amalfi Coast Begin!

This guide will help you navigate the region like an expert.

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most magical places you will ever visit if you are a lover of art, history and delicious food.

Did I say delicious food!!

When to Go to Italy

The best time to explore the Amalfi Coast is between May and October. The sea is warm, and hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and cultural sites are busy with tourist coming in and out.

I would not suggest going in June, July, and August because the towns are swarming with tourists. You’ll have a difficult time trying to reserve a hotel or even make a reservation at local at restaurants.

Italy is seductive with its picturesque and diverse landscape,  it is one of those destinations you can just never get enough of no matter how many times you visit.  I’m a romantic at heart, and that’s probably why I fell in love with the Amalfi Coast in the first place.  Every nook and cranny of this beautiful coastline could easily be called romantic and the perfect place to reconnect with your spouse and remember why you fell in love.

Related Post: What to do in Florence

Getting to the Amalfi Coast

Ferry or Train:

No matter how you arrive at the Amalfi Coast, the views will blow your mind.  It was everything I thought it would be!  Just amazing! Breathtaking! Stunning!

We caught the train from Rome to Sorrento then we took the ferry to Positano.  Once we arrived in Positano our hotel arranged for a boat to pick us up and bring us to the hotel.

Let the Top Down and Rent Car:

Have you ever imagined traveling up the Amalfi Coast with the top down, scarf blowing in the wind, and oversized shades keeping the sun out your face?  Traveling by car is still the most romantic way to get around the Amalfi Coast.

You can rent a car at Naples International Airport or opt for something more lavish from the Positano Car Service.  They offer luxury vehicles will ensure you’re driving up the coast looking like a million dollars.

Make sure to check with your hotel before renting a car because most will have their own private car or boat services to shuttle you between towns.

Positano

What to Do

Check out the many boutiques selling locally crafted goods from limoncello, sandals, linens and silks scarfs.

A great way to see Positano is by taking a boat tour. I surprised my husband and rented a private boat to tour Capri and Positano. We were able to view the Faraglioni rock formations off Capri and sailed within feet of the shore so we could take breathtaking photos of the famous Amalfi Coast.

Blue Grotto

Total tourist trap but whatever! If you are visiting Amalfi you should spend the $15 or whatever it is to go in this cave! It was SPECTACULAR!

The luxury boat picked us up from our hotel and it took us about 30 minutes to arrive at the Grotto.  Once we arrived there were only about 4 other boats ahead of us but be warned in the busy season there can be as many as 20 boats waiting to enter the Grottos and the wait can be well over 3 hours.

Inside the Blue Grotto

The Blue Grotto is a cave inside the side of a mountain and can only be reached by squeezing through a narrow opening.  Once we began to enter the Grotto we had lay down but after we entered a calm came over us and the water is illuminated from the sunlight outside of the Grotto. We spent about 5 min inside of the Grotto.  Again, Is it a tourist trap? Yes! Should you go anyway? Yes, why not?

Exploring Pompeii

Don’t miss Pompeii if you are in Italy. I’ve never seen anything like it. The town/city of Pompeii dates back to 500BC. From the arenas to the people frozen in time, it’s just amazing!

Take a guided tour or you won’t learn all the secrets of Pompeii. We walked the ancient Roman streets to see the structures that have been preserved under ashes from Mt. Vesuvius.  Our tour guide, Benedetto, was amazingly knowledgeable.  A Ph.D. archaeologist who actually works in Pompeii during the week, he brought a practitioner’s perspective to his narrative and was able to point out numerous things that are not normally covered in a standard tour.

Related Post: Pompeii A City Frozen in Time

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We were able to stay one step ahead of the large tour groups and never had to wait to see what he wanted to show us.  We spent 10 days in Europe but this was one of the highlights of our vacation.

When in Italy, you might as well learn how to cook as the Italians do. Hotel Onda Verde offers cooking classes to visitors wanting to learn simple, southern Italian dishes. They typically operate daily between 3:30-5pm and clients are invited to help chefs prepare regional appetizers, first and second courses, and a dessert.

Related Post: How to Explore Florence Like a Local

 

Dinner at Hotel Onda Verde

Imagine dining at sunset or under the moonlight and stars while listening to the Mediterranean’s wave sing in concert with the quiet background music that flows from the restaurant at Hotel Onda Verde.   This is the Amalfi Coast I’ve always dreamt of!!

The restaurant was easily accessible from our room by either elevator or by stairs and those stairs were at a 45-degree angle and you need to be a track star to walk the stairs without dying.

The restaurant is owned and operated by the Milano family for nearly 40 years, Hotel Onda Verde has remained consistently dedicated to bringing home-style Central and Southern Italian Cuisine to the Amalfi Coast.

Il Pirata

Just below the restaurant at Hotel Onda Verde, there is a winding pathway leads right to Il Pirata restaurant, which has one of the most incredible dining areas overlooking the sea that I’ve ever seen.

It’s especially magical at night!

As you walk by take a peek inside of the restaurant because the bar is built into the cave and there are candles everywhere so there is a lovely ambiance.  Il Pirata Restaurant was our “go to” restaurant during our stay on the Amalfi Coast.

My husband and I spent the majority of our days & nights at Il Pirata.

It Doesn’t Get Any Fresher Than This!

We were greeted with champagne and I had the best citrus shrimp risotto of my life.  The highlight of Franchino il Restaurante was when I ordered Octopus and they sent a little old man out to the sea in a rowboat and he came back with live octopus!

 

 

Between the restaurant at the hotel Onda Verde and the Il Pirata, we didn’t have to go far to experience authentic Italian food.

My Favorite Photo From the Amalfi Coast

If I could stay in just one place, it would be this spot on a boat we rented for the day. That’s one of my happy places my mind travels back to again and again.

Where to Eat in Amalfi

We had been in Praiano for a few days and tried a few different places and they were all very good but then we stumbled upon Che Bonta Gastronomia. The food there was full of flavor, you got a mound of mussels, and a huge salad for a great price.

If sitting close to neighbors and chatting with other travelers is your thing you will have a great time but if you want quiet and romantic dinner this is not the place for you but the food is delicious!!

I Fell in Love with Lemoncello and Lemons!

I was in absolute awe of the lemons in Amalfi!! Lemons everywhere.

Last Night on the Amalfi Coast

After five days of exploring all of the small beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast, we decided to spend our last night hanging out on the balcony of our room drinking Vodka tonics, Limoncello and me whooping my hubby’s behind in Uno!! I can’t think of a better way to end our trip.

Not the regular Limoncello but Crema Limoncell0! It is so creamy and delicious!

The Amalfi Coast inspires dreams like few other travel destinations in the world. The natural landscape is captivating, the colors are enchanting and the warmth of the locals unforgettable.

It is easy to leave a piece of your heart behind after visiting this remarkable stretch of coastline in southern Italy. If you’ve been dreaming of visiting the Amalfi Coast its time to stop dreaming and put those plans into action.

What is your favorite city in Italy?

I would love to hear your feedback so drop a comment below or head on over to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!