Amalfi Coast, Italy: Travel Series

Positano bites deep.
When I first saw pictures of the Amalfi Coast I fell in love immediately. Theres something about it that really captivated me. I was so completely infatuated, that I decided to get married there and LET ME TELL YOU – it did not disappoint. If you have EVER thought of escaping to the Amalfi Coast be warned: once you’ve experienced it, you will have an extremely hard time traveling anywhere but. It is single handedly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to in my life. There are very few destinations in the world that I would visit repeatedly, but lets be honest, Italy never gets old.

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Getting Around: When heading to Positano, we opted to take the train from Rome to Salerno and then hired a private car to drive us up the coast to our hotel. The train was such a great idea. We had an entire cabin to ourselves and were able to see so much of the Italian countryside. It was also a nice way to relax and rest before the next leg of our adventure. When we got to the station in Salerno we met up with our driver and headed to Praiano. This drive was insanely breathtaking. You hug the cliffs and follow the ocean thru these beautiful and quaint Italian towns. It was a great way to get a taste of what the Amalfi Coast has to offer – HOWEVER – it was extremely curvy and Italians drive like dying is a concept that does not apply to them. We were flying around these cliffs and past other cars, humans, cyclists. didn’t matter – if you were in our drivers way, he had no problem zipping on by no matter how tight the road got. I grew up in the mountains so I’m no stranger to curvy roads but there was something about this trip that did make me start to feel slightly car sick. With that said, the experience and views were 100% worth it. 

Where to Stay: Hotel Piccolo Sant’andrea – Igea Suite  I have to say this is absolutely my favorite place I have ever stayed. This hotel is small enough to feel very personal but the suites are to die for and most come with their own private outdoor spaces. When looking for hotels in Positano, I knew I wanted something super romantic with an ocean view and a lot of in-room amenities. This fit the bill in every way imaginable. The concierge was on top of any and all requests, the food was impeccable, and our suite – just wow. Not only did we have a two tiered private outdoor terrace that overlooked the ocean and Positano, the terrace was equipped with several chaise lounges, a queen sized day bed, couches and tables…did I mention the private spa pool and outdoor shower over looking the ocean? ugh, dreamy. Sitting in a warm spa at night listening to the ocean and watching the twinkle of Positano on the mountain side…I really don’t think you can do any better than that (nor would you want to).

What to Do: 
1. By far, my favorite experience during our time in Positano was our yacht charter to explore the coast and Capri. We booked our adventure thru Amalfi Charters. This experience is a must. We took a tour down the coast and our captain stopped to not only tell us the history of some of the coasts hidden gems but also to let us swim in some of the most beautiful and secluded places. We were able to see Amalfi, Praiano, and Positano. We then sailed over to Sirenuse also known as The Siren Islands which was featured in Homers The Odyssey.  We swam here for a while before heading to explore the famous blue and white grottos. Seeing them in person was WILD. Next up was Faraglioni also known as Lover Arch. This is the rock arch you see most often advertised when people talk about Capri. Rumor has it that kissing your lover while sailing thru the arch will bestow an abundance of blessings on your marriage or life together. Our captain continued on into the capri marina where we enjoyed chilled prosecco and antipasta. He hired a smaller boat to come pick us up so that we could go to the beach on Capri for a fresh lunch. It was incredible and surprisingly there were hardly any tourists. Our day was rounded out by a swim in the sea in a secluded cove our captain said was personally his favorite spot.  INCREDIBLE.

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2. The shopping in the town is charming and plentiful. Be sure to stop by Artigianato Rallo for a pair of handmade custom leather sandals. The town has a ton of places to find unique and authentic items but be conscious of how much you buy. Positano is built into the mountain so even though it is very walkable, there are a lot of steps and inclines you will need to ascend and descend to get around. Things get heavy fast.
 3. If you are looking for a really romantic setting where you are practically eating out in the ocean then Il Pirata is a must. This was one of the best dinners we had while on the Amalfi coast and sitting out over the water watching the sunset didn’t hurt either. 
4. and last but obviously not least, while on the coast you of course have to make sure to take time to explore the beaches and beach clubs. What’s an Italian vacay without a pebble beach and a little lemoncello.

If I could relive this Amalfi Coast trip over and over again for the rest of my life, I would die a very relaxed, satisfied, and well fed mama. This was by far the best vacation I have ever taken and have yet to find a destination to compare… but I guess I’ll have to see the entire world to be sure (which I have no problem with). 

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