Kate & Zach
Kate & Zach
Travel
General travel info: Git on that plane and come festa with the best-a! (us)
Ravello is one of 4 main towns on the Amalfi coast. The other ones are Positano, Amalfi Town and Praiano. Many people also consider the Isle of Capri to be a major destination in Amalfi.
Amalfi Town is only about 15 minutes away from Ravello (by car). It’s a bigger town right on the ocean, and is one of the main transportation hubs on the Amalfi coast. Kate and Zach will be staying at a hotel in Amalfi Town Monday-Thursday and then moving up to Ravello (the town right above Amalfi) on Friday for the wedding weekend.
You can think about Amalfi and Ravello like this: Ravello is the little hat that sits on top of Amalfi. So while you don't get beach, you get kick-butt views of the ocean.
How to Get There
The closest major airport to the Amalfi coast is Naples (NAP), but you can also easily get there from Rome. There are two airports in Rome, but the main one is Fiumicino (FCO).
There are many ways to get from either Naples or Rome to the Amalfi coast - including train, ferry, taxi/private driver.
Drive time to the Amalfi Coast is ~ 1.5 hours from Naples and ~ 3.5 hours from Rome.
Taking a taxi or private driver from the major airports to the Amalfi Coast is the easiest and most convenient way to travel. Many private transfers also offer the option of stopping to visit the ruins of Pompeii and/or Herculaneum to explore the crater on top of Mt. Vesuvius.
You can also rent a car, but most travel experts recommend *not* renting a car to get around on the Amalfi Coast. There’s one narrow, cliffside main road that connects all the towns, and the parking in most towns can be very difficult. And now, we’re hearing there’s even an alternating license plate system during the high season, which limits what days you can drive.
There is also a high-speed train that is worth looking into from the Rome Airport. From Rome , you could take a train to Naples (takes about an hour and is very frequent- either on Trenitalia or Italo; and then switch to a ferry or taxi/private driver to take you to your Amalfi base town.
Suggestion: Research and book your transfers to/from the airport to the Amalfit coast in advance!
A few travel resources:
Welcomepickups.com: provides an overview of how to get from Naples airport to Amalfi coast
Ravello.com - a nice little website about Ravello, but also with information and links to the ferry schedule and the Sita Sud bus schedule to/from and around the Amalfi coast.
Michele Ravello - car service in/around Ravello & to/from airports
SorrenTours: private driver service
Private Car Service - private driver service
Trenitalia - train schedule
Italo - train schedule
In case you're curious, here are a few more thoughts we have about where to stay:
Ravello
For those who want to stay nearby the venue, we recommend you book a hotel in Ravello.
Pro: Minimize travel on wedding day, Quieter location generally, short drive to Amalfi City (the beach!).
Pro Tip: Consider elevation change when you look at walking distance be Villa Eva and your hotel. It may say "15 minute walk" but 15 minutes feels a lot like 15 hours when you are doing a vertical climb up 9830000 stairs.
Con: You get a killer view of the ocean, but you are not on the beach. You will need to drive to the beach (not walk!) if you care about your personal safety and keeping all your limbs (seriously, these roads are small and Italian drivers are, how do you say, "pazzi!"
Hotel Villa Maria
For those who want to stay at the wedding venue, Villa Maria is the hotel that adjoins Villa Eva, and is also where all guests will be gathering prior to the ceremony.
Pros: Eliminate travel on wedding day, quieter location generally, short drive down to the water (15 minutes). Amalfi is the closest town on the water.
Cons: Have to drive to get to a beach, no walking (unless you are Haley Trap and you have the muscles of an olympian).
Tatore - Da Salvatore
Our wedding planner Mario has offered us a discount at a local B&B. I am copying and pasting the description from Mario's email because I really do like his description:
"It is a lovely and nice BB - very central ( 50 meters from the main square) so you have not extras expenses to move to and from the main square ( the heart of the Village)
it has only 6 rooms, all double occupancy
Each one with Air conditioned, TV, private bathroom, and a private balcony overlooking the Amalfi Coast ( incredible view !!!)"
If you would like to book a suite in the B&B, please reach out to Mario and his team at booking@wagnertours.it . He asks that you reach out to him vs the B&B directly as Mario has special rates.
Hotel Rufolo
This is one of the closer hotels to Villa Eva -- 6 minute walk which in Amalfi Coast standards is nothing. If Villa Maria or Hotel Giordano are booked and you're looking for convenience, this might be your spot.
Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast
Want to stay at a fancy-pants hotel? Well we have the spot for you! Look no further than Belmond, a hotel with a view and a pool that simply cannot be beat.
This will be about a 10-15 minute walk downhill to Villa Eva. On the way back, though, well let's just say we hope you had some limoncello so that you won't feel the calf burn until the next morning.
Palazzo Confalone
About a 10-15 minute walk up the hill from Villa Eva. Easy walk down, slightly more sweaty walk back up after the wedding. But hey, it'll be at night, so it will only be what, 98 degrees at that point? Piece of cake.
Villa Piedimonte
About a 16 minute walk somewhat up, around, and then down to Villa Eva. Looks like a gorgeous view (that said, most hotels in Ravello have gorgeous views), but this would not be an awful distance from the wedding. That said, I cannot speak for how you will feel after 13 glasses of wine when you're faced with a 16 minute hike.
Hotel Graal
12 minute walk down to Villa Eva from Hotel Graal. Looks very decent with a large pool, ideal to hang out at during the day before the wedding or the welcome party. It will feel a bit like the Sahara Desert in Italy in August so you will appreciate a pool.
Casa dolce casa
16 minute walk somewhat up, around, and down to Villa Eva. Looks lovely and a bit on the cheaper side when it comes to hotels in Ravello. Always a bonus -- more money for sandals in Capri!