Exploring the Italian Coast

Brian and Selina booked flights to Italy as soon as the borders allowed because they had dreamed of an Amalfi Coast honeymoon and did not want to give up on it. They came to me a month before their flights with nothing else booked and their wedding on the super close horizon. And while I have never planned an international trip with just a month’s notice, I never shy away from a travel challenge! After seeing their reactions and their photos, I think it’s safe to say it was exactly what they had held out for. And I’m so glad they did because it was a blast to plan and follow along!

B + S spent the first 6 nights at Hotel Luna Convento, with a gorgeous pool by the ocean. It was a great start to the trip because it was finally time to relax after planning a wedding. They flew into Rome, took a train to the Amalfi area, and then finished the long journey with a ferry ride to the hotel. Luna Convento and this pool were the perfect home base for their first week. There was access to jump right from the pool area into the ocean with a ladder back up.

After the first day of exploring the pool and a bit of Amalfi, they did a guided tour of a lemon grove that ended with some limoncello. Tours like this offer such a great way to meet locals and see things off the beaten path. Typically the hosts or owners of these tours are so helpful with suggestions and have great customer service because they love where they live, which shows through how enthusiastically they give tours of their spaces/towns.

Next up was a guided gastronomy tour of the famous hike, Path of Gods. B+S said this was their favorite activity of the whole trip because as an active couple, it mixed a really great hike with the history of the area, amazing views, and some snacks at local shops throughout the hiking area.

The guide actually picked them up at the hotel and brought them around Agerola, where they learned how fresh mozzarella is made, where they grow tomatoes, and where they raise cows. The guide was super knowledgeable and well connected so they got access to small shops most tourists wouldn’t. The hike went from Agerola to Positano and would be considered more moderate. At the end of the hike, there was a spread of food from the vendors they got to meet along the way! What a treat.

Their next few nights were spent at Hotel Onde Verde in Praiano. We chose this location over finding a hotel in Positano based on local recs to enjoy a less touristy area plus the hotel is gorgeous. The balcony of their room had great views and nice lounge chairs. They checked out the pool, got some laundry service then had a nice dinner at Il Pirata Ristorante. It was a lounge bar and beach club with pizzas and nice pasta dishes. Selina said that the dessert of honey and cheese was amazing!

I wanted to make sure that we built in time for serious relaxation so I found a beach club with a honeymoon package. B + S took a boat over, had some yummy drinks and a three-course lunch. Later on, they stayed local and had dinner at Hotel Onda Verde’s restaurant with a little trip back to Il Pirata for the cheese and honey dessert.

One of the things B + S really wanted for their accommodations was a pool and there are many options for this along the coast in all the towns. They spent the following day by the beautiful pool at the hotel with a couples massage in the afternoon that they highly recommend. Dinner at Da Gabrisa in Positano looked gorgeous with sweeping mountainside views and wonderfully plated food.

After the Praiano and Positano area, B + S moved on to Sorrento, which does not get as much attention online as Positano but I think it should. The car ride was a bit long between the two and there are winding roads so be ready for any motion sickness if you’re prone to it! One of the activities I was so excited to see unfold was the cooking class here. They thoroughly enjoyed it and highly, highly recommend to anyone traveling to Sorrento.

Direct quote from Selina about this class: “Anyone who goes there HAS to take this specific class. The couple was so sweet, we felt like we were part of their family when we left. I actually learned to cook something I can cook at home without fancy equipment. They left us their info and wrote up their recipe for us. We hope to take a Zoom cooking class with them someday!”

I found this class on Airbnb Experiences, which I feel is still super underutilized as a source for activities while traveling. I loved how the hosts took nice, professional photos of the guests because while traveling as a duo, it’s hard to get photos together that are nice quality, especially during activities. It’s also so fun to meet locals and these types of activities are typically run by people that live in and love the areas.

The next day was all about Capri. We found a boat tour to the island again through Airbnb Experiences. It included 4 hours on Capri and stopping at many little grottos including the Blue Grotto (cave). It was an all-day affair and my suggestion for the chunk of time in Capri is exploring both Capri and Anacapri, if possible. There are famous gardens and a chair lift at Monte Solaro. Book tickets in advance!

The second to last stop on this amazing Italian coast tour was Naples. The goal was pizza so we signed B + S up for a food tour to find all the best bites in the city. I love suggesting short walking tours or food tours as a way to get to know a city and orientate yourself upon arrival. You find hidden gems along the way to explore the rest of your time in the city. Naples is definitely a busy city and might not be everyone’s cup of tea but worth a stop.

The next day was spent exploring and checking out the museum of Natural History with some pizza for lunch at Pizzeria e Trattoria Portico. The rest of the afternoon was walking around, finding new sneakers, and relaxing at Bellini House B+B, while catching a Pats game online from back home.

Early start the next morning to take the train to Pompeii for a tour. Always ask for advice if you’re ever confused with public transportation, people are generally quite helpful and it’s better than getting lost, especially when you’re on a time crunch. B + S asked for help and managed the trains pretty easily for first-timers in the area! Something to note: there is not a lot of shade at Pompeii and it’s also quite hot so be prepared with sunscreen and good clothing. Tour was a guided walking tour, also Airbnb, with lots of good historical info. It’s nice to get facts about the things you’re looking at in real-time so you can make the connections while exploring.

In a city known for its pizza, a pizza class was a must! Again through Airbnb Experiences, I found a fun pizza class to learn about the famous Neapolitan pizza. Known for high-quality, no-frill ingredients, a Neapolitan pizza is a classic born in this part of Italy. I think I lost count but I’m pretty sure B + S enjoyed 3-4 different pizza places!

After a quick train from Naples and an easier-to-navigate train station, they finally got to their last stop in Rome! They stayed at Hotel Roma Fori Imperiali and enjoyed lunch near Trevi Fountain. Then they hopped over to see the fountain and did a little tour underground as well. They went shopping and got their required COVID tests needed before traveling home in two days. The night ended at an Irish bar with some football.

The underground tour of Trevi Fountain explores Vicus Caprarius aka the Water City. It’s a really affordable way to see something pretty unique while learning about the tunnels and waterways beneath one of the most famous tourist sites in the world. The Trevi Fountain is usually mobbed but B + S lucked out with it being less crowded. If you want to get there with as few tourists as possible, you want to go pretty early in the morning.

Hotel Roma Fori Imperiali had a beautiful rooftop and went the extra mile to put little cannolis in their room, as well as this adorable honeymoon welcome mat. I like to write quick notes to the chosen accommodations on behalf of my clients as part of my honeymoon package so that the hotels or Airbnbs are aware of the celebration and can add little bits of something special to the room if possible.

B + S did two tours while in Rome and while many people might think tours are not as fun or they like to explore on their own, I absolutely recommend tours in severely popular areas like Vatican City or the Colosseum, if not only for the pure fact that you get to skip the lines! The line to get into the Vatican can sometimes be hours long. I also love the insider perspective these tours bring, especially when led by a local or an expert of the site. Their last dinner meal of the trip was at a delicious 1 Michelin star restaurant called Il Convivo, which was a lucky find at the last minute. Famous and popular restaurants usually need reservations well in advance so always plan ahead if you have your eye on something specific!

With only a month’s notice, I think we planned an outrageously special trip that Brian and Selina will remember forever. As frequent travelers, they are not new to the planning game but when it comes to a honeymoon, there’s often not enough time to plan the way you’d like while also focusing on all the wedding details. An all-inclusive is a top choice for honeymoons because it doesn’t require the planning of a multi-week trip to a foreign country but there is just something so special about experiencing new cultures as your first memories as a married couple. Stick to your guns about your dream honeymoon and if you’re ever overwhelmed, outsource the planning to someone like me!