As we walked out of the Napoli airport and were greeted by 80 degree weather, our taxi driver, Roberto, opened the door for us, took our luggage and urged us to have a seat and relax. Realizing that we finally made it through the airport, we began to do just that. While making small conversations and practicing our broken Italian, we continued observing the beautiful landscape of the roads and terrains around us.

Then I saw her. Peeping through the over towering cliffs, making sudden appearances through the hills. There she was-THE Amalfi Coast. She took my breath away and I couldn’t finish my sentence. I was lost for words. It was more than I’d ever imagined. My pre-trip research surely didn’t prepare me for this indescribable moment. How could this country be so stunning? Was I in heaven? All I could say was WOW. From that moment, I knew this place would be magical. Stay tuned, because it was. 

1. Time Period

We traveled in July of 2021, which is considered to be the busiest season of the year. However, the locals informed us that they were only operating at ~30% of their normal tourist traffic due to Covid.

2. Entry process/Travel Requirements

Entry into Italy was fairly simple. We didn’t even have to go through customs because we were coming from Greece. The great thing about traveling through Europe is that the European Union (EU) operates as a unit (in some ways) and once you’re in the continent, it’s easy to travel to different countries.

3. Weather

One word-HOT. We had to dodge the sun when walking around. Being on the coast definitely helped because there was an occasional breeze. Also, Amalfi Coast sits on cliffs, which often protected us from the blazing sun.

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4. Food/Restaurants

Check out our experiences at amazing Michelin-starred restaurants through our iFineDine page

5. Hotel & Accommodations

We stayed at Hotel Savoia in Positano, which was fairly priced and central to everything we needed. We decided that location was more important than amenities, since we planned to do a lot of exploring rather than staying in our rooms. Also, since we knew the Coast was an expensive destination, we didn’t need our accommodations to be expensive as well. Hotel Savoia was indeed beautiful and met all our needs, it just wasn’t luxurious, which was totally fine for us.

6. Getting Around

Due to our hotel being in a central location, many of the restaurants and activities were within walking distance. However, because the majority of Amalfi Coast is situated on cliffs and hills, we learned that most of the streets were one way to go up, and one way to go down. When you think about it, it makes sense because I can only imagine the amount of terrible accidents that could occur on such narrow roads.

This meant even though a restaurant was a few blocks away, we still had to go down the hills in order to go back up. Crazy isn’t it? This is why I am glad we didn’t rent a car, because it would have been hard to navigate these roads without someone who is experienced. So be sure to keep that in mind when planning your commute.

7. People & Culture 

The people of a country can literally make or break your trip, so it is important to know the cultural climate of where you’re going.

This was my third time in Italy and every time I visit, it keeps getting better, mainly because of the positive interactions that I’d have with the locals. Italians are warm, welcoming, passionate and full of life. They LOVE their country and it shows in everything that they do. They go above and beyond to represent their culture in the best way possible, which includes hospitality towards tourists.

8. Favorite Activity

Located just an hour drive outside of Positano, Ravello is a charming region that is known to be the treasure of the Amalfi Coast. It is home of the Ravello Musical Festival, an annual event that has showcased Italy’s finest musicians since 1953. The live orchestra plays beautiful melodies throughout the Annunziata Historic Building and behind the talented group, is the jaw-dropping view of the Amalfi Coast. You may even be lucky to experience this harmonic heaven while watching the beautiful sunset.

I discovered this concert through a blog, only to realize that the website was only in Italian. With a little patience and the help of google translator via copying and pasting, we were able to successfully purchase two tickets for only 110 euros ($125). If a concert like this was happening in The States, I guarantee it would cost more than $500 per ticket. We felt fortunate to snag such a great deal!

Charles Dutoit conducted the Slovenian Philarmonic Orchestra featuring soloist, Martha Argerich. It was one of the most unique experiences I’ve had in any country. We left the concert feeling refreshed by such a therapeutic performance. Check out the video here https://adobe.ly/3IwvCXO

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9. Most Memorable Moment

Okay, I will try not to get tears on my laptop. Every moment was beautiful here, but there was a particular moment that will always bring smiles upon our faces.

Hubby and I were on this vacation to celebrate a special occasion.  When the clock hit 12am for that special day, Italy also won the EuroCup during that very same second. The whole coast went WILD. People came out of their villas to sing and dance. As we were riding through in our cab, the driver also began joining the hundreds of other cars honking in happiness.

We turned to each other wide-eyed with surprise. What exactly is happening right now? It felt like we were in a movie. The surrounding joy overwhelmed us and made our moment unforgettable. It is as if the whole country was celebrating with us.

When we returned  to our hotel, the celebration continued. As we sat there holding each other, fireworks started (click this link) and I began to weep tears of joy. My eyes are glistening as I am typing this because it was probably one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Italy will always have a special place in our hearts. It’s not just a country. Italy is a whole vibe. You’ll see when you make your first visit. A special encounter awaits you too!

10. Most Unfavorable moment

I could say leaving was our most unfavorable moment, but I don’t want to be dramatic haha.

I would have to admit that sometimes we felt like we were the center of attention and it wasn’t because we were so good-looking.

Most of the tourists didn’t look like us, so we got some stares. However, I believe it was due to curiosity, which isn’t a crime, even though it was a bit uncomfortable. Nonetheless, we had a blast. We were happy to see that people didn’t just stare. Some came right up to us and started conversation, which was nice!

Bottom Line…

• Be prepared for higher than normal costs when traveling during peak season (May-August)
• Italians are very friendly and welcoming
• Most roads are one way and very narrow. Consider this if you want to rent a car. Also, be mindful when going to activities and events to maintain punctuality. 
• Be sure to explore the neighboring towns.
• The Amalfi Coast isn’t the very diverse, so you may encounter unsolicited attention if you are a minority.
• When traveling within Europe, you only have to go through customs once in most places. 
• Italy is a special place that awaits your visit!

Have you been to Italy before or are you dreaming about visiting? Drop a comment below! Arrivederci!