Have you always dreamed of going to the Amalfi Coast of Italy?! Now is your chance!
August 2016, we got married on the beautiful Amalfi Coast in the amazing town of Positano, Italy. We dreamed about when we would be able to return and the opportunity came about sooner than we expected!
Here is how we traveled back to Italy on a tight budget…
Flights:
We were able to purchase ROUNDTRIP flights to Naples, Italy (1.5 hours away from Positano on the Amalfi Coast) for $430 per person! We traveled from IAD (Washington DC) to Naples in early spring. The best flight deals to Italy from the USA are found leaving from the major east coast airports such as DC and NYC. We found even cheaper flights from the airports near NYC (but decided to pay a little more since we are much closer to DC).
The flights to Naples and Rome are much less expensive when visiting in April-May as opposed to the busy summer season like our previous August visit. April-May is a perfect time to visit the Amalfi Coast because it has just become warm enough to enjoy the beaches, but is not yet filled with all the tourists! Of course, flight prices are bound to change. The website we most frequently use to find the best flight deals (such as this trip) is Momondo.com.
Lodging:
So, you got your great flight deal but the hotels are bound to be way out of budget in the quaint town of Positano, right!? Wrong! We have found some amazing B&B’s that are affordable and (in our opinion) a way more authentic experience than some of the pricey hotels in the area. Previously, we stayed at Casa La Torretta found on AirBnB (this link gives you travel credit!). It was absolutely amazing. This is a great option for a larger family, since there are 2 bedrooms and a pull out sofa.
The pictures below show the HOMEMADE tiramisu, cookies, and limoncello that the amazing Malone family brought us during our stay. And yes, that is the view from the private terrace! The property is located in Montepertuso, the hill town above Positano, which provides some absolutely amazing views.
Our adventure in May was just Zain and I (we traveled with our family prior), so we needed a place smaller and even more affordable than our previous visit. We spent 6 nights at Le Ghiande B&B also in Montepertuso for only $580!!! That’s $290 per person for an entire 6 nights! Now, you have to book in advance because places like this go fast. For instance, this B&B only has 3 rooms at the property. But if you find a place like this available on your dates, you cannot pass it up!
When making our travel plans, we prefer the option of free cancellation and paying later. So, we often book through BOOKING.COM (link direct to the B&B) and we do not have to pay ANYTHING to reserve the room. In case plans change, we use free cancellation up until the night before (may differ slightly with other properties) AND we typically don’t pay until arrival.
So, let’s see where we are at so far. Per person, $430 for flight and $290 for hotel for a 6 night/7 day vacation to the Amalfi Coast. That’s only $720 per person and $1,440 TOTAL (for two people). BUT, of course there are a few more travel expenses to consider.
Transportation:
How are you going to get from the Naples or Rome airport to Positano? We prefer to have a rental car (beware the roads are truly quite narrow – contact us for some tips on driving!). By having a car, you are easily able to navigate around the Amalfi Coast and enjoy some of the most scenic drives in the world as you explore each town along the coast!
Our rental car for the entire 7 days was only $170. We booked through Expedia because it also allows free cancellation and payment upon pickup for rental cars. Another great option that does not show up on Expedia is Fox Car Rentals– be sure to check them out too. One thing to remember with a rental car is parking. Staying in the hill town is not an issue to find parking along the street and sometimes at your B&B. However, make sure you are close enough to walk down to Positano or to take the bus down if you want to avoid paying to park! Parking can run around 20 Euro per day (so that can get pricey quick!).
Total Costs:
$430 per person for flight
$290 per person for hotel (for the entire 6 nights)
$85 per person for rental car
Grand Total of $805 per person!!!!!
Extra Costs: So, we realize this does not include food and other possible sightseeing (and shopping) costs. That is because this is entirely under your control. It is completely possible to tour the Amalfi Coast on a budget. It is up to you how much you want to splurge on fine dining, souvenirs, etc. But stopping at local delis for a slice of pizza or an Italian sub will cost only around 5 Euro. Living off gelato is always an option too!!
My personal rule is to budget $100 per day for ALL extra costs that might arise (including food, entry to villas, ferry rides, etc). So, that would be an extra $700 bringing the grand total to $1,505 per person. And if you want to spend some of that budget on something quite amazing – book the half day private boat tour of the island of Capri with Gianni, it was a truly unforgettable experience (and worth every penny!). The picture below shows our stop at one of the amazing grotto’s during our boat tour.
So, you booked your trip?!
Now, how do you start planning!?! This is the fun part!! Check out Part 1 of our Amalfi Coast guide!! You can also check out our YouTube channel to see our videos from our trips to the Amalfi Coast! If you have any specific questions please connect with us and/or comment below! We would love to share our experiences and help you plan the trip of a lifetime.
See you in Italy! Ciao!
~Brooke Hartman
Follow us at @HartmansTravel and join us as we #TravelinLove!
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