Central Italy (the Amalfi Coast & Tuscany): Bella Italia Meets Thread

[sayhello]

Please post here if you would like to talk with anyone else who has signed up to travel to Central Italy (the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany) with ABD.

You can also share information/ask questions about the Italy Amalfi Coast & Tuscany Bella Itialia ABD.

Please try and keep this thread on topic to discussion and questions about the Central Italy (Amalfi Coast & Tuscany) ABD. Off topic posts will be deleted or moved.

Thanks!
Sayhello

Roll Call:

Previous:

• Jun 10 17, 2012
  • - paddles & family
  • - pclaire & daughter
• Jun 17 24, 2012 - RSM
• Jul 4 11, 2012
  • - JokerCap, DH, DD 13 & DS 10
  • - Phil1019
• Jul 7 - 14, 2013 - CrazeyZus1, Hubby & son (10)
• Sep 29 - Oct 6, 2013 - Strawberry's mom&dad
• May 25 - Jun 1, 2014 - moody79 & ??
• Jul 20 - 27, 2014 - gesellpartyof5, ??, 2 boys (11) & daughter (9)
• Sept 28 - Oct 5, 2014 - TexasTravelGirl & DH

 

[JokerCap]

We are on the July 4th trip! Myself, DH, DD 13 and DS 10. I called ADB and we have kids ages 9 to 15. Almost ready for the 30 day countdown.

 

[sayhello]

Welcome to the DISboards, JokerCap! You're going to love Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast! And the David!!!! I haven't taken this trip, but a lot of the pieces of it were inlcuded in the Med cruise add-on I did in 2010. Great stuff!

Sayhello

 

[SingingMom]

This is one of the trips we are considering for next May! Now that we have one ABD under our belt, we are hooked!!!

I like this one or the French countryside trip - DH and DD like the Scotland or Ireland trip. Not sure what we will end up doing. Would love to see if our previous guides are heading in any of these directions for next May. That might make the decision for us!

 

[paddles]

We're on the June 10th trip....and leaving for Europe in just a few days! This will be our first ABD. I chose this trip since it will be the first time for the kids to be in Europe. I've traveled a lot -esp in Europe, so I've always felt comfortable roughing it on my own...but with kids, I think the ABD touch will really make it fun.

We're doing a few pre-days in Paris and then a couple post-nights in Rome.

I've already signed us up for Scotland next year...so I think we're pretty hooked already on ABD.

 

[sayhello]

We're on the June 10th trip....and leaving for Europe in just a few days! This will be our first ABD. I chose this trip since it will be the first time for the kids to be in Europe. I've traveled a lot -esp in Europe, so I've always felt comfortable roughing it on my own...but with kids, I think the ABD touch will really make it fun.

We're doing a few pre-days in Paris and then a couple post-nights in Rome.

I've already signed us up for Scotland next year...so I think we're pretty hooked already on ABD.

ABD's *are* addictive!

Sayhello

 

[RSM]

Going on the June 17 - 24 Central Italy ABD with a pre-day in Sorrento. Followed by 5 days in Rome and a day in Dublin on the way home.

 

[Strawberry's mom&dad]

We just signed up for our first ABD trip. We were on the Fantasy last week talked Daniel went to the presentation. Now for the 16 month wait

 

[Phil1019]

My daughter and I are also going on the Juyl 4th trip, with a pre-night in Sorrento. ABD trips ARE addictive! We have been on Backstage Magic, Costa Rica and Peru trips.

 

[pclaire]

My daughter and I are on the June 10th trip. Leaving Wednesday - 3 days in rome pre-trip. So excited and sooo busy. cant wait to be on the plane!

 

[JokerCap]

pclaire - please post a trip report when you get back. Can't wait to hear the details. Thanks. (I am new to this posting stuff and I have no idea why this has a thumbs down on it).

 

[sayhello]

pclaire - please post a trip report when you get back. Can't wait to hear the details. Thanks. (I am new to this posting stuff and I have no idea why this has a thumbs down on it).

I'd offer to edit your post & remove the thumbs down, but even I don't have access to do that!

Maybe Kevin does...

Welcome to the DISboards, and to the ABD Forum!

Sayhello

ETA: Oh, wait, yes I do! I hope you don't mind that I edited your post & deleted the thumbs down! I should probably explain, if you don't know, that I'm one of the Moderators for the ABD Forum. Welcome!

 

[JokerCap]

SayHello - thank you. And thanks for the welcome. I've been reading this for the last year - just starting to post now. Love the information!

 

[sayhello]

SayHello - thank you. And thanks for the welcome. I've been reading this for the last year - just starting to post now. Love the information!

Cool! Well, welcome to the posting side of the DISboards!

Sayhello

 

[pclaire]

We are back from the June 10th Bella Italia!! Fabulous trip - I can't recommend it enough. I'll try to get to a trip report, but I'm swamped with work this week. If you have any questions though, please ask and I'll respond.

 

[SingingMom]

ABD's *are* addictive!

Sayhello

You said it! We can't wait to book another one!!

We are back from the June 10th Bella Italia!! Fabulous trip - I can't recommend it enough. I'll try to get to a trip report, but I'm swamped with work this week. If you have any questions though, please ask and I'll respond.

Oh PLEASE post a trip report! This is the tour I want to go on next year. DH and DD are looking at others, but this one is my top pick! So happy you enjoyed it!

 

[JokerCap]

pclaire - who were your guides? How was the hotel in Sorrento?

 

[pclaire]

Our guides were Marco and James, who were both wonderful. They went straight from our Bella Italia trip to the June 18th Viva Italia. I thought the hotel in Sorrento was fantastic, and it was my daughter's favorite hotel anywhere, ever. It sits on a hill above Sorrento, and is very modern - think scandanavian blond wood and clean lines. Not "Italian" at all and the complete opposite of our hotel in florence. We were all upgraded to the concierge floor (or at least access to it), so we had a continental breakfast, snacks and drinks (including alcohol) all day. there was also a small pool up there. Very, very nice. Our rooms were huge (including the bathroom) and had a great view of Mt. Vesuvius. They offer a very large buffet breakfast in the morning. The pool was also very cool - you can see it on the website - several different levels, that sort of drop off into the next. The kids loved it, although there was not much free time to swim. The hotel is in a lemon grove where we had dinner the first night. all in all a wonderful place.

The only downside is that it is a bit of a hike into town. I wish we had gotten to Sorrento earlier on sunday, because I never had a chance to see the town. We drove through it on the trip, but we spent what free time we had at the pool rather than walking down into town. Swimming was a perfect break after a long day and the kids had a great time - they didn't need another sightseeing or shopping excursion.

I ope this helps - i really loved the Amalfi coast part of the trip; it was definitely my favorite, and I would like to stay at the hotel again.

 

[mapsd]

Great to hear you loved the Sorrento Palace!
We're going to be staying there prior to heading up to Rome for our Viva Italia tour & were curious about the hotel. Got a great deal @ 190/night & love that we could get one 2BR suite instead of paying for 2 rooms for the 4 of us.

Question: Do you recall how long the pool is open in the evening?
The hotel website says it closes at 6 PM daily. Is that correct?

 

[pclaire]

I think the pool did close at 6.