Getting to Positano from Florence involved a high-speed train to Naples, then a less glamorous but affordable Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. From Sorrento, a slightly stressful bus ride (or pricey car) took us to Positano. The bus ride along the cliffside was a bit terrifying, so next time we’re taking a car.
We stayed at Hotel Il Gabbiano – nothing fancy, but it was affordable (for Positano!), had a great ocean view, and included breakfast. If you’re feeling extravagant, Le Sirenuse is the place to be. The beach is a bit of a hike away, so be prepared for some stairs!
In Positano, we spent most of our time at the beach – renting chairs for the day is a good idea. We also took a boat trip. While we’d envisioned a stylish wooden boat, we ended up on a smaller motorboat, which was still fun but less Instagrammable. My boyfriend bravely captained the boat, despite some hairy moments with larger vessels!
Food-wise, Chez Black was amazing – great ambiance, perfect service, delicious lobster pasta. We also had a fancy lunch at La Sponda at Le Sirenuse, a stunning hotel with incredible views and marble bathrooms.
Capri was a whirlwind six-hour trip. We took a quick hydrofoil, then rented a scooter. I was initially terrified of the scooter ride, so our guide drove me part of the way. It was exhilarating, though, and we managed to squeeze in some cliff diving and lounging at a beach bar before the ferry back to Positano. We wished we had more time to explore Capri fully.