Ciao! You’ve landed on one of the travel diaries from my post-graduation trip to Rome and the Amalfi Coast! I divided it up by the places we visited on which days, so there are detailed posts for each city we visited, and then a post that gives a general overview of our travel itinerary for all 10 days. This post covers the days that we were in Pompeii and Sorrento.

Day 3: Pompeii & Sorrento

• We had breakfast again at the Hotel Raphael in Rome (it’s a full organic breakfast that was delicious) and then had a driver pick us up at 9 am and take us two and half hours to Pompeii. (Tip: use Jack the Driver service for your transportation around Rome and the Amalfi Coast. They were phenomenal and we didn’t have to worry at all about getting to and from where we needed to be. Also, the roads along the Amalfi Coast are so tricky to navigate! So it made such a difference to have drivers who had grown up in the area and who had driven the roads all their lives.)
• Pompeii is definitely worth seeing (especially if you’re a history buff!). We had a two hour private tour that covered all of the highlights of the ruins. (Tip: definitely secure a private tour for Pompeii, it would be overwhelming without one and you could easily end up missing some major parts. Also make sure to wear sneakers since it’s all stone ruble). It was so amazing to learn about the history of what occurred there and see the preserved body cavities of people who died after the volcano eruption along with the mosaic floors and wall frescos that are still intact. It was simply unreal.

• We had our driver wait for us during the tour and then we got back in the car and drove to Sorrento, which was about a 45 minute ride from Pompeii. Sorrento is simply darling. It was my mom’s favorite place we visited and it’s easy to see why. It’s small so it’s very manageable to walk all around and is bursting with little outdoor cafés and open air shops. There are lemons as big as your head hanging from trees everywhere, and the glistening sea is just steps from all of the activity of the little town.

• Once in Sorrento, we checked into our hotel, walked around, shopped, and admired the beauty of the mediterranean that was on the edge of town. The shopping was so adorable in Sorrento— especially down the quaint alleyways off of the main square. We purchased some leather goods at one store and my mom picked up a bunch of amazing smelling lemon soaps to bring home to her friends. (Tip: when you’re shopping for leather goods in Italy, always ask if they do embossing on their items! You never know when you can score a free monogram 😉 )

• Dinner: Terrazza Bosquet (at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria)
  • This is the hotel’s Michelin Star (2014) restaurant that had very fancy and interesting courses that were gorgeously displayed when they were presented to us. The staff was unbelievable— they were so kind and attentive to us the whole night during our dinner. The ambiance was very chic, and the dining room overlooked the water and Mount Vesuvius, so it is definitely worth eating there if you are a foodie and want a fabulous view.

• Stayed in: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria (Room 106)

  • We got upgraded (because my mom booked the hotel with our American Express card and it’s an American Express affiliated resort) to the terrace suite, which the concierge said was their nicest room in the hotel (um, what?!!). Our jaws literally dropped when we walked into it. It was a palatial room(s) with a huge terrace that overlooked the ocean and Mount Vesuvius, which we had learned all about in our Pompeii tour earlier in the day. We were told that Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe had also stayed in that suite, which is so crazy to think about! The resort is tucked away right off the town square (you honestly couldn’t pick a better location to be in Sorrento) and had lemon and orange trees all over the grounds, leading up to their spa and outdoor pool. The staff was the most helpful and accommodating out of anywhere else we stayed. I don’t think we lifted a piece of luggage or even a plate the whole time we were there, ha! It’s high end luxury and serenity at it’s best. I was like, “can I have my future wedding here?!!!” My dad was like, “in your dreams.”  😉

The entrance leading up to the resort 

The main resort building 

The rooms in the suite 

The suite terrace 

Overlooking Mount Vesuvius 

Sideview of our suite’s terrace (it’s the middle section with the black iron railing) 

Day 4: Sorrento & Positano

• My dad and I went to the breakfast buffet (unreal) while my mom and sister went to the gym. Then we all reconvened and laid by the pool because it was 80 degrees and so sunny. 

• We got dressed in the early afternoon and took the train tour throughout Sorrento and did some last minute shopping. The train was cute and was a good way to get a full overview of Sorrento and learn more about its history.

Views from the pool at the hotel 

^ bikini | similar sunglasses | hat

• We then got picked up and took a car thorough the windy roads of the Amalfi Coast to Positano. Positano was my favorite place of the whole trip. It’s beachy and coastal casual, until you stumble along a swanky rooftop bar or terrace… I couldn’t get over how picturesque and stunning the scenery was. Check out our full Positano travel diary!