Customer Reviews

Frommer's The Amalfi Coast with Naples, Capri & Pompeii (Frommer's Complete Guides)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

We followed most of the recommendations and guides and spent wonderful 10 days. We stayed in Hotel Amalfi in Amalfi which was recommended in the book and we loved it!!We chose amongst the restaurants and everone was fine!! We loved Emilia in Sorrento, Pasticceria Scaturchio,del Presidente in Naples,Grotele in Capri. We could't find them without the book.

In La Rondinella in Anacapri there was no pizza for lunch and we were dissapointed because we came all the way to have lunch there.

I have one complaint! My husband and I are 65 years old and we took the trail from Ravello to Minori which was mentioned as 1/2 hours. It was a very long steps..steps..and steps trail that it took us 2 hours.

Also for Villa Jovis in Capri you CANNOT take a taxi. You have to walk a steep long walk.

On flipping through the book I was initially put off by the standard of hotel labeled as "budget". 100 to 150 euros per night was regarded as "inexpensive". I'm used to paying half that for comfortable accommodation in minor Italian cities. The Michelin green guides are full of such places. I thought, this is a bit hoity toity, ritzy glitzy for me. I pressed on and was pleasantly surprised. The book was a joy to read. It is beautifully written. I have never read a guide book written with such flair. It was a page turner. It is far more than a collection of practical information. The writers display a great feel and sensitivity for the subject matter, from historical sights to restaurants, to hiking and yes, to the moderately priced hotel in Ravello at a mere 290 euros per night. The title of the book should be Campania, rather than its posh Amalfi Coast rubric. Campania has much to offer the tourist and this book will both inspire and inform. Highly recommended. (What the heck! You can find the real budget rooms online easily enough.)

My husband and I have travelled extensively and have always relied on the DK travel book series. Based on a review that I read here, we chose to try Frommer's. What an incredible disappointment!

I guess we've been spoiled and expected the maps to actually support the dialogue. For example, on pg. 252 relating to Capri, Frommer has highlighted and starred both Anacapri as well as Monte Solaro as essentials to visit. Now Frommer takes the lazy way out. On the corresponding page there is a generic map of Capri in which he simple dots the accomodations and restaurants. Now it is up to the reader to go off and do yet more research.

The DK travel guides not only have remarkable color photos throughout each section (ZERO with Frommer's) but they grid out the sections and very clearly and locate everything on maps that also align with dialogue, access, restaurants, hotels, etc.

I can't blame Frommer's for his "cheap" travel guide rendition because it's apparently working for him. However, we've ordered the DK guide as we should have in the first place.

I bought this book because I have faith in Frommer and it is very current, only published in the last few months. after having look at all the picture books I want some hard facts and that is what Frommer gives me.