Last Updated on 04/09/2024 by Arun jain
Ever since my husband and I got engaged in 2021, we knew we wanted to Honeymoon in Italy. After all, our shared Italian heritage really bonded us in our early days of dating.
When we started mapping out our trip, we planned to visit historic sites in Rome, drink wine in the Tuscan countryside, and explore the colorful hill towns and turquoise waters of the Amalfi Coast.
I was probably most excited about our four-night stay on the Amalfi Coast, which was named one of the best honeymoon destinations for 2024. Condé Nast Traveler.
Although the Amalfi Coast is absolutely gorgeous, and we enjoyed our time there, I felt something was missing from the experience.
When we returned home and told our family and friends about this part of our honeymoon, many people were shocked to hear that my husband and I No desire to return.
Here’s why our trip to the Amalfi Coast didn’t quite live up to our expectations.
We rarely see footpaths on the busiest roads
As we were dropped off on the side of a busy road outside our Airbnb, I noticed one thing — there were no sidewalks or pedestrian walkways.
My husband and I explored the town we lived in, clinging to roadside walls as buses and motorbikes whizzed by.
We found that most of the towns we visited along the coast didn’t even have sidewalks, which meant that getting around on foot felt a little more difficult and dangerous than we expected.
Although the locals didn’t seem phased, I was a little nervous about walking the busy streets.
The steps and slopes were steeper than I expected
Mine twice weekly Pilates classes Did not prepare me for the hundreds of steps and steep inclines of the Amalfi Coast.
One night, we decided to visit a beautiful restaurant by the sea in Priano. When looking for the best way to get there, we found out that it was only a 40-minute walk from our Airbnb.
Since it was a nice night, we decided to give it a go. However, I had no idea that the walk would be more like a hike.
Before leaving home, I had been warned about the many steps on the Amalfi Coast, but I seriously underestimated how difficult the hike would actually be.
Perfectly, I visited in July, when the temperature reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the heat certainly made conquering the steps difficult, I’m not sure I would have performed any better in cooler temperatures.
Much of the Amalfi Coast felt like a tourist trap
As those who have grown out New York CityI can usually smell a tourist trap from a mile away. To me, many of the popular spots on the Amalfi Coast felt as if they were designed specifically for tourists.
I guess this makes sense because edges attract Approximately 5 million visitors One year however, the beaches felt like a far cry from the more authentic Italian experience I was expecting to find.
For example, while wandering the elegant streets near the port in Positano, we discovered that many of the gelato shops were owned by the same company. The gelato was delicious, but I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get to sample flavors from different local vendors.
When I travel, I also like to check out products from local vendors. In Positano and Amalfi, I was looking for one-of-a-kind souvenirs and handicraft pieces, but mostly found clothes and pottery that looked pretty much the same from place to place.
In my experience, authenticity was hard to find in many of the tourist-filled beaches. Although we really enjoyed our experience there, I preferred to immerse myself in the culture there Small towns We visited in Tuscany.
In our experience, public transportation was not super reliable
When I was researching and planning our trip, this was one of the number 1 tips I read Don’t rent a car on the Amalfi Coast. After all, steep, cliff-side trails are not for the faint of heart.
With this advice in mind, we decided to use Public transport get around. Although we liked how cheap the buses were (usually less than 3 euros per person), we soon discovered that they rarely showed up at scheduled times.
This caused us to cancel reservations and plans, which was disappointing since we were only in town for a few days. Additionally, we found taxis to be very expensive – a 15-minute drive cost us 50 euros.
Because navigating public transportation was quickly reduced, we spent more time at our Airbnb than at the beach.
That said, we still loved our time on the Amalfi Coast
in terms of Honeymoon destinationsIt doesn’t get more romantic than the stunning seaside towns on the Amalfi Coast.
My husband and I really enjoyed our time there – it’s just not the kind of place I’m dying to return to.
The views were amazing, the people were friendly, and the food was delicious. But next time we return to Italy, we might stick around Less touristy areas To really immerse yourself in the local culture.
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