I had always wanted to see Positano after I watched the movie “Only You” where some of the scenes were shot in this small picturesque village.

That is why when my travel buddy and equally passionate traveller Bebeth and I were planning a trip a few years ago, I decided to do the Amalfi side of southern Italy. I decided that we had to sleep over in Positano to savor the sight and culture of the place.

Positano is a small town, jutting out from a hill and leads down to the bay.

From Rome, we hired a limo to take us straight to Positano. We were on a tight schedule so could not afford to take the train and local bus for that will mean losing several more hours.

We scrimped on hotel expenses and stayed in a monastery in Rome so we we will have some money to pay the limo and driver.

Besides, we were able to do some photo shoot stops along the way. If one had more time, here are various ways to reach this beautiful place besides are car:

* By aeroplane one arrives at Naples airport and from here visitors should proceed onwards for the Coast and Positano. From the Naples airport one can hail taxis for Positano (but Naples taxi are not really recommended since they are famous for being rip-offs). Taxis can be hailed at the exits of the two terminals. The journey to the central station takes roughly 15 minutes, for Piazza Miunicipio and Beverello port 20 minutes. Taxis are always available at the airport.

By taxi one can travel direct to Positano and the Amalfi Coast: from the airport to Sorrento the journey takes approximately an hour, for Positano an hour and a half and for Amalfi two hours.

* By train one reaches the various railway stations of Naples or that of Salerno, from the North and South of the Amalfi Coast respectively.

* By boat, during the summer season, there are connections from Naples, Sorrento and Salerno for the destinations along the Amalfi Coast. From Naples boats transport passengers along the Costiera Amalfitana from two harbors exclusively in high season. For those travelling with large cases, they will need to purchase a ticket for each piece of baggage and present it at the time of embarking. From Beverello harbour, just steps away from Piazza Municipio, and from Mergellina harbour, 300 meters from the railway station of the same name, hydrofoils belonging to various companies depart regularly.

We left for Positano on Easter Sunday so hiring a car was the better option being a holiday. Boat trips only start during summer. It was spring then but being a long weekend in Europe the streets were definitely lined with holiday makers.

I found our hotel in Positano via the internet after considering so many options. Almost all lodging places were taken that week! It is actually a pensionne called La Rosa dei Venti, at Via Fornillo in the old area on the upper portion of Positano. While researching on the net, I was not sure which is the best part to stay in, down near the waters or up the hill.

What attracted me in choosing this place besides having the most affordable price at around 90 euros/night (yes I call that affordable since all the others are double that mount and euros vs dollars in 2002 was not that bad), was the description that it has terraces which look out to the horizon, ornated with bougainvilleas and geraniums and that it is located in a quiet and central area and a five minute walk to the the town center and the beach.

I now realize that it may be better to stay down near the beach since most of the whole area is a pedestrian lane and it is quite a difficult walk going up and down the various parts of town.

see more of the article in http://maanstravels.com