Tips to Save Money & Travel on a Budget on the Amalfi Coast
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Places like Positano and Capri are bucket list locations for many; but with celebrities and millionaires strolling around you’re left wondering ‘Will I ever afford this dream destination?’
I did a lot of research before booking our trip to Italy. I was torn between Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast. I heard the Amalfi Coast was MUCH more expensive, and we were on a budget, but I just could not get over the pictures of Positano! So I thought with my crafty budget skills we could make it work, and that we did.
Keep reading below to see how we explored the Amalfi Coast on a budget and enjoyed every second of it!
Read my blog post about FREE beaches on the Amalfi Coast! https://kateroamstheworld.com/2019/11/26/free-beaches-to-explore-and-swim-on-the-amalfi-coast-kate-roams-the-world/
For a more detailed itinerary and guide on going to the Amalfi Coast on a budget read my blog post! https://kateroamstheworld.com/2019/12/02/4-days-on-the-stunning-amalfi-coast-your-budget-itinerary-guide/
Getting around on a budget
- To get to Sorrento from Naples, we took the Circumvesuviana train, that costs only 3.60 euro one way per person; as opposed to a taxi which would have cost at least 75 euro!
- Use the SITA bus to go to other destinations on the coast. Sorrento to Positano one way – 2 euro each. Sorrento to Amalfi and beyond for 24 hrs – 10 euro each. You don’t even want to know how much taxis are between towns!
Where to Stay on a Budget
- The best place to stay on the Amalfi Coast that won’t cost an arm and a leg will be Sorrento. Amalfi or Atrani are a close second, but places here can also get expensive.
- We booked a room in Sorrento that was about a mile walk from the city center for around 100$/ night. https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/casa-d-39-amare-sorrento1.html
- Sorrento is great as it is a center for transportation: SITA buses or ferries to other towns on the coast, and a short ferry ride to Capri.
Eating on a budget
Eating in Italy on a budget can be both easy and hard. There are plenty of upscale, famous restaurants on the Amalfi Coast that will run you hundreds of euros on one meal. But luckily there are ways to save money on food. We averaged 30 euro per day on food each at the most, some days a teeny bit more, especially if we ate extra gelato. 😉
- A budget staple meal for us was a personal take away (eating in restaurant costs more) margarita pizza that you can enjoy on the beach or back at the hotel. It will only be about 8-10 euro or less.
- Get large bottles of water at grocery stores or tobacco shops, not restaurants- it is always more expensive (and no they don’t give tap water). We would also fill up our water bottles at the hotel to save money and put these in our backpacks.
- For a cheap breakfast we had a croissant and cappuccino everyday, about 4 euro each.
- For healthy snacks during the day, we would stop into small fruit stands and shops and get an apple, banana, or fruit cup for super cheap.
- We stopped a few times at random hole in the wall places along our walks in town getting croquettes, sandwiches, and other small meals for super cheap. And they were always delicious! You can usually get a tomato & mozzarella sandwich for 5-8 euro or less that will fill you up.
- Get wine from the grocery store (we snuck it on the beach and back to our hotel room) instead of drinking from the restaurants. You can get a nice bottle for 5-10 euro.
- You can also buy fresh bread from the grocery stores and make your own sandwiches rather than eating out to save money, and look for other ready made meals from grocery stores.
- Always look at the menu before sitting down! The Italians can get very pushy, willing you to sit down and eat, but take a look first to make sure it’s within your budget.. It’s much more embarrassing to leave after sitting down!
Misc. Travel Tips to Save Money
- Use Google Flights to track flight prices. We got the coast from Florence originally, and we flew into Rome. Flying a main hub like Rome, your plane tickets will usually be cheaper. We also drove an extra 1 1/2 hrs to fly from Newark instead of Philadelphia, which is closer to our house, since flights were much cheaper.
- Get the most basic economy plane ticket and don’t check luggage! Bring a carry on and a personal item. Check your airline to see what their restrictions are. We flew Norwegian Airlines Newark to Rome for only $600 roundtrip doing this!
- Get travel laundry detergent sheets and do your laundry in the Airbnb or hotel sink if yours doesn’t have ones to use for free. I used these and they worked just fine: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073RSMV28/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And that concludes my top quick tips on saving money on the coveted Amalfi Coast!
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