Salvatore - Private guide in Naples

[ewong]

We have booked with Salvatore (driveamalfi.com) for a tour to the Amalfi coast. He is personally not available that day but has his associate, also named Salvatore, booked for our tour. Has anyone used him as a driver / guide? Is he knowledgeable and knows the area well? After reading some negative comments from posters who were displeased with their experiences, I am doing my homework now and hope to hire a driver guide who can at least tell us what we want to know about the area.

Thanks,
Evelyn

[Mike Andrews]

Hi Evelyn,

We have used him twice and have to say that his calm attitude to touring & driving especially on the Amalfi Coast is what made us book him again. He is from Amalfi and on our last tour we spent a day in and around Amalfi and his local knowledge certainly came in useful. I am sure you will have a great day with him. Try and spend some time in Ravello and if you get the chance visit the San Giovanni Restaurant in Pontone and buy some of their own Limoncello. I do not think that many will have a bad tour on the Amalfi coast as the scenery is fantastic and the negative comments about other drivers may prove to be the exception rather than the rule.

Mike

[drwong]

Note that the second Salvatore is not the same as the first! Our group of 11 booked both vehicles for a driving tour. We got Salvatore #1, who functioned as both a driver and a guide. Salvatore #2, on the other hand, saw his role as just a driver, forcing the passengers in his van to listen to his choice of radio selections.

If you have to book Salvatore #2, make sure you tell #1 that you want #2 to give a guided, narrated tour. Otherwise, you can try Marcello or his partner Adriano at SeeSorento (dot.com). I've heard mixed reviews about Marcello, namely that he takes you to a relative's expensive restaurant and doesn't personally guide you around, but you can always ask for a less expensive meal. Remember that he's a driver, not a guide. That means he's not licensed to escort you around Pompeii, although you can hire one for 10E for a two-hour tour. And he can't walk you around Positano because he has to remain with the vehicle, but you can ask him where to go ahead of time. And although he can't advertise himself as a guide, most drivers know the region well and will launch into a travelogue if asked the right questions.

In any case, it's better than driving yourself and far cheaper than a ship's tour!

Richard

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;4;3;17;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000[/img]
From the Insignia's Inaugural sailing (4/3/2004)

[MVPinBoynton]

Regarding the restaurant that Marcello takes his clients to, it is a bargain for what you get. From what I understand, just getting a pizza and beer in Positano can cost well over 20 Euros. So a full multi course meal with all the wine you wish to drink as well as home made after dinner liquors is a bargain for that area. I do not believe that the family at the restaurant is related to Marcello.

The restaurant is a marvelous experience, but if you would rather go somewhere else to eat to save money or time, he will happily oblige. We normally prefer to have a quick lunch when touring on a cruise, since the time in port is so limited. This excursion is the only time that we have taken time for a long lunch, and everyone in our group couldn't have been happier about it.

None of the drivers by law can go into Pompeii with you; but since whoever you use for the Amalfi Drive will be with you during most of the trip, you do want someone who can tell you about what you are seeing. Ewong, Drwong's advice about Salvatore #2 might have saved you from a less than desirable tour. You owe him one. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Mike


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[Mike Andrews]

As I have posted previously the Amalfi Drive is more of a driving tour than a guided tour where you take in the scenery and relax after City tours.Salvatore is excellent as a guide and driver and I am sure any assistants that he uses will try to keep to his high standards.

Mike

[ewong]

I am a little stressed now after reading drwong's experience with Salvatore #2. Maybe I should ask Salvatore #1 for another driver/guide? We are going next week and there are not many other recommended guides available last minute. What do you think I should do?

[Mike Andrews]

I would contact Salvatore and explain your concerns and I am sure he will ensure that you have a great tour.

Mike

[Hixson1]

How do you know which Salvatore is which? One replied and said he was personally available, now i'm confused!

[drwong]

Salvatore #1 is the tour organizer. You won't be hearing from Salvatore #2, via e-mail or on your drive. (Just kidding!!!) I noted the passengers' complaints about #2 to #1 after our tour - hopefully he's had a talk with #2 by now. You might want to e-mail #1 to confirm. (#1 might be already booked on Ewong's day but available on Hixson1's day, hence the confusion).

I agree with Mike of Boynton's general comment about not wanting to waste time sitting at some restaurant when you could be seeing the Amalfi Coast or shopping in Positano (featured in Conde Nast Traveller a couple of years ago). We went to Pompeii in the morning (the sun is less intense during that time of day), finishing around noon. We bought some foccacia from one of the stands outside the ruins and got on the road right away, avoiding the afternoon heat in our air-conditioned van.

Buy a bagful oranges at a roadside stand - our ship had no fresh citrus aboard (except for the lemons and limes at the bar) and your cabin attendant might appreciate a gift of fresh fruit after being cooped up aboard a ship for six months.

Richard

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;4;3;17;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000[/img]
From the Insignia's Inaugural sailing (4/3/2004)

[Mike Andrews]

As drwong says Salvatore is the tour leader and if he is available then you are in for a great day as I think he is probably the best diver/guide on the Amalfi Coast.A visit to Pompei in the morning as it is not so busy and not so hot. Salvatore is at [email]driveamalfi@hotmail.com[/email]

Mike

[ewong]

Thank you all for helping me out on the planning of the Amalfi tour. Our group don't feel very comfortable with Salvatore #2 after all and have booked Adriano (Marcello's assistant) for this tour. I hope S1 will be available the next time we are in Naples.

[ClaudiaF]

We just got back from our cruise and used Marcello for our tour of Amalfi. He is delightful,kind of like a long lost cousin, but never shuts up.. which from reading about the #1 and #2 Salvatore's may be better ;-)
The restaurant he took us to is up in the hills high above Positano, with great views, but no terrace ..all picture windows, very country looking & they charged 30EU per person for an incredible multi course lunch ( appetizers, pastas, fish ( all different kinds) meats ( all different kinds)salads, water and wine and desserts.
It was wonderful. This is not his family, but would be considered a family style restaurant .

Barcelona to Venice on Oceania - "Insignia"
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Buenos Aires to Rio Oceania - "Insignia"
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[AIRLINES BRAT]

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO JOIN OUR GROUP?
"PORT OF NAPLES JULY 4"
Go from the ship to Capri via hydrofoil in the early morning on our own ...then take a hydrofoil to Sorrento to pick up a tour of Amalfi Coast stops in Sorrento, Positano, Ravello and Amalfi ... ending the tour at our ship. We can also do this intinerary in reverse order. Is anyone interested in joining our group?
July 1, 2004 sailing ..Brilliance of the Seas

[nancycoop1]

Hi - we are sailing on the Insignia leaving Venice on August 31st and have booked Salvatore for a private tour from Amalfi. We have room for two more people if anyone would like to join us.

Nancy C

MS Noordam 2002
MS Oosterdam 2003
Grand Princess 2004
Oceania Insignia 2004