Trip 3… Naples Day 1
Sometimes, when life gets you down with a whole load of commotion, you just need to get away from it all. You need to clear your mind, be somewhere new for a little while, get your head back into order, and recharge before heading back into the chaos of everyday life. This trip was exactly what I needed. Being invited to Naples with the family last minute was the perfect opportunity. Time to book flights, secure a hotel, pack my bags, and go! A big thank you to Sky Scanner, EasyJet, Booking.com, and GetYourGuide for making the whole trip possible.
For this trip, my main focus was to enjoy as much as I could, discover the gems around Naples, recharge, and have a blast! I managed about two-thirds of those goals throughout the trip. A few days before heading to the airport, the news broke that a heatwave was hitting Italy, with temperatures reaching 36°C (or more!). This was going to be a hot holiday.
Packing the day before, I laid out my clothes on the bed, carefully planning what to wear for this heatwave of a trip. I’ve survived 34°C heat before, but this was looking like the hottest holiday to date! All packed and ready to go, I set an early bedtime for a 4 AM rush to the airport.
If you wake up at 4 AM on a regular day, you’re usually tired and cranky the rest of the day. But when it’s for a holiday, a burst of energy kicks in, fueled by excitement. Within 10 minutes, I was ready to go. After a 3-hour journey, with McDonald's McNuggets as our snack, we arrived at the car park. It was a bit of a maze to find the entrance and available parking, but we finally made it. We caught the bus to the airport, checked in, and went through security. With some extra time to spare, we grabbed a drink and browsed the shops. After all, when you're going on holiday, it’s always best to arrive early than to risk being late!
Our flight was delayed by an hour, so we decided to head to Starbucks for a frappé and a cake. After the gate was announced, we headed down to the plane. Being near the front of the queue, we got to our seats quickly and stored our stuff overhead. It’s always a bit of a hassle if you wait for everyone else to board—their bags end up on the other end of the plane! I was lucky to have no one sitting next to me, making the flight blissful. Headphones in, manga in hand, and the journey flew by. We arrived in Naples with plenty of time to spare.
As soon as I stepped off the plane, the heat hit me like a chili that’s gone down the wrong hole—sharp and painful! While waiting for the rest of the family, I was rushed onto a bus to head to the arrivals door. After a few minutes, we all exited the airport, and wow, it was packed! The summer crowds were in full swing.
Once we got outside, there was a taxi waiting. My overthinking brain told me to avoid the first one we saw—what if it was a scam or took us somewhere strange? But no, we went straight to the first taxi, and off we went to the hotel. As we rode through the winding roads, I marveled at the views before we finally arrived.
AIR-CON! Walking into the hotel felt like heaven, especially after the heat outside. We checked in, dropped our bags in our rooms, and headed up to the bar for a drink while sorting out a basic itinerary for the week.
When you're in a new place, everything can blur together. But that’s why I love finding the unique gems in each area that give a place its own identity.
When planning an itinerary, you need to give yourself time to explore but also hit the must-see landmarks or events. For us, the main highlights were Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, and the Amalfi Coast. However, after feeling the heat, we decided to cut Mount Vesuvius out and shorten our visit to Pompeii to half a day. It was just too hot to spend a full day there with all the crowds. After booking some tours that would pick us up from the hotel, here’s what our itinerary looked like:
Day 1: Arrive in Naples, relaxing afternoon, explore the area near the hotel, dinner by the waterfront.
Day 2: Shop in Centro Storico and Vomero, dinner out.
Day 3: Pompeii (half-day), more exploring of nearby shops and restaurants in a different direction.
Day 4: Amalfi Coast trip—Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi Coast, dinner at the hotel.
Day 5: Relax by the pool, visit the remaining shops, explore more of Centro Storico—Galleria Principe di Napoli.
Day 6: Last bit of pool time, then head back to the airport for the flight home.
It wasn’t too packed, but it was just enough to keep us busy without feeling overwhelmed.
After we put our suitcases away and finalized our plans for the week, we set out to explore what was near the hotel—high hills and only houses around. The walk down the steep, winding hill to the waterfront was longer and steeper than I had expected. By the time we got to the bottom, we were starving and in search of dinner. We found a restaurant opposite the water—Bar Napoli.
After scanning the extensive menu, I decided to try the carbonara. Whenever I’m in Italy, I always try the carbonara because it’s always different wherever I go. This one was rich and filling—huge portions that, by the end, made it look like I hadn’t touched my plate. I’d rate it a 5/10.
After dinner, we ventured further down the road toward the park and mini beach we had seen from the hotel balcony. Unfortunately, it was too packed to get close enough to dip our feet in the water to cool down. As we were heading back to the hotel, we stumbled upon a gelato shop—perfect for cooling off. As we turned the corner, enjoying our ice cream, we discovered a hidden path through the trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves. It was a small, hidden gem—one that only appeared when the conditions were right.
On our way back up the hill, I thought I’d found a shortcut. Turns out, it was a tunnel under a dual carriageway. A little concerned, we decided to keep going. Eventually, we ended up walking right past the hotel, forcing us to backtrack and take a longer route back, making the walk an extra hour. By this point, we were all tired, annoyed, and ready to get back. So, after grabbing some water, I used the FREENOW app to order a taxi back to the hotel.
Lesson learned: Always carry water and double-check the map before heading anywhere!
It was time to put our feet up, hydrate, shower, and plan for a long lay-in tomorrow.
Ciao for now!
E x
