The Two Sides of Capri

It is always fun to read about places you have been. The New York Times recently had a travel review of Carpri, one of the places I visited in Italy in June. The article did accurately describe the two extremes of Carpi. On one hand there are the day trippers who tend to come in large groups with a tour leader. They fill the streets and make many of the towns very crowded during the day. Many of the these groups are Chinese. You can always tell them by their umbrellas. There is an increasing number of Chinese tourist in several places in Italy. I learned from a Hungarian friend that the Chinese government designates various places, like Hungary, as officially approved tourist designations. Apparently Italy has also achieved this designation.

They accurately note that the town is much better in the evening after the day trippers are back on their ferries and safely out of sight. They then describe many of the very upscale five stars hotels where the beautiful people stay. The news likes to deal in extremes and there is another middle option. Since I am not in the five start hotel budget class, I was pleased to find a number of great more modestly priced mid-range hotels. We stayed at the Hotel Weber in the Marina Piccola area. This waterfront hotel has many balconies of the rooms looking at the best sea views in Capri. The area is also on the back side of Capri so it does not get the hordes of day trippers. You can walk down to the beach which is a good thing.

Comments

[thebizofknowledge]

I stumbled across your blog while I was doing some online research. In my experience, it is more than possible to find perfectly suitable lodgings at modest prices here, just as it is possible to find great food inexpensively in almost any restaurant here.

[Travel Guy]

I've noticed a huge increase in escorted tours in Chinese in Venice Italy as well. I didn't know about the 'official tourist destination' thing, that's interesting. Do you know of anywhere I could find a list of the ones they've designated? I'd be interested to see them.

[bill Ives]

Thanks for the question. I would try Google but do not know the answer. You could always tell the Chinese by their umbrellas in the Italian sun. Bill