The short answer: NO.

When visiting Naples and the rest of the South of Italy you can do better things with your time and money than traveling to Capri to see the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), especially if  that is your sole intention for visiting Capri .  Yes, this Roman Emperor private swimming hole has breathtaking and unexpected color, but you will be ferried in and out so quickly that you will not have any time to soak it in.  The 11€50 admission charge buys a short and cramped boat trip through a cave that while beautiful is simply a waste of money.

Capri has a breathtaking coastline and cliffs that for centuries have been admired and for a short time during the reign of Tiberius (AD 17-34) feared ( he used to like to toss people down to the jagged shore.)  Today, Capri still attracts emperors of sorts as evidenced by the private ships like Limitless (owned by Victoria Secrets boss Leslie Wexner) that commonly circle the island.  No, there was no Adriana Lima sightings, unfortunately.

If you still decide to visit, knock yourself out.  I recommend giving the Blue Grotto a miss, but you will still see some very comparable caves and water colors on your tour around the island.

Here is an idea of the base costs for a day trip from Naples:

• Ferry:  €11-18 each way
• Boat trip around island (Blue Grotto not included): €14
• Admission to Blue Grotto: €11,50
• Total: minimum €47,50 per person or 8 pizzas at Sorbillos in Naples
• Food is about 2x to 3x more expensive than in Naples
• Limitless purchase price when you get yacht rich, more than $100,000,000
• Cost of renting a yacht like the Limitless $500,000 weekly

So, Capri is not a budget destination but now you something to look forward when you strike it yacht rich.

If you are planning a trip to anyplace near Naples then check out hostelsofnaples.com or if you want to enhance your adventure in the authentic Italy, just reserve at Bella Capri and let them help you plan the rest of your trip when you get there.  The secrets of Ischia, the Limoncello of Sorrento and Amalfi and so many more surprises are waiting to be explored and introduced to you by the proud partners of Hostels of Naples.

Chances are that you have never heard of the small Italian towns called Qualiano, Giugliano, Marigliano, Pianura or Acerra, however you have probably seen them on the news buried under a pile of garbage. While each of these cities is between 10 and 23 kilometers outside Naples, a lot of the media reporting about the garbage crisis are lumping all of them under a common name, Naples. For over a year the media have pumped pictures, videos and stories about Naples and its rubbish problem, but now some of the city’s hoteliers want you to know that the problem is outside of Naples.

Not since the Grand Tour (1660s -1840s) has Naples been on the radar of most travelers other then serving as a base for exploring Pompei or a place to catch the ferry to Capri. So when it is not clarified exactly where the garbage is stacking up, tourists seem to be assuming that Naples proper is buried, so they are giving the city a miss which is having a negative impact on the emerging tourist community. Click through for map.

According to Alfredo Cefalo who owns two budget hotels in Naples, “THERE IS NO TRASH IN NAPLES!” He goes on the state that “it is undeniable that the outer Napoli (the interland) is facing a problem, but it is not that tourists come to Napoli and go to see Marigliano, Giugliano, Qualiano, right? This unreliable news is deeply damaging the image of this great city, and it’s also giving a stab at our businesses.” This sentiment is reinforced by the owner of Hostel of the Sun, Luca, who states, “they collect the rubbish everyday here and what they actually showing on tv and [in the] newspapers are the suburbs out of Napoli , anyway the things are getting better there too.” Ironically, Alfredo may be a little wrong in that a tour called SpazzaTour (Trash Tour) has been created and posted on YouTube, which clearly shows that the garbage is in the suburbs. Actually SpazzaTour is just a van that is carrying journalists from heap to heap, not something that you can book. Search “spazzatour” on Youtube for examples, many are in Italian.

To help you get a better understanding of where the main problem we created a map which clearly indicates that the trash is outside Naples. If you were thinking about visiting Naples don’t let all the news dissuade you everything is up, going and there are plenty of people waiting to greet you!

Of course Pompeii is not a problem area but we added it to show that the trash problem is not there either.

* Denotes where trash problem is most serious.

As prices rise across Europe people are starting to make their way to off-the-beaten-path places like Naples. Once upon a time travelers would go to Naples only as a connection for going to Positano, Pompeii, Capri or perhaps lands further south.

Admittedly, a place like Naples can be intimidating because of all the chaos and indeed there are not many highly known reasons for visiting. However, if you are into a little adventure and love good food then iKangaroo recommends giving Naples a shot, at least for a night.

Naples is famous for are its food and more specifically its delicious pizza. Granted, it may not be that easy to find, but that is why we have tracked down Luca who is the owner of Hostel of the Sun to give us some recommendations on where to find Naples’s best pizza and experience its most delicious typical restaurants.

A couple of tips:

1. Don’t be afraid of the sardines because a lot of typical Neapolitan food is made with them. Including the classic Naples’ Pizza.
2. Try the Puttanesca which is a classic dish with a rich history, and it is vegetarian friendly.

Happy Travels

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