Things I wish we had known before going to the Amalfi Coast in high season

But I always wanted to visit and had to work around my children’s school holiday schedule. So we went in peak season.

While we made many happy memories, we also encountered a lot of discomfort. Here are four things that made our trip better—and one thing I wouldn’t do next time.

Taking out our food regularly has saved us money

If you’re ready to get up and take the time to enjoy a restaurant experience, go for it. But if you simply feel like a quick snack, eating it while walking can save you a few euros.

That’s because some restaurants accept a coperto, or additional cover charge, for a dining experience — even if you’re grabbing a quick coffee or gelato at a sidewalk table.

It doesn’t seem like much, but the name of the game for budget-conscious travelers is saving a few euros wherever you can. And did we mention how expensive this destination can get during peak season?

I was glad I didn’t rent a car

There are so many iconic attractions around the Amalfi Coast, all packed into what seems like a doable number of kilometers to cover in a few days.

Car hire is possible, but this area is not casual road trip territory unless you are adventurous, intrepid and well insured.

Many roads felt treacherous as they were narrow and perched above dramatic cliffs that led to the sea. Sometimes they were only one-way.

If you are not staying in one location and plan to explore the area mostly on foot, I recommend hiring a driver (as we did) or taking another organized tour.

Fashionable yet practical packaging was key

The Amalfi Coast is like a fashion show in high season – a feast for the eyes of Italian coastal chic.

But given the heat and topography of the rock, you also need to pack for practicality or pay for the choice with discomfort.

I was glad I packed breathable clothes that could withstand the stifling heat and humidity.

Comfortable footwear is also crucial as the beautiful path to Positano is steep with lots of ramps and stairs. Some of the beaches have pebbles instead of sand, so consider packing water shoes or other supportive footwear.

Eating a lot of pizza was also a great idea for our wallets

Pizza is plentiful, authentic and downright delicious in the region, but there’s a less obvious reason to eat a ton of it on the Amalfi Coast: it’s cheap.

Prices around the tourist centers in this region felt skyrocketing, especially during the busy season. Accommodation, transport, souvenirs and meals added up, but we tried to save where we could.

In many places I’ve eaten, pizza has been the cheapest item on the menu by a landslide. Luckily, it’s also a crowd pleaser for our whole family, so sharing it was a real cost-saving strategy.

I wish we hadn’t overbooked and tried to do too much though

Our Airbnb in Sorrento was our hub from which we visited the Amalfi Coast and the surrounding area on day trips. This was a good move. Trying to pack a lot of activities into a few days amid the hectic crowds and intense heat was not.

I booked many tours online in advance, but found that my family was too tired to do some of them. Unfortunately I was on the hook to pay them even though we didn’t show up.

In fact, my husband and daughter ditched our semi-private boat trip to Capri because they just couldn’t wake up in time. (They ended up getting FOMO and met the rest of my family there later on the ferry, meaning I paid double. Fail.)

I’ve found that if you try to do too much, you’ll burn yourself out—at the expense of a fun or meaningful experience.

If I were to do this trip again, I’d plan to check out fewer of the so-called “can’t-miss” attractions so I could spend more time relaxing and soaking up the scenery and local culture with a spritz in hand.