Italy
Christmas in Sorrento
Program No. 23713RJ
Celebrate the Christmas holiday in Sorrento! Attend classical concerts, explore the ancient city of Pompeii and experience the beauty of Capri and the Amalfi Coast with a local expert.
Participant Reviews
Based on 11 Reviews
SHOWING
Christmas in Sorrento was a memorable and enjoyable trip. It was my first trip with Road Scholars. Pompeii and Herculaneum initially attracted me to the program and did not disappoint! Our local guides were personable, engaging and knowledgeable. The content was exactly what I had hoped for--linking history, culture, language, archaeology and the strategic location Italy has been for milennia.
Although the weather could have been friendlier, the festive season in Sorrento and its people were warm and welcoming. Hotel Michaelangelo is perfectly situated to explore Sorrento on foot. The hotel staff and chefs were very professional, the meals delicious and healthy, and the accomodations comfortable.
The programing of the lecture on Italian politics on Christmas Eve was poorly timed. I would have been open to it earlier in the week. Our guide, Georgia, worked hard to accomodate special needs of our group and was always ready to answer questions. She could have consolidated some of the written information to one source vs. 3 sources and possibly looked ahead a bit more in giving information. But I enjoyed her humor, kindness and knowledge very much.
I would consider traveling again with Road Scholar!
— Review left January 9, 2025
We had a wonderful guide, Alessandra Sarappa, who welcomed us to explore Sorrento, Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast and Capri with warmth, enthusiasm and knowledge. The program provided a busy but not overwhelming daily itinerary. Alessandra skillfully reconfigured the itinerary in response to weather conditions that caused us to reschedule boat trips, and we were then able to see nearly everything that was originally planned. The group was very diverse including interesting folks from all over the States and also Portugal. We really enjoyed our interactions with fellow group members. Sorrento is a fun place to stay during the holidays, with lots of festive lights decorating the streets, all restaurants were open for business, and mostly locals strolling about - it's much better to come during "low season" as it is likely insanely crowded around the Amalfi Coast during the summer. Italians come to visit Sorrento from Naples during the holidays, so that tells you a lot!
— Review left January 6, 2025
Great Christmas week in Sorrento! The Michelangelo was an excellent hotel location for exploring the city. All the Christmas lights and displays and church creches helped set the mood. Walking tours of Sorrento the first days were outstanding. We were surrounded by the culture and local families. Food was fantastic! The working farm was a highlight , but I wish we would have had time to see the animals and the lemon and olive trees. The demonstration of the cheese making was interesting, but it went so fast. The hands on cooking was handled well and inspired me to make the tart and gnocchi on my own! I would have liked to see the daily schedule posted in the hotel. Some concerts were listed but never mentioned in the brief orientation to the day. It would have been nice to have a few sessions when we were gathered in a circle and could reflect on our learnings and shared our questions. It would have been fun to share our learnings from our pre-reading. The local guides and lectures were excellent, I wish they had been offered at times that fit our energy levels better. Our drivers were so skilled and made the field trips such highlights. The incredible scenery will stay with me forever!! It was disappointing not to get in the villa on Capri. The logistics were handled well and the changes accommodated as best they could be. I highly recommend this tour. The whisperers helped us hear the guides and we learned a lot! They were well informed and communicated well. The Tarsia Museum with Alessandro was another highlight, I'm not sure Christmas Day was the best timing for it. I wish we would have known more about needing money for the public bathrooms. The suggestions for local restaurants was very helpful. I never had such excellent pizza ever!
— Review left January 6, 2025
Sorrento at Christmas is lovely. However be prepared that some of the activities listed maybe cut short or cancelled due to weather conditions that exist in the area during the winter. For example the ferries were not running due to rough seas, so it cut our day short in Capri and we were not able to see the Amalfi coast from the water.
— Review left December 31, 2024
Fantastic program to a magical place.
— Review left December 28, 2024
Sorrento Italy is a beautiful place to visit at Christmas time! The Road Scholar itinerary kept us busy with time to explore on our own. I came as a solo woman traveler and left with two friends that I'll continue to keep in touch with. Everyone was friendly and respectful. I enjoyed learning about other Road Scholar trips from the other participants. I'll be scheduling future trips soon!
— Review left December 28, 2024
If you haven't been to Sorrento, Italy. You gotta go! During Christmas the light are specataular! The people are friendly/ The leaders of the Road Scholar make it special. You won't be disappointed.
— Review left December 30, 2023
Christmas in Sorrento provided insight into how local and foreign guests can celebrate and honor the beauty and magic of Christmas in a safe setting.
— Review left December 30, 2023
The trip was well-planned and beautifully executed! Our personal guide(Barbara Gigi) and all the specific guides were so knowledgeable and personable. The food, hotel, and events were excellent. It was my first RS adventure but will not be my last!
— Review left December 29, 2023
Christmas in Sorrento was a delightful tour.
Sorrento knows how to do Christmas. While in the city we attended concerts, visited a multitude of nativity scenes, joined the street festivities and shopped. But we also had great trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri and the Amalfi coast. We were able to enjoy the restaurants, history and splendor without the crowds and traffic of the summer. The guides and organizers were fun, and so very knowledgeable. And of course, the other participants became fast friends in the adventure.
For anyone interested, there is a lot of walking on this trip, and many of us averaged well over the four miles of day that is noted, by the time we explored and went out in the evenings. Some of the walking is steep up and down, and both Pompeii and Herculaneum have very uneven street and sidewalk surfaces. A walking stick was a useful item, as well as shoes that can handle slippery surfaces. Also note that that there are a lot of bus rides on twisty and steep roads, as well as a boat ride, so people who experience car or sea sickness need to come prepared.
I thought it was a fantastic trip and am so glad I went. Plaudits to the RS organizers!
— Review left December 31, 2022
I greatly enjoyed this trip. It was extremely well organized. Michele, our group leader, kept everything running like clockwork. And she was a delight to work with. I fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Pompeii, although I enjoyed Herculaneum even more. Having Jan take us on two introductory walks in Sorrento was wonderful, and helpful.
The trip can be challenging for those with mobility issues, and I recommend wearing hiking shoes and carrying a walking stick for the visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum. It was great to see how another culture celebrates Christmas. There were several optional activities for those who wished to take part. I think we got a good cross-section of places near Sorrento, such as Capri, Amalfi and others. I suggest doing the visit to the farm on a night other than the night before departure as the program runs somewhat late and several participants had very early flight the next morning.
I am so glad I went on this trip!
— Review left December 29, 2022