How to Pack for the Amalfi Coast

I recently went on a press trip to the Amalfi and Cilento coasts that dovetailed with a long planned family trip to Ponza. Packing was challenge. Now I knew that the Amalfi Coast has stairs. A lot of stairs. And we that we were going to be moving around a lot. In Ponza, the charming house we rent requires a vigorous hike on a very narrow path to reach. I had to have a dress for a Michelin starred dinner,  beach clothes, nature walk clothes and comfortable but chic travel to and from clothes. A few of my fellow travelers asked me how I did it, so I decided to share my secrets to how to pack for the Amalfi Coast here.

A few years ago I decided that I was done looking for a new purse every few months that was light, zipped (Rome has a lot of pickpockets) and cute. My choice for this holy grail of bags? The Longchamp Bag. I have big ones and small ones, black ones and brightly colored ones. You really can't have too many.

My Kindle Paperwhite is the first thing I pack so that I am never without something to read on the train and ferry. Check out my Goodreads to see what I am reading now.

Packing Cubes are the true secret to maximizing space without everything inside being a crumpled wrinkled mess. I have a vast collection of these, my first ones came from LLBean and I also like the super light compression ones from The Container Store and the well sized set from Ikea.

My iPhone is my main camera. This really takes a toll on my battery life. I always have an external battery with me so I never miss a shot. 

When I pulled out my blue pestemal from the magical Longchamp bag, my traveling pals really could not believe all I that could fit in there! I love these soft light towels that can be a beach towel, a pareo, a scarf or a blanket. I bought mine at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. 

I love my beat up white Superga sneakers. I can walk for hours, go to the beach and run up and down the Positano steps for pizza in these. 

Leave that Lands End Tankini at home. Everyone on the Amalfi Coast will be wearing a bikini. Some chic brands to look for are Parah, which you can find at COIN department stores or the eternally fashionable Eres, which has a shop on Capri. 

I always travel with at least one of Sabine Shomber's linen tunics. 

A few light cotton dresses are cool, comfortable and can take you from a morning tour to a candlelit dinner. The ones I am wearing now come from Aspesi, Laura Urbinati, the Gap and my neighborhood wonder seamstress, Tina Sodergaard.

A big sparkly necklace can make a simple summer dress go from beach casual to Michelin starred dinner chic. Mine are from JCrew, Accessorize and a tiny boutique in Rehoboth Beach. 

Follow my advice and you should have just enough room for some Amalfi Coast shopping. I recommend a floaty coverup from Antica Sartoria, a pair of strappy handmade sandals and some perfume from the Sirenuse or Carthusia. 

For more information about places I love on the Amalfi Coast, Capri and Ponza download one of my ebooks.