We went to the Amalfi Coast during peak summer season. These 4 tips made our trip better — but there’s one mistake I won’t make again.

If you’re ready to get off your feet and have the time to enjoy a restaurant experience, do it. But if you’re just feeling peckish for a quick snack, eating it as you stroll can save you a few euros.

That’s because some restaurants tack on a coperto, or an additional cover fee for a dine-in 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 I mention how expensive this destination can get during high season?

I was glad we didn’t rent a car

There are so many iconic sights around the Amalfi Coast, all packed into what seems like a feasible number of kilometers to traverse in a few days’ time.

Renting a car is possible, but this area is not casual road-trip territory unless you’re adventurous, fearless, and well-insured.

Many roads felt treacherous because they were narrow and perched above dramatic cliffs leading to the sea. Sometimes, they were one-way only.

If you’re not staying in one location and plan to explore the area mostly by foot, I’d recommend hiring a driver (as we did) or arranging some other organized tour.

Packing fashionably but practically was key

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

I’d booked many excursions online in advance but found my family was just too tired to do several of them. Unfortunately, I was on the hook to pay for them even if we didn’t show up.

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

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

If I did this trip again, I’d plan to check off fewer of the so-called “can’t miss” sights so I could spend more time relaxing and absorbing the scenery and local culture with a spritz in hand.