Ahh, the Amalfi Coast. There are few other regions in Italy—make that Europe—that conjure up such alluring I’m-on-vacation images by name only. But for those who haven’t yet been, it’s helpful to know that the Amalfi Coast can be pricey and the summer months (and increasingly, shoulder seasons) can be intensely crowded.

It’s also quite a large area with essentially one main road traversing it, resulting in some epic traffic jams—all of which can make a trip here…challenging. But skipping this iconic 30-mile stretch of coastline altogether is unthinkable, right?