I went to the Amalfi Coast for my honeymoon. The trip was great, but there are 3 things I wish I'd done differently.

• My husband and I spent time on the Amalfi Coast while on our honeymoon in Italy.
• I underestimated how tiring it would be to get from the US to Rome to Naples to the Amalfi Coast.
• We should've booked a boat tour and spent more nights on the Amalfi Coast.

When my husband and I chose the Amalfi Coast for our honeymoon, we knew we were in for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Everything about this part of Italy sounded dreamy, from the stunning cliffside views and the tasty local cuisine to the charming coastal towns and stunning beaches.

In many ways, our honeymoon was incredible. However, looking back, there are three things I wish we'd done differently to make our trip even better.

I underestimated how exhausting it would be to get to the Amalfi Coast

Getting to the Amalfi Coast wasn't as simple as hopping on a direct flight.

Our journey from the United States involved a long-haul flight to Rome, a train to Naples, and then a car ride along winding cliffside roads to reach our final destination.

In theory, we knew this would be a long travel day, but we didn't fully appreciate just how exhausting it would feel after an overnight flight.

By the time we arrived, jet-lagged and slightly carsick, we felt too drained to truly enjoy our first evening as much as we'd hoped.

In hindsight, I wish we had planned a night's stopover in Rome to break up the journey. This would've allowed us to rest, adjust to the time zone, and ease into vacation mode before heading to the coast.

If you're traveling a long distance to the Amalfi Coast, you may also want to consider giving yourself a buffer day in Rome, Naples, or even Sorrento to make the journey less overwhelming.

A boat tour could've been a great addition to our trip

One of the most iconic ways to experience the Amalfi Coast is from the water — I'd seen amazing photos of private boat tours that pass beautiful villages and stop at hidden coves and caves.

However, we decided not to book a tour since our time on the coast was limited, and they can be pricey (most are over 100 euros a person).

At the time, we assumed that taking in the coastline from land would be more than enough. The views from our hikes and hotel terrace were breathtaking, but we both felt we had missed an opportunity by skipping a boat tour.

We only got to enjoy the coastal beauty via water taxi a few times while going from our hotel in Praiano to Positano — and part of me regrets not extending our journey further to explore places like Capri.

I wish we'd stayed longer

We spent four nights on the Amalfi Coast before heading to Rome.

With such limited time, we packed as much into our schedule as possible and split our time between Praiano and Positano.

Although we had a fantastic experience, our time on the coast felt rushed.

There's something about this part of Italy that made us want to slow down for a long lunch with a view or leisurely wander the streets without an agenda. I found myself wishing for more downtime.

Another couple of nights would have allowed our trip to have a more relaxed pace while giving us a chance to explore lesser-known spots or savor an extra dinner at our favorite restaurant.

For anyone considering a honeymoon or trip to the Amalfi Coast, I recommend staying at least five or six nights.

Overall, we still had a good trip

Our honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast was nothing short of incredible, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

If I return in the future, I'd make a few small adjustments based on my experience, like booking a boat tour, breaking up the long travel day, and extending our stay to make our trip even better.

For future travelers, my other big piece of advice is to plan with intention but leave room for spontaneity.

The Amalfi Coast is meant to be savored, and the best moments of a trip often happen when you slow down, take a deep breath, and simply enjoy the beauty around you.