Most waterside hotels are going to have stratospheric pricing in summer, especially if you are looking for a 4* so you might as well go where you want to go. Also be aware that in the mostly touristy destinations you've mentioned, you are not going to get "great" food unless you go out of town for it.

I would think Puglia is your best bet. You should also check out the Gargano peninsula and the Gulf of Taranto.

Just so you know, you can't visit Pompei and Paestum "easily" from Positano. You could do that more easily from Maiori , but I don't know what hotels are like around there. Beach is much better than in Positano, and food is better once you start heading down the coast toward Salerno.

I have heard that Paestum itself has a lovely beach, but again, your chances of finding a 4* in that area are slim, I think.

Sestri Levante on the Riviera has two enjoyable sand beaches, but read reviews for its 4* hotels. It has much better food than Santa Margherita Ligure, and you might find even its best hotels are bargains compared to some other destinations.

Taormina is so touristy and hot in summer, and food is not stellar, so I'd look elsewhere in Sicily. Maybe the Panarea or other resort locations? (But once you are there, you are stuck there.)

http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/grand-dei-castelli.en.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sestri_Levante

And if you prefer way south and lots of sand

http://www.hotelfalli.com/index-en.php

but you should check reviews, as I have never stayed there

We visited Mondello in Sicily some years ago in March. Kids were playing volley ball on what looked like a sandy beach. There was a nifty Deco beach house, sweet market and quite a few summer homes (you'd need to google places/hotels). Mondello is about 10 miles from Palermo where we based for bus trips to Monreale and Agrigento. We just took a city bus to the beach as one of our day trips from Palermo. We flew to Palermo airport and bussed into the city.

I know you said Italy, but Menton, France is just a hop, skip and jump from the Italian border. We based there (again, in March) and stayed on the western end of the beach. We agreed that the eastern end looked more "popular" and easier walk to a lovely shopping area. I'm not certain how pebbly the beach is. We flew to Nice airport and bussed to Menton.

From Menton, we visited the big market in Ventimiglia, Italy. There was a big beach there as well.

No doubt someone who has been to what I've described can be more specific. DH and I were not beach people.

I have stayed in Mondello near Palermo and it is pretty shabby.

Before I chose Menton, I'd check out Corsica.

I love the beaches in this area, and this hotel is quite nice.

http://www.villairlanda.com/index_eng.php

Consider Castiglione della Pescaia in Tuscany: sandy beach, town with some historic interest, food of an acceptable, non-touristy standard, since the town is not on most non-Italians' radar. Hotel might be a problem: there are not many; Italian families presumably use vacation rentals that they return to year after year.

The term "masseria" refers to the architectural style and original use of the property. So I am curious as to why you would reject staying at one outright, since the term now encompasses a vast range of Pugliese properties from rustic rural agriturismi to sumptuous multi-star properties on or near the sea.

Where did you stay in Mondello, zeppole?

And why an island over the convenient location of Menton? Just asking.

Thank you very much for the feedback.

Gargano looks really good and I was researching it the other day. I then got to checking hotel reviews and, again, none seemed very good. Many were large, aimed towards families with young kids and/or were only half board. We will keep looking there because geographically it looks like it would be easy to combine that area with another part of Italy, a bit north or south.

Yes, we are looking south of Amalfi. Towards Maratea, where the beaches and food both look good. Any suggestions on a property there? We have found a small very nice B&B in the hills near to Pasteum and that may be an option, with easy beach access, we think.

Sestri Levante also looks good and we will research hotels. That could also combine with a drive north and west to Provence.

On that score, do you have the name of the hotel(s) that looked good in Meton?

Castiglianoe in Tuscany looks great too, will search for hotels.

For the Masserias we have found, after checking a number of them, many appeal a bit far from town. The very nice ones and those that seem most appealing get very expensive in the summer, at least equal in cost or more expensive than 5 star luxe properties near Amalfi or elsewhere. Likewise we are traveling with our teens. Most Masserias will not accomodate four in a room, even their largest suite, so we then would have to take two very expensive rooms, most that do not connect. So, all in all, they have not panned out for us. Yet the area seems very good.

Locanda delle Donna Monache in Maratea town is a nice hotel.

I loved the town of Maratea but it is on the hillside with no sea views. You need a car to get to the beach. The coastal scenery in that area is superlative and the beaches I saw were divine.


http://www.locandamonache.com/

TDudette,

In Mondello, I stayed in rental apartments in the heart of town.

As for Menton, I just don't find the town all that appealing. I certainly don't see it as a multi-day destination for a beach vacation. The beaches are blah. Corsica has some areas of pristine waters, some still wild beaches and the possibility of real seclusion except in the peak of summer.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/corsicas-wild-beaches-mountains-and-beauty

Consider also the area around SanRemo. SanRemo itself has postage stamp beaches, but short busses or trains from there lead to lusher places, and pretty cities. Each burgh near there has some rare qualities like nowhere else. SanRemo itself has a great market, a vivid center, brilliant light, and great aspects. Bordighera nearby (a jostling, florid bus-ride from there) is a languid beauty. Imperia has an old city on the hill that is rarely visited but is remarkable. Albenga is inland, but has a classic architectural center. Alassio and Finale Ligure, just an hour or so away, have great beaches (but little else - - although sometimes that is OK). You could also do a daytrip to Genoa - - or Nice - - for some great city shopping and visual experience. And even border-city Ventimiglia has good beaches and a great market. This is a dense, rich area where people often don't go, because the sum total of delights are kind of splintered as described above, but if you move a little each day, it is a lost vision of archaic beauty and amazing everyday visions.

sardinia for sure--forget the price

Of course Bob says Sardinia, price no object .............

Yes, Sardinia looks great, beaches and the like. Yet something keeps pulling me to a location with more to see and do.