My husband and I will be travelling to Santa Maria di Castellabate for 2 nights for a wedding in September. He is a world traveller for business and I go to the really good places! I am looking for suggestions as to which towns to visit, how long to stay(we have 6 nights)and for really great hotels, up to $600.00 a night US. We are thinking Positano and Capri and would really appreciate any and all suggestions.

Aren't you the lucky one. Park yourself at Le Sireneuse in Positano and sit back and enjoy. Head over to Capri for a night or two when you get tired of the Positano view.

For Capri:
http://www.quisisana.com/en/home

I know lots love the Sireneuse but for my money go to The San Pietro - www.ilsanpietro.it/.

One of the loveliest and most spectacularly sited hotels in the world . Lovely food ( breakfast and dinner included in rate )superb beds and pillows , views to die for from your bed !! catch the lift which is cut through the cliff down to the beach , play tennis , eat food grown in the their gardens , smell the roses picked daily from the garden ,catch their Fiat Bambina courtesy car to the town and enjoy their charming staff .

If you consider staying close to Amalfi (which is a very charming town with a beautiful Byzantine cathedral and a nice market) this would be the choice:

http://www.hotelsantacaterina.it/

I should point out that Santa Maria d. C is quite a way from Capri. Poisitano or Amalfi (ie probably I don't know the best part of three hour drive from Amalfi, further from Poisitano and half a day from Capri via boat and car) - you'll be doing a lot of travelling if you stay there rather than closer. Santa Maria is a wonderful place and much lower key, but I'm sure there are not super expensive hotels there, so you have a quandry.

While $600/night IS a lot of money, I'm wondering if you can get a decent room WITH A VIEW for that amount at either Le Sirenuse or San Pietro.

Last time I looked at Le Sirenuse it was over $800 for a decent room - but I don;t remember the exchange rate then. (We opted out.)

wherever you stay on the Sorrentine Peninsula, I strongly suggest you do not drive. The roads, particularly the Amalfi Drive, are perilous and best left to professionals.
When going to Positano, we take the hydrofoil from Naples, to Sorrento, either the train or the hydrofoil from Naples.
Consider the Excelsior Hotel in Sorrento [choose the Caruso suite!], overlooking the Bay of Naples. The advantage of Sorrento [as opposed, say, to Positano] is that it is a thriving town, center is flat so easy to walk, absolutely charming restaurants and shops.

The Caruso Suite costs up to 990 euros per night so would be too expensive. It is some time since we stayed at the Quisisana on Capri but I should think it would also be over the budget.

Il San Pietro is absolutely stunning and the views back to Positano are what you go there for. Even if you don't stay there, try the restaurant for a special evening.

The San Petro web site has its rates for 2009 posted on it .It is expensive but heh , how often do you really treat your self to an extraordinairy hotel ? I do but rarely and this one rates . Looking at 600 plus Euros a night .

If you want something special with a lesser price tag, try the lovely HOTEL POSEIDON, which is only a few blocks uphill from LE SIRENUSE. It has beautiful jr. suites with gorgeous views, great food and service. It's a small hotel where you're really made to feel like part of the family. I've recommended it online ad nauseam, but I just love the place, and think it's a good buy for the money. Plus, it's right in Positano, so as long as you have your "sealegs" for the climb back and forth to town, you're within walking distance of restaurants, shops, beach. Not true at San Pietro, where you have to take their shuttle into town.