Go to Barcelona. You will definitely have a lot more hotel options at this fairly late date.

I've been to both Barcelona and Positano, and they are both pretty fabulous in very different ways. (I haven't been to Crete but I've been to other Greek islands like Santorini and Naxos, and since you've been to Santorini already I would change things up with Barcelona -- it's pretty unique imho.)

Tamaraten - don't give up on Positano just yet. We will help you find luxury.

Here was my 2nd choice if the Marincanto would have been booked - http://www.villafrancahotel.it/en

It is another gorgeous hotel in Positano for a good price. I hope they are available on your dates. Great views, pool, and I love the rooms and grounds.

I LOVE Barcelona ( going for the fifth time in 2 weeks)
- it is not a place to just "chill out" like AC or Greek islands.

JillDavis, I did look at Villa Franca, but when I saw one of the reviews say there was an infestation of some sort, I sort of nixed it. But on second thought, if you're recommending it, I'll rethink it. There is something left in the "Annex Building" (for $423/night) - Do you know what that is? There's no description of what that might be (I'm assuming it's a building adjacent) - do you know about that?

I really don't want to give up on Positano - I so appreciate your trying to help!

I still say be open to other places on the bay of Naples and the AC, not just Positano as a place to stay. Others are just as beautiful, and you may find something perfect. I haven't checked back on all the other suggetions, so if you already have these, ignore.

In Praino: Hotel Tramonto d'Oro

Near Paestum/Salerno: Hotel Savoy Beach

North of Sorrento: Oasi Olimpia Relais

Also, these web sites might be more helpful than trip advisor.

www.amalficoast-traveller.com Look at their Connoisseur collection

www.italytraveller.com

Have you looked at Priano? Priano is just as beautiful as Positano and some people prefer it over Positano. You can easily visit Positano from there and if you dont want to take the bus, you can always take a taxi there.

tamaraten: I may be wasting your time, but wanted to throw this out there.

Are you using TA to search for open accommodations? If so, hold on a minute. They connect to booking engines that may not have all the available rooms.

I write a draft email, and then address it individually to each hotel that I'm interested in. At times there are rooms not listed on the booking engines on TA. In fact, there are quite often rooms that those places like Expedia and Hotels.com don't have access to.

I agree with Tuscanlifeedit - email the hotels directly because they might have had a cancellation that has not been reflected on the website.

As far as Villa Franca goes, I saw that same bad posting for Villa Franca but Hotel Marincanto had a few bad reviews too. You will always get a few bad experiences no matter what. I just got back from a Ritz Carlton property which is ultra luxury and had such a wonderful experience and can't imagine anyone having a bad experience. Lo, and behold, there was something on trip advisor. I am not saying don't look at trip advisor because I always look it up too. However, between trip advisor, this forum, and much research, you can make an informed decision.

I would stay at Villa Franca in a second. The pictures look amazing. A lot of people on Fodors say they had a wonderful experience there. I was getting ready to book that place if Marincanto was booked. Don't know the ins and outs of the annex, but usually that means it is a separate building right next door to the main building. It should be fine - just check to make sure you get that amazing view!

Keep trying on Positano, it is a special place. Sorrento will not suffice. Not much to do for the kids in Positano but it is romantic. A night on Capri would be great and Pompeii is a must. Avoid Naples if possible.

OK --- Crete here -- now that Spain & Italy check in with GI-NORMOUS prices for May, of all things.

If you are VERY lucky, you may be able to get a booking just outside of Chania Crete, with a pool, and ON a sandy beach, at a boutique hotel with only 30 rooms, and an acclaimed chef who excels in Cretan cuisine ... and Trip Advisor 100% RAVE ratings for over 500 reviews -- the #1 choice in Western Crete.

Hotel AMMOS -- http://www.ammoshotel.com/default.asp?lang=en
TA Raves -- http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ure_Crete.html

And how much are their deluxe sea view rooms in May? 300? 200? no... 164€

Step away from Positano and Run, do not walk to Hotel Ammos... perhaps you'll be one of the lucky ones! Note: do not look on websites like bookng.com because it won't be there -- it does not have to offer "deals" because it is such value in the first place.

Good LUCK!!

Tuscanlifeedit, thanks for suggestion - in fact, what I did do is call a few places and speak with the reservations manager!!! It's true that there are a few places that did have some rooms left - which did not appear on the various booking search engines - but unfortunately they were a fortune. Still, I'm going to continue because it does mean that when it says there are no rooms unavailable, it ain't necessarily so. (even on the hotel's own web-site) and I hope I might get lucky.

In the meantime, I thank you all so much for your help, and I'm going to update you as soon as I find something. I'm still going to try for Positano or the vicinity (btw, we're going without kids Egbert, so having nothing for kids to do in Positano is irrelevant!).

Travelerjan, thanks for Amos Hotel suggestion - if the AC doesn't work out, I just might try Crete.
Sassafrass, thank you for links to other sites for Positano hotels - the Amalfi-Coast traveller one is excellent (I ended up calling most of those places!) Thanks, I hadn't come across it in my searches.

Thank you all again for your generosity.

Tamara

Just curious: Was the Tramonto d'Oro booked, or was the price too high?

Also, you should know that the Savoy Beach in Paestum is nowhere near Positano.



Take a look here; this is above the coast but I think they have a shuttle. Reviews are good.

http://www.furoreinn.it/en/hotel/

Ekscrunchy, I hadn't checked out the Tramonto d'Oro. Just looked it up. Prices are super reasonable on Booking.com ($2604 for 7 nights) for a double room sea-view and it looks available! I'll check into it more.

Thank you!

Ekscrunchy, btw, have you stayed at the Tramonto d'Oro.

Also, I did check into the furoreinn because I found it through LuxuryLink - wow - the place looks stunning. I actually tried calling there since Thursday but there was no answer. Because of the type of place that is, I wouldn't mind being distant since it looks like the kind of place you don't want to leave! Still, great they have shuttle service too.

Has anyone stayed at the Tramonto d'Oro?

Also, Ekscrunhy and others: Is Prainao just as nice as Positano? How do they compare?

At least look at the Ammos website ... you may change your mind. Remember, when you started this, before all these Italomaniacs got into your brain, Positano was #3.

T: I have booked Tramonto d"Oro for September. We will have a few nights in Ravello, a night in Furore, and then move there. I tried to plan a trip to show my friends this area since they have never been.

Praiano is smaller than Positano and does not have the fancy shops or the fancy restaurants of Positano. I much prefer that kind of ambience. I chose the hotel mainly for the swimming pool and for its position on the road; we will be driving and do not want to wiggle in and out of narrow streets. But you can easily go from one town to the other by bus. Do not think of the bus as a horror; most tourists use it and they really are quite ok although they can get crowded in high season.

Last time I was in the area I stayed in Amalfi, which I loved. Anyone who tells you that Amalfi is not as nice as other towns has probably not stayed there, but has only seen the bus area on the main road. Amalfi is more convenient than Positano, to me, since you can get a bus to Ravello from there, as well as buses to Positano and to the famous eating mecca of Cetara, as well as to other places in the hills. It is also a major ferry stop for ferries to Capri and up and down the coast.

You could check a few hotels there:

http://www.ghconventodiamalfi.com/

http://www.lunahotel.it/


http://www.miramalfi.it/



Do you care about upscale shopping?

Did you look at Capri hotels?

Would you consider Ischia?

Yes, how about a week on Capri or Ischia? That should be relaxing.

And have you figured transportation in your plans? Because Barcelona is easier to get to, Crete next, and the Amalfi coast last. For the latter maybe fly into Naples and get a private driver to the AC.

Hi all, I have a partial solution, but don't know if it's a good one, and I need your help!

THe Marincanto has returned to me saying they have room in a superior double room BUT the visit has to be split up between a superior double in the "second block below the solarium along the steps taking you to the beach where there is no elevator" (quoted from an email to me from the hotel) and the second part in a superior double in the main building.

Does anyone know what this means - being below the solarium..etc. Has anyone been in such a room?!

thanks

tamaraten - I wouldn't call this a partial solution, I would call this a fantastic solution. In my humble opinion, Hotel Marincanto is the best value for luxury on Positano. I think what the hotel is referring to is all the different buildings along the sea. Perhaps one of the buildings they are referring to you will have to walk down some stairs to get to. In this situation, you can get a porter to bring your luggage to the other building since there is no elevator.

JillDavis, thanks for answering. I actually just called the hotel to find out what this meant. Monica (the owner) told me that the hotel is made up of three buildings, one on top of the other, and the lowest building of the three is just over the beach where this room would be. I don't at all mind the steps- what I was concerned about was that the view would be over the beach whereas I've been dreaming of (and all the reviews suggested) a room from a higher perspective. The view is really important to me, and that is what I'm concerned about. Monica said that it is very low down, again, just over the beach.

So that is my dilemma. After all the planning etc, and the ability to travel not too often, I really want to try to get what I know is most important to us. Of course, beggars can't be choosers at this (I didn't know before) late date! So I suppose I should be grateful it's available, I can't help thinking though that it's a huge compromise.

Any other thoughts? Has anyone been in this room (a room in the lowest building at the Marincanto?)

thanks again!

Tamaraten - if you want a high up view, then perhaps go for Villa Franca?

I did check out Villa Franca at the start of this whole journey... I just called there now and found that their deluxe room with a front seaview would be 400Euros. The Covo on the other hand, is 358Euro for a junior Suite Balcony and I think it's 5 star (although it's low down, on the beach. I prefer high up). And then there's the Marincanto for 280 E (with the low building problem)!!!!!

The Villa Franca seems a little high in price for what it is offering.

Has anyone stayed there? Or at the Covo dei Saraceni?

Tamaraten - We also checked out Covo and considered staying there but we thought it was too low to the beach. When we did google maps with Marincanto and Covo, it definitely looked like Marincanto was higher. (even with the lowest building)

The Covo is a popular hotel with a few people here, including Julie Vikmanis. I have a friend who returns almost every year, and who will be there next month, again.

Why have you not considered the Tramonto d'Oro in Praiano? (If you do not mind my asking..)

It's funny that you ask ekscrunchy, because I just read every single review of the Tramonto d'Oro on Trip Advisor (I think I'm going overboard here on the research perhaps...), but I love reading the reviews. Anyways, they were Fabulous except for just a couple. But the majority were really overwhelmingly positive. I can understand why you booked there for your upcoming trip.

It's tempting, but I hesitate about the location. While Praiano sounds appealing from a certain perspective - the quiet - I'm afraid it might be just a little too quiet. We are going for a full week and we won't have a car. The primary purpose is relaxation; however, I figure at least if we're in Positano, we can walk all over the place for action if we want it without being dependant on a car as we would in Praiano. I figured that from Positano we can arrange trips to other places like Pompeii, Capri, etc. if we feel like it. I'm just worried about feeling a little too isolated in Praiano. If it was just a couple night, okay, but to stay there for 7 nights?....

And btw, of course I don't mind you asking!! I so appreciate your help you have no idea. I'm going a little crazy here, spending days sitting at the computer and ignoring everything else (four kids, work....).

Also, ekscrunchy, what does your friend who returns to Covo yearly say about the views? Does he not think it's too low down?

Also, ekscrunchy, to answer your questions from a couple of days ago, I considered Capri for a couple of hours a few days ago, didn't look at Ischia. I guess I have my heart set on Positano for some reason. (I was looking at the Furore Inn too, even today, I rethought it and while it looks beautiful, it's also isolated and without a car might be a bit much for 7 days).

thanks again.

My friend just loves Il Covo. I will ask her details when I see here tomorrow. But I have been to the hotel and it is true that is just a bit above the beach. So you would be looking up to see the town, and almost straight out or a bit down to look at the water.

I have never stayed in Praiano but I think you might be making a mistake to discount it. It is close enough to Positano so that you can get there by the bus, or even a taxi. There are some restaurants in Praiano, too.

What exactly do you think that Positano has that Praiano lacks?

I certainly can't pinpoint anything that Praiano might lack having never been to either place. But I do know that people have said consistently that Positano is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I simply haven't heard that of Praiano, as nice as it might be - that's it, really nothing specific, just a feeling of wanting to be in the best place we can be visually for the one week (of staying put) that we have.

Trust me....all of of those coastal towns are beautiful. Postiano gets all the talk because it is more famous, but with that come more tourists and high prices.

And remember that they are small towns, not cities.


Some people think that the views are better from Praiano than from Positano.

Do not worry. I can almost guarantee that you will be ecstatic no matter where you end up. And I say this as someone who tends to agonize over hotel choices. And restaurant choices.

Thanks ekscrunchy for the moral support! I absolutely am agonizing over this and have spent way too more hours than I have figuring out where to stay. Re restaurants, I'm less of an agonizer despite that I love fabulous food - at a restaurant, worst comes to worst, it's one meal, you leave, that's it. But at a hotel room, where you're stuck and where you were dreaming of a spectacular view, .....if it's disappointing, that is painful.

To all: I booked the Marincanto! Just wanted to let you all know. I couldn't take it anymore and I hope I don't regret it! I'm sure it'll be fine, am told the view in that low room is nice, and am hoping for the best.

I wanted to thank you all for being so helpful - I appreciate it greatly.

Now I'm going to just have to plan the trip...

best wishes,
tamara

You must be relieved, Tamara! Congratulations. Have you told the hotel you'd like a higher room if one becomes available?

Hey Tamara! I am so excited for you! You will have to let me know how it goes since my visit to Marincanto will be in September. It just looks so luxurious on the website and I have had friends that have stayed there and just can't get enough of how nice it is and how good the location. Congratulations on deciding. I know the feeling. I agonize over my hotel choices too. Well, now you can move on and plan your fun vacation. :)

Judy, thanks for the wishes. I am relieved (and of course apprehensive..). I did tell the hotel to book me into a higher room if they get a cancellation and they promised they would. Now, just have to hope for a cancellation!

Jill, thanks for the excitement and the wishes. I'm really glad that whole issue is over- how many days can one be on Trip Advisor hour after hour without going totally insane?! I'm really really hoping I get lucky and that we end up with a room in the higher building. We'll see what happens and I'll definitely let you know how it goes.