We will be going to Capri from there we need to choose a place to base ourselves out of.

We will probably be driving, so which of the two places would you stay at as a base from which to see the Amalfi coast? Why?

Thanks,
Karen

We stayed at Positano last fall for our base to explore the coast. We only spent a few hours in Sorrento and were happy with our decision.Sorrento is a busier and more modern city.
We loved Positano and found it very charming. If you do a search of the two cities you can find many opinions and see which is right for you. We stayed at the Buca di Baco recommended by Karen Browns Guide and loved it. We requested their larger room and had a very spacious terrace with a beautiful view. We had considered Le Sireneuse and were glad we saved half the price( about $250 per night). Let me know if you want any other info.

If you're going in the summer, I would opt out of the car and rely on public transportation ( boats, buses, train). The traffic along the coast in season is horrendous, and sometimes there's no parking at all.

So where to base? Really depends what you're looking for. I would research past posts here, and read what everyone has to say about the two. My own feeling is that Sorrento is more Americanized and citified than Positano, but offers much better and more reliable connections between towns on the coast. Positano is more dramatically beautiful, feels IMO, more Italian, but because of it's cliffside perch, requires a lot of stairclimbing to and from town.

Good luck with your choice!

No Contest - Positano is so much more beautiful! It will be in the movie Under the Tuscan Sun coming out this month! Sorrento is more convenient to Pompeii.

"We will be going to Capri... we will probably be driving..." Where are you picking up the car? Are you spending time in Naples before Capri? I hope so. It's worth a visit.

It would be easier to base in Sorrento if you have a car... but you'll probably want to park and forget it while you're there. Just ferry, train, bus and taxi around.

We researched this thoroughly and decided to go with Positano.
Book early! I called 8 top Hotels there and they were all booked.
We will have a car and will be spending 4 nights there and 1 night in Capri.
Be prepare to pay a little more in Positano but I think it would be worth it. We are going in 6 days!

I would stay in all three places (Sorrento, Positano, and Capri). They are all wonderful, and each place offers something different.

Thank you to all that responded, and to answer the question whether we are going to stay at all in Naples we have decided not to. We will be going to Capri after Rome via Naples but will not stay there overnight.

From Capri we were trying to decide whether we should go to Sorrento or Positano then in one of those places rent a car and drive around the area (I know that many of you oppose the idea of driving in that area, so we are just considering it at this point) We are very used to travelling with our itinerary somewhat open ended, so we are going to see how things go and decide there.
Anyway, from what I gather it sounds like Positano is the kind of place we would prefer to be. As for the stair climbing if it is anything like Santorini then we are prepared for it. Plus it is worth it, right?

Thanks,
Karen

I would stay in Sorrento (or "Surriento" as the locals call it). It is a charming city, small enough to feel intimate, but not as small and cramped as Positano. I found Positano to be over-crowded, neck to neck with other tourists. Although it is a friendly town, I found Sorrento to be more accessible to other destinations along the Amalfi coast, easily reachable by frequent boats, trains, and busses from all areas around the Bay of Naples.

Positano is truly beautiful and so is the coastal road, but it's quite narrow and can be one long traffic jam. We stayed in Priano (which is the next town over after Positano) in late September and were thrilled with the view, but the driving was either at a snail's pace along the coast or full of sharp blind turns through the mountains. If you do want to stay in Positano I'd first of all be certain that parking is available and for anywhere where it's an option, take the train.

Hi tag,

We are planning on Praiano at the end of the month. How was it? Where did you stay? Any recommendations?