We are starting to plan next our next trip for next summer. Any thoughts about positano vs. ravello. It will be our 2nd honeymoon. Thanks in advance.

Mari: We just returned from Positano, and it was magical. The views from everywhere in town were beautiful. There were many good restaurants, and it was an easy base for going to Amalfi, Ravello, Capri, Sorrento, etc. We were unsure when we booked where to stay, and after seeing everything, we all agreed that Positano cannot be beat. Positano advertises itself as the "City of Romance". Rent "Only You" if you want to see some of its beauty.

Positano is at sea level & heads up the mountain. Ravello is up in a mountain looking down at the coast. Both have a number of hotels & restaurants. Both are well touristed (aka busy). As is Amalfi. For more seclusion - Praiano, Conca dei Marini & Forore all have hotels & some restaurants & Sita bus connection to the other towns.

Thanks for the recommendations Marty and Ian...any thoughts about nicer hotels in the area. Also, how long should we plan on spending in the area. We are also planning on touring other areas through Italy. Any other recommendations about romantic locations?

Mari--Ian is right on target. Better views from Ravello, but a little harder to get to-winding road up into the mountains, but a beautiful drive. More "action" (restaurants, bars, shops, nightlife, etc.) in Positano, but overrun w. tourists. If you seek peace/quiet w. some of the most spectacular views on the A. Coast, check out Hotel Tritone:<BR>http://www.italyby.com/tritone/<BR>For much more info on Tritone and A.C. in general,do text search on "Rome/Amalfi Coast/South driving, hotels, sites".

Mari--Ian is right on target. Better views from Ravello, but a little harder to get to-winding road up into the mountains, but a beautiful drive. More "action" (restaurants, bars, shops, nightlife, etc.) in Positano, but overrun w. tourists. If you seek peace/quiet w. some of the most spectacular views on the A. Coast, check out Hotel Tritone:<BR>http://www.italyby.com/tritone/<BR>For much more info on Tritone and A.C. in general,do text search on "Rome/Amalfi Coast/South driving, hotels, sites".

We just returned from the Amalfi coast. WE stayed for 3 days in ravello a the Palazzo Sasso. The hotel was incredible. Ravello itself is a very small town, which is very charming and has stunning views from high up over the Amalfi coast. WE loved Ravello, particularly as it was much less touristy than some other places on the Amalfi caost. We then had booked for 3 days in Sorrento. We did not stay in Positabo, but we did drive through it, and it did seem more touristy than Ravello. Sorrento was exceptionally touristy and we did not like it at all. In fact, we then checked out after 1 day in Sorrento and spent two days on Capri. I personally would suggest spending half my time in Ravello and half in Capri.

I've just returned and regret having stayed in Positano. To quote Gertrude Stein, there is "no there there". Its all shops and tourists. But Ravello or Amalfi have a sense that some Italians actually live there. We also regret having a car, both because the tension of paying attention to the driving and the car-sickness made it impossible to see anything anyway. You can take a bus from Ravello to Amalfi, and then boats to Positano or Capri or ? You actually see more on the boat and we didn't get nauseaus. On this Fodor site many people write about<BR>using the Circumvesuviana train and boats rather than car; believe them.

I agree that Ravello and Capri are the most beautiful places on this coast. We also went to the coast for our honeymoon; based ourselves in Amalfi, which is nice but nothing compared to Ravello. It is out of the way but if that could be a plus for you, go for it. I thought Positano was over rated. Good luck!

We just returned from spending six nights in Positano and 2 nights in Sorrento. I spent many hours sifting through the info I got on this site. We feel Positano is overated,the up and down got to us after 2 days. Meaning walking back and forth to the village from our hotel La Fenice. When we got to the main area in Positano, it is all tourist stores ,restaurants and people. No town square to speak of, just the Marina where there are flocks of people,bathing and taking excursions to different places. Sorrento as we were warned was very touristy,we had to make an effort to find a non-americanized restaurant. On the other hand we visited Ravello,Amalfi and Capri and thought for us they would be more our taste.