Should we stay in Poistano or outside in a smaller area?

We just returned from Italy, 4 days of which we spent in the south. We did a bus trip to Amalfi and Positano, staying two nights each in Sorrento and on Capri. If you let me know what you are looking for, I can help you short list - there was a hotel on Capri we saw that I wish I had booked - incredible location and reasonably priced considering its location. Our accom in Sorrento - I would recommend. My husband and I were glad we did not book accomodation in either Positano or Amalfi as most of the town was easily seen in two hours each and there were limited restaurant choices and things to do. Let me know.

To Terry,<BR>Where did you stay in Sorrento?<BR>Tell us about it.

We stayed at Villa di Sorrento - found it on Frommers. They recommended asking for a rear facing garden room. While it did not have a balcony, as the street front rooms did, there was a very nice view of trees and such and it was very quiet. The front rooms would have been quite a bit nosier.<BR><BR>We had two twin beds - apart. Not sure if you can get them together (king). Quite comfortable. The best bathroom of our trip was at this 3 star. Rather large, marble, bidet, shower, linen towels, etc.<BR><BR>There is a TV with sat - MTV is about it.<BR>It is RIGHT IN THE CENTRE of town.<BR><BR>Breakfast was included in a breakfast room downstairs. Our rate in Oct was 103 euro per night incl breakie.<BR><BR>Breakfast was actually quite good - a buffet of yogourts, buns, jams, bread for toast, fruit, coffee and juice.<BR><BR>My husband checked us out and they tried charging 20 euros more for breakfast - meekly backing down when I showed up to remind them our rate included breakfast. We were given a refund.<BR><BR><BR>

Doesn't that get you mad to have an hotelier try to add to the tab? What kind of hotel would do this? I don't know if I would recommmend them to other people if they cheat on their hotel bills in their favor, of course.

Lewis<BR><BR>What do you like?<BR><BR>Positano - quaint, quite touristy, a number of boutiques &amp; shops, very hill, access to buses &amp; boats, reasonable assortment of restaurants<BR><BR>Amalfi - bigger, very touristy, shops etc, better beach but . . ., good transportation hub, reasonable assortment of restaurants<BR><BR>Both of the above are in coves with good views.<BR><BR>Ravello - removed from the coast on high, touristy, amazing views, bus &amp; car only, reasonable assortment of restaurants (including Cumpa' Cosimo)<BR><BR>Conca dei Marini, Praiano - smaller, quieter with fewer services, both on bus lines, both have amazing views, a couple of restaurants<BR><BR>For all of the above, parking &amp; driving are 'challenging'.<BR>

Lewis-- If you like touristy, crowded places, w. lots of &quot;action&quot;, then stay in<BR>Positano. But if you want quiet quarters w. spectacular views and lots of privacy, the Hotel Tritone<BR>near Praiano is the place to stay. EVERY room has a view<BR>to the west all the way to the Faraglioni (the 3 &quot;rocks&quot; for which Capri is<BR>famous), and on a clear day you can actually see the arch in the middle one<BR>from your room balcony. To the east is a magnificent vista of the village of<BR>Praiano, w. its twin-steepled church in the center of your view and the ancient<BR>church on the horizon about half way up the mountain. Straight down about<BR>1000 feet is the sea.<BR>The beach facilites are superb (although the beach itself is rocky, like all of<BR>them along the Amalfi Coast), and you walk through a long tunnel carved out of<BR>the rock to get there after a long elevator ride. There is a bar and a second<BR>swimming pool down at the beach as well.<BR>The breakfasts (which are included in the room rate) are sumptuous, including<BR>different pastries/cookies of the region every morning (including almond cookies<BR>and cannola), and you can get delicious omelets w. ham/cheese and apricot<BR>juice along w. the standard breakfast fare most hotels provide. They are served<BR>on an outdoor terrace w. to-die-for views.<BR>The hotel is literally carved into the side of the cliff below the road, so it is very<BR>quiet and very private, if that is what you want. You may even hear the &quot;cock of<BR>Praiano&quot; crowing in the sunrise if you leave the doors to your balcony open, and<BR>you can easily hear the church bells toll the quarter hours. It is the loveliest<BR>place I have ever stayed in decades of travel.<BR>The downside, if there is one, is that you really need a car to see the other<BR>sites along the Coast and inland if you stay there. The hotel does have<BR>adequate parking, however, and SITA buses stop out front if you don't want to drive.<BR>The service is superb.<BR>For pix, visit:<BR>http://www.italyby.com/tritone/<BR>

thanks for all the good info.