Where to stay in Amalfi Coast
 

Out family will be in the Amalfi coast this December during Christmas. We have the option of staying in the town of Sorrento at the Grand Hotel Excelsior or in Amalfi at the Hotel Santa Caterina. Any suggestions?

That is a location question---big difference. Sorrento is more convenient for day trips.

Sorrento is a bigger town and will have more restaurants/shops open. It's also closer to Naples and Pompeii for day trips.

Amalfi is very cute, but a VERY small town - and a lot is closed for the season. Plus it's more to a trek to get anyplace else - by bus - esp if the ferry isn;t running.

I would agree with what the others have said.Sorrento is your best bet.
It is a main transport hub for the area,easy to reach Naples (I hour)Pompeii (30 minutes) and Herculeneum (45 minutes) by the local train Circumvesuviana.It also has ferry links to many places including Capri. Buses run from there to various parts of the Amalfi coast including Positano and Amalfi.You will have a wider range of bars and resturants to enjoy there too.
Amalfi is a wonderful place but in December will be very quiet and your transport options limited.
In recent years I have stayed in Sorrento and just up the coast in Vico Equense.

No question: I would stay at the Santa Caterina in Amalfi. MUCH nicer hotel and much prettier town with lots going on during the holidays.

The Santa Caterina is legendary, and I wouldn't pass up a chance to be there, even in December.

I have heard that if you go up the road a bit to Praiano that the locals have a lovely Christmas display of "presepe," the nativity figures for which Napoli is very, very famous, but the tradition gets to a high form everywhere in the region.

With a pricey car service, you could also visit Pompeii. (If there are enough people in your family, it's really not that pricey).

If the seas are calm, you can get ferries. And there is always the opportunity for a bus trip up to Ravello for lunch and if the weather is fine, beautiful hikes.

But if your family loves urban edge and can't wait to see Napoli, or you really want ease of access to Pompeii, stay in Sorrento.

I agree with ekscrunchy - Amalfi is much nicer than Sorrento and the Santa Caterina is lovely (best hotel I've ever stayed in). Mind you I wouldn't go to the Amalfi Coast in the winter, but each to their own. And note that Sorrento is not actually on the Amalfi Coast.

Or "if your family loves urban edge and can't wait to see Napoli" - stay in Naples :-)

But that didn't seem to be on offer in the choice of hotels.