Which Town Amalfi Coast?
 

If you were going on holiday to the Amalfi Coast, which town would you base your stay in?

I am thinking Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Salerno, or Paestum.

I have stayed in Sorrento before and have stayed in Capri.

I have visited Pompeii and Naples.

I have never explored the Amalfi Coast,
have never seen Positano.

What are your thoughts?

This trip MAY take place in August, 2014.

Thin

We are headed there next year...you may want to check out my thread as I received a ton of good info on the AC.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...fi-finally.cfm

We will be there in 2 weeks and will spend 3 nights in Capri and 4 nights in Positano. We used flygirl's trip report of last year to make our decisions.

Positano! Easy ferries to Capri and along the coast to Amalfi with a bus up to Ravello. Love the Amalfi Coast so much. Great food!

Positano sounds good to me! I would just figure out what your activities might be while on the Amalfi Coast, that will help deciding....Amalfi is the transportation hub for buses, so if you wanted to go many places, Amalfi would be the easiest.....if you were just going to relax, Positano seems great for its size to keep you busy.....both have ferries! It is easy to get to Salerno from both, linking you to trains to Paestum as well....

My favorite is Amalfi, due to my favorite hike I stumbled upon my first time there....

We are staying in Positano when we go, and I've heard nothing but how great it is. I'll let you know when. I get back.

I know how great Positano is.

I have a sister who regularly stays at Le Sirenuse.

Thanks for the help.

This is all up in the air.

We are also thinking about Lake Como
or Engadine area of Switzerland.

Thin

Praiano - guess why - cause everyone stays in Positano is why.
Plus it's only 10k away and way more chill

Definitely not Paestum which should not even be on the list although it is a must see day trip
August is too hot and very busy - if you can push it ahead to September, would be better.

Yes, could push to September.

Isn't there a nice beach at Paestum?

Thin

Thin: For my return trip, I would choose to stay in Amalfi. It is less touristy than Positano, has the most wonderful stationary store and has fast access to Ravello with its gorgeous gardens, villas and vistas. Villa Cimbrone's views are faint-worthy.

I rented an apartment in Positano right beside Le Sirenuse. The street will be packed with tourists trying to get to the beach or to the ferries. Think tour busloads buying tix for the ferries.

Posted before finished. I found that Positano is a place to use as a base and perhaps not so much to stay and revel in. Ravello is refined and quieter.

La Scuderia del Duca is the stationary store that I could hardly bear to tear myself away from. Fine leather book covers and papers so exquisite - well, I get carried away.

We always stay in Sorrento - since it is much easier to get to more places from there than anyplace else (local train to Pompeii and Naples and ferries to lots of places). We always have a car - but we go in May - when that's reasonable for driving down the coast to the tiny towns.

In August I would stay at the Vittoria Grand Excelsior which has a nice pool in the middle of a gorgeous garden (even though you enter from the main town square - so you can spend hot afternoons there.) They also have free parking and many rooms with balconies or terraces directly overlooking the Bay of Naples.

Italian beach - that is a misnomer. We North Americans are so incredibly spoiled with beaches and easy access to the Caribbean & Hawaii. You will be disappointed looking for the same experience in Italy.
If you can go in September you will be so happy. I was also there in Sept & October although places start to close up for the winter in early October.
Also where you stay and what experience you are after will depend on how long you have and if you are driving. I had a car so could go any where any time and Praiano was perfect.
Amalfi is a good choice if you want more infrastructure - Praiano is small.
And the driving is fine ;)

Sorrento is not on the Amalfi coast and the OP has already stayed there

POSITANO as base is my favorite.

The Amalfi Coast is just beautiful.
Would NOT recommend Salerno at all.

Trend Girl

If you aren't planning to visit Naples, Pompeii, Capri or Sorrento again then pick a town further south (Praiano, Positano, Amalfi, Minori, Maiori). If depending on public transport then Amalfi has the most options of that list.

There are beaches near Paestum, but you don't have the views (it's flat). You don't have much transport options.

If I could afford it I'd stay at the Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, especially if I had a car.

I was very glad that I stayed in Ravello. I enjoyed Amalfi, Salerno, and Paestum, and thought each worth visiting, but as a place to sty, they paled in comparison to Ravello.

Where did you stay in Ravello, kja?

Hi, Thin,

I'm obsessed with Positano and I think you should be, too. I've visited the AC every summer for the past four, and always stay in Positano. But do you have to go in August? As you know, that's when all of Europe is on vacation and many of them go to the AC.

If you can push this trip to September, or even early October, you'd be much better off.

Now about hotels... I'd love to stay at Sirenuse, but it's insanely expensive. We really like Hotel Poseidon, just uphill from Sirenuse. Look at the suites there, which are the best rooms in the house. The Funny Suite, where we stayed last year, has a private terrace that runs half the length of the hotel.

The Poseidon has amazing views of town and beach from its restaurant terrace, and a lovely staff. I especially like it because its midway between the top of town and the beach, so when the crowds get to be crazy in the summer, you can quickly escape to the beautiful views and peacefulness of The Poseidon.

BTW, no way Amalfi holds a candle to Positano, sorry. If you're going all the way to AC, stay in the quintessential AC town. You won't regret it.

Would be happy to post restaurant and beach recommendations later if you decide to stay there.