Just in case you DO end up along the Amalfi coast. We went to a superb Michelin star restaurant, the food really was great. It was called the Don Alfonso. If I recall correctly it was about 45/60 minutes by car from Sorrento and well worth the trip.

Oh, a second vote for Don Alfonso if you can spare a night. It is too far for me to travel from Pos for dinner, but we spent a night there one year on our way to Pos and it was fantastic. Very civilized and highly recommended.

Thanks for all the help.

Thanks Beth.

I don't think I want to drive 60 minutes from Sorrento for dinner.

So much to think about.

Hotel Murat seems to be booked up for all the dates I try in September.

Oh, well.

Thin

Thin,

I looked at AlcioneResidence last year, too, and it was really nice. It's just across a tiny cobblestone pedestrian path from Palazzo Murat.

I'd also highly recommend taking a look at Villa Sirene, unless you don't want to deal with so many steps back and forth to town. It was a magnificent place and the manager (Chiara) was lovely.

No need to drive so far for dinner. A few of the restaurants in Montepertuso ( LA TAGLIATA is my favorite) sometimes offer free round trip service to guests staying in Positano. Montepertuso is a mountain village, 15 min away from Positano, and the views from the restaurant all the way down the mountain to the twinkling lights of Positano are spectacular.

Good luck!

Weadles

Laurie on Apr 28, 14 at 11:26pm

Hi Thin,

We are staying in Positano for 3 nights in May. We have not been to this guesthouse yet, but they have been very responsive and the location is great! Here is the information:

LA TAVOLOZZA
Residence House
Via C. Colombo 10
84017 POSITANO (SA)
Italy

We have rented the blue room which has a balcony and the price is 95 Euro per night. Hope this helps!

Laurie

IMO, there is no need to drive for dinner anywhere, with so many great restaurants in Positano itself. I would not want to take a 15 minute ride down a winding road in the dark after eating a pile of grilled meat, but that's just me. :-)

Thin, are you looking for a hotel or an apartment?

I would choose based on what you'd like to do while you're in the area and how you'd like to get around (car or public transportation). It would be more of a hassle to move around from Positano in August using buses, due to the crowds. If you have your own car though you are assured the seat but will sit in traffic next to the buses. Taxis are doable but are very expensive.

Do you care about beach time? They will be packed so you may want to look for options with private beach access.

If you don't need the convenience of being right in town you may want to look at someplace like Hotel Tritone which stands alone on the coast between Positano and Amalfi.

Regarding Don Alfonso - it is less than one hour from Sorrento unless you are driving from the opposite end and sitting in bad traffic. I estimate 20 minutes. From Sorrento follow signs to Sant Agata and you can go along the coast exiting down Corso Italia or head back towards the hills following Nastro Verde.

I also recommend September over August, if you have a choice.

Thanks, Laurie. That place looks just my speed.

I will check it out.

I will stay in apt. or hotel. Price matters.

Thin

OK, Thin. If you don't mind a few stairs, this is the apartment I rent when I don't rent Villa Le Sirene. $110 euro a night. It is not as nice as VLS, but the views from the terrace are fabulous and make up for the stairs. Aperitivo on the terrace with a bottle of wine is paradiso for me. And with the money I save on the rent, I can afford bellini at ISP.

http://www.browsingrome.com/beyond-r...ano-house/4539

Also, look at Residence Alcione. A frequent Positano visitor on another forum always stays there and loves it.

We are staying at Residence Alcione in a couple of weeks, based on flygirl's recommendation. They have been very easy to deal with....quick to answer e-mails and just contacted me today to see if we needed any assistance re our arrival. Looking forward to our stay there.

I have stayed at La Tavolozza, Thin, (2 years ago), which sits beside Le Sireneuse. There are no houses in front of the apartment, so the views are unobstructed. It is situated about a 5-min walk from the grocery-wine-and-everything-else store and is within walking distance of many restaurants and bistros. Furnishings are spare but comfortable and clean. You won't want to leave the terrace. The owners are kind and accommodating.

Thin:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Revi...l#LIGHTBOXVIEW

La Tavalozza is booked the week in September we want it.

For the record, I am NOT travelling with Keith.

I am travelling with my friend Wendy.

Price doesn't matter to me if a place is fabulous, but my friend can't afford Il San Pietro or Le Sirenuse-type accomodations.

All the affordable places seem booked.

Thanks,
Thin

I looked at this place years ago, but haven't stayed there. It's close to the Sita bus stop (Amalfi/Sorrento buses). It also has a access to a somewhat private beach (200 steps below, no facilities).

http://www.positano-torresponda.com/...sponda-complex

There is a little internal bus line in Positano (stops near Torre Sponda) that travels down into Positano and also has service to Nocelle/Montepertuso and Praiano. Scroll down and click the map. The sponda stop is #4 on the map and you can see the Torre below the road.

http://www.flaviogioia.com/index.php...sezione=8&p=dx

Here's a list of B&B's in Positano you can check out if they interest you.

http://www.sleepingpositano.com/

http://www.casasoriano.it/

http://www.inpositano.com/

http://www.leninfeedipositano.com/

http://www.dimoradelpodesta.it/

http://www.lamammola.com/

http://www.pensionecasaguadagno.it/

http://www.liparlati.it/

http://www.casabelvederepositano.com...belvedere.html

<i><font color=#555555>"All the affordable places seem booked."</font></i>

I'm sure the better rooms in the un-affordable places are booked, too.

I hate to be Debbie Downer, but August is only 4 months away. What on earth did you expect? Granted, American tourism to Italy has dropped significantly, but still, we're talking about the Amalfi Coast, one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe. And that's without mentioning all the engagements, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and every other specific reason why people pick Positano to celebrate certain life-affirming events.

Unfortunately, if you want a great room in August or early September, most people start planning a year or more in advance. Tis the nature of the beast.

Oh, I agree Snobby.

We should have planned this last year.

My sister thinks that we should mull over renting a car and driving around Sicily for a week as an alternative.

Thin

I enjoyed the Amalfi Coast (but I was there in April, before it got really crowded) but I enjoyed Sicily even more. Some good scenery, some absolutely stunning mosaics (Roman and Byzantine), Greek temples and theaters, and very good food. But don't go in August! Click on my name for my Sicily TR, or there is a good one in progress right now.

You could also consider the lakes or the Dolomites, it might be cooler there.

I second PRAIANO! We stayed about 20m from the bus between Praiano and Positano. From Positano. The Orange bus was JUST between Praiano and Positano, cheap and on time. If you want to go somewhere else, you can take the Sita bus. Lovely stay. We were there beginning of July 2013.

I would return to Sicily tomorrow if I could swing it. But it is hotter than hades in August.