Amalfi Base Ideas--End of June with two teenage girls

I think Salerno would be an excellent base for seeing the Amalfi Coast.

If you're interested in seeing the AC from the water, we were very happy with this company in 2022:

https://www.blumediterraneosas.com/

Hi from another Minnesotan, Erika.

This:
...we also want to avoid super crowded and overrated towns with influencers

Then you probably want to give Positano a wide berth. From recent reports, it's overrun with those sorts. As well, it's really not very big, it's expensive, and doesn't offer much to do besides the beach. I'd consider Salerno or Sorrento, leaning towards Salerno 'cause of the increasing amount of love that city had been seeing from forum posters over recent years. A plus: it has high-speed train service from/to Naples and other locations in Italy. It also has a beach. One minus (sort of) is that it's almost 2 hours from there to Capri, one-way, by ferry so a day trip could eat a lot of time sitting on a boat.

We enjoyed Sorrento very much too so it would definitely work, and at least it has commuter rail service whereas Positano doesn't have any. It's also just 20-30 minutes from there to Capri by ferry, and a short, easy hop to Pompeii by commuter train (or private driver). One minus is that it doesn't really have a beach.

But with a week, you might reconsider two different locations? Salerno for beach, day-tripping the Amalfi coast towns + the Path of the Gods hike, and Sorrento for day-tripping Capri and Pompeii + maybe your cooking class? I know you wanted a single base but some of your desired activities may be easier with 2. How many nights do you have on the ground in Italy?

Path of the Gods could be uncomfortably hot end of June. The AC is also a very popular, very busy destination and fills up quickly prior to High Season so the clock is ticking on making reservations. You're likely to find less expensive options in Salerno than Positano or even Sorrento, and less of a human crush. Just guessing. A caution regardless of where you end up? If any of you suffer from motion sickness. I'll advise against traveling the coast via road (car or bus) versus ferry. That or be sure to load up with your tried-and-true anti-nausea meds!

Thanks for the tips. And agreed that I need to get some lodging booked ASAP.

Also, we arrive on Monday morning and fly out Sunday morning. Regardless where we end up staying, I was thinking of hiring a driver on Saturday to drive us back to Naples, stopping to tour Pompeii on the way.

Sounds like Salerno may be best option (just plan for a longer ferry ride to Capri)?

Always appreciative of tips from this group!!! Thanks in advance.

Daytrip would be great for your ride to Naples.

Daytrip: Private Car Transfers with Sightseeing https://share.google/m9ICBhQzfkYYQgw16

I like both Sorrento and Salerno for different reasons.

Salerno is quieter, less touristy. Easy access to AC towns, Paestum. Too far from Capri (2+ hours each way- no thanks!). Not sure you will find a cooking class there.

Sorrento is lively, fun for walking around, shopping, eating. Easy access to Pompeii, Capri. More casual eating options than you will find in Salerno. Just a lot more going on than in Salerno.

I am pretty sure my former teenage daughter would have preferred Sorrento.

Neither town is really where I would plan a beach day. The beaches are just not that great (pebbly and small) although Salerno has a long sandy beach - I don’t think it’s the scene your girls are thinking of.

You have 6 nights and will need to stay in Naples the night before your departure flight- unless it is well past noon.
So that leaves 5 nights for wherever you choose to stay.

Honestly I think would get bored in Salerno after maybe 3 nights.

From Sorrento 5 nights- which is really just 4.5 days:

Day 1 Arrival- just wander around Sorrento, fun shopping lanes, views of Vesuvius, etc

Day 2 Visit Pompeii via Circumvesuviana- this is so easy to do. If you visit on your way to Naples you will need to store bags- unless you hire private driver $$$

Day 3 Visit Capri

Day 4 One day to see AC towns- check Mondo Guides- they have a very affordable van tour that would work for you.
Positano, Amalfi, Ravello are all only worth a few hours at most.
Or DIY ferry from Sorrento- stop in Positano- climb all the up and down, back on ferry to Amalfi- same thing. Ravello requires a crowded bus and unless you allow time to walk out to Villa Cimbrone it’s probably not necessary.

Actually doesn’t leave a day for cooking class, hiking or anything else unless you do put Pompeii on your way to Naples.

So Day 2 could be cooking class.

Sorrento is very safe. If you stay there do give the girls some independence- they can join in the fun passeggiata on the Corso, explore the shopping lanes by themselves, etc. There will be be plenty of other teens doing the same.
(Salerno is safe as well and also has a fun passeggiata)