Amalfi Coast day trip from Sorrento

1. That's your preference. But if you go all the way to Salerno and back you won't have much time for strolling in either Positano or Amalfi. I also think you need to change buses in Amalfi, I don't remember if they have buses that go all the way from Sorrento to Salerno (I didn't check the schedule off hand).
2. I would definitely get off the bus in Positano, which is a gem. Then continue with another bus to Amalfi. If you want anytime to enjoy those two towns I don't think you should go all the way to Salerno. Maybe to Ravello.
3. You have time to stroll in both, but in your place I wouldn't go all the way to Salerno. I'd go as far as Amalfi (maybe Ravello) and back (via bus or boat).
4. Eat seafood.

You can visit both Positano and Amalfi during a 1-day trip. I've done that and agree that the best option is to get off in Positano and then continue on to Amalfi. In Positano, you'll have 2 choices. You can get off at the first stop (top of town) and make your way down hundreds of stairs to the main part of town. It's interesting and can be fun, but it's not everyone's cup of tea. If you only want to visit the main part of town (the area nearest the beach), continue on to the second (Spanda) stop which is right at Via Colombo. It's an easy, fairly level walk from there. When you leave for Amalfi, depart from the Spanda stop. Upon arrival in Amalfi, confirm return schedules for ferry or bus and perhaps buy you boat ticket if that's your choice for return trip. If I remember correctly, the all-day Unico Campania ticket is best if using the bus both ways, but it might not pay for itself if you return by ferry which it doesn't cover. I wouldn't go on to Salerno, which would require a separate bus. Also, buses back to Sorrento originate in Amalfi, so you'll have a good chance of getting a seat. It might be standing room only by the time the bus gets to Positano, and it might not even stop to pick up passengers in Positano if it's too full (a good reason to stop in Positano on the way to Amalfi). Enjoy your day trip. Both towns are great.

Have you considered hiring a private driver to take you along the coast? We were there in early September and had a wonderful driver. There is no way that we would have seen as much as we did without the driver. If we had done it on our own, we would have spent a lot of time on logistics (figuring out the bus schedule and where the bus stop was in each town, waiting at the bus stop and if the bus was full, which they frequently are in high season, waiting for the next bus, etc. I am also prone to motion sickness and understand that there's often standing room only on the bus & no A/C so taking the bus did not appeal to me. Having the private driver made for a stress-free, relaxing day and he tailored the day to what we wanted to see/do. A private driver is definitely a large expense but my husband and I both agreed that it was money well spent because we don't know if/when we'll ever get back to the Amalfi Coast and we wanted to maximize our time there and see as much as possible in a relaxed manner. If you're interested in the name/contact info for our driver, let me know. Enjoy the Amalfi Coast...it's beautiful!

Skip Salerno, go as far as Amalfi as your last stop and then take the bus up to Ravello. If you want to stop at towns along the way from Sorrento to Amalfi, know that you may get crappy seats when boarding after Sorrento. Some towns are close enough that you can walk part of the way.

If you don't take the bus back from Amalfi, you may end up standing or waiting for a bus to stop, especially in the late afternoon. The ferry will give you a different perspective.

Thank you, all. Your input has been a huge help!