HELP! Naples sea side retreat inquiry

Look at listings on the Isle of Capri; just a ferry ride away from Naples and Pompeii.

Also look at Ischia, a very pretty island just off Naples.
I think they have good hotels there, though we only went for the day.

This place caught my attention enough for me to remember it, but I have not stayed there: https://www.donalfonso.com/home.asp?lingua=ing

I'm in agreement with the suggestions for Ischia and Capri. Capri is seriously Gucci in its rhythm, and while it is smaller than Ischia, it doesn't lack for luxury accommodations. Ischia has some, as well, and the beaches are much better on Ischia, with the added benefit of the availability of the spas. Naples proper isn't the private retreat kind of a place to vacation, although it does have a number of excellent hotels. Farther away is quieter and more likely to result in what you are looking for.

A rental car in Naples is rather like a large millstone around your neck. Most of the downtown area is restricted to automobile traffic with ZTLs and other traffic barriers, including seriously narrow and congested streets with ungodly traffic. Parking is not easy to find.

As a destination, assuming your desire is more luxe than frenetic, Sorrento provides a lot of opportunities for relaxation. The beaches suck, but there is decent water access and the food is great.

I don't understand the lack of diversity you imagine in Pompeii, but it's one amazing place to visit if you would actually like to see what Roman life was like. The Archeological Museum in Naples is the storehouse of the treasures that were removed from Pompeii over the years.

If you lack the time or expertise to put together your own adventure, a good travel agent can take the sting and the uncertainty out of the planning process. At your price point, I'd feel no reluctance in hiring an agent to make the magic happen.

All are amazing recommendations - I honestly can't thank you all enough for making my trip that much more exciting!

Hats off to wbfey1 - unbelievable insight. Cost wise, we've finished the itinerary and aren't too fond of over spending...this was a splurge to cap off the end to the vacation - a good end on the palate for a cheap wine :) . I'll add another post here soon about a dream to stay in a castle somewhere near Tuscany.

You are correct that the modern city of Pompeii is not a resort location. And it's been a long time since the water lapped at the Porta Marina entrance to Pompeii Scavi!! Because you want seaside, Sorrento cannot satisfy - the finest hotels have a cliffside elevator that includes a private sun and swimming DECK in the bay of Naples, but there is only one, very poor, public beach in Sorrento. A car is an annoyance in Sorrento and on the AC.

You can't sleep in Positano the night before flying home from Rome, and $600 is low for waterfront in Positano (with a pebble beach at that.) But maybe off season like this you can get a lower rate. I don't see how Villa/private and Room Service go together. There are very few salt-water-front vineyards in the entire world. You might wish to make clear whether this stay is to be more like a honeymoon or more like a joint exploration of a pretty slice of Italy?

I agree that the product you describe is best found, in that area, on Capri or Ischia. Note that these rocky islands tend to have stone cliffs down to the sea, not luxury villas with private beaches. (Even Capri's Roman era villa is at the top of a cliff!) Very few beaches at all. But it's a voyage, to an island.

If you have a car there are restrictions to the possibility of ferrying your vehicle across to the islands in the Gulf of Naples between April and October (included). Actually it's not a restriction, it's an outright prohibition except for residents and few other emergent circumstances.

Right, the car seems like more of a nuisance the farther south we go. I'd like to ditch it the 1st day we're in Rome a week prior to the trip ending. Any suggestions on transportation to Naples from Rome and to/from Almafi/Naples?

Ditching the car would likely eliminate my suggestion, but if you go with any of the islands or villages for your stay, it would be the prudent thing to do.
Train for Rome-Naples. Considering your budget, I would assume private driver for getting to Amalfi, but you can get there by bus or ferry from Salerno (if you go to the coast before Naples, you would take the train to Salerno, ferry to Amalfi). All of this is pretty much moot until you pick a place though!

Alright, so I'm listening to you all and ditching the rental in Rome.

Update!!!!!!
Capri and Ischia look amazing, but the woman isn't a huge fan of boat rides, so do you all have any other suggestions for more mainland places?

Perhaps you can share where you have looked. Luxury accommodations cannot be that hard to find on the Amalfi Coast. You might not get every single thing on your list, but I am sure you can get most.
I'm more of a budget traveler, but I have come across these websites when trip planning:
https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/
https://www.greatsmallhotels.com/

I personally had no trouble, but would your partner get carsick on the twisty mountain roads of the AC? Just FYI.

You are going in October, which is not peak time in normal times, therefore it’s very slow time in pandemic time. You should not have problems finding accommodations anywhere you choose.

The Naples area is very mountainous and the coast is therefore very rocky with cliffs a d pebble coves rather than Florida style beaches. Nevertheless it is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline you will see anywhere in the world.

The islands or the Amalfi coasts are both great choices for what you are looking for. Without a car, in the mainland, I would choose among Sorrento, Positano, or Amalfi. All 3 have boat service to the islands, if you plan for a day excursion by boat. Sorrento is probably better logistically (more boats to more islands and train to Pompeii). Positano is the quintessential romantic spot.

If you select the islands any will do. Capri is the VIPs’ preferred location, but Ischia and Procida are equally beautiful. Tell the women not to fear the boat ride. It’s short and the Gulf of Naples is not Hawaii with its tunnel waves. I’ve experienced rougher seas using the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco inside the SF Bay.

I have no suggestion to give you for accommodations at $600 a night. That is what I spend on average for almost a week stay in Italy. Anything above €150 a night is something I’ve experienced only in rare occasions. Do a search on booking.com in the location of your choice. I’m sure there are a few accommodations at that price in the area, although very few will be over $300 a night.

The ferry to Ischia is a very smooth ride of about an hour.

Have you considered Vico Equense? From researching my own trip and coming across VE, I think it can provide you everything you are looking for while keeping you near Pompeii.

I also noticed that RS has travel consultants so if you are still looking for a service, they might be a good resource. Their fees seemed reasonable.