Lodging in Sorrento or Positano

Check out La Tonnarella, in Sorrento. It has everything you're looking for. It's an amazing place.

Linda,
My husband and I were in Sorrento this past April. We stayed at Residence Le Terrazze and couldn't have asked for a more great place to stay. All rooms have a great sized balcony with seating and stunning views of Mt. Vesuvius. The owner was an absolute delight, helping us with directions to Paestum to fixing a wonderful drink for us so we could relax on the terrace after a long day of traveling. There is a bus stop right outside the hotel and the owner also has connections with a family owned restaurant where the owner of the restaurant will come pick you up, take you to his restaurant to eat and then bring you back, wonderful experience. The room is extremely large buy European standards and has wonderful Meditterean colors. I would stay here again in a heart beat.

In Sorrento we chose the Grand Hotel Ambasciatori. It was perched on the cliff with an elevator all the way from the hotel through the cliff down to the beach. The views were stunning, and the place was really top notch...and not cheap. I posted a review with pictures here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187782-d235953-r3551304-Grand_Hotel_Ambasciatori-Sorrento_Campania.html

linda,

Both Sorrento and Positano are awesome locations, however I would probably choose Sorrento for a "home base".

Another Hotel you might consider is Hotel Desiree, which is right beside La Tonnarella mentioned in a previous post. I believe the two places share beach access. Hotel Desiree is a true RS classic - no frills and no elevator, but clean, safe and affordable. The owners were incredibly helpful and sitting on the rooftop terrace enjoying a glass of wine in the afternoon was great! It's an easy walk to the main part of Sorrento and also the train station for the Circumvesuviana.

Happy travels!

Sorrento to Positano is just a quick ferry ride away. I might split your time with 4 nights in Sorrento and 2 nights in Positano. In 2004 Hotel Minerva stored most of our luggage and we went to Positano & Capri for 2 nights each without have to carry so much up those hills. Positano is beautiful but Sorrento has more to see, easier to walk and has easy access to Capri, Naples and Pompeii. My husband got a terrible jelly fish (2 feet across-man of war?) bite in Positano and we could see oil or something on the water's surface so as much as we love the beach we swim in pools. In Positano we've stayed at the lovely Villa Tartana. It's near the bottom so the climbing is not extreme. In Sorrento we've stayed at Hotel Minerva(2004) with a beatiful pool. Get RS discount but you need to book way ahead for the balconies. Across the street we stayed in Settimo Cielo (2008)which has lots of balconies and a pool and is more reasonably priced with RS discount or cash discount also available. Both have views to die for. Go to www.tripadvisor.com where people review the hotels and posts their pictures. A most romantic place for cocktails, sunsets, lunches is Bellevue Syrene in Sorrento. It's one of the most lovely places I've ever been to. I cannot afford to sleep there but guests were saying it was amazing

Linda,
I would suggest staying in Sorrento as a home base and siteseeng from there. We stayed at the Hotel Antica Mura just off the main piazza. Great location and a wonderful pool. Originally we were scheduled to move to Positano after a few days and I am very glad that we decided not to do that. You lose too much valuable time changing hotels.

Debby

We have stayed in both places. Both are great. Sorrento is larger with more to explore but it has no real beach. Positano has an excellant beach and is close to other towns - Amalfi, Atrano. And you can hike into the hillsides. More relaxing in Positano. There is ferry service between the towns.