Need a new base near Amalfi coast

Salerno is a city. Sure you want to base yourself there for 5 days? I would have stayed a few nights in the smaller towns (Amalfi or Positano for example since both have boat service).
You could add some nights to Sorrento and use it as a base for Capri and Pompeii.

I was looking into Amalfi and positano. They are so expensive. Literally paying what i paid for 5 nights here for 1 night. Also i didnt choose Sorrento because it felt too touristy. Initially I didnt think i will get more days for this region. Do you think moving towards Naples is a good idea so that i can include Mt. Vesuvious with these extra days?

As part of your 5 nights in Salerno, I hope that you'll make the short trip to see the ruins and museum in Paestum. There's a lot to see in Naples and from there you can do day trips to Sorrento, Pompeii, Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Capri. I would add the two nights to Naples.

We stayed in Minori on the Amalfi coast. Small town with a nice bay and great bakery/restaurant right across from the water. Bus stops there.

Even though we spent 5 nights basing in Salerno in 2015, we used that for daytrips to Amalfi, Pompei and a geneological trip up in the mountains to the southeast, coming back to Salerno for a nap then dinner each night. It was very nice. I don't think you need to extend that time. The Old Town is beautiful, restaurants are great, but you can move on. In fact, I think 4 nights is about right for Salerno.

Then you could take 3 nights and possibly find--instead of usual suspects Amalfi, Positano or Sorrento--a place either in the aforementioned Minori on the A.C. or a place like Vico Equense on the north coast east of Sorrento.

lovemylife, it would be useful to know the month of the year. This area can be very congested (and even more expensive, and hard to book your first five hotel choices (!) in high season.) I personally would not spend 7 nights, even if split between Salerno and Sorrento. If you don't consider Positano magical (and I only use that word because so many people DO, not me, exactly) you should not spend more money to stay there. Unfortunately, transportation in the Boot isn't trivial, but you could see other things, like Matera and points south, that I haven't had time to see.

It appears that you chose Salerno for price and perhaps not understanding the Cirvumvesuviana convenience and price (if not, comfort). One or two posters here absolutely loved Salerno, but I haven't been there. The chance to see Paestum is great, but the rest of your visit will be getting up early and spending money you could have spent on your room, on transportation and, worse, ... time ... for your excellent daytrip options.

As one of those posters who really likes Salerno, I would not spend more than 3-4 full days there (4-5 nights). I agree that Paestum should not be missed on one of those days. I agree with others that your extra nights would likely be best used in Naples or another area town.

Tim, the OP is traveling in May, and from the original itinerary on another thread, it's towards the beginning of the month.

That being said, I would say Salerno's a good choice. Maybe the best choice would be 4 nights Salerno, 3 nights Sorrento, depending on what the OP can get there at this late date. Amalfi & Positano--I don't think you want to stay there in May--can be accessed from Salerno by ferry or bus, very convenient and just as inexpensive as the Circumvesuviana, and the OP can stay in Sorrento and have the CV at his/her disposal for easy trips to Pompei and Capri.

What do you think?

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions.

I will be going in May. I felt everyone is just going to Sorrento and i read about Salerno being another option. When debating between places, i found a nice hostel in Salerno and i decided on Salerno. The another reason i chose Salerno is I will be coming here from Sicily and my train from Sicily stops right next to the hostel i am planning to stay. Sorrento was not that easy, i will have to go to Naples and back for it. There is a huge difference in paying $50 per night and paying $120-$150 per night.
With Salerno as a base i am planning for Day trips to Paestum, Amalfi coast, Capri and Pompei. Also i already have 2 nights in Naples after this. I am going to see if i can find anything in small towns like Minori and Vico Equense. This might be something i will be interested as i want to do some hikes.

Anyone stayed in Meta? any thoughts on public transport connectivity? Bus and train stations are both walkable from the place i am looking at.

Last year March, our driver from Naples Centrale to Sorrento said he lived in Meta, and we drove through it. Despite it being (I think) a little bigger than Vico Equense, it looked more blue collar than Vico, at least to me.

Have a look at Ulisse Deluxe Hostel in Sorrento. It is a hotel/hostel tucked into a street leading to the fishing port and about 15 minutes walk from the train station. Hostel rooms are dormitory style with bunk beds, six banks per room. Cost is US$45-50 per night, higher rate includes breakfast. In the interests of full disclosure, I stayed in the hotel on an RS tour, did not particularly like it, my room was in the basement and looked out on to a wall. No views. But I did enjoy Sorrento and did not find it overly touristy and it was great for getting to Pompeii by train.

Another one urging you to go to Paestum.....wonderful site and so uncrowded.

Well, I don't feel responsible to search other posts to find out more about an OP! Monyh of May it is.

In the last week of May, every time we went by the SITA bus stop in Sorrento, there were more people waiting for the bus than would fit on the next vehicle to Positano. I am certain there is not as much tourist traffic in Salerno, so we need a report on getting from Salerno to Positano. I believe that takes one change of bus, in Amalfi. SITA schedules are available for download, check effective dates on the schedule-high and low season.

Thank you Jay and Leslie

I was looking at Ullisse before when i was debating about Sorrento. I will look into it again.

@ Jay, What do you mean by more Blue collar?

5 nights in Salerno gives you 4 full days - 1 to explore Salerno, 1 for Paestum and 2 for the Amalfi Coast. You could spend a couple nights in Sorrento - not as expensive as the AC - and day trip to Capri, or stay on Capri.

Thank you Tim and Chani

I agree with you. Looking at the timetables, it doesnt look bad. As for Amalfi i was thinking of taking the ferry from Salerno except for once when i want to experience the scenic route.
I am not debating between Meta or Sorrento.

@ Jay, What do you mean by more Blue collar?

Please take this with a grain of salt--this is only by observing when getting a ride through Meta to get to Sorrento, and then when taking the Circumvesuviana from Sorrento to Naples. It just didn't look anything like the other side, the actual Amalfi Coast. I'm sure there are some nice views of the bay, but along the main drag was kind of low-class to tell the truth, barred windows and graffiti.

Fair enough. i realized that getting to Naples from here is also a pain. It takes around 5 hours if i catch all the connections without missing. And so the search continues!!

Here's the deal. At a 'base', you basically want relatively easy transportation for daytrips, but you want something to come back to in the evenings as well, with restaurants within walking distance, maybe a little downtown or Old Town to browse & shop a little before bedtime--a place to call home.

Salerno has that. Sorrento has that. Amalfi & Positano? Maybe, but in high season the restaurants at night will be overrun & expensive, and the transportation options aren't nearly as good. Minori (or Maiori, Cetara or Vietri sul Mare) are along the bus line, and all have spectacular views, and are maybe worth investigating. But as Tim said, catching the first bus that comes by in May might be tough at times.

The picturesque, jaw-dropping views are on that side. On the north coast, a place like Vico Equense has a beautiful view of the bay and Naples/Vesuvius, but it frankly ain't the A.C.

Pros & cons...

Minori it is!! Found a nice bnb.

Thank you everyone for helping me.

Minori is charming and Sal de Riso has the best pastries in Italy - great gelato too.

Two friends and I stayed in Minori in 2016. Cute little town with good ferry and bus transportation.

Second Chiani on Sol di Riso, THE "candy store" of pastries. Their gelato ain't bad either.

Naples has so much to offer, it would take months to see it all.

Amazing. Thank you for all the suggestions. What do you think of Furore?

OP mentioned Furore. Yes, worth a visit. Lower fishing village viewed, accessed via steps from AC highway or kayak over from
Amalfi town. The fiordo/fjord is spectacular. Upper Furore has pristine views of hillside lemon groves, grapevines & the sea. Also one can access lower Furore via steps from upper Furore, roughly 600 of them. At the time we visited April 2016 steps were closed off as there was some winter storm damage to the lower section. If you are able, kayak to the Furore fiordo from Amalfi. One of our most vivid holiday memory was kayaking to its beach & exploring the fishing village. Seemingly another
world as you follow the stream inland from the beach...from sea to a 'forested' waterfall.

I vote Sorrento.

Awesome.. Thank you for the suggestions.

Atrani
I think I paid $60 a night.
Airbnb.
It’s a lovely small town.
I used it as my base for 4 nights.
Short walk into Amalfi.
Buses to Miinori - another nice small town.
I didn’t like Sorrento and Positano.
Too big and touristy.
Take the bus to Ravello. Lovely town.
Beautiful ceramics.
Hike the Path of the Gods from West to East.
Sensational.

Thank you for the suggestions Angelina

I've mentioned this before but I think in Minori, between the shore road and the cliff down to the water, is the coolest little park that when we drove by on the bus, parents were watching their children frolicking in the late afternoon sun, with the spectacular views at every turn. One of the best memories of our trip to the A.C.

Thats amazing. So many suggestions and so hard to narrow it down. i am still working on it. i will make it to Minori for sure though.

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions.

There also is a hostel in Atrani (called A'Scalinatella), which is within walking distance to Amalfi town. I don't know anything firsthand about the hostel, but it's a lovely little town, and not touristy.