Positano or Ravello

Do you have a full day ? Many people find Positano "touristy", but we found it charming. If you wander the town and are "done", take the bus to Amalfi, get on the bus across the street, and ride it 10 minutes up to Ravello. We loved the views from Ravello. It has a small village appeal. You could easily do both in a day.

Mama Agata has a cooking class in Ravello which is an amazing experience if there is any interest - then Ravello would be your choice.

Would like to know what I could change in your plans so I could see both and honestly they are both small (especially Ravello) so you I probably can make both work out on the same day.
I prefer either over the town of Amalfi but you have to stop off at Amalfi to get to Ravelllo from Positano and vice versa

They are very different, Ravello is more relaxing, chill kind of place with amazing views way above the sea but lacks much to do and would have to be a slow traveler to spend a full day there, I think a half day is good. There is a famous quote that goes something along the lines of "Ravello is closer to heaven than the sea" . When you get there you will understand.
The Villa's are the main thing to see and do there and worth the admission cost.

Positano there is enough to do to occupy multiple days and can please folks with varied interests.
Views are great and the town is just so unique with the steps that it would be a shame to miss it.

Overall if you had to choose one I would pick Positano unless it was packed with crowds.
If Positano was really over crowed, which it will be all of August, I would choose Ravello.

I have eactly the opposite opinion to that of mreynolds. We loved Ravello. The two villas and their gardens are beautiful. The small cathedral has a very pretty, interesting interior. Positano is one touristy shop after another. We found so little of interest that we left after lunch, and we considered staying that long to be stretching it. However, I do agree that you can do both in one day.

A lille more info please. Where are you coming from ? What transportation are you relying on? How much time do you have? You can easily do both in a day. Arrive in Ravello early, have lunch, then on to Positano for shopping and dinner.

Lorieann

We have 6 hours of tour with driver on September 18 (Sunday). We will be staying in Capri. Project is our tour company. Any suggestions for lunch and dinner. Thanks

So how are you getting from Capri to the main land? Ferry or hired private boat to Amalfi, Sorrento, Naples? See if your driver can meet you in one of the towns in the late afternoon. If you are taking the ferry to Amalfi you could be there for a few hours then take the bus up to Ravello on your own, maybe have lunch. Meet with your driver in either Ravello or Amalfi and drive to Positano. He can stop at the smaller villages along the way. You can then go on to Sorrento in the evening or back to Amalfi for the boat ride back to Capri. I guess it all depends on the boat times.

Current ferry schedules around the coast in case you need them:

http://www.capri.net/en/ferry-schedule?from=capri&to=positano

If you have a private driver there should be no reason you cannot see both towns. Especially if that includes a private boat.
If your private driver/tour operator involves taking a ferry it sounds like a rip off to me.
If you were only seeing Positano even more so of a rip off.
Personally I would save the cash, get up early and take a ferry from Capri to Positano and then walk up the town of Positano from the ferry to where the bus stop is seeing the sights and shops along the way taking my time exploring the beach and then having a gelato, from the top of town catch the SITA bus which ends in Amalfi. This same location is where you would catch the bus from Amalfi up to Ravello.
After touring Ravello's villa/gardens take the same route back to Capri.
Main concern is how late the ferries run to Capri 6 PM is your last ferry option, SITA buses run later so are not a worry, it is hard to do since you have limited time before the ferries stop but even a private boat is unlikely to make the trip late at night.
I would be sure to catch the first morning ferry to give yourselves a full day before taking the 6 PM return.
You will be in Capri for dinner!

If during the off season or rough seas and the ferry Positano-Capri is not running things get a little tougher as you need to Ferry to Sorrento and take the bus from there to Positano.

Per Rosalyn's comments I am not sure we actually disagree.
Part of my multiple things to do involve a lazy beach day and catching ferries, hiking on trails above town things if you would be coming from Capri that would not really be of interest to you.
Sure the town is all touristy shops, if you expect to see real Italian life you have come to the wrong place.
I like touristy shops (or at least my wife does), Positano really shines when there are less tourists, at night or early morning for example when you can explore all of the steps/back alleys. There are short cuts everywhere through town once you explore the various steps and beautiful views abound.
Compared to Ravello there are many more places to eat, a beach, more places to shop and much more physical ground to walk. And I did love Ravello, we agree they are different places for sure.
Many day trippers are not fond of Positano as they see it at its most crowded but most who have spent a few overnights adore it.
In the OP's case Positano is on the way in a sense so works out quite well to walk up the town.