Southern Italy

From a transportation logistic point of view, Sorrento is a good base. It is the last station on the Vesuviana commuter train line (which you can use to go to Pompei and Ercolano), it has frequent boat service to Capri. Personally I don't care much about Sorrento however. Although others may like it. My favorite place in the Gulf of Naples/Amalfi Coast area is Positano. It's a small fishing village that probably fits your relaxing requirements. In terms of transportation, Positano has plenty of companies that provide boat excursions to Capri. The only drawback might be that it's an additional 45 min. via bus to Sorrento, where you'd catch the train to Pompei. However Positano is already on the Amalfi coast (Sorrento is NOT part of the Amalfi coast) and it's closer to Amalfi, Cava and all other towns on the coast. Positano also has more beaches around. Sorrento doesn't have any in town. Personally I think the xtra 45 min. by bus the day you go to Pompei is a small sacrifice for staying in a place that is truly unique. I suggest to go to Google Images to see what it looks like, if you are not familiar with it. Then you can decide for yourself.

Kelly, what a great way to celebrate your anniversary. When are you going? That might help you plan on where to stay. Positano in the off season might not be a good idea. Of course, if it is high season, you have to put up with the crowds. Positano is beautiful. We traveled in early October. We used Sorrento as our base and made day trips to Positano, Amalfi and Capri. Also very convenient to Pompeii and Naples. I enjoyed Sorrento lots. Great restaurants, good shopping, etc. We rented an apartment as we were there for eight days. Either way, you will love the Amalfi Coast.

Thank you, Roberto and Camille, for the insight and valuable information. We are traveling in May. May is considered in-season, correct? Camille, I'm also thinking about using VRBO to rent a place in Positano or Sorrento....if possible for 5 days. It sounds like either place will work well. Thank you for your help.

Kelly, First of all, congratulations! I very much agree with Roberto on this one. Sorrento is a beautiful city and being larger, it has more to offer in terms of restaurants and other amenities, and also more convenient for transportation. However, even though it only has Bus access, Positano would be a perfect location for this occasion! It's also more convenient for day trips to Ravello, Amalfi or other places in the area. One point to make about Positano is that it's all hills. If you walk from your hotel to the beach, the return will be uphill so you'll be getting some exercise! You can absolutely take a day trip to Capri from there. As you're facing the bay, the jetty where the boats dock is to the right. There are ticket booths at the entrance to the jetty. The Italy Guidebook has the details. BE SURE to make note of the departure time for the last boat back to Positano. One suggestion - it could be busy in May and I've found that the Funicular that goes from the town back to Marina Grande can be PACKED in the late afternoon. I didn't want to deal with the "rabble" so just took one of the distinctive open-top Taxis, and had a relaxing trip down the hill. If you want to make this a VERY special occasion, you can re-mortgage your house and stay at Le Sirenuse. The Hotel has won many awards! The views from there are incredible and I'm sure you'd be VERY comfortable. If you'd prefer more "modest" accommodations, have a look at Hotel Savoia. It's also a distinctive and very comfortable hotel, and the staff are wonderful. I'd suggest packing along the Italy Guidebook, either in hard copy or E-book format in order to get the most out of your time there. Buon Viaggio!

Another vote for Positano. We stayed there for our honeymoon. I've been back since, and on that trip, Sorrento is convenient as a hub, but not nearly as charming. Positano had good connections, the only drag is the day you want to go to Pompeii, there's no denying that that's easier from Sorrento.