Visiting amalfi coast

If you are going to be visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum you should stay in Sorrento. It is a train ride away from Pompeii and Herculaneum. As for budget options I really liked IL Roseto. Check it out on trip advisor. It is about a 10 minute walk from the train station.

Definitely Sorrento. It's a wonderful, charming town - love it. It's also the best for transportation to and from other places.

Lodging in Positano can be more expensive, so Amalfi would be a good option. Ravello is nice for a day trip, but too isolated for use as a home base. Both Positano and Amalfi have good transportation options, with the SITA bus running up and down the Amalfi Coast and ferries running between the towns and to Sorrento (for getting to Pompeii). Sorrento has good transportation options if you are going to Naples and further north, but it is not on the Amalfi Coast.

I will be traveling to Amalfi Coast in April. After doing some research, Rick Steves' book, Trip Advisor, I booked the Hotel Zi Teresa, in Sorrento for 6 nights. Just 5 to 10 minutes walk to train station ( Also the ZITA bus stop) and 10 to 15 minutes to town center. It is not expense, I paid $110 per night, including tax and fee. ( Expedia) B&B. Hotel Nice is cheaper, but it will noisy and too close to the train station. The hotels in other towns are more expense and harder to access by public transportation.
Have a good trip.

We agree that Sorrento is where you want to stay.
We stayed at Casa Astarita. Great little place and a breakfast of scrambled eggs, believe it or not. Also found wine at the little groceries for 1.15Euors that was great. It had no label and probably never sw a barrel to age in, but great wine. Ate at a place called Miccio's (right around the corner from Casa Astarita) and Mama Ana was a superb cook. Go there a few times and you are like part of the family. Rob, the waiter speaks fluent English, as he is a Brit.

Another thought is to stay two nights in Sorrento and 2 nights in Positano. That worked well for us because we got a good deal at a hotel in Sorrento (Desiree?) and saw Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvious. Two nights in Positano gave us some beach time and easy access to Ravello (loved it) and Amalfi. Definitely no need for a car -- the buses are great and the train drops you off right in front of the entrance to Pompeii! Have a great trip!

Definitely do not get a car. The transportation is great and you would be crazy, crazy to get a car and drive the coast, especially if weather is bad and even it not. Totally not necessary. Sorrento is great transportation hub. If I were you, I would choose Sorrento rather than 2 nights there and 2 in Positano, just do day trips which is very easy from Sorrento. Enjoy.

I agree that Amalfi would be a great affordable spot. Take the boat ride from there to Positano for a wonderful day!

I second the B&B Il Roseto recommendation, under 100e. We had the most delightful breakfasts outside in their garden with delicious cappuccinos, and fresh squeezed OJ. Sorrento is at the end of the Circumvesuviana trainline. To continue on down the Amalfi coast one takes a bus (not convenient with luggage.) We went to Positano on the bus and came back by boat. My husband felt motion sickness on the bus so we didn't continue on to Amalfi or Ravello. You save money by emailing the B&B/inns directly and asking for a "cash" price - don't use a credit card. I researched on TripAdvisor for our trip and stayed exclusively at B&Bs and was happy with all of them. The Campania Artecard was a super value! We purchased it at the Naples train station and it covered the Naples archeological museum, the Circumvesuviana train trip to Sorrento, the bus trip down the Amalfi Coast, the Circumvesuviana back to Pompei plus admission, and the train further south to Paestum where we saw magnificent Greek temples and a museum - admissions all included, plus the train BACK to Naples!!! We stayed at Hotel Villa Rita at Paestum and it was fantastic, 81e in October. So rural and peaceful.

I would agree with Gail. If you do not plan on going anywhere else in Italy don't get a car. The bus and trains will get you where you want to go. If you do get a car parking is also expensive. Cheapest I could find in Sorrento was 20 euro a day.