I'm on a budget & many of the hotels around $100 are all over in different areas near Sorrento. Which areas are the best to stay in if I want to be close to transportation and a town.
Have you tried Ulisse Deluxe in Sorrento. It was originally built as a hostel but it has private rooms as well. It's very nice and a short walk from the Circumvesuviana station and down to the water. I've stayed there twice and been pleased both times...large rooms, clean, spacious bathroom too. I didn't take breakfast there, preferring to eat at small local cafes. Here's a link: http://www.ulissedeluxe.com/
Have a good trip.
The story behind the Ulisse is that when it was built it was easier to get planning permission to build a hostel so that's what they applied to do. It must have been an oversight that it turned out to have so few dorm rooms!
TA reviews
I am staying at the Ulisse as well October 14-18. Booking through Hostelbookers.com was far cheaper (and reliable) than anywhere else. You can also see reviews from budget travelers rather than disappointed spoiled travelers who were expecting something super fancy because they paid to much.
There are a couple other hostels and Airbnbs too.
In 2010 we stayed at the Hotel Mignon, http://sorrentohotelmignon.com/. It was centrally located, clean, had a nice balcony and not expensive.
We stayed at Sorrento Flats, a b&b in the center of Sorrento for about $120/night (used booking.com) which included breakfast AND a "happy hour" This was in 2016.
take a look at il Nido (ilnido.com) - I've stayed here every year for about the past decade. price, location (on the hill above town but they have a free shuttle), food (best restaurant in Sorrento IMO) all make this my one and only choice. they also have a laundry room for you to use!