Mrs. USAFAN and I are going to Rome and than to the Amalfi coast in May. You could fly direct to Naples.
In Sorrento is a nice Hilton. Other nice places are: Isle of Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello. The beaches are small.
http://www.ondaverde.it/hoteli.htm
http://www.capri.net/home/en/index.php
http://www.itwg.com/coast_05.asp
http://www.positanonline.it/
Another nice spot is Costa Smeralda on Sardinia (island). *wood has 2 or 3 Deluxe Hotels there! Very nice, nice beaches, very expensive.