Originally Posted by
highlanderfil
Yikes. Yeah, I'm not at all above extending my budget a bit more to avoid the industry. Anything in particular I should be looking at? Doesn't have the be the Amalfi coast, mind you.
(Perche will disagree, due to the tourist crowding, and it's associated restaurant hustlers, but...) Sorrento is a very convenient hub for exploring Amalfi, Pompeii, Naples and the islands, especially Capri. If you stay in the center, it's lively, and close to the train station and port.
I stayed once at a hotel called Palazzo Abagnale that might fit your budget. And I've stayed in rentals - which has been an even better experience. I rented once through HomeAway and twice through a company called Summer in Italy.