Originally Posted by
rickg523
(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.
Yes, I would disagree strongly. It is touristy beyond belief. I hardly recognize being in Italy there. It also has the problem of no beach. There is one, but Sorrento sits on a cliff. You'd have to make it down the cliff. It is very overpriced. At least in Venice you can get away from the hordes of tourists anytime, if you know where to go. In Sorrento there is no escape.