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.
Are you open to somewhere besides Amalfi? Amalfi is unique but there are lots of places that are beautiful and more budget friendly. Personally, I like Amalfi in May/early June or mid-September to mid-October.
If you are, you might want to consider Le Marche. Quiet, relaxing and pretty, Le Marche is a great Italian getaway. Not quite undiscovered but less so than places like Amalfi, Cinqueterre... Lot's of good, reasonably priced AirBnb's there as well. As noted by Perche, the beaches everywhere can get pretty crowded (particularly in July & August).