Whoa! Didn’t mean to stir up controversy! The point which I was trying to make was that historic European beach destinations (ie places that have been a tourist destination for decades) are getting more crowded, inexcusably expensive and with service standards dropping.

I agree with all the points above but from my completely subjective experience, I can’t divorce Positano from some pretty great holidays in the Amalfi coast - I see it as belonging to a wider holiday. Would I stay again in Sirenuse or ISP? Probably not. Would I make a trip to just stay in Positano? Probably not. In fact, in terms of hotels, I don’t think I would stay again in any of the coastal grande dames in Italy if I could help it. But I wouldn’t advise anyone against staying there if they hadn’t before.