The very best location we know for staying in the Amalfi Coast area without a car. There is a public bus that goes to Piazza Tasso (purchase your tickets at any tobacco shop), or you can walk 5 minutes to the Circumvesuviana commuter train, which goes to Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Right down the hill are the Sorrento docks, where you can get the hydrofoil to Naples, all points on the Amalfi Coast, and Capri.

50 on five floors, including doubles, triples, junior suites and four split-level suites that can sleep up to three people. All rooms have a private bathroom with bathtub and/or massage shower (some standard rooms have a massage stall shower). Comfort rooms have a balcony and views of the pool or gorge or street; some are in a separate house on the ground floor by the pool. Junior suites have a double sofa or day bed in the sitting area, and three of them have two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows. The suites have a “greenhouse” living room with a sofa or single bed, plus a staircase up to a bedroom with king bed, and one or two bathrooms (one with whirlpool bathtub). One triple-level suite has two double rooms, two bathrooms and a terrace with sea view.

Air conditioning (May-October), Vietri tile floors, big mirrors, large inlaid wood wardrobes and drawers, heating, direct-dial telephone with high-speed Internet connection, safe, satellite TV, mini bar, bathroom with one or two sinks and hair dryer.

Elevator, swimming pool, room service, Internet point, American buffet breakfast overlooking the garden, garage (10 Euro/night, paid locally).