The Traveling Professor, with years of experience in planning small group tours to Italy, presents his best tips to planning an Amalfi Coast tour. 

Stay in Sorrento:  Dramatically set on the Bay of Naples, the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is The Professor's choice for a luxury stay in Sorrento.  From all the small group tours The Traveling Professor has run, this is probably the best value for luxury, service, and absolutely spectacular view.  However, it can be expensive.  A great alternative is the Palazzo Januzzi located in the center of Sorrento.  Personally, I don't think staying in Positano is an option because of the crowds and the difficulty of getting in and out of Positano.

Do an Amalfi Coast Car Tour:  What we do on our small group tours to the Amalfi Coast is hire a private company to drive us up to Ravello and work or way back to Sorrento, stopping at some great spots along the way.  Our first stop is usually beautiful Ravello, the most uncrowded of our stops on the coast.  We work our way down stopping when and where we want.  In Positano, we have lunch at a place you cannot miss - La Tagliata.   Our clients still talk about this lunch on the Amalfi Coast years after going there.

Capri:  Going to Capri from Sorrento is easy.  Buy a ferry ticket from Sorrento, enjoy the day there and return.  We recommend avoiding a trip to the Blue Lagoon (crowded, expensive, scary, and time-consuming) and instead do a leisurely and relaxing Laser Boat tour around the island.  After that, take the funicular up to the top of Capri and enjoy lunch.

Getting To and From Sorrento:  Sorrento is about an hour's drive from either the Naples train station, cruise terminal, and airport.  Forget the public busses and trains from these areas to/from Sorrento.  Private transportation is the only way to go.

Where to Eat in Sorrento:  You won't have an issue finding good places to dine, but I do recommend sitting at the famous Fauno Bar to people watch and enjoy a Negroni.