Amalfi Coast Hotels: How Not To Go Bankrupt

The Italian Amalfi Coast has the reputation of being exclusive, posh and expensive. But what about those who have less deep pockets than the high-class? Our mission was to enjoy the romantic Amalfi Coast to the fullest without going bankrupt. Although Amalfi Coast hotels could cost you a pretty penny, there is a range of affordable hotels. In this blog post, we share accommodation tips and our favourite Amalfi Coast hotel.

Amalfi’s location in Italy

And where you pay the grand prize

Before revealing my Amalfi Coast hotels favourite, let’s get a bit of understanding of where we actually are in Italy.  Italy’s famous coast is situated at the southern part of the Sorrento Peninsula. The Amalfi Coast southern gateway is Salerno, striking west towards Vietri sul Mare. The Amalfi Coast is just 55 kilometres, about 80 minutes from start to end. Since the construction of the scenic roads, the Amalfi Coast has been a jet-set magnet for movie stars, filthy rich entrepreneurs, writers and politicians. And us.

Historically, it’s the part of Italy where the Roman emperors built their holiday residences. Nowadays the Amalfi Coast five-star hotel density is high, it’s easy to find a hotel room for € 500 per night. It is less uncomplicated to find that perfect Amalfi Coast hotel if you have a more constrained budget. 

One of our tips is to stay away from hotels in Positano. Positano is the most exclusive and touristy town on the Amalfi Coast where the majority of hotels cost some serious money.

Amalfi Coast: away from the crowd

Where affordable sea view hotel rooms still exist!

As in every other region, it’s best to stay away from the overcrowded places. At least that is our preference. Considering the 5 million visitors per year, we recommended choosing your Amalfi Coast base wisely. We advise staying at less jam-packed towns where affordable hotels still exist. Just discover the coast by car, bus or scooter.  Our Amalfi Coast accommodation suggestions for you:

• Although we did not stay here, I recommend trying an agriturismo instead of a hotel. Next time I visit the Amalfi Coast, I will definitely book one myself. Price from € 25 per night.
• Consider other types of accommodation: Go Camping or Glamping.
• Minori is a cute town with a small beach where Italian ladies enjoy their afternoon sunbath. With just 3.000 inhabitants, Minori is less inhabited than the average town on the Amalfi Coast. For us, it was the perfect town to explore the beauty of Italy’s famous Unesco coastline.
• Situated only 15 kilometres from Positano, Sorrento is a perfect base for your Amalfi Coast accommodation. From Sorrento, it’s easy to discover the Amalfi Coast. From Sorrento, it is a 45-minute drive to Pompei and a 90-minute drive to Mount Vesuvius.

Amalfi Coast hotels: our favourites

Minori – Palazzo Vingius

Hidden in the rocky cliffs of Minori, this lovely hotel has it all: gorgeous views, friendly staff and clean rooms. And a yummy breakfast with fresh coffee, orange juice and croissants. A sea view room at Palazzo Vingius will cost € 45 per person per night, including breakfast. And you do want a sea view room. If only to behold the Italian nonna’s buying their veggies at the local market. I loved sitting on the Meditterean balcony with my morning cappuccino. Just enjoying the sunrise and keeping an eye on the sun dried tomatoes on the neighbour’s rooftop terrace, was so relaxing.

Parking is available for € 10 day. I wonder how much that would be in Positano? At least three times as much I guess. The parking machines did not work when we were there, so we couldn’t pay actually. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s still the case. It is Italy after all guys.

The hotel is situated just 100 metres from Minori beach. 80% of these 100 metres are stairs and a serious exercise after your 3rd plate of pasta. I would like to share that if you are in a wheelchair this hotel might be inconveniently situated: Palazzo Vingius has 4 floors and no lift. There is a backdoor on the other side of the hotel but the road is steep, narrow and busy. I don’t think it’s undoable, it’s just good to keep in mind that the regular entrance is impassable for those who have difficulty walking. Book you room at Palazzo Vingius on Booking.com.

Sorrento – Villaggio Camping Santafortunata Campogaio

Villaggio Camping Santafortunata Campogaio is a campsite close to Sorrento. Ok, it’s not a real hotel but it’s a great place to spend your holiday. If you don’t feel like taking your tent or sharing shower and toilet facilities, rent a cabin. The cabin has a tiny kitchen, bathroom, a bedroom and a veranda. Chairs to eat outside are provided, as well as basic kitchenware, bed sheets and towels. We stayed at one of the wooden cabins that faced Mount Vesuvius. That sounds magical right? The cabin cost € 30 per person per night, including breakfast. Villaggio Camping Santafortunata Campogaio has a pool – don’t forget your Italian bathing cap 🙂 – and it’s an 8-minute walk to the beach. The campsite has a small shop with a limited range of groceries, just enough for a simple meal. In Sorrento are many shops, supermarkets and restaurants.

Use Booking.com to book yourself a nice wooden cabin!

When to travel to the Amalfi Coast?

The Italian region is a magnet for travellers, so I discourage visiting the Amalfi Coast in high season. Despite tropical temperatures, bus loads of people overwhelm the Italian coastal towns in summer peak. Unless you like the experience of being a canned sardine, don’t go in July and August. The Amalfi Coast hotels triple rates during peak season, yet another reason to skip the two busiest months of the year. So what is the best time of the year to visit the Amalfi Coast? In Spring and Autumn you will find nice weather, reasonable hotel rates and fewer tourists:

• April – June & September – October: perfect! We went in June and had beach weather. The region is not tourist-free but the number of other travellers was not disturbing.
• July – August: warm, busy, expensive. Just. Don’t. Go.
• November – March: Temperatures are not as pleasant as in Spring and Autumn. But more importantly, most restaurants, bars and sights are closed.

More budget tips

Some other tips to ensure you don’t go bankrupt while enjoying the Amalfi Coast:

• Don’t have dinner or lunch in hotels. Go to the local markets and shops to buy your food and drinks. Follow the Italians to their favourite restaurants or bars!
• Eat pizza and drink wine 🙂
• Although we believe the best way to discover the Amalfi Coast is by car, there are sufficient transportation options for those who travel on a budget. Travelling the Amalfi Coast without a car? These are your best options:
  • Travel by boat to enjoy the Amalfi Coast from the seaside.
  • Rent a scooter for a few days to enjoy the freedom of discovering the coast yourself.
  • Travel by bus. A bus single bus ticket will cost € 2.50. You will find a bus schedule on Positano.com.
• A beach umbrella and sunbed will cost about € 10 – € 15. I did not want to miss out on these but if you are on a tight budget, consider bringing your own hammam towel.
• Book your Amalfi Coast hotels in advance. Keep an eye on the rates regularly and use special deals.

We hope you found this Amalfi Coast hotel guide useful. We are always open to hearing more hotel or accommodation recommendations. Have you been to the Amalfi Coast and where did you stay? Let us know by commenting below!

If you are planning to travel to the Amalfi Coast in the near future, this is your lucky day! We also wrote an Amalfi Coast road trip itinerary.

This article includes some links that help me pay the bills. This is not a sponsored post, I genuinely loved these accommodations and paid for my stays with my very own credit card 🙂

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