Pros: This is literally the best location in all of Positano. This is not hyperbole. Everything you need will be right outside your door, including fantastic restaurants, charming shops, and a wonderful cafe where you can start your day with delicious cappuccino and fresh squeezed blood orange juice. You will realize that this convenience is a rare commodity in Positano, as it can be very difficult to get around, given the steep steps.

You will have oceanfront views from every room. John Steinbeck apparently lived there and wrote his famous essay about Positano from the living room ("Positano bites deep..."). The apartment itself is extremely clean and tidy. It's clear that the owner cares very deeply about the place.

Cons: The shower is in serious need of updating. It's basically a vertical plastic coffin, but smaller. And you will have enough hot water for one shower; then will need to wait 20 minutes for the water to heat up again. A larger boiler and a decent-sized shower stall would seem to be easy fixes. The beds are the hardest beds I've ever slept in. Again, an easy fix for the owner.

Also, I think the orientation can be shortened. Ours literally took 45 minutes, where the owner painstakingly showed us how every window opened and locked, how the washer and dryer worked, how each kitchen appliance worked, etc. We tried to explain that we are not going to cook or use the washer/dryer, but he insisted on the tutorial. After the long drive from Naples, the length of the orientation could drive you mad. The worst part is that he left out information that we actually needed -- including that there are no toiletries. We spent another 45 minutes trying to find a pharmacy that was open.

The downside of being close to everything is that you will hear some outside noise. The windows aren't really soundproof, and on one of the nights, the cafe turned into a dance club. This really didn't bother us, since we're from NYC, but light sleepers should be aware.

Some tips: Try and pack light. Your driver will drop you off and you will need to negotiate some steep steps going down to the apartment with your bags. When leaving, I highly recommend hiring porters (the owner will call them for you), as going up the steps with even small bags will be a huge challenge. They charge 10 euros per bag, which will be money well spent.