A taste of la dolce vita, without the hefty price tag. Getty Images/ Francesco Riccardo Iacomino The Amalfi Coast deservedly tops many of our bucket lists, with pastel-colored houses tumbling into the sea, sun-drenched lemon groves made for slow afternoon strolls, and some of the finest, freshest seafood pasta you'll ever eat. But its perpetually rising popularity—and the subsequent boom in über-fancy hotels—also makes it one of Europe’s most crowded and expensive coastal escapes. Of course, there are ways to keep costs down if you're planning to visit the Amalfi Coast—the most important of which is to visit during the shoulder season, in April, May, or October. You could also opt for some of the more affordable towns, such as Minori or Praiano, instead of the big-hitters of Positano , Amalfi, and Ravello. Then there are the more obvious travel choices: using public transport instead of taxis, booking accommodation well in advance, and avoiding restaurants in the tourist-heavy main squares.…