(Sorrento, Italy). I stayed at the Hotel Antiche Mura based on a friend's recommendation because of its proximity to the main town square, the ferry to Capri, and the train station and its quaint looking pool. I booked a Standard Room (including free wireless internet service and breakfast buffet).
Was it everything I thought it would be?
Check in: Very smooth and professional. The hotel staff were nice and friendly and spoke very good english. Everything was already prepaid so they gave us some maps, showed us to the room, and quickly brought up our luggage (which was super heavy after all the shopping I did in Florence)!
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| Our little balcony |
Room: Our room was well-sized and there was a small balcony overlooking some old fortress walls (no ocean view). I'm not sure any of the rooms at this hotel has an ocean view.
The bed was decent, but definitely not as comfortable as the other hotel beds we experienced in Rome, Florence or Bologna.
The bathroom was quite large, but the shower head was way too powerful for the actual shower so each shower made it look as if a tsumani had attacked the bathroom. Fortunately, Sorrento is a beach town and the weather was hot so the bathroom dried quickly. Toiletries were just ok - nothing particularly interesting.
They did have a bottle of prosecco waiting for us which was a nice touch.
Location: The hotel is relatively close to the train station (but could be a difficult, steep walk with lots of luggage). The taxi driver who brought us to the hotel charged us 12 euros and was the only taxi driver who expected a tip, so I think the ride cost us 15 euros which seemed like a scam. Tip - get an estimate from the driver first, and try to have exact change.
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| The main town square - just a short walk from the hotel. |
The hotel is very close (about a 1 minute walk) to the main town square which is filled with lots of bars, restaurants and shops, and about a 10-15 minute walk to the pier to catch a ferry to Capri.
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| A convenient market across the street from the hotel. |
Service: The service at the front desk was very very good. I really enjoyed speaking to the gentlemen there and they seemed genuinely interested in making your stay as lovely as possible. The service at the buffet was more spotty - the ladies there would stand around chatting amongst themselves, instead of serving the guests.
Breakfast Buffet: There is a huge variety of pastries and fruit. There was also the normal array of eggs, sausages, potatoes and yogurt. Everything was ok, but nothing was great. The pastries were definitely store bought and were probably the most mediocre pastries we had on our entire trip. They did have a nice selection of fresh juices, including a carrot/orange/lemon blend. Coffee was oddly bad.
Lobby Bar: Serviceable little bar. We did really enjoy speaking to the bartender there - he was probably the highlight of the bar! He grew up in Sorrento and talked to us about how much the town had changed over the last 50+ years. He also explained the bridge diving that was being broadcast on TV from Furore.
Pool: There is a small refreshing pool surrounded by lemon trees. There is also a small poolside bar serving alcohol and granitas (sort of like fruit slushies). There are lots of kids here so if you are looking for a quiet or romantic pool experience - this isn't it.
Wi-fi: Pretty strong and consistent.
Check out: Very smooth especially since we prepaid for everything.
Recommend? The hotel delivered everything I expected in terms of service and location. However, nothing really stood out about it... except for the really bad coffee. It is definitely a good value and it gets great reviews on tripadvisor. In my opinion, it would probably be better for families with kids.
As for me, I think the next time I stay in Sorrento, I will want to be closer to the ocean. Perhaps - the Grand Hotel Ambasciatori (great ocean views from the pool and restaurant), Parco dei Principi or Maison La Minervetta...
(Average cost per night - $308.33)
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