Hotel Minerva - Sorrento, Italy     

My husband and I have just returned after a week at the Minerva and I have to admit that although we had a great time I've got mixed feelings about the hotel. Lets start with the positives. The view is stunning, you could happily sit on the terrace all day and just watch the numerous boats and cruise liners go by. The pool is great, again wonderful views and no trouble getting a lounger any time of the day. All the staff were amazing, very friendly and helpful, especially as I was trying some very basic Italian on them. Now for the negatives. We booked a late deal through Thomas Cook and ended up with a rubbish room on the top floor with a sloping roof and a tiny window you had to crouch down to look out of. It was disappointing as we had paid more for a sea view but this wasn't really what I had expected. I got the feeling that they tend to put people on package deals in these rooms. Anyway, I told the receptionist that I wasn't happy and we were willing to pay extra for a room with a balcony, should one become available. Not expecting to hear back, we were allocated a room with a balcony two days into the holiday. It was a much better room, balcony had space for table and chairs. Although the other balconies were much larger, we were happy to have some outdoor space. If you're booking a room make sure you request a balcony if you can! Overall I found the rooms to be a bit shabby. A bit 70's throwback and they could do with updating. The public areas were much nicer and it would've been great to see this style reflected in the rooms. The food was hit and miss. A bit like school dinners at times and my husband ordered the strangest looking pizza ever. Looked more like an omlette. Weird. Breakfast wasn't the best either, cold coffee on numerous occasions, but it did the job. What you're paying for here is the view and even though we enjoyed ourselves I'm not sure I would stay here again. I will definitely visit Sorrento again and try another hotel. Organising your own trips is easy and I can recommend getting the artecard from the train station which gives you 3 days travel on any buses and trains in Campania region and 2 admissions to any visitors sites for just 25EUR.

The best thing about the hotel is the terrace and its stunning view over Sorrento - it really is the wow factor. The added bonus is that the majority of the rooms have a sea view (55 of 60 if I remember correctly), although this may cost a little extra if you have booked at a bargain price. The downside of a good view means that you are high up which means it is a little hilly - but as Sorrento, and the entire Amalfi coast is built on cliff faces this is pretty much the case in any hotel. The plus side is that the bus stops outside the hotel and it only costs a euro per person to travel for 60 minutes. Bus arrive on time and run every 20 minutes (line A). The hotel is a 10 minute walk from the town centre, which is actually a result if you eat the amount of pasta I do. We stayed half board and the food was good, plenty of choice - although the meat dishes were probably better than the fish. Drinks in Sorrento are expensive in most restaurants and hotels -except the tratorrias which are more snack food and pizza. I have read complaints about noisy hallways at the Minerva, but to be honest tiled corridors are the norm in the mediterranean - so don't be overly concerned. Sorrento is a great base to do any number of trips...capri, amalfi, pompei, herculaneum, vesuvius, ischia, etc. However if you want golden beaches do not go to this part of Italy. My final note would be that the staff at the Minerva are excellent, very friendly and always happy to accomodate your requests and provide excellent advice on where to go. I would be happy to return and would recommend this hotel to anyone - unless they like staying in characterless american hotels.