Grand Hotel Aminta, Sorrento

Here's another cut-and-paste job from my Trip Advisor review. If you're planning on visiting Sorrento, particularly out of season, then I really recommend the Grand Hotel Aminta!

We stayed at the Aminta for four nights in February and have nothing but good things to say. As it was out of season, the hotel was quiet, which meant we were given an upgrade to a sea-view room with a balcony - a great start to our stay. We were greeted by a very friendly lady on reception, with perfect English, who advised us that the restaurant was open until 9.30pm. This was a relief, as we arrived late in the evening and had been worried about being too late for dinner. 

We were impressed that the restaurant remained open, with the full (extensive) menu available, despite the late time and only two tables being occupied. The food wasn't cheap but it was delicious, and the service was excellent - we enjoyed it so much that we chose to eat there again on our last night. 

Our room was lovely - clean, bright and airy with a king-sized bed that was so comfortable I wanted to take it home. The bathroom had a shower over the bath and complimentary toiletries. There was a TV in the room with a couple of English channels and a radio-alarm, which could be used to play music from (and charge) an older iPhone or iPod. Handy extras included USB sockets for charging your phone and a 3-pin plug socket. The view from the balcony was stunning, although it wasn't warm enough in February to sit outside. 

Breakfast was a hot and cold buffet - not a huge selection but more than sufficient and all delicious. The bar was open every evening, with an extensive list including cocktails. All staff - reception, restaurant, bar and cleaning - were friendly, helpful and spoke excellent English (although an attempt at Italian always goes down well!). 

The location of the hotel is one of its major selling points. Located high on the hills overlooking Sorrento and the bay of Naples, the views are amazing. The large windows in the restaurant and bar allow you to look out even from inside, while the pool and outside seating would be perfect in warmer months. 

There is an hourly shuttle bus from the hotel to the centre of Sorrento and back; it breaks for lunch but the last bus back is 11.30pm, allowing you to go out for the evening with no need for a taxi. Alternatively, you can make the 15-minute walk into town, through winding footpaths and passageways - the views are beautiful but it's quite a steep walk back up!

Overall, I thoroughly recommend staying in this hotel, particularly out of season - although I hope to come back again in the summer, when I can use the pool and the balcony!

Check out my short video of our room below.