Grand Hotel Riviera

3 readers found this review helpful

I would urge everyone to go to Sorrento at least once in a lifetime. The chances are, if you go once, you’ll go back whenever you can. It has to be said that this is not the cheapest place in the world to visit, but this is one of those occasions when it really is worth the extra money to treat yourself.
The Grand Hotel Riviera is about 10 minutes walk from the centre of the town, close enough to be near all the action but far enough to be peaceful and relaxing for the end of an evening or soaking up some rays during the day. The hotel is perched on the edge of a cliff, giving superb views across the Bay of Naples towards Vesuvius. Pan left to look across to Capri and to Sorrento town itself. From the terrace, you can sip a drink, by the pool, as you watch the yachts and luxury liners come and go out of the bay. A lift takes you down to the bathing platform and the pleasantly warm Mediterranean waters. I preferred the stone ledge at the foot of the cliff, where the shade protected my red head from the fierce heat of the sun. Many a glass of wine and champagne did I enjoy here, relaxing with a book or just watching the world go by. On entering the hotel, it feels marvellously opulent with a huge sitting area, marble floors and a wonderful collection of artwork. As you would expect in a hotel of this class, the rooms are light, airy and clean. A pleasant surprise was that the mini-bar was not overly expensive either.
The restaurant is perhaps a bit large and lacks the cosiness of some of the local eateries. The food is very good, but not exceptional, and the portion sizes generous. The wine was all excellent too, as you would expect in Italy.
The town itself is delightful. There are a number of bars and restaurants around the main square from where you can simply sit and 'people watch'. Nearby are the narrow streets with plenty of art and craft shops, as well as designer gear to take home. My favourite part of the town is the Marina Grande, perversely the smaller of the two harbours, with its collection of small restaurants, which has a wonderfully relaxed ambiance. From the larger harbour, the Marina Piccolo, you can catch a boat to Capri, Amalfi, Positano or Naples. Capri and Positano are definitely recommended, particularly the restaurant at the left of the beach in Positano.
There are plenty of trips available to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Monte Cassino, Rome. However, I enjoyed Sorrento and Capri so much, I couldn’t be bothered going further a field. Maybe next time. There certainly will be a next time.