Hotel Alpha

The breakfast was basic, but the service there was excellent, and the staff were great overall. Alpha Hotel is in a quiet spot in Sorrento, near the train station and supermarkets, and our room was clean and comfortable. A few annoyances: reception had to adjust the air conditioning, ants appeared in the room, were dealt with quickly, then came back, and the baby cot cost €20 a night, which felt steep. Still, it was a pleasant stay.

There was plenty of green space and a playground, which worked well for our little one, and the pool was a good size and clean. The hotel is close to the station, though central sorrento is quite a walk, and in hindsight we'd have preferred to stay nearer the center. We didn't eat at the hotel because the reviews were average and there are lots of restaurants to try nearby. The bar and restaurant did look lively and were usually busy when we passed. We had some hassle with the air conditioning: reception had to handle certain settings, like turning it off or changing the temperature by more than two degrees, which was inconvenient during the night. There were also ants, but the issue was fixed quickly. The hotel itself is lovely and spacious, especially for families with little ones.

The sunset from the terrace is worth catching, and the pool and gardens were nice too. We had a comfortable bed, a good shower, a lovely view of the hills from the balcony, and plenty of breakfast choices. The food was generally good, and most of the staff were friendly, especially the cleaning team. The hotel is handy for the train station. On the downside, the decor felt tired, the bathroom had very cheap toilet paper, and the gala dinner was odd, with no choice and some disappointing vegetarian dishes. One evening's musical entertainment was poor, too loud, and went on late. The checkout staff were unfriendly and unhelpful.

The gardens were especially relaxing in the evening, and the pool was good. The hotel is just outside central Sorrento, about a 30-minute walk or two minutes by train, with the station 10 minutes away. Trains also go to Naples and intermediate stops, and we used them to visit some lovely towns in that direction. Our room was a little small, but otherwise perfect, very modern, and gave us a great night's sleep. The air conditioning was excellent and essential. Breakfast and dinner were excellent. We were on half board, and dinner had three courses with good choices. The gala dinner was unusual, five or six courses with no choice, but we eat almost anything, so it was fine and the food was excellent. It was annoying that half-board guests couldn't eat outdoors, as that was reserved for a la carte diners. There were lots of staff, all spoke English, and they were excellent. Dinner felt a bit rushed, with staff ready to clear plates and courses seemingly prepared to serve. One maître d' came across as slightly officious at times, though it was never a problem. I'd go back.