Hotel Oriente

As a solo traveler, I felt at ease at the Oriente, almost like I was at home. The staff were friendly, warm, and quick to help, and both the bedrooms and shared spaces were spotless. It's a peaceful hotel built into the cliff below the road, and the location works especially well for getting around by public transport. It exceeded my expectations.

We chose this trip for our Golden Wedding anniversary and had such a good stay. The train station is about a five-minute walk away, on the Naples-Sorrento line, so Pompeii and Herculaneum were easy to reach too. We liked being away from the bigger towns; it was quiet while still having everything we needed nearby. Our room was comfortable and clean, with lovely views across to Mount Vesuvius from the balcony. Dinner was beautifully prepared and presented, the buffet breakfast set us up well each day, and the staff were professional and friendly.

The people at Hotel Oriente made us feel at home. The bar, waiting, and reception teams were small and worked incredibly hard. The same four bar and waiting staff covered breakfast and dinner during our two weeks, always greeting us with a smile and a cheerful Buongiorno or Buonasera. Their English was limited, and our Italian was practically nonexistent, but we managed friendly chats and laughs. They're a real asset, and we'll come back in large part because of them. Grazie mille 🥰 We were half board through TUI, with a continental breakfast buffet and a five-course dinner from a set menu. We ate there most nights. The choices changed over our fortnight, with few repeated dishes, so there was usually something new to try. On a few evenings we ate in Vico at Cerase and Pizza a Metro, both delicious. The restaurant has beautiful views, including nightly sunsets you can watch from the dining room, with a castle(?) on the cliff opposite and the beach and sea below. Our balcony was a surprise. At first, we thought we'd been given a room without the balcony we'd paid for, but once someone showed us the way out, we discovered a huge one. The faux grass balcony in my Hotel Oriente photo was ours. The room and welcome were lovely from the start, and the receptionist explained the hotel and the key information on arrival. The private beach was just what we wanted: small, quiet during the week, and shared with Vico Equense locals who fill the cove on weekends. We were told two beach visits per week were included, but we went more often. Cliffs wrap around the beach, and Mount Vesuvius looms above it. Getting around from Vico Equense was easy. The Circumvesuviana to Naples, Pompeii, and Sorrento is a two-minute walk away, with a bus terminal by the station. We didn't need a TUI representative based in Sorrento to organize outings. We planned our own, including an overnight in Rome, a spa visit in Sorrento, Pompeii, and quad biking up Mount Faito using the Be.IT app. Ferries from Sorrento port also go to Naples, Capri, Positano, and Amalfi.

The best part of the area is its lovely views, and the location is handy: the station is just across the road, the town is a five-minute walk, and the beach is ten minutes away. The place itself, though, didn't feel like a four-star hotel. The photos look like they're from years ago. Our basic room, 219, had a great view but a small balcony. From 6:15 or 6:30 each morning, the sound of setting out tables and chairs and chopping breakfast ingredients woke us up. The breakfast was limited, so we only went twice. The outdoor seating looked neglected, and the cushions had been put away. I assumed that was because the season was ending, but when a private party arrived, the cushions came back out for them. We and the other paying guests were there for a week without them. The outdoor areas also seemed to need cleaning in places. Bar service was advertised, but we were told it ran from 6 to 11 pm. Most nights it stopped at 10 or 10:30. Asking for a drink outside those hours got a refusal, even though someone was usually around, and the response could be rude. Drinks from meals and the bar went onto the room bill with no price list. A waiter didn't know the wine price, and you could only pay at checkout. Other guests had billing problems, and since we hadn't tracked things, we couldn't tell if our bill was right. Water with the included meal was charged too. The minibar had no prices, so we assumed the water and soft drinks were free since there was nowhere else to get a soft drink during the day. They weren't. Other guests were even charged for beers that weren't in their minibar, despite being non-drinkers. Dinner ran from 7 to 9 pm, with three choices per course each evening. It was decent enough, usually with fish, meat, and a vegetarian option, but we went out four of the seven nights for more choice. Take mosquito spray. I wouldn't stay here again because of the limited amenities and neglected outdoor spaces, though I do recommend the area and its views.