Sorrento & Surrounding Area – EAT SLEEP LOVE TRAVEL

Italy: The Amalfi Coast

When I recently visited Sorrento in Southern Italy I was really excited to take a trip down the Amalfi Coast. I had seen so many breathtaking pictures of the buildings built into the side of the cliffs on the Amalfi Coast and desperately wanted to see them with my own eyes, it was certainly on the top of my ‘to do’ list. I therefore booked an organised trip with Acampora Travel which cost approximately £30 per person. This trip included hotel pick up from our beautiful hotel in Piano Di Sorento the Grand Nastro Azzuro at 8.15am.

The Amalfi Drive (formally Strada Statale 163) is a 80 kilometre road which links Vietri sul Mare (a town just west of Salerno) to the town of Amalfi. The road was originally built by the Romans and gives fantastic views over the Tyrrhenian Sea below. The Amalfi Coast itself was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The road itself is extremely narrow, some points it is impossible for two vehicles to pass each other. To drive on this road, like most roads on the Sorrento Pennisula and around the Naples area, requires confidence and patience. Also, to be a passenger you need a strong stomach as there isn’t a gap between the road and the cliff edge and the drops down to the water are ridiculous.

The first stop on our trip was Positano which is a very picturesque village on the Amalfi Coast with many houses built in the cliffs heading down to the sea, only accessible by foot. How beautiful to have that view from your front window but how much of a pain if you had been shopping and get back down to your house and realise you have forgotten the milk!!! Unfortunately, as our tour was conducted on a large coach we were unable to get down into the village itself which we felt was a great shame as we visited on an extremely cloudy day and our shots of this beautiful town aren’t too clear. Other tours are available which do allow you to get down into the town as minibuses are used rather than coaches. Therefore, if I were to visit this part of the world again I would definitely do this journey on a minibus – you live and you learn.

Next stop was the beautiful Amalfi itself. We arrived here at around 10.00am and jumped on an optional boat trip which took around an hour and took us up and down the coastline of Amalfi. If we had taken this trip on any other day of our stay in the area this would have been a fabulous thing to do. However, I think we visited on the most miserable, cold day of the year because of this we sat shivering for 60 minutes as we tried to see the reportedly picturesque coastline of Amalfi. Please don’t be put off by this. I’m sure if you are lucky with the weather you will have a wonderful time admiring the beautiful Italian architecture whilst bobbing around in the Gulf of Salarno. We then had 60 minutes free time. Mr ESLT and I took this opportunity to grab a Panini (as we are not breakfast people this was very welcome) and a coffee at a small, yet extremely expensive coffee shop directly opposite the Amalfi Cathedral – what a backdrop! Unfortunately we did not have time to explore inside as it was onto our next port of call…..

After more twists and turns we arrived at Scala, a tiny town with fantastic views over Ravello. Here we stopped for lunch. Lunch was not included in the price of the trip. To be honest it was a good job that Mr ESLT and I had, had a panini not long back as this had to be the WORST meal I have ever had in Italy (and I have been 6 times). It was a set menu for €13 – a beer (this was the best part!), garlic bread that we never got the chance to try as the grubby little kids that we were sharing a table with had their grubby little hands all over it, uncooked pasta and a soggy piece of lemon cake. I won’t name the restaurant (although it has the same name as a cheese and tomato pizza). I wish we had bypassed ‘lunch’ and spent the time exploring Scala because as soon as the meal was over we were frog marched back onto the coach for our next stop……

The beautiful Ravello. I wish, wish, wish we were given more time here! It is stunning. The town centre is pedestrianised – which I love. It’s also home to a number of lovely little restaurants and cafes which I’m sure would have been a better option for lunch(?) Here we headed straight to Villa Rufolo which was built in 1270 by Nicola Rufolo and is where Richard Wagner in 1880 was inspired for the stage design of his opera Parsifal. It has on of the most gorgeous gardens I have ever seen, albeit small and offers fantastic views out to sea, again if you visit on a clear day. As we were only given 60 minutes here we quickly walked through the narrow streets admiring the lovely little shops which sit alongside the 5* hotels which over the years have been frequented by the rich and famous. Ravello also boasts a beautiful cathedral which again we didn’t have time to explore.

Unfortunately this tour did not live up to expectations. It is not in doubt that the Amalfi Coast is stunning and well worth the visit but this day was not what I wanted it to be. Maybe it was the weather or our rumbling tummies by the end of the day? I think they played a part. But I think the main thing for me was I constantly felt rushed and that we did not have enough time in each place to fully appreciated what was on offer. It’s great if you simply want a whistle-stop tour of the beautiful villages but for me i wanted MORE!!!! Hindsight is a great thing but if I had my time again I think I’d hire a car so I could take things at my pace including an over night stay in each village. So in summary, I’m glad I visited the Amalfi Coast and highly recommend it I just don’t think the organised tour was for me.

Italy: Captivating Capri

Not so long ago I read a post about why you shouldn’t visit Capri. I have searched and searched and searched the net for it since to no avail. When I read it, it made me think ‘is my trip to Capri going to be rubbish?’ But me being me I have to experience something for myself and not, not do something because someone else didn’t enjoy it or didn’t get anything from it. Also, I think the guys who had written it had visited in the off season and struggled to find anything open. Capri had always appealed to me and the fact that I was staying in Sorrento a hop across the water a visit was never in doubt.

Capri had a reputation in the 1960’s of being the playground of the rich and famous. This was something I had to see for myself, an island only accessible by water (or helicopter I’m sure if you were/are rich enough) gets a tick in my book. Did you know that geological surveys and archaeological findings have confirmed that Capri actually used to be part of mainland Italy?

We decided to do an organised tour booked via Acampora Travel at a cost of £65 per person which was led by the lovely and knowledgable guide Gulia. This included hotel pick up and drop off, ferry ride, transportation whilst on the island and running commentary from Gulia. If you want the freedom of doing the trip at your own pace getting there is pretty easy from Sorrento with ferries running regularly from Sorrento Marina at a cost of between €14 and €18 per person, depending on the time of day you travel. The fast ferries take around 30 minutes and if you get the opportunity I’d advise standing at the back as you get great views of Sorrento and Mt Vesuvius which slowly disappear the closer you get to Capri. Allowing perfect photo opportunities providing you make the journey on a clear day.

Rock Formation of the coast of Capri, Italy

When I arrived in Capri the group was given the opportunity to join an optional boat tour around the island for €16 per person from the marina, Marina Grande. This in my option was well worth it. Gulia joined us and pointed out various buildings (including Gracie Field’s home) caves and the beautiful orange coral which has formed at the bottom of the cliffs. Guila pointed out the sculpture of Gennarino (The Statue of the Scugnizzo) sitting on the rocks, waving out across the water – don’t forget to shout ‘Ciao Gennarino’ as he is said to bring good luck to travellers . We also went through the rock, which over time due to erosion is now an arch where Mr ESLT and I enjoyed a smooch which, according to legend means our love will last forever! We pulled up to the entrance of the Blue Grotto (lagoon) where we could see people entering. To get in you have to lay flat in a small rowing boat as the opening in the rocks is tiny! Now firstly, I’m not great with tight spaces and secondly we were short on time so decided that this wasn’t for us. I imagine it’s beautiful in there but visiting just wasn’t our thing. The boat journey around the full island took 60 minutes.

Back on dry land we jumped on a minibus and headed up the narrow, bendy road to Anacapri which sits at the highest point of the island. Here Gulia took us to a look out point which gave us breathtaking views of the sea, harbour and town below. We were given a couple of hours free time in Anacapri for us to grab lunch and explore the tiny quiet streets of this lovely town. After a hearty meal of pizza and beer we wandered around admiring the intricate buildings until we stumbled across the Church of St Michele Arcangelo which boasts the most beautiful and colourful mosaic floor I have ever seen. You are not permitted to walk on it and must navigate your way around the room on the wooden planks that have been placed around the edges. You can also climb a narrow spiralled staircase which allows you a birdseye view of the floor. What a great find and for a $2 (per person) entry fee it was also a bargain. Anacapri also has cable cars which you can ride….again not our thing but the looked like fun especially if you have kids with you. Here you will find many shops. The majority of which are gift shops. I’ll be honest we fell into the trap and bought souvenirs for friends and family simply because Capri was written across it!

Gorgeous floor that you cannot walk on at San Michele church, Ana Capri, Italy

After a lovely couple of hours up there we jumped back on the minibus and headed down to the town of Capri. Here Gulia took us on a walking tour of the town. Flower garden for the queen and another look out point which again gave fantastic views out over the water Tyrrhenian Sea. We were again given a couple of hours free time to explore. Capri was a lot busier than Anacapri that’s day and I imagine is most days with the shops and cafes bustling with visitors to the island. Here the shops are very different to those of Anacapri. Here are the shops that I had expected of this island – the high end designer ones! They are all on one street – Via Camerelle and Gulia told us that this was the most dangerous street in Capri – for husband’s wallets!!! Needless to say we visited a few and even found in the Gucci shop a specially designed handbag that you can only by on the Isle of Capri. A couple of hours here maybe wasn’t enough but it was getting late and I had turned a fluorescent shade of red(!) so it was time to head back to the harbour and board our ferry back to the mainland.

So in summary, I’m writing a post about why you should go to Capri. Personally, it was an extremely enjoyable day, maybe the 30 degree weather had something to do with it? I don’t know but I’m glad I took the day to visit and explore this unique island and would highly recommend it. I would also recommend wearing sunscreen in said 30 degree weather so you don’t end up looking like a boil in the bag lobster like I did! (Ouch).

Italy: Herculaneum – Pompeii’s pretty sister?

Have you ever heard of Herculaneum? I’ll be honest I hadn’t until I had the opportunity to visit this overlooked town whilst visiting Southern Italy last month. I’m sure we all know the story of Mt Vesuvius erupting in 79AD and wiping out Pompeii by covering it with ash and pumice. Well guess what? This affected Herculaneum too! Along with Pompeii, Herculaneum took the full force of the famous eruption, yet many have never heard of it! There is a strong indication that Herculaneum was originally a Greek town as it is believed that Herculaneum was named after the Greek hero Hercules, son of Zeus.

Herculaneum (Ercolano), unlike Pompeii, was hit with pyroclastic flows therefore wooden objects were preserved here such as roofs and doors of buildings. Yes, Pompeii is very well preserved but I personally think Herculaneum is even more so. In fact it is so well preserved the mosaic floors look like they could have been laid yesterday. Another reason many say that Herculaneum is Pompeii’s prettier sister is the fact that it was a much wealthier town to begin with grand houses and buildings clad with coloured marble and decorated with beautifully bright and detailed frescos, some of which are still visible today.

Beautiful mosaic floor in Herculaneum, Italy

Herculaneum is located approximately 10km from Naples and 40km from Sorrento, where we were staying. If you are to drive yourself from either of these cities please note that they are both toll road routes. We booked our trip via Acampora Travel at a cost of (approximately) £30 per person which included pick up and drop off in a comfortable coach together with a detailed audio tour lead by a very knowledgeable guide. Entrance to the archeological site was not included in that price. You must ‘pay on the door’ as with most historic sites in the area at a cost of €10 per person. Don’t forget to pick up a guidebook and a map of the site especially if you are visiting without a tour guide as Herculaneum is easy to get lost in. We are testament to that and we DID have a tour guide(!)

It is hard to pinpoint exactly when Herculaneum was ‘found’ however most research points to some point during the 18th Century when tunnels were discovered. But open-air excavation didn’t actually begin until the 1920’s under archaeologist Amedeo Maiuri. It had always been believed that the town had been evacuated before Mt Vesuvius in 79AD erupted however in the 1980’s over 50 skeletons were found near the town’s port. The excavation and investigation of the bones was funded via a grant from the National Geographic Society. Herculaneum, together with neighbouring towns, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the official name ‘Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata’ in 1997.

There isn’t a time limit on how long you can spend on the excavated site which is open between 8.30am and 7.30pm in the Summer months (beginning of May until the end of October) and between 8.30am and 5.00pm in the Winter months (the rest of the year). We had approximately 3 hours here on our guided tour which looking back possibly wasn’t long enough. Obviously, our guide didn’t take us to all the buildings that have been excavated successfully because if she had done that I don’t think a week wood have been long enough let alone a day. And there wasn’t much time allowed at the buildings she did take us to. More often than not Mr ESLT and I were playing catch up to the rest of the group as we were taking pictures. So, in my opinion – yes it’s nice to be accompanied by a guide as you are likely to find out more information than if you went it alone however by going it alone you can take your time – swings and roundabouts!

So would I recommend Herculaneum – yes! It is a beautifully preserved town with a bit more ‘glamour’ about it and quieter than Pompeii. However, if you only have time to visit one of the towns in the Bay of Naples that was wiped out by the eruption Mt Vesuvius then my heart is saying Herculean for its beauty and my head is saying Pompeii for the well known history. And as with all open air sites in Italy, if visiting during the summer months don’t forget sunscreen, hat and a bottle of water.

Italy: Conquering Mt Vesuvius

So have you ever climbed to the top of a volcano? An odd question and one I would have had to say no to up until a couple of weeks ago. That was until I climbed to the top of Mt Vesuvius. Mr ESLT and I were staying in Sorrento (check out our hotel here) and decided that climbing to the top of an active volcano would be a great experience. The trip we booked was via Acampora Travel and cost £39.50 per person including a morning in Pompeii with a guide. Mt Vesuvius is located just over 22km from Naples and 49km (this is a toll road) from Sorrento and can be seen from all around the area. In fact the ‘humpbacked’ volcano dominates the view from Sorrento. So when the day came for me to visit I was very excited.

Mt Vesuvius is a volcano that I’m sure most people have heard of because of its massive eruption in 79AD when the ash and pumice from it covered Pompeii. Unfortunately, the exact number of deaths in the city is not known however it did run into the thousands (estimated to be around 16,000). Therefore it seems that Mt Vesuvius isn’t famous per se but more infamous because of this. It’s now considered to be one of, if not, the most dangerous volcanos in the world because of the infrastructure around it including the 3,000,000 people living within its vicinity and the fact that it is the only volcano on the European mainland that has erupted within the last hundred years. In fact it is a very active volcano and has erupted a number of times.

So to get to the car park on Mt Vesuvius you have to be at least a semi professional Formula 1 driver. The twists and turns on the narrow road up there had me holding my breath, closing my eyes and breathing in. Luckily we were on a bus with a very experienced and confident driver who had obviously navigated this road many times. If you are planning on driving there yourself take it slow and steady and listen out for the horns of oncoming traffic especially on the blind corners. It is also carnage when you get to the car park as spaces are limited and coaches are not allowed to stay there so if you do decide to drive yourself you probably need to be a patient person unlike a lot of people who were parked there (and stuck there for a considerable time) that day.

There is of course an entrance fee to get on the volcano of €10 per person (adult) payable on arrival. As soon as we had paid the entrance fee and walked on to the path to the summit we were offered a walking stick to help us on the hike. We were told that there was no fee for the stick however we should pay a tip when we returned it. We decided that we did not need the walking aid and politely declined the offer. We had been told that the walk to the top would take between 20 and 40 minutes dependant on fitness level. Now I’m not making excuses but I had a full-blown cold and was struggling to breathe on flat ground let alone when climbing up a volcano. So I’ll be honest I struggled. It was quite embarrassing having 70 odd year olds passing me at a pace as I clung to the side gasping for air. So needless to say it took me the full 40 minutes to get to the summit. In reality this is not a strenuous climb so if you are of regular fitness or above please do not be put of by my tale of woe and on a normal day (cold free) I would have climbed this bad boy a lot quicker I’m sure (at least that’s what I’m telling myself).

It was quite misty/foggy the day we did the climb so the views out over the towns below weren’t that great but still impressive. However, the most impressive thing and the main event that made the climb worthwhile was being able to see into the crater. Now this may be Mr ESLT’s sceptical nature or he may have a point but there is a part in the crater that is actually smoking and he questioned whether this was staged to make people think that she could blow at any second(?). The crater is about 650 metres and you can walk most of the way round it, there are a couple of shops at the top which sell the usual souvenirs and refreshments. Now as the saying goes ‘what goes up must come down’ and that’s what we had to do to. Luckily for me the walk down was a lot easier than the torture of going up however both Mr ESLT and I both commented it is pretty hard going on your knees. Without timing ourselves I’d estimate it took us between 15 and 20 minutes to get back down to the car park.

The path up to the top is gravel so don’t forget to wear sensible shoes, perhaps not brand new, bright white converse which quickly became a dirty grey colour. Also remember a bottle of water, sun screen and a hat to protect you from the hot Italian sun on summer days. Even though the ascent was quite difficult because of my cold I’m so glad that I still did it and had chance to experience the views of both the towns below and inside the crater. The only way of reaching the summit is by foot so if you feel that your fitness level is not at least average level then maybe this isn’t for you. It was also a great bit of exercise especially in a country where most food (well my favourite foods) are carb loaded. And let’s just say the pint of Peroni I had when I got back to the hotel was very well deserved and I can now, without hesitation say that yes I have climbed to the top of a volcano.

Looking in the crater of Mt Vesuvius, Italy

Italy: Well Preserved Pompeii

As soon as it was decided that Mr ESLT and I were going to travel to Sorrento in Southern Italy I knew straight away I wanted to visit Pompeii. I don’t remember learning about it at a school but the city has always been of interest to me through TV shows/films I had seen about it. The fact that we were staying under an hour away sealed the deal – we were going to see it! (Check out the hotel we stayed at here). I, maybe like others, had always been under the impression that when Mt Vesuvius erupted (8km away) all those years ago (it was actually 24th August 79AD) Pompeii had been covered in the lava which had spilled out from the volcano. WRONG! The first thing I learnt was that in fact it was ash and pumice that covered the city which was home to approximately 11,000 – 11,500 people at the time.

It wasn’t under the 16th century that the city was rediscovered but it wasn’t until 1748 that exploration of the site began by order of the King of Naples Charles III of Bourbon. Excavation continued until the nineteenth century. Even when we visited recently certain parts of the city are closed due to continual restoration work. Pompeii was originally a port town on the Sarno River but now following the eruption it now stands on a spur formed by the lava inland.

Pompeii is one of Italy’s most famous tourist destinations with over 2.5 million people visiting every year and is located 24km from Naples and 26km from Sorrento (where we were staying). It obtained UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. We took an organised trip from our hotel with Acampora Travel. We had a great tour guide called Ugo. The cost per adult was £39.50 (this also included transport to Mt Vesuvius later in the day – post to follow). This did not include the entrance fee (€11) which you have to pay on arrival as the money goes directly to the Italian government.

The cost of the excursion also included audio guide which allowed us to listen to Ugo as we wandered around the ruins – within a limited distance of course. This gave us the freedom to snap pictures at our leisure whilst still listening to the information Ugo was giving us about each building/street/structure etc. I personally recommend an audio tour because the site is so big (66 ha, of which approximately 45 ha has been excavated) that I’m sure many people have got lost and/or not really understood what it is that they are looking at(?). If you do decide to go it on your own don’t forget to pick up a guide and map from the entrance.

Pompeii is amazing. The ruins of this city which was lost almost 2,000 years ago are a sight to behold. Because structures, artefacts and bodies were so well-preserved it has given archaeologists and historians the ability to determine what each building was and how the Roman’s lived at the time. A great morning well spent with our camera. There are a few restaurants and of course the obligatory souvenir stalls just outside the old city walls if you want to grab lunch or a reminder of your day.

If you decide to visit Pompeii don’t forget to wear sensible shoes and take a bottle of water with. Also, if the weather is great, like it was when we visited I’d advise a hat and sunscreen too as there isn’t much shelter from the hot Italian sun.

Italy: A Sorrentine Dream, Sorrento

I love Italy – I’ll put that out there! Therefore, when I get the chance to visit this beautiful country I jump at the chance especially if it’s a part that I have never had the chance to explore before.

The town of Sorrento is located on the Sorrento Peninsula in Southern Italy. On the north side of the peninsula you will find the Bay of Naples and on the south side the Bay of Salerno and the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento sits within the Metropolitan City of Naples with approximately 16,500 inhabitants. The town, even when I visited in April was buzzing with people from all over the world and the number of bars and restaurants here are evidence supporting the fact that this place is a holiday destination for a number of both Italians and worldwide travellers alike. The main square in Sorrento is the picturesque, yet small compared to other Italian Squares, Piazza Tasso. The square was named after the famous Italian poet Torquato Tasso, who was born in Sorrento in 1544 and you will find a large statue of him proudly placed there. In Piazza Tasso you can grab a coffee, meal or gelato at one of the many restaurants, shop in the numerous boutiques, jump on the land train which drives around Sorrento offering you a tour of the town or even take a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Il Vallone dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills) is a sight to behold in Sorrento; it looks like a sunken village right in the town centre. Approximately 35,000 years ago a massive volcanic eruption caused the deep chasm in the limestone. Back in the day (around the 13^th century) a stone flour mill built here due to the stream of water at the bottom. It wasn’t long before a sawmill was also built which supplied wood to nearby cabinet makers and also a public wash-house for women in the area. The flour mill was used right up until the 1940’s but since then the valley has been abandoned and is now overgrown with Phillitis Vulgaris which belongs to the fern family. You can, if you wish access the valley using the original ramps or simply view it from Via Fuorimura, the street above.

Sorrento smells – this is a fact! Especially the narrow side streets lined with gift shops. Now before you assume it’s a bad smell let me reassure you that it’s not in fact Sorrento is a very clean Italian town. The mixture of leather and lemons is very strong but in no way overpowering. Everywhere you look you will see locally handmade handbags and lemoncello – an after dinner drink which is served chilled and is made from the zest of lemons. Many lemoncello sellers will let you try before you buy, so why not ask? Salute!

If you fancy a trip down to the port or even fancy relaxing on the beach (please note this is tiny beach) then you can walk down (and/or up) the stairs built into the side of the land. We were feeling lazy so took the lift (€1 one way/€1.60 return per person) which takes around 20 seconds! Down here you will also find a couple of restaurants which enjoy a lovely view over the water. From down here you can also catch a ferry to Capri or Naples if you wish. I’ll be honest there wasn’t that much to hold our attention down there so we took a few pics and headed back up (via the lift) to the cliff top.

And here’s an interesting fact for you (possibly?) did you know that cannelloni (similar to manicotti in the US) was invented in Sorrento in 1907? Yes, that lovely filled pasta delight was created in the ‘o Parrucchiano (the priest’s place) restaurant, known locally as La Favorita which is still owned by the same family who originally opened it in 1868 and is located on Corso Italia, the main street in Sorrento. Why not visit yourself and say that you have eaten cannelloni made from the original recipe?

Sorrento is not a city with lots of attractions which you my expect from other places in Italy – Florence, Rome, Venice etc. Therefore, you may not want to spend a lot of time here, a day or two is probably sufficient. Even if you simply come here for a wander around or pass through as a passenger on one of the many cruise ships that dock here at least take in the breath-taking views. Not only can you see Mt Vesuvius but you can also see all the way to the Isle of Capri on a clear day. And look at that water……….beautiful!

Italy: Grand Nastro Azzuro & Occhio Marino Resort, Sorrento

So where to start with this hotel……

Grand Hotel Nastro Azzurro, Sorrento, Italy

Why did I choose Sorrento and why in particularly did I choose the Grand Nastro Azzuro & Occhio Marino Resort? Well I love Italy. A bold statement but a true one and here’s an even bolder one for you – Italy is in fact my favourite country in Europe! Having visited Florence (twice), Rome and Venice previously Sorrento was next on the list. This hotel is considered to be the best in Sorrento and I had some credit to spend with Thomson’s (holiday company) so why not? Please note this hotel is an All Inclusive hotel but please don’t let that put you off……..

Check in

Reception at Grand Hotel Nastro Azzurro, Sorrento, Italy

A very modern reception area and a very easy process. A swift ask of our names and a photocopy of our passports by a very friendly receptionist and that was it – checked in! Our backpacks was eagerly taken from us by one of the friendly members of staff and a glass of Prosecco thrust into my hands! Cheers! What a great first impression. Our bags were taken to our room which allowed us the opportunity to grab lunch and explore the hotel and grounds further.

Room

I’ll be honest I was blown away by the room especially because the hallways are decorated in a tradition Sorrentine style. To be honest I couldn’t believe it was the same hotel on the other side of the doorway! Our room had a sitting area with small sofa and a row of waist height cupboards housing the minibar and safe. The bedroom itself had a lovely and very comfortable king sized bed together with a large slide door wardrobe and wall mounted TV. There are only a couple of English channels available but then again I did not visit to watch TV. Both the sitting room and the bedroom had mood lights which you can change the colour of at the push of a button. They both also had the best black out blinds I have ever seen – a thick metal rollerblind which is operated again by the touch of a button. Granted they may have made the hotel look like a secure prison from the outside but aided my long lazy lie ins so in my opinion a winner. The bathroom was also awesome with double sinks and a double shower, toilet and a European favourite, a bidet.

The pool

Pool at Grand Hotel Nastro Azzurro, Sorrento, Italy

The pool area again is very modern and as we visited in mid-April, sun loungers were plentiful together with tables and parasols. Waiter service either side of lunch is available for drink orders but the pool bar is easily accessible if a waiter isn’t free. The only downside, and again this is because we visited in April is that the pool was FREEZING; I mean turn your legs blue freezing as it is not heated in the winter months. The weather, for the most part, was lovely (high teens/low twenties) whilst we were there just not lovely enough to heat the pool to a reasonable temperature. Not to worry, the hotel also has 3 large hot tubs available for guests to use and even though they were big enough to seat 6/8 people comfortably, my husband and I were always lucky enough to get one to ourselves. Perfect opportunity to grab a bottle of Prosecco from the bar and chill out. Don’t forget to ask for a plastic glass from the poolside bar if you are taking your drink poolside or in the hot tub.

The bar(s)

Bar at Grand Hotel Nastro Azzurro, Sorrento, Italy

So I’ve already mentioned the pool bar above. The main bar in the hotel is the reception bar which I believe is open 24 hours (although I never tested them on this!) Again very modern and lit up using the same mood lighting that is used in the bedrooms. All spirits used are branded, nothing worse than cheap vodka! There is also an extensive cocktail menu and I’m sure if something you like is not listed the barman would have a go at making it. And the best part – because this is an all-inclusive hotel, all drinks are included! There is also the Sunset Bar at this hotel and from other people’s photographs the views from here look amazing. Unfortunately, it is only open during the summer months and we arrived a little too early to experience it.

Mealtimes

Dining room at Grand Hotel Nastro Azzurro, Sorrento, Italy

Food, glorious food! I’ll be honest I struggle sometimes when visiting foreign lands however that has never been a problem any of the previous times I’ve visited Italy and it certainly wasn’t at this hotel.

Breakfast – I’m not really a morning person so breakfast, if eaten at all was a bowl of bran flakes. There was a wide and varied selection of hot and cold food available if you wanted all served on a buffet basis. Breakfast was served in the main restaurant opposite reception in the main block of the hotel.

Lunch – lunch was served in the poolside restaurant, again on a buffet basis with all the usual Italian fairings on offer – pizza, pasta, fresh salads, meat from the BBQ, fruits, gelato etc. and all absolutely delicious. So much so I had to stop myself getting another slice of home-made, stone oven cooked pizza on a number of occasions.

Afternoon tea – I never had afternoon tea during my stay as I was always too full from lunch or out and about somewhere but by all accounts it is what the name suggests – tea (and coffee) served with an assortment of cakes and sweet treats. This was also served in the poolside restaurant.

Dinner – the dinner was again served in the main restaurant. At normal all-inclusive hotels this is where people take the opportunity to pile their plates sky-high, eat until they are going to burst and still leave loads untouched therefore wasting enough food to feed a small country. This is not a normal all-inclusive hotel. Here appetisers and sides are buffet style however you are given a menu as you are seated every evening which lists 5/6 starters and 5/6 main courses. You then order what you would like the same way in which you would at a restaurant. Bottles of wine can also be ordered (within your AI package) which saves having to keep asking for a refill. Deserts again are buffet style although I very rarely had room to fit one in.

The grounds and those views!

Grounds at Grand Hotel Nastro Azzurro, Sorrento, Italy

The grounds are lovely, spacious and green. As we visited at the start of the season there were plenty of gardeners and workmen busying themselves painting, replanting, tidying in preparation for the summer season. There are numerous tables and chairs, sun loungers and places to chill out around the complex. I found the gardens a great place to go and relax to enjoy my book (Please note this hotel is split level so if you have walking difficulties this may not be the place for you). And of course what’s better than chilling out in lovely surrounding? Surely chilling out in lovely surroundings with a great view! Every side of this hotel brings a beautiful view of the Sorrentine landscape.

Activities

Gardens at Grand Hotel Nastro Azzurro, Sorrento, Italy

There are plenty of activities to keep you busy at this hotel if you want to partake in them. The hotel has a dedicated person (Holly when we visited) who is responsible for leading all activities. On the notice board in the reception area you will find a day bay day list of everything available from wellness sessions and learning Italian to wine and cheese taster sessions and Italian cookery lessons. I’ll be honest we were out and about a lot during our stay and when we weren’t it was full on chill out time therefore we didn’t engage in any of the activities on offer. But listening to others who did they sound very enjoyable.

Getting out and about

This hotel is up in the mountains so if visiting please do not expect that you can simply walk into town, this is not easily achievable. The hotel does however run regular minibuses down to Sorrento (takes around 20 minutes, traffic dependant). However, if the bus you want is fully booked tough(!) you have to book on another. Also, don’t forget to book your return transfer as the bus driver will not let you on without a ticket. Thomson’s also offer a number of organised tours of the surrounding area including trips to Pompeii, Mt Vesuvius, Capri etc. however most are doable via local trains, ferries etc. if you don’t fancy paying the premium Thomson charge.

In summary

View from Grand Hotel Nastro Azzurro, Sorrento, Italy

Lovely 4* hotel in lovely surroundings. Some people said that it was the nicest hotel they had ever stayed in with a few couples actually staying there on their honeymoon. I personally have stayed in nicer hotels but have course paid for that pleasure. At £1800 for 2 for 10 nights (AI) I feel that this was great value for money especially because you can pay in excess of £1000 each per week in the height of the summer season. Would I recommend this hotel – definitely. This hotel is perfect for long lazy days at the pool but also as a base if your main aim is to discover the local area with second to none customer service!