Carlton International Hotel

Housed inside a white building with lovely wrought-iron balconies, the Carlton International is a decent choice for those who need a base from which to explore the surrounding area. The marble-floored lobby is determinedly more contemporary than the rooms, but falls short of modern due to boxy seating in fake leather. A bar is the only true up-to-date space, with modern wicker furniture in neutral tones and crisp white walls. The restaurant is traditional yet charming with patterned-wood floors, tables draped in cloth, and gilded mirrors along the wall. Grounds are the most attractive, with white wrought-iron tables and chairs, flowering plants, and a terra-cotta terrace. There's no scene to speak of here, but the hotel serves its purpose. Guests tend to be older couples, but the property also sees many families and friends traveling together. 

Located along a quiet but central road in Sorrento, the Carlton International is a good choice for those who want a convenient base for exploring the surrounding Bay of Naples region, as well as the Amalfi Coast. Its location to Piazza Tasso, surrounded by bars, shops, and restaurants, is also ideas, at just one-minute away on foot. The town's train station is a six-minute walk away, and a small beach is 10 minutes.Heading north, Pompeii is just under an hour drive from the property; taking public transit (a ferry and then a bus) is cumbersome and forces one to backtrack for a journey time of just over two hours. Naples is about an hour and 15 minutes by car; though public transit isn't an issue to get there and adds only 15 minutes to the journey time: the Sorrento port is a seven-minute walk away from the hotel, and from there, guests can hop on a ferry across the bay. On the other side of the island is the Amalfi Coast and its picturesque villages. Positano is about 45 minutes by car; Amalfi just over an hour; and Ravello 90 minutes. 

The property's 76 compact rooms are comfortable and cleaned daily but could admittedly use a deeper refresh: A dated seafoam-green-and-navy color scheme and brass accents, plus lots of honey-stained wood, are well past their prime. As is common in southern Italy, many of the double beds are made up of two single beds, which might not suit couples -- be sure to request an actual double bed when booking. Rooms have a small flat-screen TV, though with limited English channels, plus a mini-fridge and desk. There are no tea- or coffee-making facilities. Bathrooms are small with tiny stall showers typical of the region -- those with shower curtains instead of doors tend to get the whole floor wet. Some have the toilet and bidet extremely close to the showers. They're stocked with basic toiletries and hairdryers. All rooms have air conditioning, however, it's only turned on during the summer season, which might be uncomfortable for bridge-season travelers not used to the climate. While any room on the upper floors will offer a better view, the best rooms offer a bay view -- and the furnished balconies are particularly lovely at sunset. 

The Carlton has a large outdoor swimming pool with an adjacent solarium featuring plenty of loungers. However, guests should know that there's a nominal charge for the pool towels. A free breakfast consists of cold meats, boiled eggs, cheeses, pastries, and cereal, plus coffee and tea. A bar with modern seating looks out toward the pool. Guests should note that, as is typical of many Italian properties, there's no gym on-site. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.