Grand Hotel Flora

The Grand Hotel Flora is situated in a simple, five-story building with a flat facade and jutting balconies. A spacious lobby has a classic luxury feel with mosaic marbled floors and groupings of armchairs and wood-framed couches upholstered in powder blue or pale yellow. A tiered Murano glass chandelier decorates the bottom of a winding grand staircase, and smaller coordinated floral light fixtures are peppered throughout the lobby. The space extends into a bar lounge where wood paneled walls feature beautiful inlaid designs that match the reception desk. But beyond the lobby, there can be a somewhat dated feel to the property, particularly in areas like the restaurant and guest rooms. The hotel is ideal for couples and families who want to be close to the heart of Sorrento. 

The Grand Hotel Flora is situated near the center of Sorrento, right on Corso Italia, which is a lively shopping street that leads to the Piazza Tasso, about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Plenty of restaurants and bars are in walking distance from the hotel. While it's not right on the water, it offers views of the sea from the top floor restaurant. The hotel is about a 20-minute walk to the harbor where guests can book 40-minute boat trips to Capri or 45-minute trips to Naples. Pompeii and Postiano are about 25 to 45 minutes by car. Naples, home to the nearest international airport, is about an hour's drive. The Sorrento train station is about an eight-minute walk. The hotel offers on-site parking, but it costs an extra fee.

Guest rooms can sleep two to four guests and have simple, traditional decor that's pleasant, if outdated. Local touches abound including bright Vietri tiled floors and real wood furniture, including beautiful inlaid headboards backing the beds.  Upgraded rooms might have inlaid wood desks and wardrobes, too. But the bedspreads in green or chartreuse bring down the rooms' elegance. White walls with sconce lighting are adorned with a few framed pictures. All rooms are air-conditioned and include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, safes, and empty mini-fridges. In-room Wi-Fi costs an extra fee.Economy Rooms are the smallest option and have uninspired views of walls or other buildings. Standard Rooms feature balconies with sitting areas and overlook Corsa Italia, a main road in Sorrento, which can be noisy when balcony doors are left open. Superior Rooms also have balconies and overlook the pool area; higher-level rooms may have nice views of the sea. Bathrooms in all categories can be tiny, but are well-kept with white tiled walls and the same attractive floor tile found in the rooms. Bathrooms include toilets, bidets, and standing showers or shower/tub combos, plus basic toiletries and hairdryers. 

The hotel's crown jewel is the large outdoor swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers. A canopy-covered pool bar offers drinks and casual food like burgers and pizza. There's a partially covered outdoor terrace set with tables and chairs. The biggest complaint is that the pool closes too early in the evening. The lobby bar has a sophisticated look but the top-floor restaurant is a bit plain. Still, it has a wall of windows with a nice view of the Bay of Naples. Half-board options are available. During the summer, the hotel hosts a weekly gala with a multi-course meal and free prosecco. The hotel offers a lovely free breakfast buffet with a choice of standard cold options and hot options like made-to-order omelets. Room service is available during limited hours. The multilingual staff can offer concierge services, like booking excursions to nearby sights. The hotel has one meeting and event room. Wi-Fi is available for free in the lobby.