Hotel Britannia

Hill-perched for fabulous Sorrento and Bay of Naples views, the Britannia is a family-run hotel with simple charm and stellar service. Its busy roadside location can prove tricky, with immediate stretches lacking a sidewalk, but a handy downtown and Amalfi Coast bus stops outside. Most guests are sightseeing leisure travelers, from families to senior citizens. The lobby's glossed floors, ship artwork, and cozy armchairs are dated and simple, but everything is well-maintained. Indoor flowers and plants turn more extensive in pleasant outdoor spaces, which include a flower-filled lawn garden and patio with plenty of seating. A great rooftop terrace has panoramic views that encompass the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Vesuvius, and while there's no pool, a cooling-off shower is well-placed amid plenty of loungers and some umbrellas. Note that the hotel is only open April through October.

Travelers choose Sorrento for its historic charm and beautiful seaside setting, and the hotel's location just outside the center makes it a good base, both for Sorrento and the nearby region. The town's picturesque streets are a 15-minute walk away, although the first few minutes require walking along a road with no sidewalk. While not the most reliable, busses right outside run to the center, Marina Grande and Piccola beaches, and the Amalfi Coast. The private Tonnarella Beach is a four-minute walk, and can be accessed for a fee. Sorrento's cobbled squares and restaurants are great, and its 11th-century Basilica is worth a visit. Sorrento Train Station is a 16-minute bus ride or drive. The nearest Naples International Airport is just over an hour's drive.

Cozy rooms are outfitted in simple furnishings and little decor that are old-fashioned but not unpleasant. All have small, plastic-furnished balconies either facing gardens or the sea and Mount Vesuvius (worth the upgrade for this). Whites in room walls, pillows, and unfussy furniture are warmly accented with blue sash drapes, bedspreads, and headboards with sconce lighting. Phones, desks, small wall-mounted satellite flat-screen TVs, and AC add comforts, as does free in-room Wi-Fi, but there are no fridges or tea- and coffee-making facilities. Fees apply for safes and cribs unless booked directly through the hotel. Compact bathrooms in cheerful yellow tiling have mosaic details around mirrors, small stall showers, bidets, and hairdryers. All come with toiletries and daily-replaced thin linen towels (common in Italy). Some rooms suffer traffic noise from the street below, but otherwise, they're quiet.

A downside to this small property is its lack of both a pool and full restaurant, but there are a few lovely amenities on offer. Served in a straightforward breakfast room, free continental buffet breakfasts include fresh breads, pastries, jams alongside homemade cakes, cold meats and cheeses, yogurts, cereals, and fruit, plus juice, tea, and Italian espressos. The small lobby bar is dated, but open 24/7, and snacks accompany soft drinks and alcoholic beverages here. Outdoor spaces are great, and guests can take drinks into the charming garden or up onto the roof terrace. The lawn garden has pretty potted plants, flowers, and exposed stone, plus white wicker and plastic seating. Overlooking the sea and surrounding landscape, the rooftop terrace is a wonderful spot, lined with loungers and umbrellas. A shower here is helpful for cooling off. On-site parking is a bonus for Sorrento, although it's at a fee (if room not booked directly with hotel), and best reserved in advance. Pets stay for free, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.