Fantastic location just off Sorrento’s main drag, near several eateries
10-minute walk to the Marina Grande port
Rooftop with breathtaking views of Vesuvius and the Mediterranean
Clean rooms with furnished balconies and minibars
Restaurant serves a free buffet breakfast and a la carte dinner
Decent-sized swimming pool and a poolside bar
Tiny gym with a few pieces of equipment
Fees for in-room safe and Wi-Fi access
Dated decor throughout
Rooms are low on frills
The three-pearl Hotel Villa Maria is a dated property with an excellent location just off Sorrento’s main drag, and a 10-minute walk to the Marina Grande. The 90 rooms are clean and have furnished balconies -- some with sea views -- but they're low on frills and in need of a refresh. All rates include a buffet breakfast with hot and cold options, and an a la carte dinner is available in the dark restaurant. Up on the roof is a solarium with breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius looming large in the background. A decently sized outdoor pool is on-site, but views are largely of other buildings. It's worth considering the nearby Grand Hotel Capodimonte, which has a opulent charm, larger rooms, and stunning cascading pools.
Scene
Dated hotel with a rooftop terrace offering stunning views
This salmon-painted villa on a cobbled street corner just off of Sorrento’s main drag is decked out in classical Italian Riviera style, with some charming decorations and others that are unattractively dated. The hotel’s low-lit restaurant has white wood paneling, gray marble floors, and wooden chairs with old-fashioned pattern upholstery. The similarly dark bar is a long space with mismatched sofas and armchairs clustered around burnished wood coffee tables, and an impressive antique wooden bar in the corner. Gilded artwork and mirrors add some charm. Outside, there is a small pool in a concrete terrace, while upstairs is the hotel’s real star -- a solarium with striking views of the steep cliffs surrounding the Bay of Naples, the blue Mediterranean, and, lurking in the distance, the unmistakable outline of Vesuvius.
Location
Just off Sorrento’s main shopping street, and a 10-minute walk from the Marina Grande
The Hotel Villa Maria’s location is excellent, just off of the Corso Italia, Sorrento’s main drag. It's a 10-minute walk from both the Piazza Tasso, regarded as the center of town, and the Marina Grande port. Several restaurants and shops are within an easy stroll. Ferries across the water to the island of Capri can be caught at the Sorrento Port, which is a 20-minute walk away, and the journey takes roughly the same amount of time. The ruins of Pompeii are around a 50-minute drive away, and transfers to Naples Airport take roughly 90 minutes by car.
Rooms
Dated but well-maintained rooms with flat-screen TVs and minibars
For all the polished marble and gilded details downstairs, the hotel’s 90 rooms are surprisingly bare and low on frills. Though actual decor and color schemes varies, they're all dated and have whitewashed walls with maybe one small piece of artwork, green tile floors, minimal wood furniture, and chintzy bedding and curtains. All rooms have a furnished balcony, and it's worth upgrading to a sea view to overlook the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius in the distance. Double Rooms have a desk that doubles as a small flat-screen TV stand, bedside tables, and a chair, while Triple Rooms have a smaller desk, making room for an extra bed. Compact bathrooms are done in floral-motif tile, equipped with a stall shower, hairdryer, bidet, and basic toiletries. All rooms have a minibar, but use of the safe or Wi-Fi will come with a fee.
Features
Free breakfast and a rooftop solarium with amazing views
The star of the show at the Hotel Villa Maria is the rooftop solarium. There are a hot tub and wrought-iron tables and chairs, but the real attraction is the stunning panorama of the steep, wooded cliffs that tumble into the Bay of Naples, and the outline of Vesuvius visible in the distance. All rates include a buffet breakfast with a couple hot items and continental fare. The restaurant also serves an a la carte dinner, while the bar serves drinks and light meals. Another bar is located outside on the pool terrace. The pool is a good size and there are metal loungers with personal shades, but views are of neighboring buildings. A small gym and a sauna are available, but guests have to ask for these to be opened. Free Wi-Fi can be accessed in common areas.