Villa Monica B&B

The Villa Monica is a small, four-room hotel that makes guests feel at home almost instantaneously. Decor is simple but tasteful in rustic, country-style, and the hosts, Monica and Pasquale, are gracious, warm, and endlessly hospitable. An outdoor terrace offers lounge chairs, tables, and hammocks all in the quiet, serene surrounds of a rustic hillside location with fabulous Gulf of Naples views. The common areas in the hotel look and feel like a personal home. The living room features a sitting area with a coffee table set with alcoholic beverages, a flat-screen TV, a vintage radio, and a guitar. The breakfast room is bright and stylish with a country-kitchen decorated in beautiful blue and white tiling, light yellow walls, and rich wood cabinets. Rooms are generally for two (though guests can ask for an extra bed), so this spot is geared toward couples looking for an authentic country retreat that's still accessible to town.

Located in the rustic Italian countryside surrounded by fields and olive trees, the Villa Monica is situated in an authentic, non-touristy location that's a 10-to 15-minute drive from the Sorrento city center. A free shuttle runs eight times a day from the bed-and-breakfast to the city center and back, and the hotel's hosts are happy to arrange other transport options. Guests with a car will find free parking at the hotel, though they should note that the hotel can be a bit difficult to locate and the road there is bumpy. But once arrived, guests find the location is extremely quiet and relaxing, plus its hillside setting offers spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples, Sorrento, and Mt. Vesuvius. The hotel is around an hour drive from Naples, Naples International Airport, Herculaneum and Mt. Vesuvius, and Pompeii.

The Villa Monica B&B offers four rooms, each with a double bed and simple, rustic country-style as evidenced by beige tiled floors, wrought-iron beds partially covered with lime-green mosquito netting, Vietri ceramic accents, and wood furniture. Rooms have white walls and rich wood window and door trim, and while they're simple, they feel homey. Perhaps best of all, each room has a private balcony with a tiled floor, flower boxes, and a plastic table and chairs. Three of the rooms feature epic views of the city of Sorrento, the Gulf of Naples, and Mount Vesuvius, while the fourth room offers only a partial view. All rooms contain wardrobes, desks and chairs, and small safes, along with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen satellite TVs, electric kettles for coffee and tea, and air-conditioning units. Bathrooms range in size and feature blue tiled floors, white tiled walls with a blue floral design, and white fixtures. Bathrooms may have bidets and standing showers. All come equipped with hairdryers, free toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers. Guests can request an extra bed or crib, and housekeeping services the rooms daily.

Villa Monica B&B has a stylish and homey living room with a TV along with snacks and drinks, including alcoholic options. Tour books, maps, and a few games are also available for guests to use. There's a large kitchen where guests can enjoy a free breakfast, which includes standard but satisfying fare like pastries, hard-boiled eggs, cereal, cold cuts, fresh fruit, bread, and coffee. An outdoor terrace offers plenty of comfortable options for sitting and relaxing along with excellent views of the Gulf of Naples. A free shuttle runs to town several times a day. The owners, Pasquale & Monica, are exceptional, offering warm hospitality along with helpful recommendations for area day trips and dining. The owners speak English and will help arrange transportation, including picking up and dropping off guest at the train. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.