Ara Maris

The Ara Maris was excellent! We had some traveling difficulties before arriving but the hotel staff were very accommodating and understanding, making things less stressful for us. Our suite was pristine with a beautiful view of the sea. The bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was modern and well stocked. Breakfast was also wonderful , with a wide variety of delicious food and coffee. We were here in the winter so we did not eat outside, but the patio looked beautiful! The spa was a lovely addition. There is no charge to just use the sauna, steam room, and plunge pool, and it was a nice way to end the day. The location is also perfect. It is set just off of the main street so it is close to everything but also very quiet. Additionally, the balcony doors were soundproof so, even if there was street noise, we couldn't hear it! I highly recommend this relatively new hotel and hope to visit again!

As soon as we arrived, it was clear this was somewhere special. Having opened earlier this year, the hotel is pristine and modern but with a very comfortable and friendly feel. Enrico made us feel like long lost friends, and ensured we fully settled in our spectacular room before leaving us to the welcome fruit platter and prosecco on arrival. The room was spacious and tastefully decorated with balcony views over the hotels delightful gardens and pool. The bathroom was large, with robes, slippers and toiletries and a fantastic shower. The main bedroom has a huge bed, Nespresso coffee machine, complimentary bottles of water, replaced daily, and good wardrobe space. The underfloor heating was very welcomed on the slightly chilly evenings, but the room was warm and controlled. The room controls were operated with a wave of the hand, which was a nice touch. Breakfast was fantastic, a great variety of pastries, local produce, eggs to order, and delicious coffee, with an option to eat outside by the pool. The Lumi rooftop bar is wonderful and a great place to relax with spectacular views of the bay of Naples and Vesuvius on a clear day. Antonio and Martina were always there with a smile and keen to hear of our experiences. The hotel is located a few hundred metres from Piazza Tasso, one of the main squares, and a good reference point for exploring Sorrento. Just off the Piazza are the main shopping, restaurant and tourist areas and the narrow winding streets are delightful. Guilia, one of the concierge, is a mine of local information and gave us some great options to enjoy during our stay. The main port is only a 5-10 minutes walk away from where we got the ferry to Capri. For the time of year, Capri was almost deserted, and many of the boutique shops closed, but so much easier to walk around, have a bite to eat and the mandatory limoncello spritz! Sorrento train station is also a few minutes walk from where the express train takes around an hour to get to Pompeii, stopping a hundred metres from the entrance to the site. We had the most wonderful 5 days in Sorrento, made all the more special by the Ara Maris and is fantastic staff. We couldn't recommend this hotel highly enough.