Grand Hotel La Sonrisa

Brilliant stay at this most ostentatiously designed, but welcoming and relaxed hotel. We had two nights and there were no weddings/events while we were there, so we had free rein of the pool and poolside area, with its completely OTT statues and canopy and curlicues - stylistically think supercharged Italian Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. The rooms are clean and perfectly fine (slightly leaky shower) with thin walls but comfortable. The service at front desk was wonderful - warm and friendly - and our boys particularly loved the photos of Maradona and Messi and various celebrities that lined the walls (in suitably gilt frames). The LED pink lights on the exterior belie the fact that it's actually an 18th century castle - feels slightly more akin to a 1980s Barbie dream hotel, with Vesuvius in the backdrop. The location is such that you really need a car - we didn't have one and resorted to local buses, which was an experience. We did a day trip to Pompeii, took us about 45 minutes to get there and the excavations are right beside the train stop so very convenient . All in all great fun if you enter into the spirit of it - as Dolly Parton said 'it takes a lot of money to look this cheap'.

Do not let the beautiful exterior fool you. Inside the hotel is shabby and in need of fixing. My room was an awful, attic room with broken toilet seat (I asked them to fix it but nothing happened) and worn out antique furniture that did not fit the room. The AC does not function either. The description and reality are far from each other. This place has nothibg to do with four or five stars as they boast themselves. It is a wedding and event arena with loud music and no possibility for any sleep. The staff are not interested in you as they seem to only accomodate the wedding guests. The pool was open only until 12 am.

The hotel is very beautiful above all the night, some employee are very nice but because of the weeding, the music and fireworks my family and I left the hotel more tired than when we arrived. In other words, run!!!

Abbiamo soggiornato due giorni in questa location. che dire, se piace il programma sicuramente sembra di vivere una favola. camere ampie, ottimo servizio e colazione. segnalo anche gli ottimi prezzi del bar dove di solito si spende decisamente tanto in albergo. Il personale compresa donna Imma e don Matteo, disponibili e cordiali. Se siete fan è sicuramente consigliato.

Sopravvalutato, 5 stelle ma anche no, onestamente sono rimasto molto deluso da tutto, non lo consiglierei e non ci tornerei, prezzo pagato molto caro per un pranzo che in un altro ristorante avrei pagato 1 quarto, mangiare pessimo, tutto fumo e niente arrosto, la TV e la fama vi ha dato alla testa, a mai più