Grand Hotel Royal

The Grand Hotel Royal truly offers a luxurious five-star experience. We returned to Sorrento after ten years and stayed there for five nights in May. We immediately noticed that the passage of time did not diminish the magic of the Grand Hotel Royal. Claudia, Angela, and Teresa welcomed us with open arms, truly making us feel like family during our stay. The on-site restaurant was truly worth a Michelin star. Raffele the maître d’ manages a courteous and professional staff. Kudos to Romario, Valeria (great omelets!), Davide, Paola, Serena, Sabrina, Umberto, and Sara. Every afternoon, Salvatore (the “magic mixologist”) and his staff greeted us at the bar with our favorite drinks (try the lemon sage spritz or the purple spritz!) and a light menu of food. They made our days relaxing after a long morning of exploring Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. In the evening, we enjoyed a fantastic menu with many delicious options. Our room was a “prestige” suite on the third floor with a view of the sea and Vesuvius. It was a dream, with all the luxury amenities you could want: a very comfortable queen-size bed, a living space with a private balcony, a bathroom with tub and shower, a large closet and dresser, a refrigerator, and a security safe. The staff was very attentive, keeping our room spotless with two visits each day. The resort had a beautiful garden filled with trees and flowers. The groundskeepers created a paradise bursting with fragrance. Our time at Grand Hotel Royal was truly exceptional, and we can’t wait to return. Grand Hotel Royal is like the “Hotel California” of Sorrento; you can check in whenever you like, and you’ll never want to leave!

Great Location, But Not Worth the Price The location and property are undeniably beautiful, but unfortunately the overall experience fell far below expectations. Service was consistently underwhelming. Upon arrival, no one offered assistance or even something as simple as water while we were carrying multiple bags. At 1 PM, we couldn’t even get a cappuccino in the lobby and were told to go off property. On the one occasion we ordered drinks on the veranda, it took 15 minutes for a server to arrive and another 20 minutes to receive just three drinks. The cocktails themselves were overpriced and poorly made—I even had to explain how to make a Paper Plane, which was surprising given that most of the ingredients are regionally common. Breakfast was another mixed experience. The omelet station was good, but everything else was cold and uninspired. The rooms had several basic maintenance issues: one had a broken toilet, along with problems with the AC and TV. These were eventually fixed, but these are fundamental items that should already be in working order. When we added a third guest mid-stay, the hotel was quick to prepare the additional charges, but it took multiple requests just to get a third towel—frustrating and unnecessary. Amenities were also disappointing. The pool was essentially unusable due to how cold it was, with no apparent effort to heat it—even minimally. Unsurprisingly, no one used it, yet we were still charged. The one bright spot was the dock area downstairs. Staff there were attentive and actually asked if we needed anything—the only time during our four-day stay that happened. To be fair, the concierge team was helpful prior to arrival, which raised our expectations. The setting is beautiful, but the hotel fails to deliver on service and value. To add context, family members staying just two doors down paid about 30% less and received significantly better service. Until management places a stronger focus on the guest experience, I would recommend looking elsewhere.

We stayed two nights at this hotel. Service is top notch. Breakfast buffet is in a very atmospheric dining room and was plentiful. Our garden room was comfortable. The shower is in a tub that was a little on the smaller size and one had to be careful stepping out of. The hallways are tiled so you do hear people walking or pulling suitcases. The hotel has a feel of sophistication and comfort. The grounds are gorgeous- there is a wonderful area to sit and order drinks with unmatched views of Mt Vesuvius. It is not in the city center so more quiet but is still walkable to most locations. Would recommend without reservation and would stay here again!

A beautiful hotel - I would thoroughly recommend staying here. We managed to get three nights here cheaper than the Hilton Sorrento Palace and this was much better. Beautiful terrace on the cliff, stunning grounds and rooms. A wonderful traditional Sorrento experience. Breakfast buffet served in an elegant dining room with attentive staff. Excellent Only negatives We were given a first floor room with a bad balcony when I had asked for a high floor room Please put a proper hairdryer in the room