Sorrento (Italy)

Advantages: Interesting town, great weather, good base to explore the area
Disadvantages: Traffic and pollution

...the shore. SHOPPING Sorrento is a very busy town, or series of communes which run together. As a shopping experience, everything you could wish for is clustered into its narrow streets and spacious squares, from the normal tourist offerings to the essentials of everyday life. Leather goods, silks, ceramics, and lemons (including Limoncello, an alcoholic lemon drink) are specialities of the region and are widely available in the town. Shopping around ...
...of the busiest junctions in Sorrento it took on the appearance of an intricate ballet. It was very entertaining, and I only saw one minor bump between 2 scooters, which was resolved with a raised hand of apology from both parties. They didn’t even slow down. Entertaining as it may be, the traffic produces a lot of pollution, both of the noise and fume varieties. If you have any breathing difficulty, or are a light sleeper (or want to use your balcony!) ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful scenery
Disadvantages: Traffic noise

Sorrento is located about a 90 minute coach ride south of Naples. Once you have escaped the urban sprawl of Naples the winding coast road gives you some beautiful views of the Gulf of Naples on your right whilst all the time the imposing height of Vesuvius is receding behind you. Sorrento is often regarded at the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. It is a bustling unashamedly tourist dominated Italian town with a population of 20,000 people which is swelled ...
...such we go to appreciate Sorrento with all its home base and foreign visitors and a slightly quieter Sorrento when it played hoist to mostly English and to a lesser degree German visitors. Other nationalities were represented but very much in the minority to the coach loads of tourists from the UK and Ireland. The Geography The Bay of Sorrento is a lot larger than I had expected. My original preconception was of a small sleepy Italian fishing village ... Read review

Advantages: Pleasant old town, beautiful scenery
Disadvantages: Few proper beaches, inflated prices

...trips to nearby places. Sorrento was one of my must-visits when in Naples for a week earlier this year. An easy to negotiate hour or so train journey from Naples (only 25KM but stops everywhere), Sorrento offers a very pleasant alternative to the hustle and bustle of southern Italy's largest city. The train journey itself is integral to the day out. You travel on the Circumvesuviana line which passes very closes to the Mount Vesuvius and the towns ...
...of the region. Just before Sorrento the track becomes a dramatic viaduct crossing a fantastic valley and as the train arrives at the outskirts of Sorrento lemon groves line the track on both sides. Swathes of netting are hung just under the branches - a giant canopy to catch the bright yellow fruit. Now and again you can spot someone perched precariously on an unfeasibly long ladder gathering the harvest. As you leave the station you cut through ... Read review

Advantages: Very friendly and great food!
Disadvantages: I don't go often enough!

...found all over Italy and Sorrento is no exception. The local cuisine is to die for with plenty of choice of venues to suit all budgets. Italy has a reputaion of being expensive, probably a reputaion which has clung to it since people began straying from the Costa's in numbers. Nowadays, Italy is no more expensive than like for like in the UK. As you would expect, pizzas are fabulous - thin crispy bases cooked in most places in real wood burning ...
...food is very good around Sorrento and the ubiquotous pasta dishes are fabulous everywhere. I dont think I've eaten anywhere in Sorrento where I wouldn't return. I dont particularly want to refer to any particular restaurants and there are that many, and everyone who goes will find their own favourites. Apart from the great food, there are also some great restaurants for people watching - walk around the town and you'll soon find the best spots. ... Read review

Advantages: Scenery, cultural.
Disadvantages: Too hot.

...in a hotel called 'The Sorrento Palace' which was absolutely beautiful. The first time I walked into the hotel my mouth just fell open because I had never stayed anywhere as grand as that. It has a six-tier pool, several restaurants and bars, a gym, and a small shop. The bedrooms are air-conditioned which was nice because it was so hot while I was there. The most memorable parts of my stay here were: The food (four course meal every night); and the ...
...that it is black because Sorrento is a volcanic region. I went on three day trips, to Rome, Pompeii, and Vesuvius, which were all quite near. I wasn't impressed with Vesuvius, although my mum though that it was wonderful. It was an exhausting walk, not because it is particularly steep or long, but because of the heat. The top of Vesuvius in my opinion looks like a big ditch, but there are great views for miles around. Pompeii was very interesting ... Read review