I stayed at the Villa Maria with a family member in mid-October 2011 with the Riviera tour group for a week which included tours of Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii etc. It was on a half-board basis (breakfast and dinner was included in the cost).
The hotel is approx. a 10 minute stroll from the maze of small streets where most of the local shops and restaurants are. Its front building is on a busy main road where the coaches pick up the tour parties, but the majority of the hotel is up an inclined side street, usually parked up with local vehicles. I'd recommend a room near the back of the hotel with a cliff view on level 4 or 5 as these are quieter than the sea views (which they charge more for). The sea view is over the top of other buildings, and if on a lower level I don’t believe you can see the sea at all.
The two elevators have a life of their own. This was the only down side to being on a higher floor. The lift can only accept one instruction at a time – so if requesting two floors you have to push the button for the next instruction after every floor. If calling the lift whilst it’s in use it forgets the call and resets itself. You have to repeatedly push the button to get it to arrive. Their inconsistency meant we allowed 5 extra minutes each time we wished to use the lift.
The reception is bright and airy, and the staff are mostly friendly and helpful. We never used the pool or pool-bar area, so cannot comment. The lounge bar is brightly painted with multiple coloured sofas. If busy, the noise levels are uncomfortably high.
The dining room is quite small and VERY busy at peak meal times. The majority of guests are on tours on a half-board basis. Because of this they are ALWAYS seated together on a first come first serve basis. If you are not with a tour you can request a table to yourself, but otherwise you are "obliged" to sit with other tour members. We were aware of this from a previous trip advisor review, but didn't realise it would quite so uncomfortable. You feel obliged to make conversation with others, as the tables are round-shaped and “cosy”. That’s fine for sociable people who like to sit with random strangers every meal, but not if you want a quiet meal for two. If travelling as a party of 3 or 4 you’re safe as you get seated together. Alternatively find a nice couple quickly and arrange to meet with them for meal times. The process was a form of horrific enforced speed dating, and it encouraged us to eat out a couple of nights. But Sorrento is expensive (i.e. a total bill of 50 + Euros for two main dishes, a glass of wine, and a soft drink).
The dining room is very noisy. The lino floors and lack of drapes affect the acoustics. You have to shout at the person sitting next to you to hold a conversation. I advise you to eat as late as possible (the dining room closes at 9pm) when it is usually emptier so at least you don't leave the meal with a headache.
The food was ok. There were plenty of options - 4 starters, 4 mains, and a pudding or fresh fruit (a pear and some grapes usually) for dessert. The starters always included a pasta dish which were quite tasty and filling. The mains were hit and miss - the fish options were tasty, but avoid any meat stew as it's basically a plate of grease. They have a simple system for drinks; you start a running tab and pay at the end. If you wish to leave half a bottle of wine they write your room number on it and you request it when you eat the next day. One couple reported a problem with their bottle coming back emptier than they left it. Prices were cheap compared to the rest of Sorrento - 3 Euros for a can of coke / bottle of beer / large bottle of still or fizzy water, 6-15 Euros for a bottle of wine. You can ONLY pay cash for the tab at the end of your stay. There are ATMs in town if you need extra money.
The breakfast was a large buffet, mostly pastries and toasts, a large bowl of tinned fruit salad, a couple of cereal options, a meat/cheese selection, and some form of fried or scrambled egg. It’s self service except for hot drinks which the waiters provide.
They are very organised at meal times, and the waiters work very hard. Their English is very good, and they are usually friendly. The host Franco is a character, and can appear quite stern.
The hotel room was always very clean as the maid daily wipes down the shower/bathroom area, remakes the beds, and airs the room. The room felt quite cold (mid-October) and we made use of the extra blankets and spare pillows.
The walls are very thin, especially through the door to the corridor. You can hear loud conversations and televisions whilst walking along. If anyone moves a chair or bangs a drawer, the adjoining rooms certainly hear it.
The room included a small safe which cost 1 Euro per day to use. This is convenient to securely store passports and excess cash.
There was also a small TV with Sky tuner in the room, but most film and sports channels were charged for. The small fridge in the room was useful, and acted as a mini-bar with the same prices as the restaurant. Some guests brought their own travel kettle as there are no facilities for this in the room. Also the hairdryer is archaic and awkward to operate, so would suggest bringing your own.
The roof has lots of deck chairs, a hot tub, and a sauna. None of which we used, so cannot comment.
The hotel appears to cater mostly for tour groups, the majority of whom are aged 50+ and mostly retired-types. They usually arrive and leave on Fridays, so this day is particularly busy. On the Thursday they hold a gala dinner where the entire hotel is seated at once. This is followed by drinks, dancing, and music around the pool area.
Overall the hotel is good to use as a base to get into town and for excursions, and to sleep in. It is cheaper to eat in every night if paying half-board, but the dining room situation is very awkward if you're not a social person, and can be very noisy. I don't have any plans to stay there again, and wouldn't recommend the venue to any of my friends or family.
Room Tip: Request a "cliff view" room at the back of the hotel on level 4 or 5, as these are quieter...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
