My husband and I took a two week vacation to Italy in May of 2006. We wanted to stay part of the time in the Amalfi area since it's so close to Positano, Capri, and other areas where we wanted to make day trips. Upon checking into Hotel Alfonso a Mare, we were made to feel like family from the first moment. The cook was preparing pasta for dinner, and we were encouraged to watch and ask questions. We did this several times throughout the week, and were pleased at how our questions were always answered in a truly friendly fashion. We felt very welcome.

Among the staff at the hotel, in addition to Alfonso himself are his wife Ada and two daughters, Sofia and Mina. The daughters speak English well, so they were able to translate for us on a number of occasions and were usually available to take our orders in the dining room, and to chat with us about our trip. They were very knowledgeable about the area and could easily help with directions or suggestions when needed. One day I badly scraped my knee after falling from a motor scooter, and Alfonso himself personally tended to my first aid, then inquired later whether it was feeling better. All in all, we were treated like family throughout the entire stay.

The food was outstanding. For breakfast each day, there was a complete spread of pastries, yogurts and breads, and freshly toasted bread with coffee were brought promptly to the table.

Dinner each evening featured pastas, seafood and meats, always very fresh and freshly prepared. It was simple and delicious. I loved the linguini with clams, and the fresh steamed lobster we had on our last evening at the hotel, pulled from the tank of live lobsters near the kitchen.

Our favorite dessert was available most evenings. The waitress called it "Amalfi Cake," and it was a delight -- sweet cake with a custard-like filling and tart cherries baked in. On some mornings there were Amalfi cake leftovers on the breakfast table. YUM!

The room was cozy and quaint, and we were told that it was newly tiled with Italian ceramic tiles that were really beautiful. We could lock the screen doors at night and pull the curtains over them, and a wonderful breeze from the sea kept us cool.

The location is very scenic and private, and it was very convenient to be right on the beach for the one or two days when we just wanted to relax.

The experience we enjoyed at Hotel Alfonso a Mare enhanced our vacation and made the trip very memorable. If we go back, we will stay there again for many reasons, but mostly because that type of personal service and attention are rare and certainly not available at larger hotels.

After reading the reviews left by other people about this hotel, it pretty much worries me the fact that everyone expects that little bit too much.

I'll go systematic about this review.

The BAD side:
1 - no help with you luggage when you check in, but that's ok - (what do you expect, it's family run)
2 - parking - slightly on the pricey side, but you can negotiate that in advance - the problem is that parking in the area is a sort of monopoly
3 - Aircon, - everyone seems to be moaning about that. Well it's true, no aircon, but beleive me, no aircon is needed with the nice breeze there is.
4 - hospitality - the owner is a bit grumpy, but so what - the rest of the staff, especially his wife, make up for it.

The GOOD side:
1 - Setting - it's idyllic, and set in one of the most extraordinary settings I've ever been.
2 - Price - Really moderate
3 - Location - bang on in the centre of the coast and 30 / 45 mins away by car to every single site of interest on the Sorrento / Amalfi area. It even has a ferry to Capri.
4 - Beach - Rooms overlooking the beach. wonderful at night. Relaxing during the day.
5 - Fisherman - it's a fishing village, what do you expect - it actually adds to the atmosphere, if you happen to understand one ounce about what Italian seaside places are all about. Actually I look at the bright side of it. In the morning I saw the fish I was going to eat in the evening.
6 - Assistance - the lady suggested very nice places where to eat and do our souvenir shopping, and we were never given bad looks when we went to eat in nearby places - one of which being hotel Onda Verde.
7 - Breakfast - as simple and Italian as it can be. Wonderful coffee and pastry.

Basically if you expect better things in life, find yourself a 5 star hotel, but you'll be missing in on the real deal.

A 5 star hotel could have never given us the experience we've had from this hotel. Some things can be improved. But nobody's perfect. I'm sure they will though.

I'll definitely go back if ever in the area, even just for a nice plate of home-made pasta....and the lady's smile.

Steve Ciantar - Malta

I am shocked at the above reviews. I stayed here in June 07 and loved it. The staff could not have been nicer. Yes the cleaning lady was very sweet but the reception staff were also exceptional. I dont understan why people write such terrible reviews. The hotel restaurant is fantastic. It is a family run hotle and we welcomed into their family each and every day. The rooms were exceptioanlly clean and the air conditioning worked perfectly. This hotel has an excellent location right on the beach and the price is perfect. I would stay here again without hesitation

This is a terrible hotel. Standard rooms don't have air conditioning and you must leave the balcony doors open at night wth the result you will be awoken from approx 4.30am with the noise of the fishermen getting ready for the day. One morning there was a guy drilling at 5.30am beneath our window. The staff are so rude it surprises me that they can run a hotel.
The cleaning lady is a lovely person and will help you if she can. If you dare have your meal in one of the two nearby restaurants where the hotel staff can see you, you will be treated as the enemy. Also, half sunbeds in front of the hotel are owned by the hotel and the other half belongs to a nice old guy. If you take one of his sunbeds you are really looking for trouble. The walk up the cliff to the main road, will test the stamina of the strongest athlete. Food in the hotel is average and very pricey. Taxis don't like to go down the cliff to the hotel as it ruins the engine getting back up the hill. The real problem with this hotel is the staff are so rude and vindictive.