The hotel was booked on the official website, comfort room, seaside, FB, FP (P=price). First night we've had a tiny room, seaside, though ridicoulus in size and comfort. I've requested in advance via email to the management to confirm the quality and services. Of course he did. I've replied that in case it wasn't I'd quit. He didn't reply.. Not a good sign. In fact.. So the guy, a bit disappointed (this is his personality, I'm the director and I direct whatever), but he toured me around the day later. Other rooms were also not that close to what you expect form a 4 star hotel. However, the room we've eventually got was on the other complex (in front the main one), with a ridicoulous 2 single bed joined so to become a qeen size one.. We couldn't sleep together and every night was a pain experience for my back. Thank you. I've asked for a modification on the matter. You know the answer. But you could enjoy both the seaview and the hotel view.. Amazing, especially the Hotel view, I mean. And more at night, when they were playing music. Why miss some of all the notes while trying to get asleep?
But let's feed ourselves. The food was ok, quite ripetitive the antipasti indeed, while the added value to the basics of mediterranean kitchen was the culinary style and the poetry on the menues. Breakfast was also kinda basic, abundant and with cheap stuff (pre cooked croissants, tons of yoghurt, the very same fruit every day, and the water abundant juices...). Mmhh.. The SPA? Ok. See the Mediterana or Claudius Therme then you are in a SPA. You can use a tiny sauna free of charge (till 19 hrs, just like the gym), but be aware the rest like the turkish bath, or the indoor pools need to be booked in advance (not exactly free of charge), a fact you wouldn't expect in a SPA hotel which already charges you enough, in my opinion, and comparing to what I get around Europe. Btw, the showers (emotional-ly) do not work. But the only maintainer is all day long fixing here and there, and he is serious and efficient, though there in the SPA it seems they have some other problem at system level.
But if you go there for massages etc they are pros and plenty of rooms and everything you need, well managed and clean, I must say.
However, you can enjoy the pool outside, which is ok, although the terrace is not big enough to accomodate all (well, a percentage goes around, on the beaches etc, thus I'd say the majority or so) the guests, therefore people wake up early to occupy their seats, have breakfast then all day long to defend their conquered positions with any legal and not legal means. No seats left of course, so you might want to go to the beach then. There you go. A nice silver driver (he is really a nice guy) provides the service to the beach, five mins and you are at Citara, to arrange yourself to find a place..Mmhhh.. I'd expect the hotel has some private beach.. But the it seems I want to put contraints. So, let's contiinue. If you want you can go the to the Poseidon's garden. Ok, the move is worth the fact that you are there, but do not exaggerate. Also because you will find yourself replicating the conquer of the chair just like you do normally, or daily, at the Sorriso. So, what you do then? Have a moped and off you go, but choose well the beach. Or, if you have a car, arrange with the hotel staff to have the other ones blocking you moved half an hour before the estimated time of departure (guests leave the car keys at the reception, by default). The parking spaces are just not enough, very. And of course there is no roof to shield your seats from sun heating. But the guys work very hard, don't get me wrong, I'm serious here, they are fast and reliable, and they do deserve respect and consideration (also some other kind of attention and recognition from the entrepreneurs). Fact is, I'm of the (convinced) idea that the owners should invest more and provide better quality, better and coherent infrastructures, and convince the cook to improve to a 4 star level kitchen, instead of focusing on 5 star 'sounding menues and try do good in fridge management. All in all was I happy? No. But the personnel is very nice and helpful, the food is ok (on the way to improve to 4 star), and Ischia is worth the effort. Sorriso, you have brilliant personnel, but you need to change.
- Sorriso Thermae Hotel
- Sorriso Thermae Resort
