hiho322

I feel, at this point, that I know you all so well ;-) That being said, I have another question. We almost made a big mistake, thinking we'd switch hotel reservations in Sorrento, but thank goodness we didn't before we discovered that Hotel #2 choice was absolutely not what we wanted. So we started second-guessing ourselves about our other hotels. And that brings me to Hotel Il Pino in Praiano (Via G. Capriglione 13). We reserved a Standard Double with Balcony and Seaview and thought we loved it, but then started looking at reviews again and it was completely split down the middle in terms of love it/hate it. Anyone have experience with this hotel? It would really help.

- Annie

Jean

I don't know which reviews you've checked, but I always look at the comments on booking.com. Reviewers are limited to people who have booked through the website and then actually stayed at the property. So, no phony reviews.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/il-...fs=1&#tab-main

Sorry for the long link... Click on "Our Customers' Experiences" near the top of the page.

hiho322

Thank you SO much. I didn't know booking.com had only real reviews. Went there, looked up our hotel and, while there were glowing reports (as on trip advisor), they also talked about ants and a/c being turned off for much of the day. But both of those reviews were at the same time of year (July), so maybe it was something that only happened then. Anyway, we've emailed the hotel to ask, citing the reviews. We'll see. In the meantime, we're looking into small villas and other hotels.

Jean

Limited A/C is typical, and that is something to consider when choosing the time of year to visit. Italians are much are energy conscious than the U.S. (if that's where you're from).

kybourbon

>>>they also talked about ants and a/c being turned off for much of the day. <<<

Many hotels have key cards and your card has to be plugged in the wall for the AC to be on (or any electric). It's been a few years since I was in Positano, but there were lots of ants. Changing hotels might not make a difference.

ekc

Nearly every hotel and apartment I have stayed in on the AC (7 trips so far)have had a certain number of the tiny tiny ants. Sometimes just a few and sometimes more than a few if I am careless and leave food out. But it has yet to ruin my vacation to the most beautiful corner of Italy.

But one thing to keep in mind about Praiano is that it is not very convenient for day trips to other villages on the Amalfi Coast. You must take the bus to Positano to catch the ferry to Capri or the other villages.

hiho322

So good to hear this about the A/C and the ants! That makes my choice so much easier. In terms of day trips from Praiano, ekc, we do know it's not convenient for that, so we worked aound it by spending a few nights in Praiano and then moving on for a few more in Positano, where we can take a boat to Amalfi and then the bus up to Ravello. That's the only day trip we've planned so far, since we'll also be staying in Sorrento and do a day trip from there to Pompeii/Ercolano.

Jean

I wouldn't stay in three different hotels unless I planned to be in the area for more than 10 days. How were you planning to move between hotels? Taxis?

ekscrunchy

Agree. It does not make much sense, to me at least, to stay in both Praiano and Positano. You might do better subbing Amalfi for Praiano. I've stayed in all of those towns and liked Amalfi best.

hiho322

Praiano resonated with us. What was it about Amalfi that you preferred, ekscrunchy? Positano is definitely something we've wanted to see, but it seems a lot more touristy than Praiano. Our entire trip is 2 1/2 weeks long, split between Rome, Sorrento, Praiano, Positano, and Naples. We're spending a few nights in each. Taking train from Rome to Sorrento, then a cab to Praiano, a water taxi or cab to Positano and then a ferry plus train to Naples (unless there's a ferry between Positano and Naples; haven't checked that out yet).

ekscrunchy

Although Amalfi got some day trippers, it did not feel overwhelmed with large groups of English-speaking tourists. And there are the shaded pedestrian streets off the main drag where one sees few tourists.

In Positano, the main streets leading down to the beach can be so clogged with tourists that it is difficult to walk at times. This was true the last two times I was there, once in May and again in late September. Positano is gorgeous, no doubt, but to me it was just spoiled by tourism. But I could certainly see the appeal of staying down at the beach if one is there in high season.

Praiano had some nice hotels and two beaches I visited, although one had lots of trash bobbing in the sea in September. But there did not seem to be a center, other than a strip along the road. I just was not wowed, but that's just my own experience. I stayed about 4 nights in the Tramonto d"Oro, which we choose cause it had free parking and a decent sea view, and a pool. On the same trip we also stayed in Ravello, and one night in Furore, up high on the cliffs.

I was coming from the beach towns further south on that last visit, and the AC just seemed far more touristed than places like Maratea and Castellabate.

Jean

I think Amalfi's position as "last in line" helps keep the tourist numbers down.

hiho322

Jean, you could be right.