We are trying to decide between Hotel La Tonnarella and the Bellevue Syrene for our trip to Sorrento next September. La Tonnarella is a three star and Bellevue a four star but what is the real difference? Both have received good reviews on this website - what makes the Bellevue Syrene worth nearly twice as much as money as La Tonnarella? Is it the service, dining, quality of room, or what? I find sometimes the qualities that differentiate a three star from a four star are things I care nothing about such as how good their restaurant is. Can anyone comment about the comparative advantages of one of these hotels over the other?

I stayed at La Tonnarella and had a drink at the Bellevue--the Bellevue is an elegant old world feel hotel with a beautiful lobby, grounds, and lounge.

La Tonnarella is more like a B&B in feel--folk art tiles, great view of the sea, casual . I wouldn't stay there again as my room really needed an overhaul--dreary furniture, moldy shower curtain, etc.

La Tonnarella used to be a two star, whereas the Bellevue Syrene has always been a four star, and has always been a well known "establishment" in Sorrento, since the days of Napoleon.

Thanks for the quick replies. Sounds like the Bellevue Syrene is the way to go. I think I will book it and pray the dollar makes a comeback in the next eight months.

BoulderCo, I don't want to knock the power of prayer, but I think it will take more than that.

Good choice with the Syrene, I think. Although I still haven't stayed there, my research puts it way above La Tonnarella.

Make sure when you book the Bellevue Serene to get a room on the side overlooking the Bay of Naples. It is a very comfortable hotel, easy walking distance to downtown and restaurants as well as the pier for the jet boat to Capri (although the walk up the hill on the way back is a killer). I'm envious and look forward to going back.

I would like to spare you from what I feel would be a serious mistake. I stayed at the Bellevue Syrene 2 years ago, it is nothing at all like the website portrays. In all my travels through Italy it was our most disappointing stay. We changed rooms three times, the first room the room was in the basement (literally) it was dank and musty, we ended up with a room that was disgusting for a supposedly 4 star establishment. We overpaid at this hotel, and I promised I would save someone from an awful experience.

Over the years, I've probably read 100 or more comments about the Bellevue Syrene. Heyjude's is the first truly negative one I have ever seen. But then I've never heard from anyone else who was sent to the basement. I wonder why that is?

To Patrick,
Since your opinion is based on your "research" and the fact that you have never stayed at the Bellevue Syrene , I am trying to deal with reality and facts and not let BoulderCo make the same mistake as I did.

Good point, heyjude. But at the same time I'd hate for this poster to make the same "mistake" as the other 99 people who did stay there and loved it. In all my "research" I have been unable to find another hotel in Sorrento with such an overwhelming positive (no, make that raving) response. I don't know how many rooms they have in the basement, but I do know (from my research) that they have many many more of them NOT in the basement, so chances are certainly good they won't get that room you had. And if they reserve a deluxe room that is guaranteed a balcony and sea view, then they should be able to assume they won't have your problem. If I booked such a room and arrived and they tried to put me in the basement, I simply wouldn't stay. End of problem.

Patrick,
I suggest you read the rants on this very sight and you will read that many other fodorites had problems with their rooms. As well read my post again, we tried three different rooms all were unacceptable. The hotel had our money and would not let us out of our reservation when we said we would like to leave.

I would suggest that most people willing to offer an opinion had a memorable experience either good or bad and unfortunately for heyjude it was bad. I actually stayed at the Bellevue Serene recently and could not have had a better experience. We were treated very well, the room was on the Bay side and was exactly as we expected.

We had drinks at the Bellevue Syrene last July, and it was lovely. The common rooms, the lobby, and the terrace are spectactular. The only reason we stayed at the Tramontano instead ( just up the street from Bellevue Syrene, and a very good 4-star option) was that it had a swimming pool as well as a private "beach." However, the service at Syrene seemed better.

Good luck with your choice!

Hi BoulderCO,

We had a great stay at the Bellevue. Many of the rooms are built into the cliff wall and are below the lobby level. Our room was nice and spacious -but the biggest bonus was the balcony and the view ! We peaked into some of the rooms on the main lobby level and some had lovely murals. The hotel is very artsy with an old world feel.

They have an elevator that goes "Down to the dock on the Bay", where you get great chaise lounge beverage service.

Also, you can walk the beach both ways to get to the ferry service spot.

Sorry I'm not familiar with La Tonnarella.

Enjoy

Tam

P.S. Walk down to "fish village" for dinner and eat out on the pier.

Boy, I wish I knew if you're talking about the same La Tonnarella that I stayed at last July. We have traveled to Europe frequently (10 times) for 6 week trips. the Tonnarella that we stayed at was wonderful. Room, view,beach, and the food was so good, we opted for half pension.
Patrick, I think I would re-research your research.

OK, but why not you research your research? I have read dozens and dozens of posts about Bellevue Syrene and use I've read between the lines of all the rants and raves on the place. What's more I've had two sets of very thrilled friends stay there whose opinions I value a lot more than the reviews I read. But I have yet to find an alternate that has as many favorable reviews. Not everybody will like every hotel, that's for sure. Just look at these last two totally opposing views of LaTonnerella for example. I have read a much higher percentage of unfavorable reviews of that place than I have of Bellevue Syrene.

And just for the record when I say "reading between the lines", what I mean is that I often overlook comments like "faded", "could use an update", and "outdated decor". Those are things I tend to appreciate in an old villa in Sorrento as opposed to modern and generic. And I can't hold a lot of stock in comments about an unhelpful staff. Finding the right person on duty at most Italian hotels who can really offer expert travel advice is a great rarity. And everytime I read that the food was horrible, but another person says the food was wonderful -- I just cancel them out against each other.

I'm not suggesting that Bellevue Syrene is a truly great hotel or even one without problems, but more specifically that so far my research has been unable to unearth any other Sorrento hotels in that price range that come out looking better overall.

Hey, what happened to that "slam" post about La Tonnarella? It just disappeared. I know I didn't dream it, since sempre_diritto made reference to it.

Patrick,
My comment about research probably sounded like a personal attack-it was not.
Our stay at the La Tonnarella was 155 euros/night-The Bellevue Syrene is about 280/nite. When traveling thru Europe for six weeks, we tend to shy away from those kind of prices unless it's something spectacular.

Message: We stayed at the Bellevue Syrene about 6 years ago. We found it to have amazing views and very good service. The meals at the hotel were not the best -- there was a very strong German influence -- not bad, just a bit heavy.

My room had a hug bath, a balcony that literally hung over the cliff, and a bed in a loft. It was all beautifully tiled, nicely decorated, and very clean (too bad my husband was in Saudi at the time -- he missed a real treat.)

Anyway, I would definitely stay there again, but do my best to get a bay side room.

Sounds like the consensus is that the Bellevue Syrene is superior to La Tonnarella but the few bad experiences posted here make me wonder if it is worth nearly twice the price. But since it appears somewhat more likely that we will have a positive experience at the Bellevue and we only get to Europe every couple years we will likely go with the Bellevue. Thanks for all the replies.