I am undecided about staying at either the Hotel Minerva or the Hotel Antiche Mura in Sorrento. This will be my first time in AC. If anybody knows one or both of these hotels please give me your feed back. Hotel Minerva rates are slightly less but not by much.

Don't know either hotel. We stayed at the Hotel del Corso in May. Decent pleasant room, friendly staff and a nice breakfast room. No real view but a central location a few steps from the central plaza. About 120 euros.

We stayed at the Hotel Minerva in 1997. It was a great place. The view from the pool amd restaurant is fabulous. Beware, however, the room we stayed in was very noisey and we had to use earplugs to sleep. I'm not sure if all rooms are like this, or just the location of ours. We heard vespas all night and lots of clanging noise, which I could only assume was from the restaurant, but am not sure. I do not know anything about the other hotel.

Never heard of Antiche Mura, but Minerva is recommended. Some group tours use it, they run a set of other really good properties in Sorrento as well. Good value.

About the noisy hotel rooms. I thinks this is a common problem in the area. The buildings are all old and, though very nicely refurbished, the walls - both inner and outer - are thin. We stayed at both the GH President and the Mediterraneo this September and both had this same 'problem'. I'm a very light sleeper and needed earplugs every night. This was the only slightly minor point of both hotels.

We stayed at Hotel Settimo Cielo. Great location, no noise, own terrace with fabulous views and very pleasant, helpful staff. I think we paid E140 a night in August.

I seem to recall seeing both hotels as inland (i.e. not by the beach or cliff) and in a busier part of Sorrento. Noise could be an issue.

Ruben,

We also considered Hotel Minerva and Hotel Antiche Mura in Sorrento for July 2006. Minerva gives you commanding view of the Gulf of Naples/Vesuvius, and Antiche Mura is located near the center of town.

It comes down to your personal preference and budget. Do you want the convenience of being in town where the action/noise is, or do you want a panoramic view of the Gulf and a quieter location?

In the end, we chose Hotel Aminta for the panoramic view (main hotel not the annex), room rate and good reviews from travelers. We want to wake up in the morning and see Mt. Vesuvius.