Sorrento Apartments - Review

Sorrento Apartments have several self-catering holiday flats in a building in the heart of Sorrento. This is one of the cheaper accommodation options in the historic centre. I rented a flat anonymously in April 2016 - this is my review.

I booked a one-bedroom holiday apartment online at fairly short notice. I was looking for somewhere affordable and central, with cooking facilities, and Sorrento Apartments was just about the cheapest option - and it had good reviews from past guests. I booked four nights at a total cost of €293 (€73 per night).

The apartment building has a cafe-bar on the ground floor run by the same management, and there's a reception desk inside at the back. This is a convenient arrangement for guests as it means there's almost always someone around to offer maps, advice, refreshments or a chat. When you arrive, look out for the name Sorrento Apartments on the wall to help identify the building (see bottom photograph).

My flat was on the first floor, accessed by stairs or lift. The window looked out over another building, with extractor fans in its wall.These were sometimes audible, and didn't provide the nicest of outlooks.

Decorated in a grey-white that looked a bit shabby, the flat was clean and decent, but had a rather tired air. Generally, though, I found it well-equipped and comfortable. An efficient air conditioning unit provided a bit of added warmth in the cool spring evenings. The bedroom had a range of 3 lighting options, operable from both sides of the bed. The shutter had a switch to open and close it. Furniture in the bedroom consisted of a large desk, double bed (two singles pushed together), two stools, bedside tables, and a rail for clothes. There wasn't a suitcase stand, though there was space for a suitcase on a chest of drawers containing spare bedding. There was a large flat screen TV on the wall.

The kitchen was through a doorway from the bedroom (no door). It was minimal, but adequate, providing two hobs and basic equipment (two of each cutlery item). Salt, washing-up liquid and a cleaning cloth were supplied. There was an electric kettle, although this was dodgy and didn't turn itself off, leaving the plastic parts to get dangerously hot. There was enough cooking equipment to make a pasta meal, prepare rolls and eat a take-away dessert, which was all I wanted to do. A convenient supermarket is just a few minutes' walk away behind the cathedral.

The flat's bathroom was again basic but ok: toilet, washbasin, storage unit, towels, minimal sachet toiletries, shower, hair-drier. This room had some minor damage around the shower which would have been better repaired. The flat didn't have a washing machine, but if you wanted to do hand-washing or hang wet beach-wear up, there was a useful washing line outside window and pegs supplied.

The street at the front of the apartment building is one of Sorrento's pedestrian lanes which can get busy at night, and several restaurants and bars had outdoor tables. I used earplugs to mute the background noise, which quietened fairly early, but might be more of a disturbance in the summer months.

Although the flats feel like self-contained holiday homes, they're actually serviced, which was a nice bonus. A cleaner came each day to give a quick clean and provide fresh towels.

The flat was absolutely fine as an affordable and practical base. I found it a bit disappointing at first, probably because the decor was a bit drab and tired, and I was rather spoiled after a couple of nights in the 5-star Grand Hotel La Favorita around the corner. But I settled in, and I liked having a retreat from the tourist scene and an alternative to eating out every night.

I think Sorrento Apartments offer a good practical place to stay in the town centre, and my stay was good value for money. Although the flat was simple, this was reflected in the price; it was cheaper than most other places when I booked. You can get a bit cooped up in a flat but at least you have the open space and views of the Villa Comunale park very close at hand, and a good choice of bars, restaurants etc. nearby. The location is pretty much ideal for sight-seeing and enjoying what the centre of Sorrento has to offer. I'd recommend the flats if you're looking for an independent stay, a cheaper option, or a practical family base. There are a range of flats on offer, including flats with balconies and flats sleeping up to four guests.

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