Please help me decide between these two hotels for three nights and most of four days in Sorrento next Oct. want to visit Naples Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. Convenience and ambience/comfort to be considered. Thanks for your help.
I can't answer for Minerva but can vouch for Antiche Mura; we had a great October stay there. The staff is superb, the location is convenient, breakfast was terrific, and we really enjoyed having drinks in the pleasant garden by the pool after along day of sightseeing. I do recommend upgrading to a comfort room; we did and appreciated the extra space.
It doesn't offer sea views (an upgrade at the Minerva) so I guess that would make a difference if that was important to you?
I don't know anything about the Antiche Mura itself, but I do know Rick Steves recommended Mondo shared tour of the Amalfi coast meets and leaves from in front of the hotel. I would highly recommend that tour of the Amalfi Coast. Very reasonable cost for a full day tour, including Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello.
We spent 5 nights in Sorrento in October. We stayed at a B&B, so I can't speak for either hotel. But, we did like the location of Mura. And, as mentioned above, we did a Mondo Tour of Amalfi Coast, so we met in front of that hotel. Sorrento was one of our favorite places . . . some of the best food we had during our 3wks in Italy. We took the train to both Pompeii and Herculaneum - a easy day trip . . . don't rule out Herculaneum . . . we actually enjoyed it more than Pompeii. You can see it on TripAdvisor.
We looked at both hotels for our trip in May and decided on Minerva.
We desired a view and this hotel has a HUGE balcony/terrace which is larger than any place we have ever stayed ! The sunsets and breakfasts on this terrace were to die for !
The breakfast was delicious and had a better selection than many other locations we have stayed over the years.
There was a FIVE minute walk down to the town, so we did not feel like we "gave up" being in the action - we were in Sorrento every night until late and had no problem walking back after dark.
We planned to catch the bus to the wharf for our ferry to Capri, and the gentleman at the desk walked down with us and showed us the possible two bus locations - one was correct, but one was the other local bus - and where to stand for OUR bus ! We appreciated his thoughtfulness.
I've stayed in Antiche Mura twice and both times it was excellent. The breakfast is great.