Booked 2 hotels - which one do I cut?

Why the snark? Yes, I am serious? I have never been to Sorrento and wanted a personal opinion from someone who may have first hand experience.

I have never been to Sorrento. I think I would look at a map and choose the one that is closest in walking distance to sites and restaurants. Good luck! This is an interesting dilemma.

Sun-Baked, thank you. I have looked at a map and both hotels satisfy my needs as far as location, but thank you for the suggestion. I was looking more for a personal opinion from someone who has stayed at one or both of the hotels who could possibly provide a review on the service, cleanliness of the rooms, etc.

Robert, thank you for your reply. I have decided to go with La Tonnarella. Although I do think the Grand Hotel would probably be a better hotel the price difference is pretty significant and even with the reviews that were negative in nature...I think I can live with it.

Sorry, I was revising my reply when I saw yours, so just deleted it to add this. I think a lot of folks on this Forum have liked La Tonnarella, so that should be fine. Sorrento is a great home base for visiting Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and Pompeii and Herculaneum. If you are looking for a great seafood restaurant in Sorrento, I highly recommend Taverna Azzurra in the Grande Marina. Went there twice out of our 4 nights.

Robert - oh gosh...what were you going to say? We are there for only two nights as we will be in Positano for another two nights before heading to Rome. Thanks for the restaurant recommendation.

Nothing important to add, since you chose your hotel. Have a great trip!

I hope you have a good time at the one you chose.

I've only stayed at the other.

We Horned Frogs loved the Leone Rosso (Red Lion) restaurant right outside the Sorrento train station on a side street. Others have given it a good review on this forum more recently, so it remains reputable. Great food at a good price. A memorable meal of calamari with walnuts in a balsamic dressing to this day. There is a good gelato stand next door. At the end of the strip is a small toiletry store which sells popular Italian toothpaste, Marvis, for 3 euros, which sells in the states for $15/tube. I like to use it as a reminder each day of the amazing Italian trips we have taken. Have fun, and wear purple! We saw someone in a TCU shirt on the train to Pompeii!

TexasTwin - Go Frogs!!! Thank you for your response. After all this, I decided on the Hotel Bel Air. I wasn't comfortable with the reviews of La Tonnarella and the Capodimonte was just too much. This is a last minute stop and we will only be in Sorrento two nights so I thought Hotel Bel Air was a good compromise to Capodimonte. I'm locked in now so not going to stress about it anymore.
Thanks for the tip on the toothpaste!! Would love more suggestions on must shopping stops!

Just a quick 2 cents !

We loved Hotel Minerva - the balcony was expansive and delightful looking out over the Bay and sitting there for breakfast was wonderful. We walked into town easily on the sidewalk, night and day. The staff even came outside to help us distinguish the correct bus when we rode it.

We, too, had reservations after reading reviews about La Tonnarella. And they may be unsubstantiated, but we truly loved the Minerva.