Grand Hotel la Sonrisa

Brilliant stay at this most ostentatiously designed, but welcoming and relaxed hotel. We had two nights and there were no weddings/events while we were there, so we had free rein of the pool and poolside area, with its completely OTT statues and canopy and curlicues - stylistically think supercharged Italian Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. The rooms are clean and perfectly fine (slightly leaky shower) with thin walls but comfortable. The service at front desk was wonderful - warm and friendly - and our boys particularly loved the photos of Maradona and Messi and various celebrities that lined the walls (in suitably gilt frames). The LED pink lights on the exterior belie the fact that it's actually an 18th century castle - feels slightly more akin to a 1980s Barbie dream hotel, with Vesuvius in the backdrop. The location is such that you really need a car - we didn't have one and resorted to local buses, which was an experience. We did a day trip to Pompeii, took us about 45 minutes to get there and the excavations are right beside the train stop so very convenient . All in all great fun if you enter into the spirit of it - as Dolly Parton said 'it takes a lot of money to look this cheap'.

Sadly not a good stay at this hotel: far too loud which consistently ruined our sleep. Blocked pool access for guests despite events being inside. They care more for the loud events than the guests that are staying here. When there are events the music is so loud it disrupts everything. This shouldn’t be a hotel, it should be purely for events if their only care is for the people celebrating here. There are some of us who have come away on holiday to enjoy Italy and can’t because this hotel doesn’t care for it’s paying guests.

Do not let the beautiful exterior fool you. Inside the hotel is shabby and in need of fixing. My room was an awful, attic room with broken toilet seat (I asked them to fix it but nothing happened) and worn out antique furniture that did not fit the room. The AC does not function either. The description and reality are far from each other. This place has nothibg to do with four or five stars as they boast themselves. It is a wedding and event arena with loud music and no possibility for any sleep. The staff are not interested in you as they seem to only accomodate the wedding guests. The pool was open only until 12 am.

The hotel is very beautiful above all the night, some employee are very nice but because of the weeding, the music and fireworks my family and I left the hotel more tired than when we arrived. In other words, run!!!

Posto fantastico, cibo eccellente personale di una gentilezza unica dalla reception al bar ai camerieri ,per non parlare di Donna Imma e Matteo due persone stupende ....grazie di tutto ....Torneremo presto è stata un esperienza fantastica

Abbiamo organizzato un piccolo meeting con pernotto e pranzo per motivi lavorativi. La struttura è meravigliosa, personale disponile, gentile ed efficiente. Le camere sono grandissime e confortevoli. Il pranzo sempre perfetto) esperienza de rioetere

Siamo andati per la quarta volta al castello in quanto ci siamo sempre trovati bene,personale cordiale,il mangiare ottimo come anche la pulizia,molto curato l’esterno, esperienze diversa, come si sa l’hotel è un istituzione per il paese