Hotel Johanna Park

The family-run Hotel Johanna Park resides in a four-story Mediterranean building with a flat facade in light yellow with white and wood trim, arched accents, inset balconies, and a spacious outdoor sitting area. About a 15-minute drive from the town center, the hotel offers a quiet ambiance surrounded by greenery. The restaurant has its own outdoor terrace, while a large outdoor sitting area in the backyard offers guests a place to gather, although it's oddly covered in AstroTurf. There's a rooftop terrace with excellent views of the Gulf of Naples (with Mount Vesuvius in the background) and an outdoor pool in the garden. The lobby, while tasteful, is a touch dated, with two-toned marble floors, Murano glass light fixtures in yellow and blue, and a wooden reception desk and lobby bar. The staff, including Johanna herself, goes out of its way to be helpful. This property attracts mainly leisure travelers, and it often works with tour groups.

Located on the side of a hill in a pleasant area about a 15-minute drive from the center of Sorrento, the Hotel Johanna Park's location is both a pro and a con. It's outside the bustle of the city center, which makes for quiet relaxation, and the view of the Gulf of Naples is a standout. But getting to town is a bit of a hike, and though the hotel offers a free shuttle to Sorrento and to the train station, some guests complain that the shuttle doesn't run frequently enough, requiring them to take a taxi, or drive. But the hotel offers free parking, and is a good base for exploring the area -- it's about an hour's drive to Naples, Naples International Airport, Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius, and Pompeii. The ferry departure point for Naples is about a mile and a half from the hotel. The hotel can help arrange airport pickup for an extra fee. 

The Hotel Johanna Park offers 33 rooms on three floors. Rooms are basic with a few stylish touches like patterned tile floors, satiny damask bedding, or inlaid wood furniture. Most rooms have white or light-blue walls with blue or yellow bedding and wooden furniture, which comes off as tasteful if a bit dated. Rooms come with free Wi-Fi (though some guests complain that it's slow), desks, wardrobes, small safes, mini-fridges, and flat-screen satellite TVs, though there are no coffee- or tea-making facilities. Bathrooms tend to be small with white-and-blue patterned tiling, bidets, shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries. All rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning. Large windows look out on the countryside or sea, and guests rave about the sea-view balcony rooms. Room service is available 24 hours a day, and guests can request extra cots. Nonsmoking and accessible rooms are available, and some will accommodate pets.

Hotel Johanna Park's has many outdoor spots, including a rooftop terrace, restaurant terrace, outdoor sitting area, and garden pool. The pool is pleasant and well-maintained, with a stone deck with lounge chairs, but the pool isn't heated. The hotel has a pleasant lobby bar and a good on-site restaurant, which serves local Italian cuisine. Breakfast is free and includes eggs, sausage, cheese, and pastries. A banquet room is available for events and weddings. The hotel offers a free shuttle to the center of Sorrento and to the train station, and can arrange airport pickup for an extra fee. Parking is free. Room service and reception staff are available 24 hours a day. The staff is multilingual and can assist with concierge services, dry cleaning, and laundry. There's a safe-deposit box at the front desk. And Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.