About Us

My wife Marion and I first went to Sorrento for our first wedding anniversary in May 1999. We booked the holiday through a UK travel agent only a few weeks before we went, and because we were so late booking, we didn't have a clue where we were likely to end up.

About an hour and a half after we left Naples airport we were dropped off on the road outside the Hotel Minerva, high up on the road to Capo di Sorrento.

There was no grand entrance, just doorway cut into the cliff face and a lift - and it didn't look great, we can tell you.

We'd been to Italy before, visiting Lake Garda, Verona and honeymooning in Venice, but we'd never seen Sorrento. Once we got out of the lift on the fifth floor (the hotels' reception), we found the kind of people we've found so many time since in Sorrento - friendly, helpful and sincere.

Although our room had a great sea view, it didn't have a balcony, so I asked if I could upgrade because it was our first anniversary and I wanted it to be special, but I was told they couldn't help today, but maybe tomorrow.

The next morning after breakfast, we went into the town, and came back to find that we'd been upgraded to the honeymoon suite - free of charge!

After two fantastic weeks, we decided to return - about three months later. The Minerva couldn't accommodate us then, so we stayed at the rather more upmarket Grand Hotel Royal.

Now it's taken for granted that at the end of April every year we'll fly out to Sorrento for our anniversary, and visit some of the many friends we've made all around this wonderful town.

If you're thinking of going next April/May - drop us a line, maybe we'll show you a few sights in person!