Grand HotelCocumella

Service: I want to start by saying, this is without a doubt the BEST service of any staff I have ever received at any hotel anywhere in the world. Giuseppe and the rest of the concierge/drivers were absolutely the highlight of our trip. Kind, engaging, helpful, truly a first class and 5-star experience. They had set up a very thoughtful welcome for us when we came to stay for our honeymoon. Cannot say enough about the staff. Property: The property is historic, so I would be very realistic with what you are expecting. After visiting, I am surprised with the 5-star hotel rating. It is a nice property, but showing its age on many things I feel could be upgraded still with respect to its historic charm. In full transparency, I was expecting it to be a bit more luxurious. We booked with points, otherwise I probably would be more disappointed had I paid fully out of pocket. The property is quite far from the Sorrento center with shopping/restaurants, but there is a shuttle which runs most of the day and drops you relatively close to the center which is helpful. Spa: Personally, I would avoid the spa. Services were very sub-par for the cost. Very kind providers, but the services/ambiance was not commensurate with the cost. I wish we had skipped this and spent that money elsewhere. Food: The waterfront restaurant, Coku, was unmemorable in my opinion. My husband enjoyed his meal, but I felt mine had been sitting for quite some time waiting for his to be finished being prepared because my dish was completely cold when it arrived. We had far better meals with more impressive service elsewhere. We sat for quite some time waiting to close our bill as our server was engaging with another table he appeared to know personally. The breakfast buffet at the hotel is well-appointed and obviously appreciated, but I found many of the items I tried were not my preference. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was objectively not good, but I only found one or two items I really cared for. Certainly could just be my American pallet vs. the traditional European breakfast. The staff in the breakfast bar, as with the rest of the hotel, was incredible. Overall: It was a wonderful stay made so largely in part by the staff. I hate to admit I would probably stay elsewhere in the future just based on the overall experience, but that is in no way a reflection of the incredible staff. If you are a little more relaxed in your overall expectations but want exceptional service, this is absolutely a great property for you.