We were thrilled to cross a visit to Italy’s Amalfi Coast off our bucket list this June. Sorrento was our first stop during our week exploring the coast. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, which is Sorrento’s only Leading Hotel of the World. Hotels have to be pretty darn incredible to qualify for Leading Hotels of the World (LHW). When you stay at one, you experience the best of the best. Our review of Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria will show why it is now one of our favorite hotels- and that’s saying a lot because we’ve stayed in some amazing luxury resorts around the world!

It’s no surprise that they won the Readers Choice Award from Condé Nast traveler twice and were rated as one of the best hotels in Europe by U.S. News for 2016-2017. If you are trying to decide where to stay in Sorrento, look no further. Our hotel review of Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria will help you make up your mind if you are looking for 5-star luxury, outstanding service, and sublime views. It is perched on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius and it offers views that just may take your breath away!

History of Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria

The hotel has been operating since 1834 by 5 generations of the Fiorentino family, and they have certainly become experts at hospitality. It has welcomed famous guests including Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, and Oscar Wilde. Ruins of Roman Emperor Augustus’s villa is said to lay beneath the hotel, which speaks to its superb location on the cliffs of Sorrento with panoramic views of the Gulf of Naples. You get a feel for the rich history of the hotel with the elegant decor, antiques and magnificent frescoed ceilings throughout the hotel.

Exceptional Service

The extraordinary service begins before you even step outside your car. When you arrive at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, you are greeted at the gate in the beautiful flower-lined driveway and asked for your name and reservation. By the time you reach the end of the driveway, a smiling staff member is waiting outside to greet you by name, open your car door and arrange for your luggage to be sent to your room. As you check in, you sip freshly squeezed orange juice from the oranges in the garden. Immediately you begin to unwind and feel pampered by the outstanding staff.

Breathtaking Views

As unlimited members of the Leading Hotels of the World, we received a complimentary upgrade to a 2-level suite with an ocean view and private balcony. After Rosa checked us in, she gave us a tour of the hotel before escorting us to our room. We were in awe over the stunning terrace of the hotel, where guests enjoy cocktails and snacks with an amazing view. Of all the gorgeous areas of the hotel, the terrace was definitely our favorite.

Beautiful decor

The atrium was another lovely place to relax at the hotel. We sat there and listened to live piano music before dinner at their Michelin-starred restaurant Terrazza Bosquet (review coming soon on the blog). Next to it was a sitting room with a gorgeous frescoed ceiling and another room filled with light that opened up to the terrace. We enjoyed some artfully crafted and delicious cocktails before dinner in that room enjoying the view and elegant ambience.

Generous Welcome Amenities for LHW Members

In our room, Rosa kindly snapped some photos of us on our balcony with killer views of Mt. Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples. We enjoyed our welcome amenities, another perk of being a LHW member, on our balcony watching the sunset. The hotel offered bottled water, a bottle of wine, and a fruit, cheese and dessert plate. It was the perfect beginning to a wonderful stay on the Amalfi Coast. Watch out for the seagulls though if you enjoy your food on the balcony. One swooped down and stole our cheese in the 5 seconds that I stepped inside to grab my camera. LOL! We also received a garment bag with the hotel’s logo as a welcome gift.

Elegant Rooms and Suites

Our elegantly decorated hotel suite had a main bedroom area with a bathroom. Stairs led up to a loft with a couch and second full bathroom, which is perfect for families traveling with children. There was also a desk up there, although I can’t say we attempted any work while we were there. Our stay was all about relaxation, and relax we did!

Relax in the gardens, pool, and spa

Make sure to wander around the gardens and relax by the pool at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. L’orangerie restaurant by the pool serves lunch and dinner, and you can also order light meals and drinks at the pool. There’s even a playground, soccer field, basketball court, and hammocks to fully unwind. For ultimate relaxation, visit the greenhouse converted into a spa for a massage. We didn’t try the spa, but spoke to a family who had great mother-daughter and father-son massages. Vacation goals for when our kids get older and a future return!

Beach and marina access by elevator

There’s also a small public beach just below the hotel that can be accessed by an elevator on the terrace. You can also wander around the marina from there and enjoy the colorful boats lined up in the bay. Bertaut had fun flying his drone down at the marina. Watch out for those seagulls again, because they almost took down his drone.

Garden Champagne Bar

When you are ready to venture outside the hotel and explore Sorrento (although you may be tempted to spend all your time at the hotel), you will walk past the champagne bar in the garden. It is open in the evenings with views of the main plaza in Sorrento. It’s a lovely spot for a glass of bubbly by candlelight.

Premium Breakfast Buffet

After a night of fine wine and champagne, you will need a hearty breakfast to recharge for a day of adventure in the Amalfi Coast. A final perk as a member of The Leading Hotels of the World was complimentary breakfast. The breakfast at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria was impressive, from the ambience to service to selection. The restaurant is beautiful and offers live piano music during breakfast. Grab a seat by the window for views of the bay.  Ask for Giovanni and tell him Bertaut and Alexis say hello. He waited on us both for breakfast and dinner and had us laughing and smiling all throughout our stay.

Honestly all the staff throughout the hotel were amazing. We were taking group photos and giving each other hugs and kisses on the cheek by the end of our short stay. We felt like family and cannot wait to return one day. We’re still in awe over the exceptional service at this hotel. All the other hotel guests we talked to also raved about the service being outstanding.

Well-equipped Fitness Room

After you’ve consumed your week’s worth of calories at the breakfast buffet, you may need to hit up the gym during your visit. It was well-equipped with a variety of machines and free weights. They also offered bottled water and fresh fruit to refuel. I can’t say that we used the fitness room, but Bertaut had fun pretending to exercise. 😉

Review of Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria: Final Words

It was so hard to say goodbye when we felt like family at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. Our only condolence was that we were moving on to Positano to stay at Le Sirenuse next, which is one of the most luxurious hotels on the Amalfi Coast. Of all the places we stayed on the Amalfi Coast, we rate the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria highest for our overall experience. We cannot give the hotel high enough praise for customer service and friendliness.

A huge shout out to Tiziana, the general manager, for keeping this place running so perfectly! On top of the wonderful staff, the hotel is beautiful with stunning views of the bay and coast. Even if you are not able to stay at the hotel, you should at least come for an afternoon drink on the terrace or a meal at Terrazza Bosquet for an unforgettable dining experience.

If you liked this post, please share it and pin it for later when you are ready to visit the Amalfi Coast. We hope our review of Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria has helped you decide on your accommodations in Sorrento. For more travel tips for Italy, check out our blog posts about how to spend a day in Milan and the gorgeous Duomo di Milano. Sign up for our email newsletter for more travel tips and inspiration to travel the world.

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