I am lucky in that my work takes me all over the world, and I am always excited to spend time in Europe doing what I love. With regards to Italy in particular, I had been to all of the major cities, including Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice and others. What I had never been able to do, unfortunately, is spend time in places that may not be as populous but that are nonetheless attractions in their own right, particularly places known for their beauty along the coasts. Recently, I had a one-day break in a business trip that arose suddenly, and that gave me a chance to see Sorrento and the surrounding area. However, that could only happen if I managed to find a Sorrento hotel room in mere minutes, which I assumed would not be easy. I thought about how to make this happen, and decided to grab my phone.
I picked up my phone because I wanted to search for apps that help people find last-minute hotel rooms. I found an app called HotelTonight and really liked the way it looked. I opened it and searched for Sorrento hotels, and was really surprised and relieved that it returned some options. Not only were there choices, but these choices were very nice hotels that were being offered at extremely reasonable rates. I chose one that looked like something I would enjoy and decided to embark on the booking process, which in the past had been difficult in other settings. That wasn’t the case with HotelTonight–I had my room booked and confirmed within a few swipes. I could not believe it–I was all set to see Sorrento and nearby areas. All I needed to do now was research where I wanted to go and what I wanted to see.
Of course, I wanted to start my day in Sorrento, a small and absolutely gorgeous community that is seen by many as the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Its population is only around 16,000 people, but it’s built into and along the bottom of hills that make this the quintessential Italian town that many people think of when they envision Italy. I spent some time walking around and taking photos of different things along the coast of the Bay of Naples. I talked to some locals about where I was going that day, and basically I got more and more excited about what I was doing.
I jumped on a boat, of all things, for my next stop and disembarked on the island of Capri, one of the most famous island destinations in the world. This was a breathtaking scene from start to finish. The landscape here was rugged but gorgeous, and like Sorrento there were several structures built right into the hills overlooking the water. I walked around some more and found a nice cafe that provided views that were stunning. I enjoyed my cappuccino and just watched all of the people mill about as they too stopped to appreciate what they were seeing, whether they were locals or visitors.
My next stop was the place that provided the name for the Amalfi Coast, and I found this little community to be as stunning and gorgeous as anything I had seen so far that day. There was also a lot of history here, as the height of Amalfi occurred over 1,000 years ago. I walked around town a bit and asked people where to eat for lunch. I was directed to a small place that seemed to be owned by the same family for generations. I enjoyed a plate of some of the freshest seafood you could ever imagine, all while enjoying where I was and what I was doing.
Yes, that Pompeii was the next stop on my journey. For those who may not know, Pompeii was once a thriving, enormous city that was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. I didn’t want to do much of anything other than see the ruins that have been preserved quite well. I did so and was amazed at how people actually lived that long ago. I found some shops nearby that offered what turned out to be the perfect gifts for the people in my life. I couldn’t wait to give them away.
Many people do not know that along with Pompeii, Herculaneum was also destroyed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is near the outskirts of Naples and it’s a place that is also fascinating in how it provides a look at life in Italy nearly 2,000 years ago. I took more photos than I could count and then decided it was time to head back to Sorrento for dinner and to unwind, as it had been an unbelievable day of exploring.
As I sat and enjoyed my fabulous dinner and even more fabulous glass of Italian wine, I reflected on my day, as it had been that important to me. I thought about how I had seen parts of Italy that I had never seen before, and I realized that these opportunities don’t often arise. I was glad I was able to take advantage of it, and I made sure to acknowledge to myself that it would not have happened without the help of HotelTonight. The app helped me find a Sorrento hotel room in minutes. I had seen a new place that day, and I had found a new travel companion–that’s a great day.
