Spiaggia La Marinella — Attraction in Sant'Agnello

Appalling. At the top of what can only be described as a cliff, the staff (two guys) directed me down a steep, dark, cobbled alleyway of stairs instead of allowing me to use the elevator, and I still do not understand why? I am a woman travelling on my own, it was dark, dingy and extremely dangerous, I hurt my ankle on the way down and it is was extremely painful and it's all their fault. When I went to pay for lunch (which was a small portion of mussels and I was still hungry thereafter). At the till, I mentioned I'd like to have a seat by the sea, as I'd hurt my foot, and then a woman started writing out a ticket for 12 euro, I said I didn't understand and then two staff men, surrounded me making a scene saying I had to pay for a chair. I told them I'd just had lunch and still had my bottle of water. The woman at the till was very passive aggressive and loudly called after me shouting have a good day in a sarcastic tone. I have been travelling all around Spain and Italy and I have not experienced anything quite like it.

I told the restaurant I just wanted to spend a few minutes resting by the sea, and they said it was the public beach I needed. I went down some more steps and sat on some steps as I was in too much pain to do much else, at the public area I then tried to leave.

A manager in a red polo shirt told me to go back up the way, I came through that maze of an alleyway, where I almost broke my neck and at the bottom graffiti greeted me. However, I could see a sign for the elevator, perplexed, I said could I use it, it was not until I had to explain that I'd just had lunch and I'd like to leave that the manager finally understood that I was a patron, this restaurant was extremely odd and I believe threatened that members of the public might use their access. What they must keep in mind is that people who pay and who have never been before, thus they need a more polite staff working there. As a lawyer, I am appalled at this restaurant and their behaviour and now my ankle is injured and I am on holidays, I also may sue them. Not...

We were told the elevator down was only for private beach club members, so we walked down thru corridors in the cliffside. Tried to take elevator back up but were told we weren’t allowed so we walked back up which was pretty difficult hike with a 9 yo. Our hotel manager said the elevator is public access and called, but the owners daughter denied that we were not allowed access. We were invited to dinner, which we went to the restaurant and paid a hefty $70 for fish of the day, so needless to say we had a high bill and nothing was comped as an apology. Beautiful views, good food but very snobby and overpriced. The next day the elevator was unattended so we took it down to swim, and when we got off there were multiple families waiting to get on. On the dock there is public access so we put down our towels and went swimming. Leaving we again went to the elevator, but before we cud even make it to the corridor we were stopped and told we cud not use it, as we weren’t using the private beach. There was a 3 euro charge per person (which we saw at the register but we’re never given the opportunity to pay, only told to leave). My husband who was born and raised in Italy only moving when he was about 30, argued with the owner in Italian. We never saw anyone denied access but us, as there were a lot of ppl on the public side (where they also rented chairs and umbrellas). I felt we were discriminated against for being American (my son and I are blonde and speak English). My husband said we had dined there last night and she said it doesn’t matter! She told us we were causing problems and we must leave or she wud call the police etc. THE MOST RUDE, NASTY OWNER I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. DO NOT GIVE THIS FAMILY A DIME OF YOUR MONEY - THEY ARE GREEDY...

The best beach in Sorrento. But caution! If you go down to the beach by foot and not taking the elevator, the stairs are really quite slippery, so make sure to wear some shoes with good gripping. If you don’t want to pay for the entrance to the private beach though, you will have no access to the sand and would have to lay on the concrete… the only entrance to the water is via the 2 ladders on the bridge. As the entrance to the private beach was not expensive, I chose that option and that gives you also the opportunity to use the elevator, and if you use the public beach you can’t use the elevator. The private area was actually quite nice for such a tiny beach. There were several separate areas with everything necessary: toilets and showers and changing rooms. As well as 2 places where you can sunbathe: on the platform or on the sand. Water was quite fresh in the middle of September despite the sun being scorching hot, so I didn’t dare to swim, even though there were people who swam. You can also bring your own snacks and drinks or order some from the restaurant that the hotel who owns the beach has. The restaurant has some magnificent views! Can’t say much about sortiment or food quality, but the staff seemed friendly. I forgot my phone and portmanteau and the lady behind the counter literally run after me to make sure I get my very precious items! Also, the views during sunset were simply incredible. So if you are in Sorrento and desperately want to sunbathe or even take a dip in the fresh water- this is...