Mar Hotel Alimuri — Hotel in Meta

Well, where do I start with so much to feed-back about the Mar Hotel Alimuri? Acording to Tui its a 4 star but bont be fooled - Four stars means attention to detail above and beyond a 3 star rating. This hotel lacked lots of attention to detail.

Location: Fantastic views from the hotel vseafront and room balcony and the sunsets were absolutely amazing (10/10). Be warned however that the hotel is very isolated at the bottom of the cliff and a walk into town means a great big hill or steps. Luckilly the hotel offers a shuttle bus service a few times a day so no big deal (8/10).

Food/Restaurant: Very nice food and a varied monu (8/10) but service could be very slow at times. Often waiting 25-30 minutes betyween courses (6/10). Very disappointed to find out that water was not included with the evening meal. They would sell you water at 6 Euro per bottle. On principal, I visited the supermarket in Meta and bought bottles of water for 50 cents (1/10). One table for 4 people is situated right next to the 'slops' trolley - just 4 ft away. Anyone unlucky enough to get this table had to put up with plate scraping and plates/cutlery crash/banging throughout thier meal right next to them. A horrible experience (1/10). If you are thinking of staying at the Alimuri and like pork or beef steak, I would recommend that you bring a good knife to cut it up with as the knives in the dining room are as blunt as a very blunt thing. I had to pick up my steak to eat it as the knife made no impression on it. I did ask for a steak knife but apparently they do not have any (3/10).

Pool area. A small but functioning pool area but the pool bar regularly had no one serving. This meant a trip to the indoor bar and carrying drinks a fair distance to the pool (5/10). Around the water edge of the pool is a big, uncovered rectangular hole just waiting for some unsuspecting child or adult (probably carrying drinks) to fall in. This was downright dangerous. It would not have been a proble for the hotel to safely cover this hazard to safety (1/10).

Rooms: Very clean and spacious with towels change every day if requested (9/10). The room had 4 electrical sockets, two of which did not work. Had to unplug the mini fridge to charge my phone (4/10). And now for the most horrendous part of our experience - the smoke detector in the room was missing. Just a round hole in the ceiling with two wires poking out. When I asked at reception (day 2), I was told that someone will be coming soon to fix it. It was still un-fixed on our departure 6 days later (0/10).

Other Areas: The lobby and dining room are beautiful with tile and marble decor and some genuine period furniture dotted around (although most is reproduction) (9/10). There are 2 lifts servicing the 6 floors but only 1 was working during our stay. This lift made quite scary noises whenever it was used and left many people thinking it could break down anytime (5/10). Outside on the sea-front the paint and plaster is peeling away in many areas with 'rust runs' cascading down the paintwork from the balcony railings like stalactites from the roof of a cave. It looks great from a distance in the marketing photos but up close, it is very 'tired' and in need of some basic TLC (5/10). Throughout the hotel there were lightbulbs missing or not working (5/10).

Staff: All the staff at the Aliumuri were very helpful and polite and many spoke very good english (a lot better than my Italian) (10/10).

Overall: A good holiday but I would not pay 4 star prices for this 3 star hotel. As I said at the beginning, it's about attention to detail - fixing a smoke alarm, a lick of plaster/paint ofr outside areas, covering a serious trip hazard by the pool, having access to steak knives and a few lighbulbs would not...

Stayed here for 3 nights, the location is fine - there are buses into Sorrento and from there you can get connecting transportaion to Positano and other towns. Positano only 12 km away. I wasn't looking to be entertained necassarily on this trip - but a little light background music at least in the bar would lighten the atmosphere. On the second day of my stay the weather turned, thunder & lightening began at 9:30 am - torrential rain - I didn't mind that at all, I quite enjoyed this wonderful spectacle - watching the cruise ships in the distance appear and disappear through the sheets of mist and torrential rain, obviously I wanted to continue to watch this beautiful light show without getting water logged myself so I retreated to the waterfront bar. My friend and I walked into the bar where some of the other guests had also taken refuge. It was akin to walking into a funeral ! At least half a dozen or so guests also took shelter here - we looked about the room - 3 middle age ladies chatting quietly while the others had their heads burried in their mobil phones. The bar was totally devoid of holiday or happy atmosphere.....as I said, it was like stepping into a morgue. My friend and I perched ourselves on a pair of barstools and ordered a couple of beers from the lovely Anna - had it not been for the lovely accommadating Anna the bar tender, we would've beat a hastly retreat to our room - which - if I'm being honest was never an option. We were chatting to each other and Anna but the sound of silence from the other guests was deafening !! I asked Anna if there was a chance of some light background music........she dropped everthing and within minutes the glorious mellow sound of Volare ( Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu ) by Domenico Modungo waffted through the air.......just like majic the dank morbid atmosphere disapated. For the next few hours we enjoyed the music that Anna had chosen and dare I say so did a few of the other guests....I did catch sight of one or two foot tappers and a hand or 2 tapping the arm of the chairs. So, may I suggest to MANAGEMENT from a customer perspective that appropriate music be played in the bar/lounge during opening hours, the lovely Anna enjoyed it too - thanks Anna x. This hotel is really for middle aged folk - ( I'm one ) it's in a lovely location - but I have to say that the hotel in and of itself is very tired, clean enough but tired, it needs a total make over, modernising in fact. And while on the subject of modernisation....the staff uniforms look outdated uncomfortable and out of step for this lovely location. The staff are dressed in typical black and whites, as you would see in the likes of Claridges or the Ritz. A nice uniform more befitting this lovely location and climate would be much better - easier on the eye for us and I'm sure, much more comfortable for them in that heat.........short sleeve cotton shirt and shorts perhaps ??? there are some stylish classy choices out there. I would recommend the hotel for location....people on here have complained that here is nothing here....I found my way around up to the local store...a few steps but the view was spectacular. I wanted a few days away by the sea - it was picturesque - sun was a bonus I was lulled to sleep each night by the sound of the gentle lapping waves just oustside my...

My wife and I booked an all-inclusive holiday at shortish notice through TUI. We weren't put off by the few bad reviews and greatly encouraged by the many good ones.

We were late getting out of Naples Airport as the baggage handlers were bringing the bags from the aeroplane one by one..! Our arrival at the hotel was now after lunch but the hotel had put some meals aside, and we were offered some wine. Which was Nice.

All the meals were fantastic with a huge range, Always plenty of fresh fruit. Omelettes prepared to order at breakfast and a great variety of cooked foods, cold meats and cheese and cereals. Lunch was similarly full of choice, but with the possibility of freshly cooked pizza straight from the oven. Dinner varied and included meals cooked outside as well salads, prepared hot foods. And always the option of wines, either by the glass or by the bottle. Throughout the day its always possible to get drinks - alcoholic or otherwise - from the Pool Bar or the hotel bar. My wife is dairy allergic and the staff once alerted, were so very helpful and looked for alternatives. Most nights there will be a singer or a duet. We're not talking Michael Buble but always OK and never intrusive, especially after a few free cocktails. This is a great place to sit back and relax after dinner, and to see the sunset between Ischia and Naples was always quite something. As were some f the private yachts with helicopter down off Sorrento.

The staff, particularly those in the bars and restaurants, were cheery and friendly (I guess they get the most contact) and were very attentive,

One of the few hotels in the area to have its own beach; this is small and shingly and dark grey (volcanic?). It also has sunbeds on a small rock groyne as well as having its own small pool and sunbeds around.

Everywhere was spotless and the ladies responsible were also very cheery but have a lot less English than the waiting staff. It's not possible to borrow an iron so either take a travel iron or use the hotel service with a 24-hour turnaround and no service at weekends. Rooms have tea and coffee and a fridge with bottled water. For all my British readers, brush up on your bidet drills.

My wife got her nails done at the Spa and was really pleased with the results.

You're not far from Sorrento and the hotel has its own shuttle which goes back and forth hourly. TUI also take newly arrived guests in one day and Nadja will conduct a handy 1-hour tour which, funnily enough, involves a quick stop in a Limoncello shop and a restaurant, La Favorita (both provide a small libation). If a Pandora memento of Sorrento is required, go to Mario Palumbo, opposite the aforementioned restaurant. Don't draw cash from the many ATMs which have bad commissions but find a bank and use that.

The hotel is predominantly occupied by the British but the Danes have a good presence, and it is predominantly 30s and over, I would say, with a small number of children. These aren't compulsory, however.

We'd be more than happy go back especially as we never made it through all the cocktails. But it really is a lovely relaxing place and having its own beach access makes a lot of difference. And with the friendly staff and variety of foods, this place is almost...