Carlton Hotel International, Sorrento

This hotel has a lot going for it. It was great to arrive back mid afternoon and enjoy a swim in the pool, or enjoy sitting between the pool and the gardens, or by the bar.
The ground floor area was light, expansive, and decorated with generous quantities of marble, making it all cool and comfortable to be in when the weather was hot.
Being located just off Piazza Tasso made it ultra convenient for getting to all the shops trips restaurants and attractions.
Although we missed out on getting a room facing the front, with views across the bay of Naples to Vesuvius, we were very happy with the view from our balcony,  of the swimming pool and gardens, and of the mountains behind Sorrento.
Although it does not have a restaurant, there are any number within 5 minutes walk, including one very acceptable place literally next door.
The room was entirely adequate, with a good level of soundproofing; what we heard from neighbouring rooms was very muted indeed.
There was no kettle; the fridge was empty; the TV was small; it was a hunt to find the one power socket we could use to charge our phones; and we placed a spare blanket under the sheets to make the bed softer for Ann.
The shower was adequate, but the showerhead was fixed to the wall, making it inflexible and difficult to avoid the water before it got to temperature. It seems the whole bathroom was once a wet room; the advent of shower enclosure meant having to squeeze past the bidet to reach the toilet, which was not ideal for those of reduced mobility. On a similar note it was a significant step up into the  shower enclosure.
The breakfast room was spacious and airy with relaxed jazz playing as background music. The self service bar had boiled egg, cheese ham, yoghurt fruit cereal, and a wide selection of sweet breads and cakes, and fresh fruit. The coffee was served by waiters, sadly it was not always very hot.
We did not feel especially valued and welcomed, which was a shame. Several members of staff were very kind helpful and friendly on occasions, but the overall effect was a little impersonal. Perhaps we had been spoilt by staying previously in a smaller hotel. In part it was the location of the reception desk, way off to the left so there was no need to approach it unless you had a query.
The hotel entrance had two short flights of steps, with handrails too short for the top step in the first case. We were not made aware of any alternative entrance. The only toilets available from reception/bar/breakfast room were down one storey, with no lift access.
While by the pool I observed that what looked like an external fire escape was potentially dangerous being overrun with climbing plants. On closer inspection this was not a fire escape and the single central staircase is the sole means of escape for all 18 rooms on each floor. I was comforted that there was no wallpaper or carpets, just marble finishes, but I did note that the old lift, in the centre of the stairwell was housed in a wooden frame.