Hotel L'ancora

“Great hotel, but a few misses.”

Summary: We stayed in Suite 222. It is the larger of two “junior family suites” (the other being 221). 222 has a better layout - full separation between the two bedrooms, two full baths (instead of a bath and a half), a larger balcony, and a dedicated hot tub room off the balcony and main bedroom... more

Summary: We stayed in Suite 222. It is the larger of two “junior family suites” (the other being 221). 222 has a better layout - full separation between the two bedrooms, two full baths (instead of a bath and a half), a larger balcony, and a dedicated hot tub room off the balcony and main bedroom with amazing ocean views (221 lacks a hot tub). This review provides photos of Suite 222 that you won’t find anywhere else - I hope they are helpful. The positives: if you are looking for tremendous views, spacious and quiet rooms, comfortable beds, great water pressure, meticulous cleanliness, tasteful decor, a fantastically friendly and professional staff (special recognition and thanks to Lolanda and Angela), a great onsite restaurant, fast room service, and a solid breakfast, all at a reasonable price, then Ancora is for you. A few things were less than perfect, however. The biggest negative was that during our stay, daily temperatures were in the high seventies with full sun, causing the room temperatures to rise accordingly. However, the air conditioning in the rooms was not operating because, as the staff told us, it was “too early in the season and nothing can be done.” We are reasonably well traveled. We understand that AC is less prevalent in Italy than in the US, and that there are also EU restrictions on energy consumption in public spaces such as hotels. However, there is no seasonal disclaimer on the hotel website - air conditioning is a listed service and selling point. This was problematic because in our suite, our daughter’s bedroom had three painted shut transom windows, and due to the layout of the rooms, cool ocean air could not reach her from our room. Other minor annoyances - for some reason the circuit breakers to the rooms were sometimes tripped to “off” when we returned after dinner, causing us to reset them in the dark. Additionally, the hotel had one iron and ironing board for guests, so you must request them, wait for them, and then immediately return them once done. Lastly, upon arrival we were shown to the smaller family junior suite (221), even though we’d been furnished with photos of the larger suite (222, with two full baths and hot tub) in response to our pre-arrival room inquiries. The staff graciously rectified the error, but it caused unnecessary anxiety while we awaited resolution. By the way, while these suites are priced identically, they shouldn’t be. As mentioned, Suite 222 has a larger balcony, a hot tub room with ocean view, two showers instead of one, etc. While beautiful, 221 really is not a comparable product. So, on balance this is a great hotel run by lovely people, but with important gaps that set our experience back a bit. Of note, we arrived on the second day of the 2024 season, and even the best seasonal hotels sometimes have a hiccup or two when starting up operations again after winter. That said, a one day air conditioning gap would have been acceptable, but if the weather is unseasonably warm, the hotel must make the adjustment for its guests’ comfort and provide all of its advertised services. For me, there is nothing worse than sweating through a night, or having a child that can’t sleep because they are too hot or because the noise of the city is coming through open windows. We would like to return to Ancora in the future, so I hope management accepts this review in the spirit intended - to praise the staff and hotel while helping other potential guests to understand what an early spring stay might be like, especially the lack of air conditioning. That said, we do recommend the hotel!

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“Stunning Views!”

I stayed here while in Positano for a friends wedding and loved it! The views were absolutely stunning from the rooms and the staff was always so kind and accommodating! I I interacted mostly with Elisa and Angelica and they were both so sweet and helpful! I even found myself needing to print som... more

I stayed here while in Positano for a friends wedding and loved it! The views were absolutely stunning from the rooms and the staff was always so kind and accommodating! I I interacted mostly with Elisa and Angelica and they were both so sweet and helpful! I even found myself needing to print some new placards for my friends wedding last minute and they helped me make it happen and it turned out so great. I had to change rooms and add rooms a few times as the group of people in my party increased and decreased throughout my trip. I stayed in a few rooms from the family junior suite, the junior suite, to the classic no view rooms and they were all great but I especially loved the rooms with a view and would definitely recommend a room with a view as it is absolutely breath taking and worth it. The view from the restaurant was also stunning and it is also where they host the daily breakfasts that are included. It was so relaxing starting each day having breakfast and coffee over those views. All staff that I interacted with were also so kind and helpful. I look forward to returning and recommending. Thank you Hotel Ancora! Best Regards, Wegahta M.

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“Hotel Ancora is a gem of a hotel with spectacular views, centrally located, professional staff and lovely restaurant.”

The jaw dropping view from our gorgeous room and the hotel’s restaurant says it all! Breakfast and dinner were wonderful…delicious and beautifully presented. The restaurant is comfortable and inviting and has a lounge area for a rest and a cocktail at the end of the day. Every staff member is ext... more

The jaw dropping view from our gorgeous room and the hotel’s restaurant says it all! Breakfast and dinner were wonderful…delicious and beautifully presented. The restaurant is comfortable and inviting and has a lounge area for a rest and a cocktail at the end of the day. Every staff member is extremely accommodating and friendly and can assist with any requests such as transfers to the airport, directions etc. Hotel Ancora is centrally located on a main road in town with easy access to the shops, restaurants, beach and marina, albeit many steps! Our superior sea view room was much larger than anticipated with an expansive balcony complete with table and chairs along with two chaise lounges and umbrella. A very large bathroom with beautiful blue vietre tiles also contained a jacuzzi tub with a view of the Mediterranean. Many thanks to Domenico, Lolanda, Angelica, Susie and the restaurant/bar team for making our stay so very special! We will choose Hotel Ancora when we return!

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“Perfect getaway!”

Had the most beautiful time in Positano for our honeymoon staying at Hotel L Ancora! The staff were very friendly, helpful and welcoming throughout our stay. Our suite was very charming, well kept, and also came with an amazing view that left us breathless! The location is perfectly convenient an... more

Had the most beautiful time in Positano for our honeymoon staying at Hotel L Ancora! The staff were very friendly, helpful and welcoming throughout our stay. Our suite was very charming, well kept, and also came with an amazing view that left us breathless! The location is perfectly convenient and within a few minutes walking distance of the main shopping area and the spiagga. I would come back again and stay in a heartbeat.

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