Hotel del Corso: Rude and surly staff
by devout_hindu
If all you want is a central location with a terrace that has a great view of the Bay of Naples, then by all means go to this hotel. On the other hand, if you also want to encounter staff that is smiling and happy to see you as their guest, then AVOID this hotel like a plague.
My family and another family spent two weeks in Italy and just got back home. As part of the trip, we went down to Sorrento, and stayed at the Hotel Del Corso for three nights. From the outset, we were put off by the rudeness of the staff, especially the old man (presumably the owner), and one of the front desk clerks, Francesco.
In other Italian hotels we stayed in, I'd ask for glasses for wine (and some ice to chill, in case of white wine), and we'd get either one, with a smile. I did the same thing at this hotel, and the old man frowned at me and nodded his head with such disdain that I thought I'd made some social blunder. Hello, old man: Can you just not say, sorry you cannot offer me a glass?
On another occasion, Francesco screamed at the kid in the other family because the kid was being a little loud. OK, the kid might have been a little loud, but there is a way of saying that to the family, and not be offensive, especially when we were guests, paying good money to be staying there.
On yet another occasion, I wanted to fill my water bottle from a tap in the dining area (by now I had learned that to take the chilled water from the breakfast area would have resulted in more admonitions, so I decided to use the tap.) By mistake, I didn't turn the tap off fully, and the old man (who seemed to keep an eye on us all the time, like a big brother) told me in an extremely condescending tone that he didn't care which country I came from, but in Italy, water was scarce, and I was being careless. Hello, did this wizened old curmudgeon have ANY idea of where all I have traveled in my life, and what I think of conservation of the earth's resources? No, but guess what : I didn't want to stoop to his level and explain it to him.
Finally, on the eve of our departure, I was "requested" to settle the hotel bill the night prior to our departure, on account of a shortage of hands on the day we were leaving. OK, fair enough, and I said I'd accommodate that request. That last evening, I was hounded no fewer than 5 times, asking when I'd pay, and what time I was leaving the next day. It almost seemed to me that they were scared that we'd skip town, without paying the bill. Most offensive.
Here is the funny thing. I could have sworn that the same staff was smiling and talking normally to other guests, who were all white. So I came to this conclusion - and I don't make this kind of a statement frivolously I think the staff is either unused to people of color (all 8 of us are brown-skinned Indians), or just are plain RACIST. Thank God I've traveled extensively in Italy, to know that the Italians are a warm and loving people, who have shown me nothing but goodness. People like those at the Del Corso just are aberrations, and they make me appreciate the nice Italian people even more.
With respect to the rooms themselves, and the Mussolini-era linen : I think other travelers have said enough about that, so I won't waste my breath on that topic.
All in all, we were all glad to be out of that wretched hotel, and head off to Rome. As an epilogue, I will say that the staff at the Hotel Oceania in Rome were friendly and welcoming - a stark contrast to the Del Corso, and a validation, once more, that the Italians are a warm and wonderful people.
Great terrace views of the Bay of Naples
