Picture postcard views
It was dark when we reached our hotel, so in the morning we were stunned when we threw open our wooden shutters and stepped out onto a balcony with a stupendous view of the Bay of Naples, a hazy Mount Vesuvius in the distance.
Sorrento clings to the hillside in a picture postcard way, like other towns along this coast, a mass of colourful buildings with red tiled roofs. After breakfast we tottered down the hill to the elegant town centre and explored the interesting little alleyways.
Sorrento is lovely, but we managed to tear ourselves away and take a day trip to Capri - just a short ferry ride. This is also the perfect base from which to visit two major archaeological sites - Pompeii and Ercolano, both only about 10 miles away.
Pompeii was awesome, but my friend Christine and I preferred Ercolano - less messed about with, so it has more atmosphere and less famous so it's easy to imagine real people living here. It's also better preserved.
The only danger for two single gals in Sorrento? The rampant waiters, who act as if they haven't seen a woman in years - one Sicilian took the hump when I spurned his advances and refused to serve me the rest of my meal!
Travel guide: Capri