Mamė Camilla is wonderful. Many of the guests stay long term as part of the cooking school, or just because they arrive and it is too hard to leave. Mami Camilla's is a family-run establishment, with some long-term staff who multitask from teacher in the cooking school, to tour guide and bar tender. The staff are friendly and helpful, happy to have a chat about what you are up to.
The Location
The hostel is easy to locate from St. Agnello train station. The area is lovely, very close to the coast, St. Agnello's shops and restaurants, and is walking distance (about twenty minutes) to the heart of Sorrento.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The dorms are great -- really airy, bright, clean, and tidy, with plenty of storage space. The dorm is unisex with fifteen beds and a unisex bathroom. Security seems fine, with lockers available in the dorms and private rooms available in the hostel.
There are only two showers and two toilets to share among the fifteen beds in the dorms. But the showers are good and everything is very clean. It is very homey and comfortable. Linen and towels are provided.
Common Spaces
The bar is a great place to relax in the afternoon and meet people. Beers are a bargain. The family are fantastic and Sal and Michael are great to let you know all the tips about the area. There is no kitchen for general use, however meals at the hostel are cheap and good. In fact, this is where Mami Camilla excels!
You can buy breakfast in addition to the dorm room rate and it is excellent -- great coffee, salami, cheese, bread rolls, croissants, cereal, fruit, and yogurt. The best is the tomato and basil salad with tomatoes fresh from their garden. This must be the best breakfast in Italy.
Dinner is strictly at 8 p.m. and all guests must sign up for dinner prior to 6 p.m. The dinner -- a set, four-course menu that changes daily for the unbelievable price of just a few Euro -- is cooked under the guide of world renowned chef Biagio. Most of the guests do Chef Exchanges, learning from Biagio and Sal and work in the local restaurants. You could not get better food for this price -- or any price for that matter! Many people from outside the hostel eat at the restaurant as well.
Summary
Overall, this hostel is soulful and a great value stay. The atmosphere is excellent and it is clean, tidy, fun, secure, and in a great location -- everything you need in a hostel, really. So look no further and stay here!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
October 2007
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