San Michele

Hotel San Michele’s location in Anacapri is perfect: about a five-minute walk from the shops and restaurants and seven minutes from the chair lift. The view is hard to beat, especially at sunset from the terrace or drink garden. There’s a huge pool with plenty of loungers, plus a lunch spot and bar. Service was exceptional. I couldn’t recommend it more, and a balcony room is worth booking for that incredible view.

Hotel San Michele was a wonderful birthday treat. I was struck by the ocean views as soon as I arrived, and the hotel is beautiful, clean, and well cared for. The staff went out of their way to make me comfortable. The amenities were top-notch, and the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxing. I’d recommend it for the sunrise views and warm hospitality, and I can’t wait to return.

Our anniversary trip to Capri was ruined by Hotel San Michele. The room we were given overlooked the parking lot, after the manager dismissed our request for a nice room with a blunt “no.” The shower was filthy, with hair and grime from previous guests. At €300 a night for a 4-star hotel, that was unacceptable. When I complained, the two men at reception treated me with contempt and claimed the hotel was full, despite a wall of keys behind them. The worst moment was hearing one of them mock me in Italian to his colleague, apparently thinking I wouldn’t understand. They called my complaint “absurd.” Their first attempt to deal with the shower was to have a cleaner smear the dirt around. Only Nadia showed decency and professionalism. She took charge, made sure the shower was properly cleaned after the first attempt failed, and apologized. The wine and food she brought were the first genuine kindness we’d received. Nadia, you were a lifesaver amid the incompetence. The place is old and falling apart, and the breakfast room feels like a depressing relic from another century. Its 4-star rating feels like a complete lie. No one should have to spend a special holiday in such dirty conditions or be treated with such disrespect. Do yourself a favor and book somewhere else. Under no circumstances would I stay at Hotel San Michele again. Nadia, thank you for everything. You’re a wonderful person working in a truly terrible place.

The refund still hasn’t arrived, more than two weeks after Atilla verbally agreed to arrange it through Booking.com and explained the process. I’ve followed up several times, as has Booking.com, but the hotel hasn’t honored it. I declined the complimentary night I was offered because of my health concerns. The room itself was filthy, with black hairs on the bed, floor, and in the bathroom, ants, and extensive mould in both the bedroom and bathroom. Some seemed to have been painted over, but it was still visible on closer inspection. I have severe asthma, and by that evening I was struggling to breathe. I needed my inhaler repeatedly during the night and was frightened for my health. After I got home, I developed a severe chest infection. I have medical documentation, and I believe the black mould and poor air quality caused it. The hotel looked nothing like its photos. I was put on the ground floor by the cleaning cupboard, in a room with curtains that didn’t close fully and balcony access right next door. As a woman traveling alone, I felt this raised safety concerns. Check-in was unwelcoming too. The staff were rude and gave me no information about local amenities, breakfast times, or the hotel facilities. I was also left waiting at the port for over 45 minutes for the promised free transfer, with no explanation while they delayed departure for other guests. I was exhausted, needed the bathroom, and had my luggage with me. On Sunday at 7 a.m., cleaners woke me by shouting and laughing outside my room. They ignored me when I asked them to be quiet. For £200 a night, the cleanliness and service were completely unacceptable. When I took my photos and videos of the room to Atilla, the manager, she was abrupt and dismissive. She eventually consulted another staff member, likely the General Manager or Owner. I’m disgusted by the condition of this hotel and the lack of accountability. Why offer a refund and then ignore every follow-up? Do not stay here. It’s dirty and unsafe, and some of the staff were among the rudest I’ve encountered. It isn’t worth £200 a night.