La Fenice

This charming hotel was such a lucky find for us. It may look a little out of the way on the map compared with other places near Pompeii, but staying here turned out to be so much better. The staff treated us like family and helped arrange rides to and from the ruins. Breakfast was included and delicious, and they also brought dinner from local restaurants. We enjoyed the lovely pool too, with cocktails and coffee delivered right to our lounge chairs. The accommodation was friendly, fantastic, and very reasonably priced. Five stars doesn’t feel like enough.

We felt scammed and ended up losing both time and money, so I’d avoid this place. Before booking a night through Booking, we asked whether we could have a late checkout by two hours at no extra charge, and they agreed. Once we’d made the reservation, we sent a message through Booking asking for written confirmation in case they later changed the terms and we needed to complain to Booking. They didn’t reply there or on WhatsApp. When we finally called, we were told late checkout would cost €50, almost what we’d paid for the night. We tried asking them and Booking to honor their original agreement, but they refused. We had to cancel.

The staff were super friendly, and there’s a wonderful view of Vesuvius. Outside, there are nice areas with a pool, chairs, tables, and music, as well as other spaces for pets and kids. It wasn’t an experience we hated, but several upgrades are definitely needed. Our triple room was very small, even smaller than a regular double, and had no wardrobes. The bathroom was tiny too, with nowhere flat to put our things, and the door had to be forced shut. There was barely any water coming out of the shower. We stayed over Easter Sunday, and breakfast could have had something different from the usual croissants, rusks, and yogurt.

We spent two days at La Fenice. It felt like a hidden gem, with well-kept, renovated rooms that were sparkling clean. Signora Carmela looked after us during the trip and was absolutely wonderful, a real treasure for her employer. And Giuseppe went above and beyond with his hospitality, always available and gentle. Thank you so much, La Fenice. We’ll be back! Natasha