Shabby Chic Seaview Apartments

A roomy, clean apartment in a central spot.

The quiet inside really stood out. We arrived just after midnight, while young people were filling the bars below, but we couldn’t hear them from our rooms. The fixtures deserve credit for that. The place itself is roomy and comfortable, with tasteful furniture and a fully equipped kitchen, so we could manage our own meals instead of always eating out. Mrs. Marilin offered us a shabby chic living room in Seawiev last weekend, and it turned out far better than we’d expected. We know the area well: my husband was born in Castellammare di Stabia and grew up in this very building, though he was later adopted by the Marche region. It’s also really well placed, two minutes from the Villa Comunale promenade and the central shops, and just a short walk from the Vesuviana train station. We used the parking lot in an alley beside the building, which was convenient and meant we didn’t have to hunt for a space when we got back. We’re very grateful to Mrs. Marilin for getting in touch before our Sunday departure in the rain to say we could stay longer if we wanted, with no problem. It was only a weekend, but a very positive stay. We’ll definitely return.

Castellammare seems to have a lot of potential and could make a good base for seeing the coast, but the roads, parking, and transport need work. The beach is nearby, though full of garbage, and the sixth floor apartment building overlooks the station and garbage dumpsters. The apartment itself was nice and reasonably clean. The rest of the experience was difficult. We were offered a private garage for €20, but ended up in what was more like a half parking lot in another apartment building. When I complained about the parking, the host yelled at me. I left early and she didn’t refund even 50%, despite Airbnb policy. This isn’t a relaxing holiday spot as things stand.

The host made the stay especially unpleasant. She was late for all three appointments, check-in, assigning parking, and check-out, costing us over two hours of our vacation. She was extremely disrespectful and not welcoming at all. The apartment also feels badly overpriced for what you get. It’s on the sixth floor, with a very old, impractical elevator. The cookware was dirty, and when I asked for it to be cleaned, it was returned exactly as it had been before. The drawers and cupboards were defective, and the safe was practically useless since it wasn’t fixed to the wall. I hope this review helps someone avoid a bad experience.