Virginia Palace Hotel

The spa was an amazing place to unwind, with a salt grotto, cave-like pools, relaxation rooms, saunas at different temperatures, Turkish baths, and a station for tea and water. César at the front desk was fantastic, knowledgeable, and accommodating. Evening access was very reasonably priced at €25 on weekdays and €30 on weekends, from about 7:30-10:30pm. We went in winter, when the outdoor stations were closed, so we'll have to come back to see it in its full glory.

The spa itself was clean and good, but our Day Spa package came with poor hotel room service for a place representing itself as 4 stars. There wasn't a teapot, glasses, cups, or even complimentary water, and since there's no bar or restaurant unless you book a proper dinner, you can't even make tea in the room. Otherwise, it was a standard bed and TV. The massage was absolutely horrible. We asked for a decontracting back massage and got a light full-body massage with loads of oil, as if the masseuse wanted to save her energy, and it was shorter than the time we paid for. I absolutely wouldn't recommend it. A waste of money. I'd give the room 2 stars and the spa facility 3.

The spa is very well set up across two levels, on the ground floor and basement, with lots of wellness facilities. The design and lighting make it feel like a network of caves, even with an underground sandy “beach,” and it's a peaceful place for treatments and recharging. This 4 star hotel is just outside Avellino. Our room was decent, though I wasn't happy with the fixed shower head or the broken bin. I also disliked the dark corridors, where the lights have to be switched on and don't come on automatically. Breakfast was really nice, but slow. Two servers aren't enough when Covid restrictions mean guests can't serve themselves.

The spa is nice, but the baths are only tepidly warm if you're after hot mineral baths. I can't say the Spa Package was worth the dinner, overnight stay, and breakfast of coffee and pastries. The fish dinner was terrible, and breakfast was a real letdown because I expected the continental breakfast most hotels offer.