Mercure Napoli Centro Angioino

Fresh cucumbers at breakfast, which is a nice surprise in Italy. Thanks for the warm hospitality. The hotel is very well placed, and most of the central sights are an easy walk away. If you're arriving by car, there's a multi-storey parking garage right beside it.

Breakfast was wonderful as usual, with a view that's hard to beat. The rest of this stay was a real letdown, especially for the high price and what I'd remembered from earlier visits. I don't think I'll return. The room was on the first floor, noisy from the street and the restaurant opposite, and difficult to sleep in. The hair dryer only blew cold air, though reception replaced it. The sink plug wouldn't open fully, so water and later foam stayed in the basin. I was also given a room intended for disabled guests without being told at reception, and only found out when I walked in. After a long discussion at the desk, I didn't feel like going back to ask whether another room was available or whether the hotel was full. At check-in, they immediately asked for my documents and credit card, then charged the full stay amount, including city tax, rather than just placing a pre-authorization. That tax shouldn't be due if I don't complete the planned stay. When I asked for a receipt, they said it would only be issued at departure. My office requires the receipt and card charge to have the same date, so I pointed out that they'd already taken the money. They gave several explanations, including calling the charge a deposit, although the full amount had been taken and credit-card pre-authorizations are widely used. In the end I got the receipt on arrival day.

The dining room servers were warm, smiling, helpful, and courteous. They made us feel welcome, unlike the receptionist at check-in, whose manner made it seem as though we were lucky to be allowed to stay. For what we paid for one New Year's Eve night, which was a lot, this was the most uncomfortable stay. We're very disappointed to have had such a different experience this second time. We came back because we had a good stay two years ago, and because the hotel has a great view of the port and the castle opposite, as well as being literally a minute from the city center. This time our room was right behind the elevator and emergency stairs. I think it may be a new room, since it wasn't on the elevator directory. We could hear the upstairs toilet flushing so loudly that I thought water might come crashing through, and heard footsteps on the stairs and the elevator moving. There was also a very strong smell, maybe new paint or cleaning product, so we had to pry the window open to air it out.

We liked the hotel's location and found the service pretty good, but the room let it down. It was quite small and a bit dirty, especially the bathroom. The shower was tiny and had hardly any pressure. Our room faced a busy street, so the noise wasn't great either. With those issues, we don't think we'll stay here again.