Royal Gismonda

The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the place is near the station. I spent two days there and everything was just right. The room was clean and bright, and the toilet and towel were clean too.

Royal Gismonda was an ideal base for us. Naples centre can be manic, while this spot was quieter, with inexpensive bars and restaurants just a 30 second walk away. It's 20m from Garibaldi station, and the centre is either a 15 minute walk or two metro stops. Do expect traffic and ordinary city noise, since it's a city hotel. Our room was spotless and quirky. Antonio, the owner, met us and was friendly and helpful. There's also an open terrace and a shared kitchen where you can make drinks or prepare food. I'd definitely recommend staying here in Naples.

The bathroom was pretty sexy, and there was free water, which can be hard to find in Naples. Breakfast is free too, by voucher for a cafe downstairs. The entrance is a big old school door a few doors down from a pharmacy; some servers at a nearby restaurant helped us find it. At first, the outside looked shady and the place was a little hard to locate. But my husband and I found it a safe haven in rough Naples. It's across from the train station, handy for Pompeii, and worked as a pickup spot for our Amalfi coast tour. The metro is also in the Piazza. The owner, as far as we could tell, wasn't fully fluent in English, and nobody was at the front desk, but he did what he could when we checked in. I'd recommend it for independent travelers who don't need much help.

The outside didn't look great, but inside this B&B is really cosy. I loved having a communal kitchen, it felt like being at home. Coffee and milk were there to use, and the cold water dispenser came in handy in the middle of the night. I'd definitely come back.