Hotel Villa dei Misteri

We used this hotel as our base for seven days, which seemed unusual since lots of guests stay only a night or two for Pompeii. The location suited us perfectly, about a five-minute walk to the Pompeii Scavi entrance and the train and bus station. Our room was basic, as you'd expect from a two-star place, but spotless and cleaned daily. The crisp white sheets and soft white towels were lovely, the firm bed suited me, and there was plenty of space for the three of us. You can ask reception for a hairdryer. The pool was lovely, often nearly to ourselves, with nice sunbeds and seating. Everyone was friendly and accommodating, especially Valeria and Matteo. On our first day, in 34-degree heat, the air con wasn't working. We told reception, and Massimo came up with us and fixed it within ten minutes. It worked perfectly after that. They also gave us an extra power key to leave in the slot so the air con could stay on while we were out. We couldn't fault our stay and can't wait to return.

Good value, with a great pool, breakfast and location. Pompeii is a five-minute walk away, and parking is free. The staff were amazing too. The rooms are older and a bit tired, though, so make sure you get one with AC. We paid an extra 9 euros a night for it, and it was worth it.

The pool was very nice and the location was convenient, but I found the room setup disappointing. There was no air conditioning, although they did give us a fan. We had just two outlets, and wires were hanging out of the wall where the TV was. Breakfast was included, and the staff were very polite. Still, the accommodations weren't great, and the 30-degree weather without AC was what bothered me most.

The pool and location were good, but the stay itself wasn't. The rooms are tiny and don't look like the photos. In blazing 90-plus-degree heat after hours at the Pompeii site, the AC couldn't cool ours down enough. Electricity only works with the key in its slot, so we couldn't leave the AC running while out or charge anything. There was just one outlet. The main bed was two rock-hard twin beds pushed together. The bunk bed felt like it might tip when we climbed to the top. There was a bathtub with a showerhead rather than a proper shower, and the TV didn't work. That didn't bother us, though others may mind. The bedspreads even felt like plastic. The rooms aren't cheap, which makes it a shame, because the hotel seems to have been quite beautiful once. You can do better. Avoid.