Pompei Sanctuary rooms

The first problem was getting inside. We arrived stressed and hot, with no clear directions, and only got into the building because other guests were leaving. We looked for Sanctuary Rooms and asked people nearby, but nobody knew where it was. After about 10 minutes of searching and calling the number from booking.com with no answer, we went back outside and realized we needed the fourth floor. We rang the bell and waited several minutes before an email finally arrived with instructions. Once inside, it took a while to figure out which key was ours because our unnumbered room hadn't been cleaned. There was no reception staff at any point during our six-day stay, and we ended up helping three other groups get into the hotel. The lack of staff and their limited English made things frustrating. Our room was dirty when we finally got in. Used towels and sheets were lying around, and even after someone came to clean, the place still felt filthy. The shower had mold, the toilet seat was broken, and there were ants and silverfish in the bathroom. No shampoo or conditioner, just a plastic bag of soap for refilling the dispensers. The kitchen fridge was clean, but the stovetop was dirty, shelves had food left by previous visitors, and the dishwasher was full of dirty dishes. The cleaner started it, but we couldn't open it because its handle was missing, so we couldn't use the dishes. There was good air conditioning in the bedroom, but the shelves were cluttered with random items like batteries, decorations, and a USB stick. The TV was gone, leaving cables in the wall, and one bedside outlet had been pushed in and couldn't be used. The balcony was dirty and full of random furniture. The building also seemed in poor shape, with holes in walls and balcony undersides crumbling, and the stairwell smelled awful. We wouldn't recommend staying here or come back.

Don't book this place. The owner was slow to respond and not helpful when they did. As soon as my partner and I entered the apartment's main area, we both noticed a urine smell. Outside our room, dirty water had pooled and run into the corridor, soaking guest bath towels that had been put down beside a cabinet. We messaged the owner, then had enough time to book somewhere else, move our bags, and meet the new owners before Sanctuary replied. We asked for a full refund because of the state of the property. We didn't want to stay somewhere that seemed to have a plumbing problem and urine on the floor, but the full amount wasn't refunded. One of the owner's last messages was, “but what does pee on the floor say…” The rooms were a decent size, but the sheets were stained. It's a fair walk to Pompeii Scavi, and taxis weren't available at 4pm on a Friday. If anything goes wrong, good luck getting a response from the host.

Nicola and Simona made us feel very welcome. Nicola brought us fresh cappuccino and baked goods each morning, and the location worked perfectly for us. We also loved Bosco de Medici, a superb winery within walking distance. We had a wonderful stay and would recommend the B&B to friends. I'd stay here again.

It was an easy walk to both the modern square, with restaurants and other spots, and the historic part of Pompeii. The location was perfect, about five minutes from the square. Our room was spacious, spotless, and comfortable, and the balcony was a great place to relax after a day exploring the historic site. The owners and staff were kind and happy to help with questions, including over WhatsApp. I'd strongly recommend it to anyone visiting Pompeii.