Villa Petite Syrene in Positano

Our August stay at Villa La Tartana was lovely overall. The location, right in the heart of Positano, made it easy to get around, and our room was clean, spacious, and nicely decorated. The man at reception was friendly and helpful throughout. The one unpleasant moment was spotting a mouse in the hallway near our room. We told reception, and they said it had probably come in from outside, which was obvious. They kindly offered us a ceramic plate with the hotel's name on it as a gesture, and we appreciated that. It was a nice stay aside from that incident.

We came by ferry from Naples and were glad the hotel was close enough to walk from the port with our carry-on bags. There are a couple flights of stairs, though, and you can pay porters to move your luggage for a fee. We were traveling with our one-year-old, and the hotel felt child friendly. The patio was safe for her, and they provided a crib when we asked. They also gave us a large bottle of water when we arrived, a nice little touch for travelers. The Waterfront Room had beautiful views and felt like good value. The staff were all welcoming and especially lovely with our child. Breakfast was included and had a nice balance of sweet and savory choices. The fresh mozzarella and tomatoes were the best. On beach days, we could leave our keys at the front desk, so we didn't have to carry anything extra.

The location is perfect, right by the beach and all the major shopping, and the housekeeping and front desk staff were very nice and helpful. Breakfast was average, though there were a few quick bites. Be careful when booking through third parties like booking or Expedia. We paid $550 a night for a full sea view and balcony, the most we spent on our whole 20 day trip in Europe, but on arrival the hotel's system showed us as having a standard double room. Alfonso thankfully gave us a partial sea view, but it was still extremely disappointing. Booking.Com said there was nothing they could do and told us to contact the property. Naturally, all the sea view rooms were fully booked. At these prices, that was unacceptable.

A stylish, modern villa with good service and a delicious breakfast. It's about a 3-minute walk from the port.