Hotel Santa Marta

The rooms are spacious and clean, with comfortable beds and ceilings around 4m/12ft high. Breakfast costs 3 euros, so it isn't included, and the selection is pretty basic: biscotti, jams, chocolate spread, yogurt, cereal, cheese, ham, and raspberry tart. The bathrooms have a bidet and hairdryer. Showers are small, and cold water can hit you when you turn them on. There aren't controls for the air conditioning, though it seems to run mildly. Not a bad stay.

There's free parking at the hotel, and Arco Felice train station is about a five-minute walk away. Trains to Montesanto in central Naples take around 20 minutes and run roughly every 15 minutes. Driving to Naples takes about 25 minutes along the Tangenziale, with a €1 toll. The hotel isn't central to Naples, but the price reflects that. In Arco Felice, part of Pozzuoli, the hotel is clean and good value. It's basic, but the staff are friendly, breakfast is provided, and there's a restaurant if you don't want to go out. I was welcomed by smiling staff, and Amelia, my cleaner, was very helpful when I arrived. The seaside city of Pozzuoli is popular with Italians in summer, and there are lots of local restaurants. I highly recommend Sneezy Pub for its Italian dishes and meat, with fresh cuts to choose from.

The breakfast was only a croissant and coffee, but the service was awesome and the prices were low. The rooms are small and cozy. You can ask for a terrace with a great view, and it's about 15 minutes from the beach. The railway nearby runs through the Napoli suburbs and into the center.

We only stayed one night at this nice, inexpensive hotel. It's not very central to Pozzuoli's city and port, though buses can take you into town.