Hotel Villa Bellavista

The hotel’s boat trips were a highlight for us. Exploring Capri and cruising along the Amalfi Coast was unforgettable. The food was fresh, delicious, and proper Italian cooking, with ingredients straight from the garden. Hotel Villa Bellavista in Praiano has a real family-run charm, surrounded by lemon trees, olive groves, and beautiful sea views. Everyone was so welcoming that we felt at home right away. If you want a traditional Amalfi experience with genuine hospitality, this is a lovely choice. Can’t wait to return!

The view was the one good thing for me. The room felt uninviting and had no amenities, not even a bin, kettle, coffee, or tea. The whole hotel had an old Soviet feel, with dark corridors. It’s very overpriced for what you get. For another 30-50 dollars, I’d choose a nicer hotel with the same view, proper amenities, and better service. The staff were exceptionally rude and made us feel unwanted. When I went up two flights of stairs, with no elevator, to ask for cups for tea, they told us to carry them back upstairs ourselves. At breakfast, a woman huffed when we asked for another plate after they’d run out, then walked away before bringing one. Breakfast was subpar too. You also have to walk down around 100 stairs and climb back up with your luggage, so be prepared.

We were meant to stay three nights, but left after one. It was too late to book somewhere else at short notice, and the whole stay felt uncomfortable. We felt people were staring at us and didn’t feel welcome. The owners’ dogs kept barking and whining, and staff didn’t seem to try to quiet them. We also noticed that the staff we saw had no name badges and weren’t dressed smartly. At check-in, no one was at reception and there was no bell to ring. I tried to get a waitress’s attention from the nearby restaurant; she saw me several times but ignored me. Eventually she came over and showed us to the room. We had to drag our bags down two flights of stairs because there was no lift. The room was basic, with just a desk, wardrobe, and bed. We weren’t too bothered by that for a couple of days, but it had no view and no window except one near the ceiling that neither of us could see out of. When we pulled back the bed runner, there was a clump of black hair that wasn’t ours. We found more near the top of the sheets, where our faces would be, then more on the bathroom hand towels and big balls of dust on the floor. It felt unhygienic and disgusting. Breakfast was very basic and had little choice, despite the woman telling us at check-in that there was a range of continental options. We left as soon as we could. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The hotel made exploring nearby towns easy. Buses were cheap and simple to use, and Positano, Amalfi, and other places were close by. It’s a quiet spot near restaurants and within walking distance of beaches. There are steps to the hotel and beaches, as you’d expect on the Amalfi Coast. We were a family of four and booked directly with the hotel. Our room was immaculate and cleaned thoroughly every day; the beds were really comfortable, and we had a huge balcony with a great view. The air conditioning was very welcome. The team were helpful and even arranged airport transfers. We also enjoyed both trips offered by the hotel, which were good value. We stayed bed and breakfast so we could try local restaurants, and all the ones we ate at were very good. It’s a traditional-feeling Italian hotel, and we’d definitely stay again.