Palazzo Caracciolo del Sole

The rooms are really good, huge for four people, spacious and full of light. There’s private parking, which is a plus, but the place is in the middle of the city and next to a church whose bells ring every hour. Breakfast could be better, with some butter or fresh bread.

I stayed here with friends on holiday last summer, and it was a lovely visit I’d happily repeat. The staff were polite and brilliant, and everything was very clean. The property is well built and finished, with an excellent location. I recommend it to everyone.

Breakfast was dismal: water, peach juice, awful coffee you had to make yourself, and dry pastries in plastic bags with a long shelf life. I went out to buy my own coffee. The coffee machine in our room fused on the first day and was never fixed. The WiFi worked, but the TV didn’t, and nobody helped with either issue. Our room matched the pictures, but the balcony faced a building site that started work at 7 every morning. The church right opposite had already woken us with its bells, though luckily we didn’t mind getting up early. We had a very similar experience to another reviewer. Reception was grumpy when we arrived late after our flight was delayed, and the young man there had me communicate over WhatsApp with someone else translating on his end. There are no taxis or airport transfers, and the train is easy and cheap but can be slow, so don’t stay here unless you’re happy taking the train everywhere. We came to see Pompeii, which didn’t disappoint, but I wish we’d stayed in Naples or Sorrento for more fun in the evenings. My advice is to stay here only if you have a car, and give Pompeii at least two days.

There’s a large fenced parking area for guests, and the rooms are extremely clean and spacious. Each room has a kettle, tea, and water, and breakfast is self-service and good. Pompeii or Vesuvius is about 30 minutes away by car. It’s a place worth spending time in.