Palazzo Pignatelli di Toritto

The check-in process was completely lacking. I stood outside for over an hour emailing calling and trying to get lit in the door. It says the front office is open, but you have to know how to get in the door. Apparently you have to use the keypad and click on one of the options that was available. But nowhere was that in the directions and the phone number to call the reception area was not taking phone calls and no one ever responded to my emails so I spent almost 2 hours standing outside until other people came along and let me in. Absolutely ridiculous!

The room was very clean, Breakfast was not great! There was very little choice, this was the 3rd hotel that I had stayed in during my trip and the worst Breakfast..you had to ask the member if staff for more coffee and it felt like you were imposing on them. The hotel itself is lovely but the area is very rough. Every cafe I went into advised me to put my bag in front of me and look out for pick pockets.

Overall this hotel is excellent. The whole hotel is spotless and beautifully appointed. All the staff are superb (special mention for all the restaurant and bar staff) The dining room and outside terrace are fantastic and the food is excellent, although a little expensive (having written that with the beautiful surroundings and superb service I think this is to be expected - you get what you pay for is the saying). The hotel is quite high up which leads it to having superb views of Mount Vesuvius, the Bay of Naples and the surrounding areas but is also a little inaccessible other than by taxi, bus or the complimentary hourly shuttle which is laid on by the hotel. The shuttle drivers were very friendly and helpful, however the shuttle only holds 20 people and sometimes everyone couldn't fit on or some people were standing which was a little uncomfortable going around all the curvy bends in the narrow roads, also not ideal for a tall guy like me. (I'd suggest a second or bigger shuttle). The pool is beautiful and always clean with sunbeds and brollies always available any time of day, a special mention for Nello, the pool guy, who greeted us with a smile and towels every day and even moved the brolly around to give us sun or shade. I'd fully recommend this fantastic hotel for adults and older children who are good swimmers (the pool is accessible by steps in a small shallow end but quickly becomes very deep with no exit ladders in the deep end).