Ciao: My sister and I will be in Naples on Oct 10, 2004 ending our 3 week stay in Italy. We decided to fly out of Naples to Rome. We need a place to stay that is safe and easy to get transportation in the airport by 5:00 am for the 7:00 am flight to Rome. Any help will be apprecitated!
We stayed at the Parteno B & B which overlooks the Bay of Naples and we loved it! The hosts are charming and go out of their way to help, the rooms are delightful (see if you can request the room in the front with the Bay view) and I can't think of a nicer way to end your stay in Italy. They will wake you at 5:00am with cups of capuccino and call a cab for you. It's a lovely place.
Donna Marie
Posts: 698 | Location: Berkeley, CA USA | Registered: 07 August 2003
Donna Marie -- please advise as to when you stayed at the Parteno. I know the Parteno has glowing reviews here (see Rebecca's in addition to this one), but am wondering if there has been a change in ownership in the last year that would account for the most recent horrid, horrid reviews on http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187785-d195636-Reviews-Parteno_Bed_and_Breakfast-Naples_Campania.html from two sets of visitors. Rebecca's review is 2001...three on Trip Advisor are from 2002 and April 2003 and are glowing...then from June 2003 and February 2004, terrible reports. Very curious, night and day difference. Anyone know if the owners y'all liked so (Alex and Adele?) are still there or not?
To add to the confusion, there is this post on Fodor's about Parteno Deluxe: If you're looking for something different, the new Parteno Deluxe (mate to the cheaper Parteno along the Lungomare) comes complete with huge hi-tech, minimalist open-plan, split-level studios with kitchens and whirlpool baths. In the busy Piazza Dante area, and set in the slightly rundown 17th-century Palazzo Ruffo, it happily sits just opposite a state-of-the-art metro station and is only a five-minute stroll from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale (a nifty way to get a jump on its crowds). And how's this for a sweet idea: guests can ask for a cooking lesson in their kitchen, order a typical Neapolitan dish like parmigiana di melazana, shop for ingredients in the local market, assist with the cooking, and then be waiter-served in the room. Kitchenettes. AE, DC, MC, V. Full breakfast.
What a wonderful bit of news-we're leaving Wed. and will be staying at the Parteno for 4 days. I have been in contact with them often over the last 6 months. Have gotten speedy replies and they secured hard to get tickets to the opera at the Teatro San Carlo for me and my family. I have dealt with Sonia De Minicis most often but also Antonella. All my exchanges have been professional and friendly. We'll see...
Posts: 182 | Location: Leesburg, FL 34788 USA | Registered: 16 October 2003
We stayed in October of last year for three nights and it was lovely. At that time, Alex was in the process of completing a new, "deluxe, moderne hotel" and this is the one you must be referring to. I will read the trip advisor reviews (haven't yet) and get back to you. The place is very tiny, you do get to know your hotel-mates, it could do with a little refreshing but all in all, we loved it and would stay there again in a heartbeat. Let me take a look at Trip Advisor....
Donna Marie
Posts: 698 | Location: Berkeley, CA USA | Registered: 07 August 2003
OK Sally...just read Trip Advisor reviews. Here's my take on it....
It's true that the only room that faces the Bay is large and sunny. This is the only room that has a Bay view. All others (and there are only 5 rooms total) are smaller and darker. We stayed in the Bay View room only one night of our stay and the rest in the room next to it. This room was smaller and darker but just as charming and comfy as the larger one. We slept with the windows open a crack (this was October) and didn't find the noise a problem at all. But if it's the middle of summer and you want to sleep with the windows wide open, you will hear noise. This is a big city after all. The bathrooms are small but offer every comfort. It is true that in these smaller hotels (B & B I would classify this one as) you have the possibility of running out of hot water in the mornings as everyone tries to get ready at once. If you are not used to this type of thing happening occasionaly then you will be very upset. We are used to taking shorter showers so that we don't run out of piping hot water....this was not a problem for us. When we stayed there, Alex and his staff were fantastic. He is charming, polite and gracious. We had to be up and out by 5:00 am in order to catch a flight, we received a knock on the door to wake us, piping hot capuccino's to start our day and the cab was waiting at the front door.
The only thing that the Parteno could use is a bit of refreshing. Maybe new paint, new towels and a few towel hooks in the bathrooms. In summary, my feeling is that there is a big difference between a large, modern hotel chain and the charming, smaller B & B's. If you are used to and like the larger hotel venues, then you are less likely to be charmed and comfortable in a tiny B & B. I think this is what was happening to those two reviewers on Trip Advisor. Just my humble opinion tho
We'd stay there again in a heart beat...hope this help.
Donna Capozzi
Posts: 698 | Location: Berkeley, CA USA | Registered: 07 August 2003
I stayed at the Chiaia Hotel de Charme and really liked it. very newly renovated, smaller hotel around the corner from the gambrinus cafe and pizzeria brandi. very easy to walk anywhere from there. i wrote a review on slowtrav.com
Kelly: We will be at the Chiaia de Charme (on Oct. 10, as it happens, before leaving for the airport early the next morning). Do you have any opinion on ease of travel to the airport from there? Taxi? Or airport bus from the maritime station or municipal plaza?
Posts: 39 | Location: Albuquerque | Registered: 10 April 2002
Donna Marie, Thanks for your comments. You've confirmed what we hoped to be true. My husband had already reached a conclusion about the negative reviews that was similar to yours. I, on the other hand, tend to worry a bit so your updated review was very much appreciated. Now we can sit back, relax, and look forward to Naples and the Parteno (again). Peg
Posts: 47 | Location: Sarasota, Florida, USA | Registered: 03 August 2003
Topic Closed
