During our recent trip to Naples and Pompeii, we stayed at the Renaissance Naples Hotel Mediterraneo, a Marriott property.
The Renaissance has pretty decent reviews on TripAdvisor, with some complaints about old and cramped rooms. I don’t care if the decor is ancient, particularly on a quick trip like this, but I do care about cleanliness (a lot). I have a very low tolerance for dirt and grime. (Note: if you have a strong hatred for 1980’s wooden furniture in your room, this isn’t the place for you. If you want a view from your room, ask in advance).
Why here? In large part, because we had Marriott points to burn and Europe’s hotel prices can be high. The Renaissance actually was pretty reasonable, and we ended up paying for a night ($168 with a special rate) and using points the rest of the time.
Rooms: Definitely dated and on the small side, but we were prepared for that. But the rooms were acceptably clean. Beds were hard, but I realize the rest of the world doesn’t have the American pillow-top obsession.
Breakfast/Roof: Stunning and expansive city views, and as a Marriott Gold (thanks to the Premier Credit Card mostly), we enjoyed a free (and otherwise expensive) breakfast, which is always served on the roof. I’m not a big breakfast person, but they have fresh squeezed juice, fresh bread, good cappuccino, and plenty to choose from. It’s a great way to start the day, enjoying tea/coffee while gazing into the port area and overlooking the city. We didn’t check out other food in the hotel.
Staff/Front Desk: The front desk was helpful, and on point with their recommendations of how to get to places. There was no issue checking in with one reservation (paid), and then switching to another reservation (points), which sometimes can be problematic or require an annoying room change.
Location: Excellent. Major points for convenience. We walked everywhere….to the port to catch the ferry (15 minutes tops), to the train station (about 1.8 miles), to the museum (30 minutes, gawking while walking).The area that the Renaissance is in is lively and pleasant.
Overall, if you are looking for a place to stay while you see Naples, check out the Renaissance. Thumbs up for cleanliness and location.
For future reference, I don’t often take pictures of accommodations when traveling, unless staying at boutique or safari lodge-type accommodations. I just don’t find it that interesting, and frankly I’m lazy. And the photos never look as good (obviously) as the stock photos, which frustrates me. And how different are so many chain hotels, really? Now if its stunning–or disgusting–I’m more than happy to oblige.
