Hotel Potenza 

Slap bang in the middle of Piazza Garibaldi in a repurposed palazzo, and up a short flight of stairs to a warm welcome and easy check in, is possibly the tiniest hotel reception you will find. Don’t be deterred though because this is a friendly, family owned small hotel, rather than one of the endless hotel chains that are scattered around the globe. I loved my room (Number 132) on the first floor, so up a flight of stairs from reception, along a corridor then along another corridor right at the end, where it was so quiet. Its worth noting that there is NO LIFT, stairs only. My room had a tiled floor, wooden furniture in Mediterranean green hues, a suitcase bench, wardrobe, a mini fridge (but no kettle or hot beverage making facilities), a TV which sat above a very long bench. Hidden inside the bench was a fold out bed. The queen size bed, with lamps and bedside table either side, had a firm mattress and plump pillows, one arm chair completed the room’s furniture. In addition, the room had free WiFi, which I didn’t access. I was provided a remote control for the air conditioning (something else I didn’t use), but I’ve stayed in hotels in other parts of Italy where the air conditioning is centrally controlled and is only switched on during the summer months, so staying there in April, this came as a surprise. Additional features were a safe, coat hangers, with extra bedding stashed in the wardrobe. Everything in the room was spotlessly clean. The bathroom had a toilet and bidet (extra towels and soap provided for the bidet). The shower cubicle was on the small side but adequate for me, a tall or large person might find it a bit squeezy, because the shower stall opening is tucked in near the vanity basin. Lots of hot water with good pressure. Toiletries provided were soap and shampoo, as well as a hair dryer. No conditioner, body lotion or tissues. I’ve noticed on this trip to Italy that very few of the hotels I stayed in (all of them being far above budget range except this one) often don’t include tissues, conditioner and body lotion in their toiletry supplies, I guess the cost of living impacts are being felt world wide. Off the main room was a tiny balcony, which overlooked the central courtyard. The views weren’t very exciting but it is another small space you can use. The doors have louvres to allow adjustable light. Breakfast was included in my room price. Breakfast is basic but I found it sufficient: bread rolls, cold cuts, cheese, cereal, pastries, tea, coffee and juice. The breakfast room which was at the opposite end of the hotel to where I stayed, is small but bright and very clean. Although, I noticed that there were a couple of rooms that opened directly onto the breakfast room, so perhaps not the best choice of room if you can avoid them. The first floor has a little guest sitting area with sofas. It’s a convenient place to rest. The staff were all very nice, polite and helpful although not all of them have a high standard of English, but my Italian isn’t up to their standard either, in which case Google translate worked well. Hotel Potenza has easy access to Metro lines Garibaldi 1 and 2, Napoli Centrale and the train to Pompeii Archaeological site, the Circumvesuviana. There are quite a few eateries in the piazza, a pharmacy and tabacchi from which you can purchase cheap water. The area is fairly clean and tidy, some areas around the main station aren’t. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe. There is a regular police presence around and in the piazza. Having stayed in a hotel right on the bay as part of a package tour (you pay for the views there), I choose to stay at Hotel Potenza when organizing my own sightseeing, because it was so central to pickup/drop off points for some day tours I was participating in and it suited my budget. As it turned out everything about Hotel Potenza suited my needs and budget nicely. Thank you to all the staff at the hotel.