Hotel La Lucertola

My rental car was stolen from the hotel. It’s been such a nightmare experience made worse by how it was handled. My car was parked at the hotel and my key was with the valet there. It was stolen overnight from the hotel parking lot. The hotel mentioned how sorry they were but didn’t do anything beyond that to help me out or to figure out how and why this happened and would not even allow me to check the cameras. They didn’t even offer to get me a ride back to Naples after the entire nightmare experience. I felt completely abandoned, it was like they wanted to pretend it didn’t happen and all they could offer me was “we don’t know how this could’ve happened”. It was all very suspicious and a huge let-down. I loved Italy and this horrible experience and horrible reaction from the hotel ruined all my happy memories.

First room we were shown had scaffolding right off the balcony, complained that if I wanted scaffolding, I could have that back home. Moved to new room with no scaffolding. The hotel site showed tea/coffee facility in the room, no there wasn’t. It would appear they NEVER had this facility. It also showed a private beach, when we asked, they said it was closed as it was their closed season! No mention on the site that it would be closed! The temperature was 28 degrees! The nearby beach wanted 25 Euros a day for 2 small sun loungers with 1 small umbrella. The restaurant closed at 10.00 am and didn’t open until 5.00 pm and it took us 4 days of asking and complaining before we could get either a pot of hot water for tea, or for a coffee during the day. Staff varied from really grumpy to helpful and you were never sure which you were going to get. They were short on information about the local area, only saying that a bus ran into the town every hour. Be prepared to be ripped off by the taxis- ask how much the taxi should be, told 10-15 Euros - taxi driver just says 25 Euros please. Search for your coffee and lunch, they see tourists coming and ask astronomical prices! This hotel has a brilliant view of the bay but the non facilities ruined what should have been a restful holiday. Would not recommend this hotel, we will not be back.

When you book a room meant for 3 persons and still find it miniature as a couple, it doesnt begin well for our trip here. Vietri Sul Mare is a nice place for sure and Hotel La Lucertola clearly benefit from this fact - and being close to Amalfi ++ - when charging a quite stiff price even outside peak season. Stunning view though even from our tiny tiny balcony and very friendly staff who also helped with parking when we arrived very late (but they could do way better when it comes to further travel recommendations in the area). Breakfast and parking was luckily included in the price. However - the breakfast buffet was less than mediocre. Maybe our expectations just were too high.

In order for other possible customers, i will just leave an honest review. My stay was not unpleasant, as others mentioned each room gets a big balcony with beautiful sea view, location is great (and in short proximity of the marina (no stairs to get to and fro!), which is really what you need as to see the amalfi coast. you basically just need to ferry-hop). But more about the hotel itself. Rooms - quite small for 2 people. Sorry to say but very uncomfortable beds and pillows. We stayed for 4 nights and didn't really have a good night sleep any night. Shower was quite small, and you only get the 2-1 shampoo/body wash. Only pointing this out as for a 4 star hotel you would expect a bit more. Positives - the room was clean and you get good towels. Food - we only had breakfast at the hotel, which was ok but not something to write home about. For a 4 star hotel you would expect more. Only scrambled eggs/bacon/sausages as hot options. Very small selection of veggies, some meat & cheese and LOTS of cakes and pastries/breads. Good selection of fruit :) Now for the part which was the most shocking to me - this hotel has a 'private beach', they call it the 'solarium'. It's beautiful and i would gladly pay the 15/20 eur for a bed and towel to enjoy my time there. What is not understandable is that as a paying customer of the hotel you are expected to pay to even go for a swim. The 'beach' part and the 'solarium' part had separate entries (as per the pic attached), so i really could not understand why i couldn't go for a swim in the morning (this is the thing i look forward to on holidays - a morning swim in the sea) for free, i was asked to pay 15 eur or basically get lost. The reception gladly explained to us that of course you have to pay to swim. Pay to swim!!! They have monetized sea water in Italy :D Although the stay was ok, i would advise future customers to adjust their expectations, this is not a 4 star hotel.