mrstraveller1
Google
I had a good stay, the hotel undoubtedly enjoys THE most stellar of views, in particular over its namesake, the gorgeous Chiaia di Luna - a striking, crescent shaped beach, framed by mighty, white tuff cliffs. Some rooms enjoy this view, others don’t, but the restaurant and bar are both perfectly positioned to max out on this glorious backdrop. The hotel is located on a hill, a pleasant 10 minute stroll from the port, or, you can take the complimentary shuttle, which buzzes to and fro constantly (fab driver). The Reception team were helpful and efficient, with decent English spoken, and pre-stay emails responded to promptly. Staff working in the bars and restaurant were excellent - the latter providing an upscale, polished dining experience with tip top service and an elegant ambience - though food was good rather than great on my one visit. Breakfast was pleasant enough, a hot and cold buffet with serve yourself coffee machine and cheap fruit juice. It wasn't a shock, as I'd read quite a few Tripadvisor reviews, (and to be fair, the website photos don't try to dress it up particularly either), but the hotel is more 3 star than 4 in terms of quality. It is tired, dated, and unkempt in places. My partial sea view terrace room was ok, reasonably spacious, with a nod to the nautical in its blue & white styling, the furnishings simple and modest. The shower cubicle was similar to those found in 1990's student digs, the terrace loungers naff and knackered. The shower had ingrained water marks on the glass (though it did have plenty of power), and the drinking glass at the bathroom basin was stained with old toothpaste. The bed and bedding couldn't be described as luxurious, and the wardrobe door fell off when I opened an adjacent drawer. Wifi only worked in the bathroom (though again, to be fair, the website does make the wifi situation clear, and it did work well in communal areas). The nightly rate for my terrace room was a whopping €370/€360 including breakfast, though I note it is considerably less outside of high season. That's a lot of money for this standard of accommodation (and when that wardrobe door fell off for the 3rd time, I did feel slightly fleeced!) But... as we all know, price inflation is common practice in the summer hols, the season is short, and hotel rooms limited. My biggest bug bear with the hotel however, was the relentless, throbbing music which emanated from the adjacent club. Night in, night out. The banging tunes pounded from 7pm to 12pm without let up. I believe the club belongs to the hotel - it is described on the website as 'Terraces of Chaia di Luna' and I just assumed it to be another area where hotel guests could enjoy an evening drink and light bite. But confusingly, reception don't offer to make a booking there for you, they just give you a phone number to call yourself, as if it's a separate entity. The clubs' staff, armed with their self important guest-list clipboards, were surly and dismissive, and I had no desire to return after the first go. If you want to avoid the worst of the disco noise, opt for a standard room, as these are further away from the boom boom coal face - though it’s worth bearing in mind that the club is only a nightly occurrence in the main season. |Over the course of my stay, I veered between a disgruntled 2 star Tripadvisor score, to 3 at a push. There is certainly plenty to mark Chiaia di Luna down for. But all the good things considered - the spectacular setting, the charming staff, the handy location, the laid back ambiance - it’s an affectionate and forgiving 4 from me. 🤣
