A Room with a View

After surviving a gauntlet of public transportation stress upon our first arrival in Italy, the Hotel Vittoria in Pompei restored our sanity and reminded us that there's more to Italy than the hustle and bustle of big cities!

Choosing to stay in Pompei (the modern city is Pompei and the ancient city is Pompeii) was a gamble when we made our reservations back in the winter.  It seemed apparent from Trip Advisor forum conversations and travel blogs that most people visit only as a day trip from Naples, the Amalfi coast or even Rome.  But we decided that a day-trip would be too costly in time, spending one night in Pompei and the next in Sorrento would be logistically tiring, and instead opted to stay at a hotel near the ruins and the Circumvesuviana train station.  And that's how we found Hotel Vittoria.

The view

The hotel was incredibly easy to find and only a five minute walk from the Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri train station.  As we entered the hotel and made our way to the front desk, we were greeted warmly by Daniela.  In perfect English, she confirmed our reservation, price, and request for a "room with a view."  When she opened our room's balcony doors a few minutes later, I couldn't contain my enthusiasm; I could see the ruins of Pompeii from our room!

Besides a great view and balcony furniture, the room featured a comfortable queen-sized bed, a desk, mini-fridge, wardrobe, and a spacious bathroom complete with a bidet.  Everything was neat, clean, and in working order.  As a budget traveler, my only firm requirements are no bugs, no dirt, and no bad smells!  Hotel Vittoria satisfied all three.

We were beyond thrilled with the service from Daniela during our stay.  She is very professional, courteous, and quick with a smile.  We had no complaints with any other front desk staff member; although not many spoke English, it didn't pose any problems.  Hotel Vittoria provides complimentary breakfast to its guests, consisting of deli meats, cheeses, bread, all-you-can-drink espressos and coffee, yogurts, and juices, and the dining room staff members were quick to inquire if they could be of any assistance.

The lobby and dining room decor of Hotel Vittoria reminded me strongly of something you'd see in a Poirot movie.  The furnishings seemed more appropriate to a high-end hotel of the 1920s or 30s, and perhaps that's when the hotel was last updated.  Hotel Vittoria had an air of resigned grandeur, and I wonder what sort of grand people stayed there back in its heyday.  But the tired furnishings did not make the hotel feel dirty; it just reminded you of another era.

***

During the day, Pompei is mobbed by a sea of tourists coming in for a tour of the ruins, but by evening it is quiet and very relaxing.  Although the modern day city is aesthetically unremarkable,  the Hotel Vittoria was an oasis for us after long days under the hot Italian sun.

Hotel Website:  http://www.pompeihotelvittoria.com/
Cost:  55,00€ or $72.45 per night (high season July rates)
Directions:  From the Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri train station on the Circumvesuviano line, take a right down the station's steps.  You'll pass the main entrance to the Pompeii ruins on your left (surrounded by a tall wall).  At the bottom of the hill, take the first street on your left.  The street opens out into a small piazza with the hotel in front of you and slightly to the right.  There are outside tables and seats near the front door of the hotel.  Total time from station to hotel is 6-7 minutes.
Tips:  Hotels have to pay third-party sites (such as Orbitz, Hotels.com, etc) a fee, so save them and maybe yourself some money by booking directly.  Daniela was very responsive to e-mails, so don't hesitate to reach out to them that way, too.  Request a room with a view!  Take full advantage of the free breakfast.  We did not try lunch or dinner there, so can't recommend it either way.

Have you stayed in Pompei or visited the Pompeii ruins?

Linking up with Chasing the Donkey for #SundayTraveler!