DarcyHob

For the last part of our honeymoon we will be staying in Positano (one night in Capri) but I have not found a place that is quite right for us. I have found a room at Villa Franca but I don't think my husband likes the idea that much for some reason...(smallish rooms? not his favorite kind of decor?) He likes the idea of the Sirenuse or the San Pietro but they are quite expensive. Any other suggestions for fabulous hotels that are just a bit less expensive than those two? (Not sure if they exist!) Again, we would like AC and a pool. (Going to splurge on this last part of the trip.) Maybe it is worth it to stay at Sirenuse or San Pietro if there is nothing in the middle? Thoughts?

DarcyHob

Any absolute hotel loves in Positano?

zoecat

DarcyHob,

Have you done a search here? Use the search box and put in "Positano hotels". I know there have been a lot of previous posts that will provide some choices for you.

I have stayed at Villa Franca and thought it was great. The pool on the roof was excellent, with views looking down on the town and the coast, and lunch and snacks available poolside. It was very relaxing. My room had a balcony with the same view as the pool. I also liked the breakfast and the bar. I did not eat dinner at the hotel. There are many nice places to eat nearby. My room was not too small but perhaps small compared to US hotel rooms. Do they have a suite available in your budget?

One thing- the hotel is located toward the top of the town. There are stairs to climb (if you wish), but instead I used a winding road that took about 15 minutes to walk from the beach to the hotel. It's the same road where many nice restaurants are located. The hotel also provides a shuttle up and down.

That said, if I could afford it, I would stay at La Sirenuse in a heartbeat.

Good luck!

GiGiGi

Buca di Baco is great. It is right on the beach, offers gorgeous views, a thoughtful staff and one of the best breakfasts in Italy.
Check it out.

SeaUrchin

I loved Villa Franca. When you are high up in the town you get a panorama. Rooms were a good size with a balcony. Maybe he doesn't like tile?

T4TX

We stayed at Villa Franca almost 20 years ago on our first trip to Italy. We loved it too. I have recommended it to many friends over the years and have always gotten good feedback about their visit. In fact have recommended it to some folks going to Italy for their 30th anniversary this September.

I do trip planning for friends (hobby not pay) and suggest at least 3 hotels I think they would like in each town/city. For Positano I suggested Villa Franca, Buca di Baco (it is rated #1 out of 40 hotels in Positano on trip advisor),and Covo dei Saraceni.

If you are even considering Le Sirenuse....well...it is your honeymoon!

Jayneann

Check out Eden Roc Suites. We stayed there a couple of years ago and loved the location and views!!

Lifeman

Try the Palazzo Murat. It's right in the centre and good for the walk down to the beach area.

ekscrunchy

My friends return every year to Covo dei Saracini in Positano.

It has a pool and is on the beach.

http://www.covodeisaraceni.it/

phillyboy

DarcyHob,

Another vote for Villa Franca, though it's been 7 or 8 years since our 3-night stay there. Yes, our room was on the small side, especially the bathroom, but nice nonetheless, with a great view. Their breakfast buffet was one of the best we've had anywhere in Europe, and we also enjoyed a great dinner at the hotel restaurant. I also remember that the staff was particularly helpful and kind.

For some reason, the Amalfi Coast, though indisputably gorgeous, did not really grab us like other areas of Italy, but if we were ever to return, we'd go back to Villa Franca in a heartbeat.

DarcyHob

Thank you, this has made my nervousness about Villa Franca basically go away! I will also have to check out the Saraceni...Will let you know later today what we book!

NYCFoodSnob

How anyone can compare the Villa Franca to Le Sirenuse is beyond me. Rooms at Le Sirenuse are double/triple the price. There's a reason for that. If it were my honeymoon, I'd have to have a suite with a terrace.

I'm a firm believer; if you can't afford luxury, make a prudent/practical decision and be happy with that. Three or four wannabe nights at Le Sirenuse won't produce a happy, luxurious, romantic honeymoon if paying the bill a month later will destroy your financial future. However, if the husband wants Le Sirenuse and he can afford to treat you to luxury, don't hesitate. Book that fabulous suite and end your honeymoon with grand style.

DarcyHob

Thank you. That is very true. I will have to add up Venice, Tuscany and Positano and maybe we can do grand style!

Weadles

Try the Hotel Poseidon, which is a small 4-star hotel just uphill from Le Sirenuse. Look at the jr.suites there. They will be considerably cheaper than Sirenuse ( not as nice,but they won't break the bank) and some have gorgeous views. The food at the hotel restaurant is some of the best I've had in many trips to Italy, and the views are really beautiful.

DarcyHob

If we can get one of the corner rooms at the Villa Franca (I guess there are three that are lovely) would that compare at all to a smaller room at Le Sirenuse?

Midnightsun

The Hotel Ancora, just across the street from the Sirenuse has similar views at a much more affordable price.

NYCFoodSnob

<i><font color=#777777>"I will have to add up Venice, Tuscany and Positano and maybe we can do grand style!"</font></i>

I haven't been following your plan. I don't know when you are traveling. I don't know why people don't put this information in every thread they start.

If this is your first trip to Italy, chances are you'll be exhausted by the time you get to your third destination and you may find yourself anxious to come home. Been there, done that. From my experience, most honeymooners try to cram too much stuff into this supposedly magical post-wedding trip and barely remember a thing.

Venice is expensive but I see no reason to splurge on a hotel there, unless you're going in summer and need a pool. The magic in Venice is outdoors: it's not in your hotel room. Terraces on the Grand Canal are overrated: unless you like boat engine noise and boat engine exhaust fumes all day long.

One doesn't need to spend to a lot on villa hotels in Tuscany, either. The magic in Tuscany is found by driving a car. Yes, I would splurge on the car in Tuscany. Most pools in Tuscany are not heated and, unless your going in the middle of summer, most people don't swim because the water is freezing.

Treating yourself to glamour at the end of your trip makes perfect sense to me. This is the time to pamper yourself. I go to Positano to relax and there is nothing quite like a relaxation experience that a grand hotel offers. Le Sirenuse is a first-class, family-run operation. They are a special jewel in Positano. Yes, the views are mostly all the same, regardless of hotel. But a great view can never substitute for a fabulous hotel experience. If you want fabulous at the end of your honeymoon, book Le Sirenuse. After a long trip, you won't regret the experience. (Just don't do it unless you can afford it.)

DarcyHob

Well we got a good rate at the Gritti Palace in Venice and it is similar to the other rates I have found for three nights there. In Tuscany we are going to stay at a place in Bucine for 4 nights that looks lovely, and then I would like to splurge on Le Sirenuse which I am looking into. It does seem like a magical place that is worth it...

ekscrunchy

I would be very careful with room selection at the Gritti.. I took a look at a room in one of the lower price categories and thought it was pretty mediocre and dated, considering the price.

T4TX

ek-

I think that is why Gritti Palace receives such mixed reviews on trip advisor- only 61% thumbs up -- for over 500 bucks per night I would not go with those odds. The other hotel DarHob said to be considering (other thread) gets 91%.... much better...

I am booking friends accomodations in same places as DarHob so sponge-ing off her threads! Thank you.