hiho322

We will be going to Italy (Rome/Naples/Amalfi Coast) in late June-early July. We've been mapping out our trip itinerary and hotels and it's been wonderful - but we're a little stuck on Naples. I know there are some sketchy neighborhoods there, and even though we're diehard NY'ers, we'd certainly prefer to stay in a safer area. We've been looking at the Chiaia and Historical districts mostly. We found Grand Hotel Oriente and thought it was in the Historical district, but a map shows it as more of the Quartieri Spagnoli. It's located at Via Diaz Armando 44. 80134 is the zip. Anyone know if this is a safe area?

Thanks so much.

- Annie

Leely2

I'm no expert but I wouldn't consider that neighborhood sketchy, just a little bit neither here nor there: not as crowded nor intense-feeling as the dead center nor as relaxed as Chiaia. This past summer I stayed by Piazza Bellini and it reminded me a bit of parts of south Berkeley by campus; nothing unsafe, mind you, just a bit patchouli...maybe a little like around NYU.

Take a walk with Google street view and see what you think. We walked through late at night and didn't feel unsafe.

If I were to visit Napoli in late June again, I would probably choose to stay by the water in hopes of catching more breezes. In winter I'd pick the centro historico.

rcz77

The Oriente is in a corner of the city I never ventured to. I stayed right in the historic center at B&B Il Campanile last year; my experience at the B&B was overall positive, just a couple minor downsides are that there were a lot of stairs with no elevator, and it was a bit of a hassle to unlock the front gate to get out late in the evening beyond 1030pm or so.

My visit to Naples was a bit more on edge after reading and hearing about countless stories of terrible crime, garbage, and pickpockets, but in my experience these fears were exaggerated. I ended up walking from the train station to the B&B upon arrival because I felt like a taxi driver was asking an unfair price based on the cost I read to expect, and that area around the train station was the worst part of Naples I was in. But it's not like it left me feeling in grave danger at all.

Naples felt more like authentic Italy to me, without quite so many tourists around. Not as clean and polished as, say, Florence or Rome, but it had a charm all its own. I walked through all different parts around the historic center and even up as far as the excellent Pizza Starita late at night and felt plenty safe. My biggest concern was to keep from getting hit by a car or scooter with the heavy traffic in some areas.

Leely2

By the way, I loved Naples but rcz77 is right: it's not as polished as some other places. Took me about a full 24 + hours before I fell in love with the city. I arrived from the countryside and Naples was at first shock to my system!

Michael

We stayed in the B&B Medea in the historic center. I recommend it, although someone else complained that the street side rooms were noisy.

To whet your appetite:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...058744325/show

sparkchaser

FWIW, Italian sketchy is nothing like NYC sketchy.

Holly_uncasdewar

I stayed at the Chiaia de Charme when I was there 2 or 3 years ago. The neighborhood was fine. When I return, I will likely stay at the the Oriente. It's not that far from the Chiaia, and it seems perfectly fine, as well. A tad closer to the places you'll be venturing out to see.

The Chiaia had some nasty sewer smells emanating from some of the rooms, including mine. I understand that happens in old cities with old sewer systems, and it's a crap shoot as to whether your hotel will be affected, but the Chiaia de Charme definitely is. Just an FYI.

greg

I have stayed at Hotel Oriente. It is a lovely hotel. The location is smack in the middle of the city practically next to Via Toledo where we had lovely coffee and pastries at Gran Caffe Gambrinus. While I would not wonder deep into the narrow side streets going up from Via Toledo, the main streets where you would walk on are business streets with vitality. The only danger I encountered was in the evenings when little kids come out and play soccer on the main street in front the hotel where I had to dodge soccer balls,

ekscrunchy

If you are from NYC, you will not find anything terribly sketchy in Naples. You might find areas that look untended, have lots of graffiti, maybe some delay in garbage pickups--stuff like that.

The bad districts like Scampia and Miamo are in the northern outskirts, not in the center of the city where tourists will venture. Don't worry!!
Just take usual precautions against pickpockets and petty theft on streets, buses, and local trains.

I've stayed in Chiaia and in the centre city...both have their pros and cons with Chiaia being more manicured/spiffy, but not overly so.

hiho322

Thank you all! We decided that the Oriente was not in the area we wanted to stay in; we cancelled that rezzy and booked at the Hotel Micalo in Ciaia. It looked really perfect for us. We kinda want to be in the center of fun things for the evening, after a day of sightseeing.

Leely2

Have a wonderful trip. Among Naples' many treasures, try your hardest to see the Cristo Velato, one of the most amazing sculptures I've ever laid eyes on. Truly astounding. The Cappella Sansevero has quite an interesting history too.

Also, if you go up to Museo Capodimonte, there is a little tourist shuttle that you can catch in the park that runs all the way down to...hmm, maybe not Castel d'Ovo, but somewhere along the water. It's quick and cheap, just making a few stops on Via Toledo. We taxied up to museum and took the shuttle down.

HappyTrvlr

We also stayed in Chiaia and loved the proximity to thewaterfront and the lungomare Promenade.

hiho322

Thank you all so much!

tjhome1

It will be interesting to get your feedback - your first hotel looked to be in an ideal location close to the metro and just off the main shopping street and not in the Quartieri Spagnoli. We stayed in an apartment in the Quartieri Spagnoli and loved it and the centre of things in the evening seemed to be north of us closer to the historic centre and much further from your new hotel. Have just got my old Fodors Italy guide out and your new hotel seems to be off the map!

ekscrunchy

The new hotel is quite far from the main center of attention for tourists.

I would recommend the Palazzo Alabardieri, in Chiaia but more convenient to sights. I wrote about my stay in a report you can find here:


http://www.palazzoalabardieri.it/en

hiho322

We've heard that Chaia is the hip, trendy, more upscale area, which is what we're looking for. The nightlife (bars, etc.) will probably be more fun for us than being in the original area we'd chosen. We're fine either walking or taking the metro during the day to anywhere else we need to go in the city. Am I wrong about Chaia?

HappyTrvlr

Chiaia is more upscale if you look at the designer shops. But not too upscale, still real.