While I'm waiting to hear (in Jan) from Sirene - I'm researching other possibilities.

Has anyone stayed at or looked at these properties?

Open Gate Hotel
Laconda Costa Diva
Margherita

The Laconda Costa Diva seems to be new - and maybe opened in Aug 04.

Steps are very important to our old backs. A max of 50 to the lodgings will be ok.

Thanks for any help,

Carol / Brahmama

I stayed at Onda Verde a few years ago. Right on the Amalfi highway, a good kitchen, great views and the Sita bus stops across the street. They have a website.

Hi, there are steps down to Le Sirene but they are broken up by landings and it is right in the town. Open Gate is on the way to Onda Verde but it is right on the main road and has either no or the minimun of steps and a busstop too. Onda Verde has an elevator and paths down to the water, no steps.

I don't know the Laconda and I didnt see it the last trip. There are some other hotels which are either on the road or on the bus path.

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately, Onda Verde's prices has risen and it is out of our budget now.

The Laconda street address is:
Street Roma ,13 Praiano (SA)
Does that ring a bell, SeaUrchin? Do you think that is the main street?

I know that it's about 27 steps to the lodging but I can't find any reviews anywhere - hopefully because it's so new.

Thanks for the info about OpenGate.
Carol

Hi Mama,

Via Roma is the main drag through Praiano.

As Ira says it is the main street, I was just trying to place where it is and I think I have it figured out. I think it is an older place that has been renovated and is right on the sea side of the road. Is there a web site?

When I was there last month Praiano was hibernating and I didn't see any activity at all and I didn't notice a new hotel which would be hard to miss.

Well, it doen't have its own website - but it's on the italyby.com site.

http://www.italyby.com/costadiva/index.html

When were you there last?

Carol / Brahmama

I was there last month. I see now that it is below the road, there are a number of small hotels in that area that never get mentioned here but are popular with Europeans. It looks good to me and the price seems right, I would take it.

Hello - I"m re-surfacing after New Year's....Hope everywhen is looking forward to a great year.

SeaUrchin,
When you say "Below the Road" - um - what does that mean? Is it on the sea side with one of those gorgeous views? Is it close to some places to eat (always important!) and is it close to the bus stop? I would assume that if it's on the main road it wouldn't be too far away.

You were there LAST MONTH! Where do you live?

Carol

HI, it looks as if it is on the sea side of the main road. But it might be on the sea side of the upper road and that would make it above the main road but still with the views. Have I confused you enough? All the areas of Praiano have excellent views so don't worry about that. This afternoon I'll take another look if someone else hasn't enlightened us by then.

The area around Onda Verde and Open Gate is past the tunnel but still within walking distance. I like to walk and went back and forth and all over the upper and lower parts of Praiano though. There are busstops thoughout the town too, also if you notify the bus driver he will let you off wherever you want along the road.

I live in the LA area. If you would like to look at my pictures of the area to give yourself an idea of the different seasons: www.pbase.com/seaurchin

I am trying to add new pictures and I can't get them in the right order but you can get the idea.

SeaUrchin,

I checked out your website and thoroughly enjoyed the 3 pictures that I could get up - but that was all. Am I doing something wrong?
when are you going back to Italy??

I looked at the web site again and I am certain that it is on the sea side of the main coastal road. It is a bluff below the road where there are houses and a few hotels.

Just click on the pictures and more will come up on pbase, then you can click on each picture to blow it up.

I'll be back in Italy in March. When is your trip?

Thanks again, SeaUrchin.

We will be there in May - we've got about 11 nights to play with but will probably only stay 4 to 5 nights on th e AC.

My only concern about the Lonconda Costa Diva is the location in relation to the restaurants and ESPECIALLY the bus stop - as we won't have a car and will have to rely on public transportation.
On one web site it did say that it was only a few minutes away "By Car" from cafes, shops, stores, etc. But no where is there a mention of the bus.

I've emailed and asked specific questions, so maybe I'll hear back (and maybe not) I do think that we (Americans) ask way too many questions and do confuse the people trying to answer our email!

Sigh - back to more research for our lodging.

We heard from La Sirene (which we had been silently lusting for) and got back news. We need a max of 5 days and they will only rent for a min of a week at 100 Euro. So we will try that again during low season sometime.

The other two we were looking at:
One has two reviewers commenting on the noise at night - particularly a barking neighborhood dog that had kept them from sleep. And also mentioned a lack of repair in the rooms.

The other one has not responded about a cancellation policy or methods of paying and I can find no review at all - pro or con.

So - I'm back asking for suggestions - with a grave handicap of nothing more than 100 euro a night and around 75 if possible. I know, that's hard in this area.

We really would be happy with a simple, clean and quiet place without huge amounts of steps and close to the bus stop.

I've only looked at Praiano - (Ira brainwashed me with his posts) so maybe I should look somewhere else. We will stay 4 or a max of 5 nights before returning to Rome.

Please don't suggest gorgeous expensive places that we can't afford!

Sigh and Whine,

Carol / Brahmama

I'm surprised at the limits now at Sirene. Oh, well, try Positano, there are some excellent places there in your price range.

Don't despair, Praiano is nice, but you won't be missing much, and you can try Amalfi or Sorrento too.