Wiseguy,<BR>I more than enjoyed my week in Naples.<BR>I stayed at the Parteno on Via Partenope(thanks , Carol). There is a lot to see in Naples. Museums, churches, street scenes...It's , as Linda writes, a vibrant city that is often overlooked by tourists (that's good for you).<BR><BR>As for pickpockets, I wasn't bothered nor was my husband which wasn't the case in other cities (Barcelona and Madrid, especially). Be careful, use your common sense, and avoid the very obvious seedy parts of the city.<BR><BR>I also recommend a search. See if you can find the NY TIMES article on Naples, too. I think it was in January of this year.<BR><BR>Enjoy it.<BR><BR>Michele<BR>PS This was my second trip to Naples. I went about 20 years ago with my sister. Once again, no problems at all. Just great food and a good time.

Natasha, Naples is very big and diverse, a lots of areas are indeed disgusting, but the historical center is trully BEAUTIFULL, full of art and history. I suspect that your husband's relatives don't live in a nice area and that since your husband hates it, you probably never visited the old center which is very safe (apart from pickpocketting). Not to say that the negative descriptions you gave could perfectly apply to let's say NYC, in lots of area, even in downtown Manhattan you'll find drugs, prostitutions, violence etc... but such a very reduced description wouldn't make any justice to a great city like NYC, exactly like it doesn't to Naples, which in the tourist areas is perfectly safe.

Okay, asking once again since it looks like there are some Neapolitans checking in here: can anyone recommend a 3-star hotel in the old center, preferably with firsthand knowledge of a decent single room? This is assuming that the old center is a safe area in which to stay - and please tell me if that's not so! Any help geniunely appreciated.

We were going to visit for one day and everyone told us not to go. It's seedy. Even our travel agent advised us that because it's a poor city there is alot of petty crime. And she is a Neapolitan.

Hi Holly<BR>There is a nice 3 stars hotel in the frontsea, but I don't remember the name, it is located on via Partenope.<BR>Check out on the web those following 4 stars hotels (in Italy, hotels go up to 5 stars), all located on the seaside in a very safe area, few minutes walking from the old center:<BR><BR>-Hotel Excelsior www.excelsior.it<BR>-Grand Hotel Parker's www.bcedit.it/parkershotel/htm<BR>-Hotel Miramare www.hotelmiramare.com<BR><BR>Compared to the other nothern italian cities which are almost crimefree, it is understandable that Naples doesn't have a great reputation among Italians. However, the old center is very safe, watch out only for pettycrime like pickpocketting, which is annoying but at least never involves violence (victims usually realise they have been robed only when they find out that their wallet is missing)

Holly,<BR>The B&B Parteno will fit your requirements exactly. We stayed there last Oct and it is great. Very clean, safe area on the sea within a short walk to the old center, dood eateries in the vicinity, friendly staff, lower rates than others mentioned here. Check out their website: Parteno.it

topping for holly

My wife and I stopped in Naples this past May on our way to and from the Amalfi Coast and it we could believe how awful it was. It was like New York City 25 years ago. Unsafe, unfriendly, dirty...<BR>people try to hustle in the train stations...Stay in Sorrento or somewhere in Amalfi Coast

Thanks, Jean and Ken. The 4-stars are a bit out of my league, but the Parteno looks good. Any other suggestions welcome.