Ok, maybe not a splurge to others, but to us, anything over 350E is!!

We are going next May 20-28 - so high season, unfortunately.

We will be spending a week at an apartment in Positano, and wanted to spend 2 nights on Capri prior to heading over to Positano.

Originally, we had picked either La Minerva (1st pick based on Trip Advisor reviews), Certosella, or Flora (new hotel in Casa Morgano group - not many reviews yet, but looks VERY nice, but I can't find anyone who can tell me if the location is nice or not (it's on Via Federico Serena). Location means alot to us - as much as the hotel/room.

People have suggested that we "upgrade" and save up for a "nicer" hotel while in Capri. It will be our anniversary the night we arrive, so I'm thinking about doing that.

The "splurge" hotels we have come up with are:

Villa Brunella, Casa Morgano and Scalinatella.

We like small hotels (under 50 rooms), definitely want a sea view, at these prices seeking something very charming, and don't want pretentious hotels with attitude. Should also be a reasonable walk from town, so we don't feel we can't walk at night into town to eat. We want to be in Capri, not Anacapri.

Villa Brunella emailed me that only their Jr. Suite rooms have sea views. Is this true? If so, this hotel might be out.

We've looked at Luna and also Punta Tragara, and frankly, don't like their rooms - at least what is on their web sites. Tragara looks like the inside of a cruise ship - TINY balconies and windows, and Luna rooms are very, very, small.

Best choice??

Our family stayed at the Luna last August. We had 2 rooms. Our kids room was small and had no view. Our room was spacious with a full view of the sea and the famous Faraglioni (sp?) rocks. We had a small balcony with room for 2 reclining chairs and table. The rooms were a bit spartan in decor but clean, good AC and a nice size bathroom. The draw of this hotel is the location, pool, lovely bar, outdoor sitting areas and the service. The Luna is a quick easy 2 minute walk beyond the famous Hotel Quisiana and the busy Capri streets. However you feel worlds away at the Luna. It is quiet, secluded, the grounds are sprawling and beautiful. We would stay here again.

I guess that the Hotel Luna doesn't know how to properly showcase its seaview rooms, because they are pretty large and quite luxurious in every way. The view from the terraces is outstanding. I have heard that some rooms at Hotel Luna face an interior courtyard, and that these rooms are to be avoided. Maybe this is what you saw online?

Anyway, I would highly recommend the seaview rooms at Luna. We really enjoyed our stay there, and thought the location, pool, gardens, and service were wonderful.

If Luna is definitely out, I don't see how you can go wrong at Casa Morgano. I checked out this hotel after having dinner at Villa Brunella ( Casa Morgano is about a block closer to town on the same tiny lane as Villa Brunella), and thought it looked like a lovely place to stay.

Good luck, and congratulations on your wedding!

,

Yes, sometimes web sites do hotels an injustice, but they have a chance to showcase their finest rooms, so what can I say??

At splurge prices, we are looking for more than spartan and clean, and something really special.

Thanks for the first-hand accounts - always much more helpful than a guidebook!

Will definitely check out Morgano. I think Scalinatella is way out of our price range, and Brunella and Morgnao appear to be closer in price.

I thought that Hotel Luna was very special and that its rooms were much more than "spartan and clean", but if you can get a better rate at Casa Morgano, go for it.

Weadles -
What category of room did you have at Luna? It appears anything with a sea view is 380E for a Deluxe Double, and the Suites run 460E - way out of our price range. But we are adding the hotel, based on your response.

The picture that put us off was of the bedroom on their site with a gold bedspread. It looks like the bottom of the bed is about at the wall and the bed is crammed in the room. The balcony looked like there wasn't room to sit out on it - a juliet balcony I think - only for viewing. I'm hoping you can tell me different - otherwise looks quite nice.

We can, however, get a Jr. Suite with sea view at Brunella for 390E, or a Superior Double with Sea View for 290E (they tell me the views are partially obstructed by trees).

The Morgano is not by any means cheaper, it is 400E for a Deluxe Double.

Since you have seen all 3 hotels - Morgano, Brunella, Luna - which would you say is the best location? (not in a busy area, fairly close to town, good views).

Weadles -
I would assume you walked by the Flora on your way to Luna - they look very close by each other - Flora is on Via Federico Serena (the road that leads to Gardens of Augustus).

What kind of street/area is this?

I've answered your Flora question on the other thread. Go for it.
The street to Flora is a tiny one, but direct from the piazaetta in just a couple of minutes. If you haven't been to Capri before, you will find there are few real "streets" but rather walled paths. If you can get a top floor sea view room at Flora, you won't be sorry -- and I say this with confidence even though it's been 8 years since I stayed there and the hotel was closed most of that time! By the way we were definitely there in September of 1997, so I don't agree with the article that said it was closed for 7 years and reopened in 1993, but as I recall it was getting ready to close just after we were there.

Patrick -
Thanks so much!!

Between location of Flora or Minerva (which is on Via Occhio Marino - which looks like it is just at the base of Via Tragara near Casa Morgano), which location would you say is best for a first timer with minimal time - 2 days?

My husband and I really liked Minerva, but they tell me their views are "obstructed" sea views.

We also were unsure about having to walk uphill each night back to our hotel.

We'd like a convenient location, but not a noisy, busy one.

So hard to pick the right spot not having been there!

wanderer,

Two years ago, we had a deluxe double seaview room at Luna. I believe the rate was about 335E/per night.

The terrace had a lovely white rod iron table and two chairs. We often had breakfast/snacks/or wine out there just to take in the gorgeous view which included the famous rocks of I Faraglioni.

The room was a very good size, and I don't remember thinking that the bed looked crammed against the wall. Again, I guess I'd blame Luna's bad PR photographer for the poor website pictures?

My only real criticism of Luna is that you must pay for chaise lounges at the pool. This seemed outrageous to me considering the price of the seaview rooms, but we found that it is a fairly common practice with most hotels that we stayed at. Anyway, you might want to check regardless of where you decide to stay.

As for the 3 hotels you mentioned, (Luna, Casa Morgano and Villa Brunella) I think Luna has the best location by a hair. It is only a few minutes walk from the center of town,and is set back in a lemon grove and garden on a high cliff that affords beautiful views all around.

Keep in mind that Capri town is really small, so none of the hotels are a real hike from restaurants, shopping, etc. Casa Morgano, La Scalinatella, and Villa Brunella are all located down a tiny and very tony street off the main drag in Capri Town. And Luna, as I've already said, is a few minutes from town, but set inside a garden, so it has a relatively "quiet" location.

weadles, is the Flora right near the Luna?

We stayed at Casa Morgano a couple of years ago and loved it. Our room had a terrace and a view. The walk from town is lovely because the hotel is situated in a beautiful area of villas.

wanderer,

Sorry, I really don't know anything about Hotel Flora. I assume from reading about it online that it is close to Hotel Luna.

By the way, if you don't stay at Villa Brunella, you might want to still try having dinner there. I wasn't such a huge fan of the food ( although that's two years ago) but the view nearly on top of I Faraglioni is unbelievable!

Hotel Flora is on the way to the Luna if you were going from the piazetta. Yes, I'd choose that location over the Minerva.

Punta Tragara is a phenomenal hotel with fantastic views of Capri. We'll be soon for our second go around there. I wouldn't stay anywhere else. EVERY room is different and what the website shows is a very small part of the hotel.

We have decided to spend 3 nights on Capri rather than 2, as one of those days will be lost to travel.

Given that, we have chosen to stay at either Minerva or Flora, with a leaning toward Flora, since it appears location may be better.

We had considered Brunella, but can only get a Superior, and at 300E were told the view would be "through the trees".

If anyone can offer additional info about location of either Minerva or Flora - are there bus stops near either, or pros/cons of either, that might be helpful.

Minerva is on Via Occhio Marino, which looks like it is at the base of Via Tragara, and Flora is on Via Federico Serena, on the road leading to Gardens of Augustus.

There are no bus stops on that part of the island - its a pedestrian zone. There will be lots of tourists walking around in the daytime - at night it will be lovely. I am only familiar with the general area of the hotels mentioned - I put in my two cents for The Mamela many posts ago. Great location, no charge for pool chairs, pleasant staff and I would think a little less expensive than many of the other hotels mentioned. We have only stayed in city view rooms there but I would think the sea view rooms would be very nice from the way the hotel is situated - there are wonderful views from the terrace areas of the pool and public rooms. Easy walk from piazetta and close to Via Tragara.

wanderer,

I looked at the Hotel Flora's website, and now realize that yes, it was the hotel we passed nearly every day back and forth to Luna! I don't know why I didn't remember it. Anyway, the rooms look really beautiful, and it seems like a great choice for you. By the way, an excellent location, too!

Have a wonderful stay!

Thanks Weadles for all of your help. Perhaps another time we will be able to afford the Luna - that also looked beautiful!!

How far would you say the Flora is from the Luna?

PS - I thought someone mentioned there was a bus stop near Luna - someone else told me there aren't any.

How does one get to Anacapri from Capri then?

Are the bus stops only in Marina Grande?