wanderer

We cannot decide between these 3 hotels. We have looked at many others, but these are the ones within our budget.

I like the Franca best - I like that it has a restaurant, and like also that there is a shuttle bus to/from the village, but we could only afford a Standard vs. a Superior room there. I also like the Miramare, but same thing - can only afford the Standard room. Villa Franca told us that their Standard rooms do not have a sea view but a town view (??)

Has anyone stayed in a Standard room in either the Miramare or Villa Franca? Our criteria is a nice size terrace/balcony which we can sit out on at night. We don't care much about a pool, but the restaurant has some appeal unless there are restaurants fairly close walking distance to Miramare or Villa Rosa.We would also like to be near a bus stop.

The Villa Rosa seems to have gotten alot of good reviews, but the rooms seem very basic. If anyone has stayed here and had a room with a bathtub/shower combo, would like to know the room #. I've seen pictures of rooms with just showers, which are rather small. The terraces here are beautiful. my husband thinks there must be something wrong with the place though, as it is so much cheaper than Miramare or Villa Franca.

LBurman

Unfortunately it was about 5 years ago but I stayed in Villa Franca and it was a FABULOUS experience. We had a small balcony and we sat on it each day and truly felt like it was heaven on earth. We had a city view but could still see the ocean and it was truly magical. The restaurant is great, the view are even better. Our room (I can't remember if it was a standard) was small but beautiful. White tile everywhere. My vote is for Villa Franca. You will love Positano.

StephenG

Lburman"You will love Positano".
Hey thanks to posters that take time to clue some of us that don't where the hotels in question are. It makes it a more enjoyable thread for everyone.

grandmere

Someone else wrote on here, sight unseen, about VR rooms being sparse. I'm not sure where that's coming from. My impression was that it was light, airy, uncluttered; it did not feel "basic." We had a tub and shower in a decent sized bathroom. I don't know what the room number was.

wanderer

Sorry StephenG about not adding Positano in the thread name. I hit return too fast, and don't think there's any way to edit.

My husband has now ruled out Franca as being too remote and too expensive compared to the other 2 places.

So, it is Villa Rosa or Standard Room at the Miramare. Has anyone stayed at the Miramare in a Standard?

Does anyone know if Villa Rosa or Miramare have a "better" location - i.e. for us that means close (walking distance) to a bus stop, easy walking distance to restaurants/shops, and high enough up to afford a great view.

Villa Rosa looks like it has a great view, but Miramare has so few pictures on it's web site, it's hard to tell. Can anyone help with location of these two places?

grandmere

If you don't mind walking up and down hills and steps, everything is within walking distance in Positano. The VR has spectacular view; it is right across the street (upside) from reknowned Le Sirenuse, which is very, very pricey, and you actually have a better view. There are shops and restaurants all around the VR.

Golfergal

We also stayed at the Villa Rosa and loved it. The views from the huge terrace are spectular. The room is airy and light, sparse doesn't really describe it properly. Our bathroom was huge and I took several baths. There is a fair amount of walking for all the hotels up the hill with a view. There are hotels that are much, much higher up the hill, which would be less convenient. While I might have complained a bit while walking uphill or up the stairs. It was worth it for the view, the exercise.... which meant more gelatto, more limoncello, more pasta, more wine .....

Maggy

The Villa Franca is not as centrally located as Villa Rosa but I would definitely not say it is remote. Because it is higher up, the views are that much more spectacular. We walked every day to and from restaurants and bars and the beach area and only ended up taking the shuttle once when it was late at night and we were tired. I liked being a bit removed from the center of everything; it kind of forced us to snoop around and discover some places we wouldn't have found if we hadn't been walking around as much. Having said that, if money is a consideration, then you can't go wrong with either the Villa Rosa or the Miramare. Both are recommended highly and even though your standard room might not have the premium view, the property will. There are restaurants within steps of all three properties.

wanderer

Curious regarding something I read yesterday about the Villa Rosa.

The guide said that only one of their 12 rooms have a tub - the others have shower only.

Is that correct?

Also wondering what rooms people would recommend. I think it said rooms on the first floor are a bit obstructed by The Sirenuse, and the 3rd floor rooms, of which there are only 2 are small with small terraces. Seems like the second floor is the best bet, but if anyone has specific rooms - with a tub - that they liked - quiet, not near elevator etc., would like suggestions. I think we are leaning toward Villa Rosa because of price, and balconies look very nice. We would be able to spend one more night with our savings.

awbaker

I have read some posts here recommending room #18. It was not available when I reserved our room for this August last January.

Amanda

We stayed at Villa Rosa last May. Here is an excerpt from my travel diary:
Walk down from La Sponda "fermata" (bus stop - esp. for trips to Sorrento/Amalfi)to arrive at the bottom of Villa Rosa's 63 stairs! Huffed and puffed our way to the top, then down 45 stairs to our rooms. We knew Positano was hilly, but we didn't realize it started inside our hotel!!!! 2 BEAUTIFUL rooms each with a huge bathroom and BATH, and a garden terrace as big as the room outside! Dinner recommended by Villa Rosa (it was about 9pm) was uphill about 15 metres at Bruno's. A wonderful 4* meal - really recommend the Gnocchi, and the mixed seafood!

Continental breakfast served on our terrace, with fantastic view over the islands called Li Galli, and a bit of Le Sirenuse hotel opposite. The garden had apricot, lemon and banana trees, roses, bougainvillea, geraniums, and wisteria and other flowers.

I think our rooms were 29 and 30 which were on the bottom floor of the hotel - hence the 45 steps down! We had a huge bathroom, but some of the rooms had showers. No 18 which is recommended here is at the top of the stairs down to 2 floors, so I wondered if it might be noisy at night.

Our rooms were on the bottom,and probably the "worst" in the hotel - 30's view was partly obsured by La Sirenuse, yet had a fabulous view, and the largest terrace garden. We bought food and wine from the local shops, and had a magnificent feast on our terrace twice! There is a fridge in the room, and the staff will bring you free capuccino's, tea etc all hours!

So you can get a room with a view, on the same floor as reception, near a bus stop and restaurants and also not a long walk into town. You just have to realize there are those 63 steps to get up to reception! But it's WORTH IT!
They will carry your suitcases up and down from street to room!

jend

I loved Villa Rosa - I was just there in April and had a standard/double room for 130E. My husband and I both commented on how inexpensive it was since it was so great. The staff would deliver wine glasses and an opener to our room each evening so that we could enjoy a local bottle of wine! The rooms are quaint - normal size for Europe and the bathroom is narrow, but fairly long. The shower was large enough for my 6'2 husband! I have some pics, but only of the balcony. Feel free to email me if you would like me to email them to you.
[email protected]

skatterfly

I haven't stayed in any of these hotels but I did stay in Villa La Tartana right in town by the water and I think it's the sister hotel (same family???) of Villa Rosa. We loved staying there. We were in a room on the top floor (I don't think there were lifts so it was always up 4 flights of stairs) but the room and the view was incredible. You are right by the water and can hear the surf rippling along the beach and you can see the church dome from your room... it's RIGHT there. We liked the location because it's so close to all the restaurants and the beach. I think if we return, we'd stay there again for the location. Then again there are so many wonderful inns in Positano and it's so lovely there I think I'd enjoy staying just about anywhere with a view.

If Villa Rosa is the same family, I can definitely say the staff at Villa La Tartana knew what they were doing. They were very hospitable, kind, just absolutely wonderful. Beautiful breakfast and hot coffee brought to our room every morning (and I mean hot espresso) so literally they must have brewed it and the guy ran up the stairs with it.

Have a fabulous time! I'm so jealous! Now that we have a baby it'll be a few years before we can get a "romantic" trip back to Positano.

~kat

wanderer

We considered La Tartana as it has gotten some good write-ups.

We figured, however, with it being right at the beach, that 1) There would be not much of the "Positano View", just a view of the water, and 2) It would be noisy the lower you are.

I'm surprised to hear there was a view.

How were the rooms, and did you have a large terrace like they have at Villa Rosa? I think that is VR's strength.

DickPatterson

The reception room at Villa Rosa has been moved from the fourth floor to the second floor, so there are only about 20 steps to climb to check in. I was just there 2 weeks ago. We tried to get Room 18, but they said they were already getting requests for that room for 2006. Our room was very nice, with a great view, but not as nice as Room 18 was two years ago.

grandmere

Moving the reception to the 2nd floor was a good idea; glad to hear it!

Golfergal

Based on Amanda's post, I think we were also on the bottom floor. The views from rooms above us may very well have been better than ours, but ours was still great. I'm thrilled to hear they moved the reception to the second floor. You can't go wrong with VR.

skatterfly

We did not find it noisy in the least. That part of the town is pedestrian only and it was completely quiet. It's set back a little from the restaurants so it didn't have restaurant noise. It also had a wonderful balcony on which we enjoyed our morning breakfast.

The room was a nice size and beautifully decorated with the gorgeous tiles from Vietri. The bathroom was completely new and remodeled, and it had a wonderful view. I would have to check my pictures but I'm pretty sure it had a view of the 3 islands. I think it was room 52 or 53, on the top floor, but I think even the floor below the top would have the same view.

In terms of noise during the day, though, I'm not sure because the weather was gorgeous and I was out a lot. But at night it was completely silent.

We took the ferry over to Capri one day and I agree with many posters on Fodors about this, there wasn't much time to explore given the ferry schedule... so I would probably opt to spend one night (at least) on Capri next time.

gt4889

Wanderer,
I'll try to help with some of your specific questions.
Views from all the rooms at the Miramare are outstanding. They all face the sea, unobstructed, and high enough for great views.
My map of Positano doesn't show VR for some reason (it shows all the other hotels ???) But I think someone said it was near the Sirenuse. If that is the case, the "easier" and shorter walk to the bus stop would be from the VR. The bus stop is towards the right side of town so leaving the Miramare, you have to walk down the steps to the beach, then back up a little ways to the stop. Or you can walk up the stairs from the Miramare to the street then down the street to the stop. From the VR, you simply walk down the street, maybe 75 yards, to reach the stop.
B/c the Miramare seems to be in the midst of a mainly residential area and only accessible by stairs going up to the street or down to the beach, the VR will be closer to shopping/restaurants. But we're only talking a difference in terms of 2-3 minutes. I'm sure both hotels would suit your needs. VR seems to be more in the thick of things, Miramare, a little more off the beaten path but still only a 2-5 minute walk from most anywhere in town. The town is so small nothing is far away!
If your unsure about the Standard at Miramare, email Nicola and ask him how big the terrace is with the Standard. Looking at my photo of the Miramare from the opposite side of town, all the terraces, with the exception of the one we had , look large.

wanderer

Thank you gt!

We have decided upon VR mostly for price, but also for terrace size.

Does anyone have room # suggestions?