Description: How did this hotel earn as much as a two star rating? I’m still asking myself that question, close to a year after staying there. On the other hand, the fact that Hotel Ideal does qualify gives you a good idea of just where the bottom range of a two-star can reach. Granted, if you don’t know Naples and go for the best rate while surfing the major travel websites for a brief overnight stay, and think that being located on one of the city’s main squares is an asset, then you might be willing to say this is not a bad deal. As long as you keep it to one night, and depart swiftly. Speaking of swift departures, there’s also the main train station which is only 50m from the hotel and probably the other main selling point to spending a night on this squalid, noisy, and dismal square.
After spending the better part of a day traveling from Greece to Italy, and having to detour and change flights in Venice of all places, I arrived at Naples Campodichino Airport at 10:30 in the evening. I took a bus that runs from the airport to Piazza Garibaldi (oh, and do remember to buy your ticket inside the terminal before you even get on the bus...an important introduction to public transport in Italy). The ride into the city isn’t long since it’s only 2km, however, the huge Piazza Garibaldia, where the hotel is located, might prove more of a challenge to navigate even late at night — don’t look for pedestrian crossings, and the traffic lights seem far and few in between.
As for the accommodation: although the building seems large and has two floors, the rooms are not much larger than a walk-in closet. Don’t attempt to stumble around in the dark at night to the bathroom - you’re likely to trip on one of the three steps that lead up to the bath area. Do ask for a room far away from any major construction on the side streets next to the hotel, something I didn’t bother with, but remained blessedly unaware of until the sound of persistent heavy drilling and shouting at 8 am told me that I had arrived in Naples.
The continental breakfast was one of the most meager I’ve encountered yet among continental breakfasts anywhere — thankfully, I was picked up less than hour later that morning by an Italian friend who whisked me away to a real café with the full works. Yet another reason why you must have friends on the road when you travel.
Considering this place only cost me a little over $50 and, now they’re asking around $73 as late as September, I’d say take the time to find a pleasant, safe part of Naples at the same cost. There are bed and breakfasts and small inns that are a much better introductions to southern Italy than Hotel Ideal.
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