Look! Up in the sky! It's a hotel. It's an apartment. It's Pallazo Dogana!…read more What is this place? Our accommodation was a bedroom with a sitting room that opened up to a kitchen, all with stunning views through large windows across the marina at Agropoli and out into the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Cool white tiles, white walls and ceilings accented with deep blue curtains, giving it a serene, Mediterranean feel. There is a restaurant downstairs that is open in the summer time, and breakfast is an opt-in affair. We visited in late October, after the summer rush was over, but before the rains set in. Just outside the Palazzo is a small beach better suited for catching some rays than swimming, although there are plenty of clean beaches to swim at within a 20 minute walk. To the rear of the building is the bustling Old Town, from which it's an easy to walk up the hill to the promontory where the old convent and castle are surrounded by cosy apartments and trattorias. What struck us about Agropoli is the generosity of everyone we met. This is not a wealthy area, but people offer what they can, making even non-Italian-speakers feel welcome as if special guests in their home. Sounds corny, I know, but you'll know what I mean if you ever go there. What about the food, you ask? The best stuff comes from the sea and it is without parallel. Simple, flavorful, textured, plentiful and CHEAP. This is a wonderful part of the world, genuine, friendly and much better to our minds than the nearby Amalfi Coast.

A very beautiful setting. The rooms were clean, with fresh towels daily. The food was average. My…read moredislike was the 50+ steps to and fro to breakfast, pool, beach. Not great for those who might have trouble walking. The WiFi was spotty and sending emails were difficult. Again the town below was a treat. Over all a little pricey.

Take a step back from the world at large and enjoy old world elegance. Nestled in its own lushly…read morelandscaped ocean front grounds exists a fabulous escape from the crowded touristed world of summer in Italy. Palazzo has all the modern amenities you need while making you feel a million miles away from it all at the same time. The staff is friendly, professional, knowledgeable, and best of all fun! You feel like a resident at some 1930's era Italian villa complete with sweetest town in Italy a few steps down the beach. There is lots to do around the area, but the best thing might be walking the grounds, early morning or lat afternoon dips in the clear blue Tyrrhenian Sea simply having a drink at the bar and soaking in the timeless sensibility that permeates the place. Tech heads beware - internet is sketch, but come on...do you really need it here?

I saw this hotel online, and I was lucky enough to be able to drive to it before I booked the room…read more I'm sick and tired of hotels bamboozling us with pictures, then I arrive and it's a hell hole. They were nice enough to show us several rooms, so we were able to make our best decision. Since it's off-season, they gave us a great deal of only $75 a night for an Oceanview room. The room had everything we need including a refrigerator, shower, and Jacuzzi tub with jets etc. The pool area looks like a las Vegas pool, so we will be trying out the a spa at night. There is a restaurant and separate bar on site. In California this room would easily be $300 a night!

I recently booked this hotel for a one-week stay, and it turned out to be one of the worst hotel…read moreexperiences I've ever had. On the very first evening, when I stepped outside, there was a horrible smell of cow manure. I initially thought it might just be a one-time occurrence, but unfortunately, that was not the case. Every single evening, whenever we went outside by the pool, the smell was absolutely horrific and made it unpleasant to enjoy the outdoor area. Unfortunately, the problems didn't stop there. The hotel was nowhere near the 5-star standard it advertises. It was extremely outdated, and the flooring boards around the pool had broken pieces that were not only unsightly but also dangerous. I actually twisted my ankle because of the damaged flooring, which is completely unacceptable for a hotel claiming to be 5-star. After the third day, I went to the front desk and spoke with Alfredo to ask if I could check out early and receive a refund for the four unused nights. His response was incredibly rude, disrespectful, and completely unprofessional. He told me that I couldn't expect a refund for something they couldn't control, referring to the cow manure smell, and then told me that I was not welcome at the hotel and should leave. As I was leaving, he told me they would rent out my room to someone else, yet he offered absolutely no refund for the unused nights. I found this attitude appalling. Regardless of whether the hotel can control the smell outside, guests should still be treated with basic courtesy and respect, especially when they are paying for what is advertised as a 5-star experience. A few days later, I received a call from the hotel. They told me that if I released the room so they could rent it out to someone else for the four unused nights, they would refund me for just one night. After everything that had happened, this offer was insulting and completely failed to address the terrible experience we had. Between the horrific smell every evening, the outdated facilities, the dangerous broken flooring that caused me to twist my ankle, and the appalling way Alfredo treated me, this hotel fell far below even the most basic standards of hospitality. This was one of the worst hotel experiences I've had in Italy, and I will definitely never return. In my opinion, this hotel is a 2.5-star property at best, with 1-star customer service. The management seriously needs to educate its staff on how to treat paying guests with respect and professionalism. Hospitality is about more than just providing a room; it's about ensuring guests feel welcome, safe, and valued. I strongly recommend that others think twice before booking this hotel. Based on my experience, I would not recommend staying here.

The absolute cleanest hotel I have ever stayed in. Even in comparison to the big names. I loved the…read moreattention to detail in customer service. My husband and I visited Villa Rita on our honeymoon. The owner was kind, funny and named the establishment after his daughter who also works there. Dinner was amazing. It was kind of hard to find, but so worth it. It is across the street from the Roman ruins. Very secure and romantic. It was just lovely.