Hotel Palumbo - Ravello, Italy     

On the strength of other reviews, we booked the Palumbo as a treat to finish our week on the wonderful Amalfi coast. It was ghastly. The hotel clearly wasn't ready, English-speaking staff had to be rustled up, painters were moving ladders, ashtrays full of cigarette ends, washing hanging outside, they hadn't bothered to unnet the lemon trees (everyone else had). It wouldn't have been worth the asking price anyway - very run down and God help them, another hotel is in the process of being built next door which doesn't help the view any. We explained we were very unhappy and that we felt they had misrepresented themselves but the owner was utterly uninterested - they had my credit card details and simply deducted the night's stay. We didn't stay, put the cost down to experience and moved next door but one to the fabulous Caruso who took pity on us and gave us a generous deal on a wonderful suite. Ravello is beautiful but avoid the Palumbo.

We have just finished spending 4 nights at the hotel in November 2007. Genteel decay is one thing , actually allowing a hotel to go completely to seed is another. Facilities are decrepit , room rates are exorbitant for what you get. The almost entirely Sri Lankan (!!!) staff speaks no English .Most of the furniture is falling apart, water stains on ceilings are everywhere & our room had cockroaches !! Internet WiFi access requires you to sit within 5 feet of the front reception or else there is no signal. Drying laundry hangs outside some windows. There is an aloofness to the staff that makes for a very uncomfortable ambience and a complete unwillingness to tackle issues. Comments or suggestions about shortfalls in services get a very Italian shrug in response. TV's in the rooms have no English channels at all & while management does think this is an issue for a hotel that has over 70% of it's guests coming from outside Italy, there is no inclination to do anything about it. . This place needs a complete makeover & some money spent on decor , furniture & facilities. What is very clear is that management is doing it's utmost to avoid having to spend any more money on the establishment . I suggest travellers do the same. Avoid.