Escape to Paradise: Hotel La Floridiana, Capri's Hidden Gem
Escape to Paradise: Hotel La Floridiana, Capri – Prepare to be… Well, Prepare! (A Hot Mess Review)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to unleash a review of the Hotel La Floridiana in Capri, and let me tell you, it was a journey. Forget those sterile, bland reviews. We're diving DEEP. I've got to give you the gritty, the glorious, and the utterly baffling experience this place threw at me. And yes, I'm going to use some SEO, but unlike those robots, I’m fueled by espresso and pure, unadulterated opinion.
First Impressions: Capri, Oh Capri… And This Hotel?
So, you land in Capri. Picture this: stunning turquoise water, yachts that probably cost more than my house, and a general air of… well, expensive. Getting to La Floridiana is part of the fun (and potential headache). The whole thing is a bit… dramatic. Let’s just say the taxi situation on the island can be… interesting.
Accessibility (Ugh, the Details…):
Right, let's get the nitty gritty stuff out of the way. Accessibility is… variable. While there's an elevator, the whole vibe of Capri is a bit… cliffside. You know the drill! So, if you have mobility issues, be prepared for some potential challenges. I didn't personally test it, but the hotel's information states they have "facilities for disabled guests," which might be worth checking up on.
Rooms: My Sanctuary (Mostly)
Okay, let's talk about the rooms. My place had everything. It was clean and comfy. Here's some of what was Available in all rooms:
- Additional toilet: Great for those late-night gelato cravings (believe me, you'll have them).
- Air conditioning: Essential. Capri in summer is HOT.
- Alarm clock: I used my phone, but hey, options!
- Bathrobes & Slippers: Luxury. I love a good robe.
- Bathroom phone: Honestly, who needs this? But hey, it’s there.
- Bathtub: Yep!
- Blackout curtains: Crucial for beating the Capri sun.
- Carpeting: Some might not like it, but it was fine.
- Closet: Enough room for my ridiculously fashionable outfits.
- Coffee/tea maker/Complimentary tea: Very important for morning wake-up calls.
- Daily housekeeping: My room was always spotless.
- Desk: I even did some work at my desk.
- Extra long bed: Good for a good nights sleep.
- Free bottled water: Always appreciate this.
- Hair dryer: Check.
- High floor: I wanted a view.
- In-room safe box: Kept my passport safe.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless/Wi-Fi [free]: It worked well.
- Ironing facilities: No wrinkles!
- Laptop workspace: For those of us who still have to work.
- Linens: Clean and crisp.
- Mini bar: Stocked with tempting treats.
- Mirror: For selfies, obviously.
- Non-smoking: Thank the heavens.
- On-demand movies: No need to leave the room if you want to stay in!
- Private bathroom: Always a plus.
- Reading light: Perfect for late-night reading.
- Refrigerator: Essential for keeping those bottles of wine chilled.
- Safety/security feature: Always a plus.
- Satellite/cable channels: Entertainment.
- Scale: Terrifying, but necessary.
- Seating area: For lounging and feeling fancy.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Extra space.
- Shower: Yep.
- Slippers: I’m obsessed with slippers.
- Smoke detector: Safety first!
- Socket near the bed: Crucially for phone charging.
- Sofa: Comfortable.
- Soundproofing: Important for those late-night Capri parties.
- Telephone: Never used it.
- Toiletries: Nice ones.
- Towels: Soft and fluffy.
- Umbrella: Essential if you're there in the rainy season.
- Visual alarm: Important accessibility feature.
- Wake-up service: Perfect.
- Window that opens: Fresh air is the best.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Sensory Overload (In a Good Way!)
Okay, this is where La Floridiana really shines.
Restaurants: Yes, plural so you can try them all!
A la carte in restaurant: The most delicious options.
Asian cuisine in restaurant: A welcome change of pace.
Bar / Poolside bar: Cocktails with a view, people! This is what Capri is all about!
Breakfast [buffet]: I went to the breakfast buffet every single day, it was my favorite thing. Fresh fruit, pastries, and amazing coffee. Perfection.
Breakfast service / Breakfast takeaway service / Breakfast in room: They had amazing options.
Coffee/tea in restaurant / Coffee shop: So many cappuccinos!
Desserts in restaurant: Heaven on a plate.
Happy hour: Cocktails. Need I say more?
International cuisine in restaurant / Western cuisine in restaurant: Something for everyone.
Room service [24-hour]: Yes, please!
Snack bar: For those moments when you just need a quick bite.
Vegetarian restaurant: Always a great option to have.
My Biggest Love in Capri: The Pool With A View
Okay, so here's where I went completely gaga. Remember that "messy, honest, funny, and absolutely human" promise? Get ready. The Swimming pool [outdoor] at La Floridiana? Let’s just say it’s the stuff of Instagram dreams. Imagine this: a perfect infinity pool, perched on a cliffside, overlooking the shimmering Tyrrhenian Sea. You're floating on your back, a cocktail in hand, the sun warming your skin, and honestly, you can't even bear to look at your phone because the view is so breathtaking.
Relaxation? Oh, You Bet!
After a long day of exploring Capri, you can treat yourself.
- Body scrub: This was pure bliss.
- Body wrap: Relaxing.
- Foot bath: Ahhhh.
- Gym/fitness: If you can manage that after all the food and cocktails!
- Massage: Yes, please.
- Pool with view: My happy place.
- Sauna / Spa / Spa/sauna / Steamroom: The ultimate relaxation trifecta.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Protected
The Hotel La Floridiana made me feel very safe. And especially with all the Covid-19 pandemic happening.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Great.
- Cashless payment service: Simple and easy.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Peace of mind.
- First aid kit: Necessary.
- Hand sanitizer: Always available.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: All clean and great to have.
- Hygiene certification: A great plus!
- Individually-wrapped food options: A great option to have.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Great.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Great.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Again, peace of mind.
- Safe dining setup: Perfect.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Always.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Friendly and efficient.
- Sterilizing equipment: Perfect for a stay!
Things to Do (Beyond the Pool, of Course!)
Capri is more than just lounging (though, let's be honest, that's a big part of it).
- Things to do
- Car park [free of charge] / Car park [on-site]: Plenty of parking.
- Daily housekeeping: Making your room fresh again.
- Doorman/Concierge: They all took care of the important details.
- Dry cleaning / Ironing service / Laundry service: They did a great job!
- Elevator: Getting around.
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Gift/souvenir shop: Some beautiful items for gifts.
- Luggage storage: Always a plus.
- Safety deposit boxes: Keeps all your valuables safe.
- Terrace: Relax and take in the sun.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Always.
Services and Conveniences That Are Great To Have
- **Air conditioning in public area
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to descend into the glorious chaos that was my Capri trip. Let's just say, Hotel La Floridiana? More like La Gloriosiana, because it was all kinds of wonderful, and I'm still trying to peel the scent of lemon trees from my memory. Here's the lowdown, and trust me, it's not pretty.
Capri Caper: A Slightly Unhinged Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Immediate Existential Crisis (aka, Finding the Limoncello)
- Morning (Early - Like, 4 AM early because I can’t sleep before a trip): Wake up, shove clothes into a suitcase with the grace of a caffeinated squirrel. Panic about forgetting things (toothbrush? Check. Dignity? Nope, left that at home). Fly into Naples. The Naples airport? Let's just say it has a certain… charm. By charm, I mean it felt like a giant concrete oven and I felt like I was swimming in sweat before 9 AM.
- Mid-Morning: Took the ferry to Capri. Oh. My. God. The water. It was the kind of blue that makes you want to cry (in a good way). The boat? A tad cramped, but the view? Stunning. Almost forgot I was traveling alone. Almost.
- Lunch: Got to the hotel. Hotel La Floridiana is even prettier in person than in the brochure (which, given the brochure's dreamy aesthetic, is saying something). Checked in. They gave me Prosecco. They knew me. I immediately plopped myself on the balcony and soaked it all in. Seriously, the view from my room overlooked the ocean. I felt like I'd won the lottery, but with less paperwork and more sunshine.
- Afternoon: The immediate need. The urgent priority. Finding limoncello. This became the mission of the hour. Armed with a vague map and a thirst only a Capri afternoon could create, I stumbled (okay, maybe tripped once) towards the town center. Found it in a tiny little shop, where the owner, a woman who looked like she’d seen a few things (and probably served them in a shot glass), gave me a tiny taster. Boom. Sold. Bought a bottle. Slipped back to the hotel and promptly poured myself a generous serving. Crisis averted. Found out there's a beautiful pool there. Went to the pool.
- Evening: Wandered aimlessly, like a happy, sun-drenched idiot, through Capri town. The shops! The restaurants! The sheer chic-ness of it all! Ordered pasta (the best damn pasta I've ever had, I'm not kidding). Had a little weep of happiness. More limoncello. Fell into bed, utterly and completely content.
Day 2: Blue Grotto, Boat Battles, and My Inner Tourist (or How I Got My Hair Wet)
- Morning: The Blue Grotto. Everyone raves about it. So, you know, I had to do it. Hired a small boat with a cute Italian guy with a terrible tan. The ride there was gorgeous, stunning, breathtaking. Got to the entrance of the Blue Grotto and… the lineup was longer than the line for the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios. But that didn't stop me!
- Mid-Morning: Got to enter the Blue Grotto. I am not claustrophobic, but I started to get a bit of a sweat. The water’s REALLY blue, like, unnaturally blue. And then… I hit my head on the cave ceiling. The boat was tiny. I am tall. Whoops. A little bit of water went into my hair, so I felt like a drowned rat. But it was…a must-see. You can't deny its beauty.
- Afternoon: Decided to take a boat ride around the island. This, my friends, was the moment I learned I was, in fact, a tourist. I snapped photos of everything. The Faraglioni rocks? Click. The grottos? Click. The seagulls? Click, click, click! Felt a bit silly, but also, who cares? The views were unreal and the sun was glorious. Had an incredibly amazing and long lunch in one of the tiny harborfront restaurants. Had more pasta. More wine. Life was good.
- Evening: Tried, and failed, to find a restaurant that wasn't packed to the gills. Ended up at a tiny place tucked away in a side street with a view of the sunset. Ordered more pasta (surprise!). Met some lovely people, who were also tourists - it's hard to look cool while wearing a sun hat and a camera, huh? Ended up laughing and cracking jokes all night - had to stumble back to the hotel.
Day 3: Hike of Regret (and the Unexpected Beauty of Capri)
- Morning: Decided to be adventurous. Decided to hike the "Sentiero dei Fortini" (Path of the Forts). This involved a LOT of uphill walking. The first hour? I wasn’t sure I’d regret it - the views were stunning. The second hour? Pure, unadulterated pain. I was sweating, I was panting, I was questioning all my life choices.
- Mid-Morning: Made it to one of the forts. Sat on a rock, feeling like I'd aged a decade. Ate a sad little sandwich I’d packed. The view? Unreal. Worth the pain? Maybe. But don't let the photos fool you, ladies and gentlemen. This was hard.
- Afternoon: Tried to find a gelato shop as a reward for my hike, but I was completely off course. Ended up in some back alley. Found another gelato shop - a hole in the wall that served the best gelato I’d ever tasted. This, my friends, helped soothe the agony in my knees.
- Evening: Ate dinner at the Hotel. They made an amazing pasta that I ate like a hog. Sat on the balcony, drank some wine, and watched the moon rise over the ocean. Felt inexplicably happy. Fell asleep immediately (again).
Day 4: Departure & The Unfinished Business
- Morning: Reluctantly packed my suitcase. One last walk around town. One last limoncello. One last gelato. Said goodbye to the Hotel La Floridiana - they were perfect hosts!
- Mid-Morning: Ferry back to Naples. The view? Still stunning. The thought of going back to my life? Less so.
- Afternoon: Departure from Naples. Looked back, longing, at the island. Capri, you were glorious. I will be back. I have unfinished limoncello business, and I need to find that hole-in-the-wall gelato shop again.
Post-Trip Ramblings:
Capri. It’s cliché, it’s beautiful, it’s expensive, and it's utterly worth it. It's where I became a slightly less-polished version of myself, a little more sun-kissed, a little more prone to spontaneous gelato cravings, and a whole lot more in love with life. Go. Just go. But pack more sunscreen than you think you need. And maybe a bigger hat, if you're tall. You'll thank me later. Now, where's that limoncello?
Crete's Hidden Gem: Kantouni 2 Apartment - Your Dream Heraklion Stay!
Is Hotel La Floridiana REALLY as magical as it looks in the photos? Because, let's be real, Instagram lies.
Okay, so it's pretty. But is it *expensive* expensive? Like "I'm-gonna-have-to-live-off-ramen-for-six-months" expensive?
The reviews mention a fantastic breakfast. Is that real-life fantastic, or "hotel breakfast" fantastic? Because there's a difference.
What's the best way to get to La Floridiana Hotel? I’m easily confused and prone to travel-related meltdowns.
Is there a pool? Because I'm a pool person. And if there is, is it a decent pool?
Are there any downsides? Because even paradise must have a crack somewhere, right?
Okay, I'VE booked my trip. What should I pack? Because I'm the queen of overpacking, and I'm trying to be better.
