Salerno's Hidden Gem: Unbelievable Residence Belvedere Awaits!
Unbelievable? More Like… Bellissimo! A Deep Dive into Salerno's Hidden Gem, Residence Belvedere
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to spill the espresso beans on Residence Belvedere in Salerno. Forget those glossy brochures, I'm giving you the real, unfiltered deal. They say it's a hidden gem, and honestly? They ain't wrong. But like any gem, it's got its facets, some sparkly, some… well, let’s just say they're character-building.
Accessibility: (A Nervous Start)
Okay, full disclosure: I'm not a wheelchair user, but I did have a friend along for the trip who uses a cane. The website promised "facilities for disabled guests," and I'm always skeptical of that vague promise. Getting to the Belvedere was already an adventure – Salerno sprawls up the hills! – and thankfully, the staff were super helpful with luggage. The elevator was a godsend. Inside the building, the corridors seemed wide enough, and our room felt accessible. However, and this is a big "however," the bathroom had a slightly narrow entrance. My friend managed, but it's something to double-check with the hotel before you book if you need absolute, guaranteed accessibility. They really should have that specified better.
**On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges? **
Didn’t see much in the way of designated accessible restaurants per se, but the general layout of the dining area seemed fairly accommodating. We're talking about simple spaces. The "lounge" area was just a comfy spot near the reception desk, and it seemed fine for anyone.
Wheelchair Accessible?
See above. Mostly passable, but call ahead and be specific with your needs. They'll tell you honestly, I think.
Internet, Oh Glorious Internet! (and Wi-Fi Woes)
Okay, let's talk internet. The website boasted "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" and "Internet [LAN]". Hmph. Initially, the Wi-Fi was spotty. Like, really spotty. I swear, I spent half my time wandering the halls, desperately searching for a decent signal. It was a constant struggle! My partner ended up tethering to her phone for work calls. The LAN, though? That was a different story. That connection was rock solid. I mean, I felt like I was back in the early 2000's running a cable to my laptop. It felt… nostalgic? It made me feel like a hacker on the internet, like I was pulling down secret files. The internet services were available… it just varied wildly depending on my location.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: (A Bit of Paradise?)
Alright, let's get to the good stuff. The Belvedere has a pool with a view – and what a view! It overlooks the Amalfi Coast, and it's stunning. I spent a solid afternoon just floating there, pretending I was living in a Fellini film. The pool area also has a poolside bar, which is a dream. Aperol Spritz, anyone? Definitely yes!
There's a gym/fitness center. I intended to use it. Let's just say, the allure of the pool won. As for the spa, the sauna, the steam room… well, I saw them, but I mostly luxuriated in the pool and then spent a lot of time in my soft bathrobe. It seemed like a good life. They offered massages, a spa… I'm not a spa person, so I can't speak to the quality.
Cleanliness and Safety: (COVID-Era Considerations)
Okay, let's be honest, traveling during a pandemic is stressful. However, the Belvedere took it seriously. They had all the usual things: hand sanitizers everywhere, staff in masks, and clear signage about distancing. Our room was definitely sanitized before our arrival, and they offered room sanitization opt-out. We did love that they gave us individually-wrapped food options – which, as a germaphobe – I appreciated. The daily disinfection of common areas was also reassuring. They had all the right stuff. It felt more like a hospital clean at times, but it made me feel much safer.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: (The Food Coma)
The breakfast buffet was decent. Nothing mind-blowing, but they had a good selection of the usual suspects: pastries, fruit, cereal, etc. The "Western breakfast" was pretty much what you'd expect. They did have some Asian options, I seem to recall. It was nice. You could even get "Breakfast in room" if you were feeling particularly lazy (highly recommended). The coffee was good. The coffee shop in general? Pretty good. I found myself there several times a day.
The restaurant itself had a good selection. I'll admit, I mostly stuck to the pizza and pasta – when in Rome (or, you know, Salerno). The "A la carte in restaurant" menu had some excellent choices but you could also ask for Alternative meal arrangement, which was good. They had a bar, and the poolside bar was a lifesaver. They also had Happy Hour.
I particularly enjoyed the desserts. They were pretty heavenly.
Services and Conveniences: (The Little Things)
The Belvedere offered all the usual services: Concierge, Daily housekeeping, Laundry, Luggage storage, Dry cleaning. The staff were generally lovely and helpful. They even had a cash withdrawal machine, which was handy.
For the Kids: (Not a Kindergarden, but…)
I’m not a parent, so I can't tell you exactly if it's kid-friendly, but they had some Kids facilities. They said they offered babysitting services. It's definitely not a dedicated "family resort," but it seemed accommodating enough.
Access, Getting Around & Safety/Security:
Ah, access. As I said earlier, the hotel is up on the hills, so the drive is part of the experience. They offer an Airport transfer service. They also had a Car park [free of charge], which was great - I wouldn't want to have to park. The rooms were well-equipped, and air-conditioned. They had a safe for the valuables (always a plus). Smoke alarms were there, as you would expect.
Available in All Rooms: (My Private Sanctuary)
Okay, the rooms. They're not huge, but they're comfortable. The "Air conditioning" was essential in the Salerno heat. The "Bathrobes" were so, so soft. The "Coffee/tea maker" was a lifesaver, and there was "complimentary tea". They had a "desk" if you needed to work, and a "seating area" for lounging. "Daily housekeeping" kept things tidy. We had "Free bottled water," which was a nice touch. The "Minibar" was stocked, albeit a bit pricey. The "Wi-Fi [free]" was… well, you know. The "Window that opens" was great for fresh air. The "Shower" was decent, and the "Toiletries" were fine. Basically, the room had everything you needed, plus a few extra treats.
The Rambling Conclusion:
Residence Belvedere is a real mixed bag. The Wi-Fi could be better. Accessibility could be improved with clearer information. But then you've got that view, the delicious pool, the lovely staff, the general feeling of being tucked away in a charming corner of Italy. It's not perfect, but it's got a certain… je ne sais quoi. Would I go back? Absolutely. I'd just make sure to arm myself with a data plan and a good book, ready to face whatever the internet gods throw my way. It's a place that feels special. It's imperfectly perfect, and that, my friends, is what makes it a true hidden gem. Now, if only I could find that Aperol Spritz recipe… Ciao!
Escape to Paradise: Sundown Resort & Austrian Pension, Boracay!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! You're in for a trip report that's less "perfectly curated Instagram feed" and more "slightly hysterical travel journal scribbled on a napkin after three espressos." We're talking SALERNO, baby! Specifically, the Residence Belvedere. Let's dive in… or maybe, cautiously wade in, because honestly, my Italian is atrocious.
Day 1: Arrival and Immediate Regret (Just Kidding! Sort Of.)
- Morning (6:00 AM – 9:00 AM, Ugh): Wake up. Flight from… (Details redacted to protect my sanity, which is already teetering). Airport chaos. You know the drill. Lost luggage potential looming. That little knot of anxiety starts to form in your stomach, the one that whispers, "You forgot your toothbrush." (Spoiler alert: I actually did forget my toothbrush. It's a metaphor for my whole life, really.)
- Morning (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM): Land in Naples. Naples! It's vibrant, noisy, and smells like… well, a city. Find the pre-booked shuttle. Pre-booked, mind you. Meaning it should be there. It wasn't. Cue minor panic. Eventually, a sweaty, slightly late driver with a questionable knowledge of English appears, and we're on our way. The drive is… gorgeous. Seriously, coastline porn. I start to forget about my forgotten toothbrush.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM – 2:00 PM): Arrive at Residence Belvedere in Salerno. Wow. The view is… gasp. The photos don't lie. It's perched on a cliff, overlooking the glittering Tyrrhenian Sea. Suddenly, the forgotten toothbrush seems trivial. Check-in. Attempt to speak Italian. Fail gloriously. The lovely receptionist just smiles knowingly. I suspect she's seen worse. (And let's be honest, she probably has.)
- Afternoon (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM): Unpack (mostly). Realize I definitely forgot my toothbrush. Curse past me. Wander around the apartment. It's… charming. Slightly dated, but charming. The balcony? To die for. I take a hundred photos. Delete half because they're blurry. (My phone is a relic, okay?)
- Afternoon (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM): Explore Salerno. Walk towards the Duomo (cathedral). Get completely lost. Embrace the lost-ness. Discover a tiny gelateria that serves the pistachio gelato of my dreams. Literally, a dream. Every bite is a religious experience. This gelato fixes EVERYTHING. Even my forgotten toothbrush.
- Evening (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Attempt to find a restaurant. Walk aimlessly. Give up. Stumble upon a little trattoria that looks promising. The waiter speaks some English. Order pasta with seafood. Accidentally order a carafe of house red wine. The wine is… potent. The pasta is heavenly. I make a mental note to buy gelato again tomorrow.
- Evening (8:00 PM – 9:00 PM): Wander back to the Residence. Sit on the balcony. Watch the sunset. Feel overwhelmingly… happy. The day was rough, and tired, but this view is magic.
- Evening (9:00 PM – Whenever): Crash. Hard. Because jet lag, wine, and the pure exhaustion of being a tourist.
Day 2: The Amalfi Coast - Overwhelming Beauty and Near Disaster (My Fault)
- Morning (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Wake up. Admire the view. Remember the gelato. Mentally high-five myself for this trip.
- Morning (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM): Figure out how to drive (relatively) carefully. Rent a tiny Fiat. It's red. I'm going to drive along the Amalfi Coast! This is either going to be amazing or a total train wreck. I'm guessing the latter. (I'm not the best driver.)
- Morning (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): The Amalfi Coast. Oh. My. God. The roads are terrifyingly narrow. The views are breathtakingly gorgeous. I scream a little (a lot) but in a good way. Drive to Positano. Positano is… postcard perfect. It's also crawling with tourists. And steep steps. So. Many. Steps. I start to wheeze.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Lunch in Positano. Find a little restaurant overlooking the sea. Order something delicious. (I can't remember what but it was good, I was in shock from the views.) The prices are, shall we say, inflated. Worth it, though. Take a hundred more photos. Almost drop my phone in the sea. Almost. (Seriously, I'm clumsy.)
- Afternoon (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM): Attempt to leave Positano. The traffic is a nightmare. The roads are even narrower than I remembered. I make a wrong turn. End up driving up a tiny, impossibly steep street that is clearly not meant for cars. Panic sets in. I scrape the side of the Fiat against a wall. Feel like a complete idiot. (I'm definitely an idiot.)
- Afternoon (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Find a kind local who guides me out of the situation. (Thank you, kind stranger! You saved my life… figuratively and possibly literally.) Apologize to the Fiat. Vow to be a better driver. (I lie.)
- Afternoon (4:00 PM - 7:00 PM): Drive (mostly) back to Salerno. The drive is less terrifying this time. Stop at a scenic overlook. Watch the sunset. Drink a little more wine. (Don't judge.)
- Evening (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Back at the Residence. Collapse on the balcony. Contemplate the meaning of life. (Or maybe just the meaning of the Amalfi Coast traffic.)
- Evening (9:00 PM - Whenever): Order pizza. Eat it. Fall asleep.
Day 3: Salerno Exploration and a Truly Amazing Experience
- Morning (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM): Explore the Salerno. Walk again through Via dei Mercanti (the main shopping street) and look for a toothbrush (there are some amazing shops here, and the gelato is always a good idea).
- Morning (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Take a ferry or travel to the next town, Amalfi, exploring the historic town.
- Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Have lunch.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM): Visit the cathedral.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Travel back to Salerno
- Evening (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Enjoy another amazing dinner at an awesome restaurant.
- Evening (9:00 PM - 10:00 PM): Go back to the Residence and enjoy the view!
Day 4: Departure (With a Sigh and a Promise to Return)
- Morning (7:00 AM – 8:00 AM): Wake up. Sigh. Pack (mostly). Eat the last of the gelato. Wish I'd bought more.
- Morning (8:00 AM – 9:00 AM): Farewell to the balcony view. Take one last photo. Delete it. Take another. This time, I keep it.
- Morning (9:00 AM – 10:00 AM): Check out. Say goodbye to the lovely receptionist. (I actually managed to say "grazie" and "arrivederci" this time! Victory!)
- Morning (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM): Start the journey back to the airport.
- Afternoon (11:00 AM – 12:00 PM): Airport madness. The flight.
- The End: Home. Exhausted. Still without a toothbrush.
Belvedere, Salerno - You *Have* to Know This! (Or Maybe Not...My Head's Still Spinning)
Okay, So, Belvedere: What *Exactly* Is It? Because the Brochure Was...Vague.
Alright, picture this: Salerno, right? Gorgeous coast. And then... tucked away, like a secret handshake only cool kids know, is Belvedere. It's supposed to be a "residence." Honestly, it's more like a portal. Think less "hotel," more "eccentric aunt’s spectacularly decorated, impossibly romantic apartment you can only get to via a series of staircases that would cripple a mountain goat and a taxi driver who clearly has a death wish." It's a place, y'know? A *place*. And that's all you need to know, really. (I still haven’t figured out precisely *what* it is, mind you. It's…experiential.)
Getting There: Am I Going To Need a Sherpa? And Can I Actually BRING MY LUGGAGE?
YES. And YES. Look, the brochure *hinted* at steps. THEY LIED. They straight-up, *stole* steps from the ancient gods to build this place. My suitcase? Dear God, I felt like I was carrying a small, screaming child up Everest. My taxi driver? He looked like he'd just escaped from a high-speed chase. He kept muttering something about “Salerno’s secret paths” – I’m pretty sure he meant “Salerno’s illegal driving licenses.” Advice? Pack LIGHT. And tip the taxi driver generously. You'll need him again (or at least, someone who knows the way...and isn't afraid of gravity). Maybe even buy him dinner. He'll appreciate it..
The Rooms: Are They...Actually Livable? Or Just Instagrammable?
Okay, *this* is where Belvedere justifies the madness. "Instagrammable"? Oh, honey, it's practically begging to be photographed. Think: exposed brick, cascading bougainvillea, a balcony that quite possibly hangs over the ocean's edge. The *smell*! Coffee brewing, and the sea air. But, and there's a but, and it's a big, gorgeous, messy Italian but…they’re also *livable*. Not sterile, mind you. Expect imperfections. A slightly wonky door, a paint chip here or there, a view that'll steal your heart. The last part happened to me, specifically. I spent a good hour just staring at the view, mouth agape, forgetting I should probably unpack. It's homey. It's characterful. It's got *soul*. And the espresso machine? Be still, my beating heart.
The Breakfast: Is It Worth the Climb Back Up for? (Because, seriously...)
YES. A thousand times YES. Look, I'm not a morning person, but that breakfast? It was a religious experience. Freshly baked bread, local cheeses that made me weep with joy, the best goddamn espresso I’ve ever had in my LIFE. And fruit. So much glorious, impossibly ripe fruit! I distinctly remember someone, who I *think* was the owner, bringing me a plate and saying "Eat. You need this," with that look in their eyes which told me I would not be arguing.. The climb? Worth it. (Though, I may have needed to nap for an hour after.) Seriously. The climb is a test, the breakfast is the reward.
The Staff: Are They...Helpful? Or Do They Speak in Riddles?
Okay, the staff. They're...Italian. Which means they're possibly the most welcoming, chaotic, and utterly charming people you'll ever meet. My experience? Let's just say I was greeted with more hugs than actual instructions. They seem to KNOW what you need and when. They're helpful in that way that makes you feel like you've wandered into a family. They're absolutely the best. I kept thinking "how do these people *know* what I want before I even ask?!"
The View: Seriously, Is It *That Good*?
Okay. I'm going to get real with you. The view? It's one of those views that you just...stare at. I honestly spent hours on the balcony, just…nothing. Taking in the view. It's overwhelming. The ocean, the mountains, the little houses clinging to the cliffs, the boats bobbing in the harbor... It's the *reason* you come to Belvedere. It's the reason you'll forget about the stairs (sort of). It's the reason you'll cry when you leave. Yes. It's *that* good. Just, trust me. Just...trust me on this one.
Any Downsides? Because Nothing’s Perfect… Right?
Alright, let’s be honest. The stairs. THE STAIRS. Seriously. I'm still recovering. And, depending on your room, the water pressure is, shall we say, *sporadic*. Also, there's the "rustic" aspect. Which is Italian for "not always state-of-the-art." The Wi-Fi? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Consider it a digital detox. Embrace it. The only real problem is...leaving. It's a hard place to leave.
Would You Go Back? (And Are You SURE You Aren't Just a Little Bit Crazy?)
Would I go back? Honey, I'm already booking my return trip. (As soon as my leg muscles recover.) Am I crazy? Maybe. But this is a good kind of crazy. A happy, view-obsessed, espresso-fueled kind of crazy. It's an experience, not just a place to sleep. If you want sterile and predictable, go to a chain hotel. If you want something real, something unforgettable, and something that will stay with you forever...book Belvedere. And pack your hiking boots. Seriously.
Is There Anything *I* Should Know That You Haven't Mentioned?
Oh, yes. One thing. Bribe the owner. He apparently knows everyone and can get you into places others can only dream of. It's worth it. I was once sitting beside the owner in a trattoria, drinkingHotelicity
