Prince Franklyn Hotel: Your Castellabate Dream Awaits!
Prince Franklyn Hotel: Your Castellabate Dream Awaits!
Prince Franklyn Hotel: My Castellabate Dream…Mostly! (A Messy Review)
Alright, let's be honest. Planning a trip to Italy is a dream. Castellabate? Even more dreamy. And Prince Franklyn Hotel? Well, going in, the website practically screamed "luxury and relaxation!" Did it deliver? Buckle up, buttercup, because this is gonna be a ride. Prepare for a whirlwind of pros, cons, and my utterly unedited thoughts.
Metadata, Because Apparently, Robots Care About This Stuff:
- Keywords: Prince Franklyn Hotel, Castellabate, Italy, Hotel Review, Accessibility, Spa, Swimming Pool, Restaurant, Wi-Fi, Family Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible, Cilento Coast, Italian Vacation.
- Meta Description: A brutally honest review of the Prince Franklyn Hotel in Castellabate, Italy. Discover if it lives up to the hype, with insights on accessibility, amenities, dining, and more. From breathtaking views to quirky shortcomings, this is your real-world guide.
First Impressions and the Great Elevator Debacle (Accessibility & Services)
My first impression? Stunning views. Seriously, the Cilento Coast is ridiculously gorgeous. The hotel itself? Okay, let's be real. The website photos are a little airbrushed, but the location? Unbeatable.
Now, I’m not in a wheelchair, but I always appreciate a hotel that says it's accessible. Prince Franklyn does (and I'm marking it on the list). Accessibility: Check! They have a couple of rooms that are supposed to be built to those kind of standards. But… and there's always a but… I saw the elevator a few times. Sometimes, it worked. Other times? Well, let's just say I saw a few frustrated faces. My advice? Double-check their current condition if accessibility is a must-have. They do have an elevator (score!), and all services and conveniences: are right there, including a concierge that was generally helpful, daily housekeeping (thank god), and luggage storage. Bonus points for the car park [free of charge] – parking in Italy is a nightmare, and it being free was a HUGE win. There's even an airport transfer, which is a godsend after a long flight, although I didn't personally use it. They were also doing contactless check-in/out, which felt very modern.
Rooms: My Little Slice of… Mostly Serenity (Available in All Rooms & Safety)
Okay, my room. It was pretty decent. The air conditioning was a lifesaver – trust me, Italian summers are brutal. They weren't kidding about the extra-long bed, which was amazing for a tall guy. The blackout curtains did a great job of keeping the sun out, letting me sleep off the entire journey - so important! There's a desk, a coffee/tea maker, a refrigerator perfect for keeping those local beers cold, free bottled water, and even those fancy bathrobes. All rooms have Wi-fi [free], so the internet access – wireless was really important, and they had a desk for the times I needed to connect . Non-smoking rooms, of course, which is standard.
Now, for the downers. The soundproofing wasn't perfect. I'm a light sleeper, and let's just say I got to know the neighbor's snoring intimately. And while the bathroom phone was cool, who actually uses those anymore? The shower was okay, but nothing to write home about. Still, safety/security feature, including a safety box and smoke detector, made me feel secure. I even saw a fire extinguisher – always a good sign.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Mixed Bag (Dining, Drinking, and Snacking)
The food scene was… complicated. The breakfast [buffet] was a classic case of quantity over quality. Lots of choices (Western breakfast, Asian breakfast, a solid buffet in restaurant), but nothing to scream about. The coffee was decent, though. As for the other food options, they had restaurants but I'm not really a fan of a la carte in restaurant. There was also a coffee/tea in restaurant which was great.
They had some good options: desserts in restaurant, salad in restaurant, and a good bar for drinks. Poolside bar was a nice treat. I'm not a huge fan of soup in restaurant.
The Spa and Relaxation Zone: Ahhhh… (Ways to Relax)
This is where Prince Franklyn almost redeemed itself. The spa was lovely. I got a massage that was pure bliss. They had a sauna, steamroom, and swimming pool (in and out, both were swimming pool [outdoor]). The pool with view was the absolute highlight. I spent a good chunk of time just staring out at the endless blue. They have all the usuals: body scrub, and body wrap. It was seriously the perfect spot to just chill. And there's a fitness center, but I'm not the type.
Cleanliness and Safety: Pandemic Pandemonium? (Cleanliness and Safety)
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room: COVID. They were trying. They had a hand sanitizer station in the lobby, and the staff trained in safety protocol. Anti-viral cleaning products were supposedly used, and they do daily disinfection in common areas. They even had room sanitization opt-out available, which I thought was a nice touch. Rooms sanitized between stays. However, I didn't see the professional-grade sanitizing services in action, and let's be honest, it's impossible to know how thoroughly they cleaned. They also had some interesting choices, like the individually-wrapped food options, which felt more wasteful than safe, and a safe dining setup with sanitized kitchen and tableware items.
For the Kids and Beyond (Services and Conveniences & For the Kids)
They were definitely family-friendly, Family/child friendly. The kids meal looked pretty standard, and they offer babysitting service. Not applicable to me, but good for the families.
Quirks, Annoyances, and My Overall Verdict:
Look, Prince Franklyn isn't perfect. There were moments where I was slightly frustrated (the elevator!), some where I was just overjoyed (that spa!), and others where I was just… meh. The food could be better, and the soundproofing needs work. But the location? The views? The ability to just be in Castellabate? That's what you're paying for.
Final Verdict: 7.5/10. Would recommend, with caveats. Go for the views, the spa, and the chance to explore this incredible corner of Italy. Just be prepared for a few bumps along the way.
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups! Because we’re about to dive headfirst into my spectacularly imperfect, joyously messy, and utterly opinionated trip to the Prince Franklyn Hotel in Castellabate, Italy. Prepare for a wild ride, because I'm still recovering from the sheer BEAUTY and the occasional, well, disaster of it all.
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and Aperol Spritz Supremacy
13:00 - ARRIVAL: Finally! After what felt like a transatlantic slog involving questionable airplane food and a near-meltdown in the Rome airport (seriously, why are Italian train stations so chaotic?!), we stumble, sweaty and slightly disoriented, into the Prince Franklyn. The hotel, nestled on a cliff overlooking the turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea, is even more stunning than the pictures. Honestly, it felt like walking onto a movie set. Except I'm the lead, naturally.
14:00 - ROOM REVELATION (and slight panic): Our room! Sigh. Tiny, yes, but the balcony?! The view?! Forget it. I want to live here. I spend a solid five minutes just staring, mouth agape, at the endless blue. Then, the panic hits. Will I even deserve this gorgeousness? Will I accidentally knock over a priceless antique?! I promptly decide that I MUST maintain a state of near-constant vigilance.
15:00 - APERITIVO HOUR: The Holy Grail. Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic, but the Aperol Spritz at the hotel bar was a religious experience. Light, bubbly, the perfect blend of bitter and sweet. I'm pretty sure the bartender, a charming older gentleman with twinkling eyes (and, let's be honest, a very suave mustache), was a professional Spritz whisperer. I have three. THREE! (And no regrets. Zero.)
17:00 - FIRST STROLL (and a near-death experience with a scooter): I bravely venture out to explore Castellabate. The village itself is a medieval masterpiece, a jumble of narrow, winding streets, overflowing flower boxes, and the clatter of Vespas. I was nearly mowed down by one, which I will always remember. I felt as if I was in a movie. I remember clinging to a wall while the scooter roared, feeling the sun on my face, the air in my lungs. The incident left me trembling but ultimately ecstatic.
20:00 - DINNER, DISASTER, and Deliciousness: Dinner at the hotel's restaurant. The food was… inconsistent, to put it mildly. My pasta was perfection, a symphony of fresh seafood and lemon. My partner's, however, was undercooked. We sent it back, which was awkward. But the wine? The wine redeemed everything. Rich, bold, and everything in between. The waiter, bless his heart, comped our dessert (tiramisu, naturally) to make up for the pasta kerfuffle. Honestly, a small price to pay for that view.
Day 2: Beach Bliss (and a Battle with a Sand Flea)
09:00 - BREAKFAST, BLESSINGS, and Bellyaches: Their hotel breakfast buffet. The Italians do things right. Amazing coffee and baked goods.
10:00 - BEACH DAY! The hotel has access to a private beach. Picture this: powdery sand, crystal-clear water, and the rhythmic crash of the waves. Pure bliss. I spent the morning alternating between swimming, sunbathing, and reading my trashy beach novel.
12:00 - SAND FLEA ATTACK: My idyllic beach day was brutally interrupted. I started itching. Horrifically itching. Turns out, I'd been ambushed by a sand flea. A sand flea! Honestly, the indignity! I spent the rest of the afternoon scratching and cursing, convinced I was going to turn into a giant, itchy blob.
14:00 - LUNCH (and a desperate search for anti-itch cream): Lunch at a beachside trattoria. Pasta with clams, the taste of summer. I was too preoccupied to fully enjoy it.
16:00 - THE SAND FLEA WAR CONTINUES: Back at the hotel. The itch had won. I looked like I'd broken out in chickenpox. I was beginning to suspect a full-blown allergy, convinced my body would turn bright red and explode. The front desk took pity on my misery after I was about to lose it. They recommended a local pharmacy, which was my new best friend.
20:00 - DINNER & DARKNESS: We ventured out for dinner in the village. Walking through the narrow streets. I thought being in Italy would solve all my problems. The itch was still there.
Day 3: Excursion, Emotional Exhaustion, and Epiphany
09:00 - WAKE-UP and Recovery: Another heavenly breakfast. I still had a little bit of an itch.
10:30 - BOAT TRIP FROM HELL: I made a decision to organize a tour of the Amalfi coast. I really thought the trip was going to be a fun one. The boat was pretty. The sun? Spectacular. The views? Absolutely breathtaking. But the sea was rough! I ended up seasick for most of it. I think I threw up several times. It was a truly awful experience.
14:00 - RECOVERY AT HOTEL: Back at the hotel, exhausted, slightly green, and emotionally drained. I took a long, hot shower, which I spent sitting in the back of the tub.
16:00 - THE VIEW, THE TRUTH, THE TEARS: I went out on the balcony and just looked at the sea. And in that moment, I understood. I was being too hard on myself. Too focused on the minor imperfections. I'd been letting the "what ifs" of the sand flea and the rough seas steal my joy. I broke down and cried, a good, cleansing cry.
19:00 - DINNER, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE: We went to this little restaurant, the best in town. The food was rustic, flavorful, and incredibly charming. The conversation flowed. No more anxiety.
Day 4: The Prince Franklyn, Farewell, and Future Travels
09:00 - BREAKFAST: After a pretty horrible night. I was too tired to think about my day.
11:00 - EXPLORATION AND ART We took a day strolling through the streets and admiring the paintings. I had a very emotional reaction.
14:00 - THE SADNESS OF LEAVING: Farewell lunch. This was it, the final hours. I felt a pang of sadness.
16:00 - A FINAL SPRITZ: one last toast to the trip!
Final Thoughts:
Prince Franklyn, you beautiful, flawed, magnificent place. You were the perfect getaway. Even, or perhaps because of, the imperfections. I came, I saw, I got bitten by a sand flea (seriously, still itchy!), I nearly hurled on a boat, I cried, I laughed. And I wouldn't trade a single chaotic, imperfect moment.
Italy, I will return. And I'll be better prepared for those Vespas!
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Is the Prince Franklyn *really* as amazing as everyone says? (And should I even *believe* them?)
Alright, let's be honest. The testimonials are *a lot*. I saw one woman practically write a sonnet about the morning croissants. And yeah, *yes*, it's pretty darn amazing. But "amazing" is subjective, right? I mean, I'm a sucker for a view that practically begs you to take a selfie, and Prince Franklyn delivers on that, big time. Picture this: you're bleary-eyed from jet lag, you stumble onto your balcony... and BAM! Turquoise water, sun-drenched buildings climbing up the hill... I swear, I almost cried. Seriously, that first morning? Epic.
But hold your horses! It's not *perfect*. One time, the elevator decided to take a nap during a crucial (aka, me needing a pre-dinner Aperol spritz) moment. Slightly annoying. But even that became part of the charm because it's Italy, and things happen. Embrace it.
Okay, so the view is killer. Anything else? What about the rooms? Are they actually clean? And what about the bathrooms, good lord, let's not talk about bad bathrooms...
Clean? Oh, yeah, clean. Like, 'my-mother-would-approve' clean. And I say that as someone who brings anti-bacterial wipes *everywhere*. Seriously, meticulous. The rooms? Charming. Not like, minimalist-Instagram-ready charming, more like, 'lived-in-Italian-family-house' charming. Some have balconies, some have patios – ask for a balcony, you won't regret it.
Bathrooms? *Fantastic*. Clean, modern, with decent water pressure (a HUGE deal in Italy, trust me on this). No mold, which is a win in my book. Okay, one time the shower drain was a *little* slow, like, I-had-to-stand-on-a-chair-to-avoid-flooding slow. But I blame the beautiful, old pipes – character, people! Character!
The food! Everyone raves about the food! Is it worth the hype? (Because, let's be real, I'm mostly there for the pasta.)
Oh, the food. Sweet baby Jesus, the food. Okay, so the breakfast buffet? Don't even get me started. The croissants the woman wrote a sonnet about? Yeah, they're real. Flaky, buttery, perfect. The coffee? Proper Italian coffee. Strong, delicious, and it’ll jolt you awake without the American-coffee-induced jitters (you know what I mean). Tons of little things to grab and enjoy to get you going.
Dinner? Prepare for a culinary adventure. Fresh, local ingredients (hello, tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes!), amazing seafood (the grilled octopus… *swoon*), and pasta that will make you weep with joy. Seriously, I had a pasta with clams that was so good, I almost licked the plate. Did I *actually* lick the plate? Well… maybe. Don’t judge me! And the wine list? *Chefs kiss*. Local wines, perfectly paired with each dish. My bank account didn't love it, but my stomach? Bliss.
What about the staff? Are they friendly? I'm a bit of a handful. (Okay, a *lot* of a handful.)
The staff? They’re a delight. Seriously, some of the friendliest people I've ever met. They're patient, they speak good English (better than my broken Italian, that's for sure), and they’re incredibly helpful. They seem genuinely happy to be there. They’ve seen me at my worst (hangry, after too much wine, etc.) and still managed a smile. One time, I locked myself out of my room... at 2 AM. They were there in a flash, laughing with me instead of at me. Pure class.
They're also great at recommendations – ask them where to go, what to see, where to find the best gelato. They know the insider secrets that you won’t find in the guidebooks.
Location, Location, Location! Is it actually *in* Castellabate? Is it easy to get around?
Yes! Totally in Castellabate. You're right in the heart of the action, but also somehow removed from the chaos. And "chaos" is a good word to describe the best parts of italian lifestyle. You can easily walk to the main square, the shops, and some of the restaurants. You can also quickly get to beaches, which is heaven.
The main point is, it’s perfect. You can easily walk to the main square, the shops, and some of the restaurants. You can also quickly get to beaches, which is a must-see for beautiful Castellabate. They have a good partnership with the local taxis and they can help you with anything you need.
Any downsides? (Because every place has *something*.)
Okay, honesty time. The pool is a little small. But come on, you're in Italy! The sea is right there! And remember that elevator incident? That wasn't ideal. Also, parking can be a bit tricky during peak season. But honestly? Minor inconveniences. I'd still go back in a heartbeat. I'm already planning my next trip, which I can't wait to take.
Is it family-friendly? Does it feel romantic? Is it a good option for a solo traveler like me?
Family-friendly? Yes! They're very accommodating to families, and the staff seem good with kids. The vibe is not a super-romantic, couples-only place, sure, it has romantic aspect, but with a more chilled and laid-back style with a beautiful, classic design.
Solo travelers? ABSOLUTELY! It's a safe, welcoming place where you can easily strike up conversations with other guests. Just a place to be at peace. You won't feel awkward or alone. And the views are perfect for solo sunset contemplation with a glass of wine.
What's the *vibe* like? Is it fancy? Laid-back? Pretentious?
Laid-back luxury, I'd say. It'Escape to Paradise: Slumber Inn New Minas Awaits!
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