Across from train station! Very short walk to ferry to Amalfi etc! Very short walk to inter town buses!
Rooms are clean and quiet although they desperately need updating! Shower stall is claustrophobically small and tight to get into -- large people need not try to shower! Great wifi in room!!! Staff are a little surly but they get the job done.
For a very short stay -- just fine!
This hotel is not a luxury hotel, but we were so happy with it. We went to Salerno to rent a car to go to Scicily for a week, as we were coming back to relocate with trains to go to Lake Como, and other places north. The front desk people spoke English and were very friendly. Everything worked. As we were here in April many hotels that say they have airconditioning do NOT. It is hard to keep the window open as there can be street noises, or people talking, fighting etc if you are close to another building. Well this hotel does have an air conditioner, a good bed, clean, and a wonderful breakfast, and across the street from the train station. It is also 2 blocks from the ferry terminal or busses to take you to Amalfi Coast. We liked it so much we stayed there on the way back for a train the next day
This hotel is very convenient for anyone coming to or going from Salerno by train. On first sight it looks a bit tired but on entering there is a pleasant and clean foyer. The room was large, well heated, clean and comfortable without being luxurious. Breakfast was usual Italian fare of cold meats and cheese with lovely fresh bread rolls.
A basic and clean hotel at a reasonable price.
Very close to main and very stylish shopping area.
Arriving in Salerno in the rain, we were not up for a long, searching walk to find our hotel. Luckily, the Sita Bus let us off within two blocks of the train station, located directly across from the Plaza Hotel. The lobby and hallways are pretty tired, with carpets and sofas in need of a do-over, but the helpful staff got us in the room right away via a puffing, perspiring porter and a tiny elevator. The room itself was of decent size, clean and surprisingly quiet with its noise-cancelling windows right off the busy Piazza Ferrovia. This is not a hotel one chooses for its ambiance, but for an early morning train departure--it cannot be beat.
First of all, you get the essential you need: clean rooms, tv, safe box , hair dryer...
But the venue needs a good refresh: the carpet in the lobby is old and stained, and it does not convey a positive impression; the decoration of the rooms is definitely basic and old-fashioned.
On the positive side: just a few steps from the train station and a good breakfast.
On the negative side: no wi-fi
After finding concerns with The Grand Hotel in Salerno we transfered to The Plaza, right across from Salerno Station. I know what you're going to say, it was noisy, crowded... not at all. We had a 3rd floor room, room 333. We enquired about a room and they were able to accommodate. In fact, the morning we checked out from The Grand, and moved in to The Plaza at 9am, the manager asked if we wanted breakfast or a coffee. We had already has breakfast at the other hotel, but we were amazed he asked. It got better too. The room was lovely, double glazed windows kept the noise to a minimum from the street below, but the view from our balcony (see attached) was quite lovely, even if it did feature a train and bus station in the foreground. The first night, after a big day's walking, we came back to the hotel and asked if we could have a cup of tea - we took a pot of hot water, herbal tea bags and cups back to our room and it didn't cost a cent! Breakfast the next morning was great, fresh crossaints, yohgurt, breads, ham, cheese, cereals, tea and coffee.
The location is of course perfect, in a busy bustling city area with lots of clothing stores, banks, cafes and even one of those cheap Aldi / Lidl shops but called something entirely different in Italy... Carefree or something like that.
In case you are wondering, we traveled by bus to Pompei and Amalfi. In Feb 2014 with heavy rains brought landslides so we couldn't get a further bus from Amalfi to Sorrento, but in case you are looking for other options, you can always take the train from Salerno to Pompei, then a slower train (which is actually about 1km from Pompei Stazione) which then takes you to Sorrento.
Things to see: we of course wanted to see Pompei's ruins, but it's good to note that the entry ticket in to Pompei for 11 Euros also allows entry for 3 days into 4 other similar historical sites, such as Herculaneum and 3 others, some of which are closer to Naples.
Caution: Not every taxi is a taxi... a guy asked if we wanted a ride from Pompei ruins to Pompei Stazione, asking for 10 Euros for the transfer. I said it was a 15 minute walk, he said it would be 30 minutes. We negotiated to 5 Euros but of course it was less than 1km and he was driving his son home in his private car. I guess an extra 5 euros was a bonus, still I got it for half price. Funny enough the next train wasn't for another 40 minutes so the bus would have been better, but, overall it was a difference of 15 minutes.
Public Transport: I can't fault Italy's public transport, apart from the fact the men who drive the buses and operate the buses are pig headed idiots with no personality. The trains seem to run better than the buses, but you can only get to Amalfi from Salerno by bus. We stressed when we missed the 5pm bus from Amalfi, when it left another terminal full of passengers, then to be told abruptly that specific bus departs from over 'there', not 'here'! So we stayed another hour, watched the sun set, and enjoyed a night drive back to Salerno under a full moon rise.
Public Transport in Italy is expensive in comparison to, say, Malta where we spent our first week. 1.50 Euro is all you pay for a full-day bus ticket on Malta. Every one-way journey in Italy is charged differently, so a return ticket to Amalfi was 3.80 euros, plus an extra 2.20 for the extra leg to Ravallo. If you visit Amalfi, try to visit Ravallo too, just beautiful.
That's about it - enjoy Salerno and enjoy The Plaza Hotel.
Ciao.
