It can be extremely difficult trying to decide where to stay on the Amalfi Coast. If you are planning on taking day trips to Capri, Pompeii or even Rome I suggest making the town Praiano, Italy your home base as it a transportation hub and convenient to explore the entire coast of Amalfi.   The hotels in Praiano Italy are cheaper and in my opinion more upscale than those of Positano.

The hotels in Praiano Italy will differ from traveler to traveler depending on your needs which will include budget, length of travel time, and decor which is pretty important to me as a traveler.

Positano is the most famous of the Amalfi Coast towns and rightfully so with its pastel alleyways and winding stairs at every turn.  Unfortunately, it is on everyone’s bucket list therefore, it is always crowded and very expensive.  If you’re planning on spending a week on the Amalfi Coast but you are looking for the perfect alternative to Positano I have the perfect town for you. Praiano, Italy!!

If you want a 5-star Amalfi Coast vacation without the crowds of Positano do I have a treat for you!

Praiano is where your home base should be while exploring the Amalfi Coast.  After spending four days in Florence and two days in Rome we made our way to the Amalfi Coast and the best decision I ever made was foregoing Positano for Praiano.

Related Post: Day Trip From Sorrento To Capri & Day Trip From Sorrento To Pompeii

Where To Stay In Amalfi Coast

Hotel Onda Verde is a luxury boutique hotel located in the sleepy cliffside village of Praiano, Italy. As I promised in my 5 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary & Travel Guide, I would share a full review of where my hubby and I stayed because it felt like a dream come true to be staying in such beautiful, quaint, and ultra luxury boutique hotel.  The views, service, and staff were all amazing.

HOTEL ONDA VERDE REVIEW

LOCATION: Praiano, Italy
(10-15 minute drive or water taxi from Positano)

If you follow travel bloggers on Instagram then you are well aware that Positano is the place to be but after exploring both Florence and Rome, I really needed to stay somewhere that would not be inundated with people and noise.

When I began planning this vacation I already knew I didn’t want to stay in Positano because I’ve heard the horror stories about the crowds, long lines, and getting a dinner reservation would be an Act of Congress.  Plus, I was also warned about the hotel prices in Positano.

I am a boutique hotel kinda girl so I don’t mind spending money on my Amalfi Coast accommodations, but the hotels in Positano are around $700 a night for MEH and unimpressive accommodations.  If I am going to spend that kind of money it needs to be more than MEH.

After long hours of research, I settled on the sleepy town of Praiano, Italy and booked with Hotel Onda Verde.

Hotel Onda Verde is just a 15-minute drive or water taxi ride from Positano.   If you’re looking to get away from the crowds of Positano, Praiano exudes romance and relaxation with easy access to Positano.   There are a ton of hotel options in Praiano ranging from low cost to high-end like Hotel Onda Verde.

Praiano Italy is spread out along the cliffs and has a very laid back vibe. There are some wonderful restaurants including ii Pirata and Franchisno iL Ristorante; both are located on the premises of Hotel Onda Verde.  You will find quaint shops, the beautiful San Gennaro Church and a few beach clubs and bars.

Hotel Onda Verde is situated in a picturesque fishing village located on the Amalfi Coast, halfway between Positano and Amalfi. The hotel is built directly into the cliff but the nightly hike back to your room can be exhausting especially after a few cocktails.

Hotel Onda Verde has some of the best views on the Amalfi Coast which is why you should no longer be contemplating if you should have stayed in Praiano Italy.   I woke up every morning feeling like I was Cinderella from the breakfast out on the balcony each morning, listening to the waves crash against the cliffs, or just how my husband and I kinda fell in love all over again.

GUEST ROOMS AT HOTEL ONDA VERDE:

We stayed in a cozy Romantic King Suite with a front sea view. Our room included a balcony with lounge chairs and a table, plus a very spacious open double closet. The room and bathroom were small, but all of the rooms in Italy are small.

As soon you can see the room decor was very crisp and contemporary. It was also packed with modern amenities–  TV, luxury linens and a spa-worthy bathroom. We loved our room because it was so comfortable and quiet.

PRICING:

Hotel Onda Verde is priced mid-range.  I’ve stayed at more expensive hotels in the past but none had the views and ambiance of Hotel Onda Verde.  We paid 420 Euro + 10% VAT per night for our room, which included the complimentary buffet breakfast every morning.

While we stayed in a King Suite overlooking the Mediterranean with a balcony if you are looking for something more upscale and your budget is flexible the hotel has rooms to fit your budget.  While there are tons of boutique hotels perched along the coast that are less expensive than Hotel Onda Verde once I saw the photos and read the reviews I knew this was where I wanted to stay.

There are five private independent villas with twenty-five comfortable, homey, and inviting rooms with all of the amenities you need. The pool of the Hotel Onda Verde rises like a true oasis surrounded by lemon trees and colored flowers.

PROS & WHAT WE LOVED:

5-Star Service & Concierge. Deciding where to stay in the Amalfi Coast can be scary because you only have the internet to rely on for photos and reviews.  At Hotel Onda Verde you’re not just paying for a room in a stunning hotel. It’s really a full experience in complete tranquility with the Mediterranean Sea as your backdrop.

The property is completely immaculate and so well cared for by the team. The service was out-of-this-world, from the time I emailed the hotel to make reservations to once we arrived and got lost because we couldn’t figure where to find the driver who was taking us to the hotel.

Fransico was so patient and if we got on his nerves with all of the calls he didn’t let on.   Any request or question would be immediately met with a range of recommendations and offers to help especially for dinner recommendations.  We didn’t make any dinner reservations in advance, but Hotel Onda Verde has not one but two 5 star restaurants on the property.

• Ristorante Franchisno – Overlooks the bay of Conca dei Marini.
• Il Pirata  – Restaurant and Lounge Bar

At sunset, both Ristorante Franchino and Il Pirata become one of the most romantic places in the world. The impeccable service and the dim light of the candles make for an unforgettable evening.   Close your eyes and imagine the sky is filled with stars and the moon slowly emerges from the Lattari Mountains and it is not a dream but you are actually having dinner under the stars and moon in Praiano Italy.

Private Car To/From Positano. The complimentary private car back and forth to Positano was the icing on the cake while we did rent a car so we could venture out on our own it was good to know we had this option available for us.

There is a public bus that runs on the Amalfi Coast Highway, but people were packed on those buses like sardines and that did not look appealing to me.

Complimentary Buffet Breakfast. Y’all know I am a foodie and gosh the spread was AMAAAZZZING!  Every morning there was an abundance of pastries, freshly sliced prosciutto, cheese, fruit, and other breakfast delicacies. If that wasn’t enough you could always order off the made-to-order menu which consists of omelets, pancakes and fresh-squeezed juices at no extra charge.

Adults-Only Property. Hotel Onda Verde is definitely geared towards couples looking for an intimate luxury getaway. The property was at full capacity during our stay but I only saw two other couples the entire time we were there.  It felt like we had rented a home and a complete staff to wait on our every need.

I’m not against kids but I don’t want to hear kids screaming and running around on a luxury vacation in Amalfi.

Amazing Views and more View. The VIEWS!  The pictures just don’t do the views justice. Ugh, so good. The high cliffside location is perfect for taking in the beauty of Positano while sipping on a glass of wine or Limoncello.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE BOOKING:

Distance From Positano. After spending the day walking around Pompeii, we really appreciated coming back to the tranquil and peaceful Praiano.  I don’t feel like we missed out on anything by not staying in Positano, in fact, it felt like we had the best of both worlds.  Praiano is the best town to stay in Amalfi Coast.

Price. If you stay at Hotel Onda Verde you’re going to spend money but I’ve spent more money staying in Boutique Hotels in Rome and other Florence so do not let the price deter you from staying at Hotel Onda Verde.

WHAT NOT TO MISS

• Like Positano, Praiano also features pretty colored houses, a maze of little lanes and flights of steep steps. Look out for the majolica-tiled votive shrines dotted around the town.
• The first thing you’ll want to do is go for a swim as the sea is irresistible. There are several small beaches, some sandy, some pebbly, all of which are much quieter than those at Positano.
• The next big attraction here is the Grotta dello Smeraldo, a natural feature a couple of miles from the town. Essentially it’s a flooded cavern in which sunlight turns the water an iridescent shade of green while all around are weird and wonderfully shaped stalactites and stalagmites.
• There are several lovely churches in the town, including the Church of San Luca Evangelista with a beautiful majolica floor. The Church of San Gennaro, the Church of Santa Maria a Castro and the Convent of San Domenico high above the town and with breathtaking views.
• It’s worth spending a day in Positano (four miles to the west) to explore the cute little stairways and passageways between the steeply raked buildings.
• And then it’s only a couple of miles or so in the other direction to Amalfi town – with its Duomo, paper museum and splendid piazza and seafront. Make sure you’re back in Praiano for sunset, the most spectacular along this coast.

Additional Hotels Praiano Italy

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Did I miss any hotels in Praiano Italy?  I would love to hear your feedback so drop a comment below or head on over to Facebook, or tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #mikotravels or find me on Twitter!

 

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