Clare Speak

There are a lot of good reasons to visit Naples, but no one goes for peace and quiet. So it’s surprising how serene it feels at Grand Hotel Parker’s, which turns out to be the perfect retreat from the chaotic city streets. This typically Italian family business opened in 1870 and was the first of Naples’ five star hotels dating from the grand tour era. Some of these now feel a little faded, but this one has a retro cool edge after a renovation by new, young management from within the family. With panoramic views across the Bay of Naples and old-school Neapolitan service, it’s the right spot if you want to soak up the city’s atmosphere while being just far enough from the mayhem to catch your breath. Why stay at Grand Hotel Parker’s? Halfway up a hill between the city’s two poshest neighbourhoods, Grand Hotel Parker’s has views over the port area and to Mount Vesuvius and the islands of Capri and Ischia. It’s a little out of the way, but that’s not a bad thing in Naples, especially if you’ve seen the main sights before and want to experience a different side of the city. If you do want to go sightseeing, it’s easy enough to get around by taxi and public transport from here and hotel staff will happily organise it all for you. The recent renovation (with some areas still to be completed) reduced the number of rooms and suites from 85 to 67, making many of them bigger and more comfortable. The hotel is big enough for the essential facilities (there are two restaurants and a smal