Affitta Camere A'Scalinatella

Not so nice.
Atrani was lovely which is why you should go, but this really is the only place to stay. The owners were not lovely like everyone has been saying. They hardly spoke any English, didn't provide towels even though they told me they would bring one. Kept my passport to make sure I paid but left it in a teeny room that they left open, unlocked, and unattended. Made me really nervous so I just paid upfront, but paid for an extra day because I couldn't stay there anymore. Basically, because the room was rank -- no air conditioning in the dead of the summer in southern Italy, musty, dirty (I never saw it cleaned). Showers were the worst though. However, the town is beautiful (though be forewarned it takes forever to get there and if you want to leave, say, to Pompeii it's a huge undertaking) and if you're there with other people you can look over the hostel's nastiness.

Great Place!
I just returned from a wonderful stay at the A'Scalinatella Hostel & Hotel. Gabriel was a very kind and friendly. I am older and was traveling with my daughter. When we arrived Gabriel could see I was having trouble with all the stairs, he Promptly changed our room to a lovely apartment just a few steps up from the town square. We found the rooms with kitchen and bath very clean and comfortable. Gabriel was very helpful and accommodating. I would stay again at this Hostel if I were to return to the Amalfi Coast. Atrani was centrally located and just a short bus ride to surrounding towns.

After I read through some of the ratings for this hostel I actually didn' t intend to stay in this place. But it was the first one people recommended in another hostel in Naples. So I decided to give it a try -- and I must really say I had the best three days of my stay in Italy! Of course, its brilliant location in this cute little town of Atrani just around the corner of Amalfi is its major advantage. But even the hostel itself is worth seeing. It depends on what you expect from a place like this! Simply bearing in mind the natural conditions, the history and the resulting archtecture of the buildings of this region (most of the towns on the Amalficoast are squeezed into the steep hills), the place can't be more typical for getting a slight feeling of what this region is all about. It's the details that make its atmosphere! The shared dorm where I stayed (there must be several I didn't see) had character and was clean (no damp). Typical for the creative architecture of this region it seems to have been built as a mezzanine under a roof of arches (see photos). There was no window, but there was enough air coming from the small staircase and some further "gaps" in the floor (there is also a fan). A general disadvantage is that there are no lockers in the room. However, so far I just had good experiences with backpackers and hostels, therefore I didn't mind. I enjoyed the "easy going" way. The showers and everything I saw in the hostel are clean. The breakfast some one minute walk or so down in a little restaurant directly on the magnificent piazza of Atrani was nice. For some the breakfast might be too little, but I liked it -- especially the Croissant and the Cappuccino! The two guys that run the hostel are really nice and friendly. For people who like staying in a somewhat unusual but cosy and interesting place that might have some inconveniences (see other ratings) this is the best hostel to find around Amalfi. Generally I think that Atrani is the much better location to stay than Amalfi itself. It's much less "touristic" and is a beautiful little town, anyway a "must" to see. I would definitely come back again!

My biggest problem with A'Scalinatella was that the price bore absolutely no realationship to the quality of the room. Twenty euro for a dorm bed usually ensures somewhere quite nice, but our room was damp, tiny, bare, the walls didn't reach the ceiling, and there was a big vent in the floor with mouldy pipes inside. I wouldn't pay anything over eight euro to stay in a nasty place like that again. On the up-side, the location is quite good, the staff are nice, and breakfast was tasty, but not filling.

I stayed from around March 29th to April 2nd of 2006, the supposed shoulder season, and had a very enjoyable stay. Amalfi, even then, was crowded, so Atrani, the much less crowded village in the next valley over, is a welcome relief. Everything in Atrani is cheaper and the Atrani locals are much friendlier than the people from Amalfi. On the other hand, Atrani locals are less likely to speak English. If you do need an English fix or you clamor to be a part of the umpteen thousand people that visit Amalfi each day, Amalfi is only ten minutes away for the slowest walker. Use the signed passageways from the Piazza Umberto in Atrani for a prettier, safer, and healthier walk (who needs a Stairmaster? Go to Atrani and get your workout for free). Adding to the hostel's appeal, the town of Atrani is definitely the most picturesque place I've been to. My room was a "dorm" but that consisted of me sharing a room with another guy and that's it. This isn't a traditional hostel by any stretch of the imagination. None of the buildings in the town would be able to support a traditional hostel. It's a collection of apartments that the family who runs it has put together over the years. My shared apartment had three bedrooms, each with private toilet, with a common kitchen. As well, my room had a pretty big terrace, enough to have dinner for four, but a private terrace seemed to be an exception rather than a rule. My common kitchen was very basic but if you ask Felipo, you will receive whatever you want (hot plate, salt, etc). The bathroom situation, while clean, was small (the expression "you have to go outside to change your mind" comes to mind) and it was more like a curtained off part of the room (it was a solid metal curtain on a track) instead of a separate room. Yes it is damp, but it is less than a two minute walk to the Mediterranean Sea, so mold will grow within a few hours of cleaning it. In an apartment like the one I was in, the social situation was definitely a result of who the other people are. One room was always filled with couples, but I got along with my roommate and the girl from the third room. During the low and shoulder seasons, everything is negotiable, so you can rent your room out without roommates for only a few euros more. Also, check in and check out are flexible, at least during the low and shoulder seasons. However, Amalfi isn't as fun independently as with people. Tips for the Amalfi Coast: Drink on the terrace or on the piazzas. Hike to Ravello (very pretty). Enjoy the sun and the Italian Romanesque architecture. Eat lots of fresh produce and meats. Buy some of the dishes, if that suits you. Just stay away from the limonciello (it may look and smell good, but what may be nice from afar can be far from nice).

I stayed here for two nights and found it most uncomfortable, damp and cold. The kitchen was a mess.

A'Scalinatella is a perfect place for students and families who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Amalfi. It is a beachfront hostel/hotel where you can enjoy wonderful service, warm showers and free breakfasts in the piazza located right outside its doors. Scalinatella offers many rooms with private bathrooms and offers special rooms located in nearby Amalfi on a lemon farm which overlooks the beautiful Amalfi Sea.

Atrani, what a beautiful place to chill out and relax in. We really enjoyed our stay at the hostel. The lads running it were very friendly, as were the local people. We had a great night of eating, drinking and listening to beautiful Italian music, all for €18 at the Atrani seafood festival (27th Aug.?) Hopefully we will be back for a longer stay in Aug. 06. Can't wait!

At first glance it seems kind of dumpy, and well... there is absolutely no security, no lockers, nothing. HOWEVER, after a week I realized I must really like it because I was still there. The hostel is so relaxed it is practically lying down, and it certainly has loads of character. Atrani is really cool. We got a free tour of it one day, and for a small town it has some amazing history, and of course Amalfi is just right around the corner. The free breakfast was great though, and the brothers that run the place are so nice it isn't even funny. And you can't beat its little square. Altogether a great place.

I think this hostel is way too expensive for its service. We were staying in a very tiny room, you couldn't even move. The walls were molding and very damp and there was an odd smell in the room. I had the feeling that the sheets were wet. I couldn't sleep because there were fleas, bugs and lice in my bed. It was just uncomfortable. I am sure there are better hotels for this price in Amalfi or Atrani.

I toured all of Europe for three months and Atrani was the best destination, which was contributed to heavily by the hostel A'Scalinatella. Gabrielle and Felipo are so friendly — they know everyone in town and they go out of their way to make your stay and holiday perfect. The rooms are clean and have everything you need. Staying here gives you a strong local connection, and it will be the best place you stay. (Felipo, we will be quiet next time we get in late, ha.)

The accommodations here are average, nothing special, but the location is great! It's a ten-minute walk to Amalfi's main square. The beach is right there. The area has beautiful scenery, and it's a fun bus ride here from Sorrento. The place is old and would be great if renovated, but it does have character. I guess I could say it had the popular Italian style of no toilet seats, and bed mattresses that are squeaky and uncomfortable, but the sheets were clean. If you are looking for a great location, that it was, but if you are looking for a great accommodation, it is not that.

This is a good place to sleep, but beware of the tiny flies that hang around and attack while you are sleeping. The area is quiet, but picture-perfect. I met lots of great people here, both locals and other backpackers. It has a very good price.

The Amalfi Coast is wonderful, and this hostel is really fine. The brothers who own this place, Felipo and Gabriel, are both really nice. I really loved my experience here. It's a really romantic place.

My girlfriend and I stayed there September, 2002, and we found it to be clean and comfortable. I wouldn't say it's a real flash (nice) place but it's definitely got character. Just when we were there they had some sort of festival or anniversary or something because the church up on the hill above us kept firing off this cannon every evening--weird. God, I miss Italy and travelling! LIVE IT UP EVERYONE!!!