Blaire's 5 Best - Amalfi Coast

I honestly don't think there is any place more perfect than the Amalfi Coast. The entire time I was there, I was marveling at its beauty. From the views to the food to the service to the boat rides (shout out to Premium Boat Charters for the AMAZING ride to Capri on their 58' yacht!), this is a place I can't wait to return to and want every single person I know to experience once in their lifetime! I toured and stayed at some incredible properties while I was in this part of Italy (all of which are special partners with BPK Travel where I can offer you exclusive amenities and VIP service) and am reviewing the 5 things I liked best about each!

Palazzo Avino

The first stop on my Tour de Amalfi Coast did not disappoint! This incredible, pink property nestled in the mountains of Ravello was picture perfect. I think I was having to hold my jaw off the ground the entire time I was there! Here are the 5 things I loved about Palazzo Avino:

Its Views. Ravello is one of those places you always dream of going and can't believe it when you're there. Palazzo Avino's views from the multi-leveled gardens and restaurants were absolutely incredible and well highlighted with the abundance of seating throughout the property.
Its Vibe. From the second I walked on property, Palazzo Avino had an amazing vibe. Many guests were chatting with each other at breakfast only having met during their stay but interacting as if they will be friends for life. There were tons of honeymooners and younger clients. You could tell this property is really buzzing!
Its Restaurants. Palazzo Avino has tons of restaurants to choose from - from a beautiful breakfast buffet to a lobster and martini bar to a Michelin star restaurant, you will not leave this resort hungry or dissatisfied!
Its Beach Club. Palazzo Avino has a private beach club that's a fifteen minute drive away (a ride provided by the resort's shuttle service). This is such a plus because you can enjoy the mountainous views or lounge seaside - whichever you prefer!
Its Lounge Areas. As I explored the property, I kept finding more and more places to hang out. From lying on a lounge chair by the pool to enjoying a drink by the bar to catching some rays at the Solarium, there is an abundance of places to hang out and enjoy this amazing property.

*The only thing I could say about this property to discourage people to come is if you are not good with stairs. This is a hilly property meant to be explored, so if stairs are daunting to you, you may need to travel to a location that's a little more flat.

Belmond Hotel Caruso

Located directly next door to Palazzo Avino, the Belmond Hotel Caruso offers a different type of luxury for travelers wishing to explore Ravello. This extremely beautiful property left me in awe! Here are the 5 things I loved best about Belmond Hotel Caruso:

Its Gardens. To get from the main building to the restaurants and pool, you walk under a walkway wrapped in beautiful flowers and greenery. You felt like you are in a secret garden! Seriously so dreamy.
Its Infinity Pool. If you haven't seen Belmond Hotel Caruso's pool, you are missing out! The views from the pool make you feel like you're on top of the world! Anyone would feel like a VIP hanging out here for the day!
Its Italian Décor. Belmond Hotel Caruso has restored the hotel and through the process, found previously covered, original paintings and architecture. Belmond Hotel Caruso has done an amazing job preserving this history and making it a focal point in its design.
Its Belvedere Restaurant. Being able to dine at Belvedere Restaurant was a real treat. Not only was the food absolutely incredible, the amazing sea views added to the romantic feeling. It was truly amazing!
Its Bathrooms. Belmond Hotel Caruso really prides itself on having very large bathrooms. This is so important for the typical American traveler who needs his or her space :) The bathrooms are nicely updated and the perfect compliment to the amazing rooms.

*Belmond Hotel Caruso definitely had a more sophisticated vibe and is very different than its next door neighbor. Again, this hotel is not meant for someone who dislikes stairs, but everything is more on the same level here than at Palazzo Avino.

Monastero Santa Rosa

Located on top of a cliff outside of the town of Amalfi, Monastero Santa Rosa is one of the newest Amalfi Coast luxury properties. I had the opportunity to stay at this incredible resort and loved every minute of it! Here are the 5 things I liked best about Monastero Santa Rosa:

Its History. Monastero Santa Rosa was once a monastery for nuns, and this hotel has really preserved its story. From the confessional meant for you to tell them how your stay was to the do not disturb sign being a picture of a nun sush-ing, Monastero Santa Rosa was very smart in representing its history in a cute way and not cheesy!
Its Infinity Pool. Seriously, swimming in this pool makes you feel like you're on top of the world. The crystal clear blue water paired next to the deep blue sea makes for a seriously stunning place to relax for the day!
Its Rooms. Since Monastero Santa Rosa is fairly new, the rooms represent that. I like to describe it as a modern twist on Italian luxury. Plus, the bathroom floors were heated! It was such a nice treat!
Its Breakfast. We ate breakfast at Monastero Santa Rosa, and the spread was huge! From Italian coffee to eggs-your-way to a cheese and charcuterie plate to breads and pastries, we maaayyy have skipped lunch afterwards! (Plus, this is included if you book through BPK!)
Its Grounds. Out of everywhere I traveled to, Monastero Santa Rosa had the most beautiful, manicured lawns. The flower and path placement was absolutely perfect and made for a jaw-dropping birds eye view as you looked down from the resort. Incredible!

*Much like the two hotels above, Monastero Santa Rosa is not for someone who doesn't like stairs. Also, Monastero Santa Rosa is very quiet and out of the hustle and bustle from any cities, but if you like to be in the heart of a town, this may not be the place for you.

Casa Angelina

Casa Angelina is a part of the Design Hotel group, and you could really tell! This Italian property definitely had a unique identity. Here are the 5 things I liked best about Casa Angelina:

Its Restaurant. Casa Angelina's breakfast buffet and dinner is served at a beautiful restaurant, Un Piano Nel Cielo, with undisturbed views of Positano. This is especially special for a sunset dinner, like the one I enjoyed! It is picture perfect!
Its Location. Casa Angelina is in Praiano which is about 10 minutes away from Positano. Casa Angelina offers shuttle service throughout the day to Positano. At first I was a little bummed to not be staying in Positano, but stay in Praiano was actually perfect. I loved escaping the busy streets of Positano to relax!
Its Beach Club. Casa Angelina has a private beach club for guests to enjoy. This trek is not for the faint hearted, however. There are A LOT of steps to get down there (and even worse... up to the resort!). But once you're at the bottom, it's a perfect little oasis for you to enjoy a day seaside!
Its White Décor. Casa Angelina is fully decked in white... from the building to the floors to the bedding to the couches - all white! This is perfect for a traveler wanting a clean, crisp room!
Its Art. Casa Angelina has funky artwork scattered throughout the property. From sculptures to paintings to furniture, this adds to the uniqueness of this resort.

*If you're looking to stay some place more authentically "Italian", this probably isn't the place for you.

Palazzo Murat

Palazzo Murat is a perfect 4 star option for someone not wanting to break the bank in Positano but still stay at a beautiful resort in the middle of the city. Here are the 5 things I liked best about Palazzo Murat:

Its Color Scheme. The pink building next to the purple flowers next to the lime green doors next to the blue and white patio furniture made me have major heart eyes! It was very well done.
Its Location. If you want to be in the heart of Positano, look no further. You can walk out of the resort and be in the middle of the bustling streets of this vibrant city.
Its Bar Area. Palazzo Murat has a very cool bar/lounge area before the entry of the hotel. You can tell it's bustling with guests and tourists alike. It added to the fun feel of the hotel.
Its Restaurant. Palazzo Murat's restaurant, Al Palazzo, is known for being one of the most romantic in Positano. It's draped with greenery and at night is illuminated with candles. So dreamy!
Its Gardens. Palazzo Murat is covered with flowers and greenery, all perfectly manicured and equally beautiful. It was so incredible to walk through the property and feel like you're in a garden in the middle of the city!

*As said above, this is a four star property in the middle of the city. If you're looking for something more remote or exclusive, this probably isn't the place for you.

Le Sirenuse

When you think of the Amalfi Coast, you think of Le Sirenuse. Arguably one of the most well known hotels in Italy, my tour of this property did not disappoint! Here were the 5 things I loved most about this beautiful property:

Its Icon-ness. I'm not sure if that is even a word, but Le Sirenuse is ICONIC. This is the hotel that every person has on his or her bucket list, and I can definitely see why. Just being on the property made me feel 10x cooler and more VIP because I was associated with one of the most famous hotels in this part of the world.
Its Views. From the property, you can look down over a colorful duomo and the town of Positano. It was spectacular. You could see the bustling city from the windows of the property but felt like you were in your own little retreat while you were inside the walls.
Its Rooms. Though Le Sirenuse is a historic hotel, the rooms have been updated and feel like modern Italian luxury. I appreciated the commitment to staying up to date!
Its Plates. So this may be weird, but I loved the plates used at Le Sirenuse's restaurants. They really incorporated the painted look that is so popular in Positano and made the extremely nice restaurant less stuffy.
Its Restaurants. I had the opportunity to dine at the Pool Bar but couldn't stop dreaming about enjoying dinner at La Sponda. This restaurant is known as one of the most romantic restaurants in the world! The entire restaurant is only illuminated by candles and has ivy covering the walls. That ambiance paired with the views of Positano was beyond beautiful!

*If you're wanting something exclusive that has access to the beach, this probably isn't the place; however, Le Sirenuse has an amazing pool for you to enjoy!

Hotel Caesar Augustus

My stop in Capri was insanely beautiful. Hotel Caesar Augustus, located in Anacapri, exceeded all expectations. From the second I arrived on the property, I was obsessed! Here are the 5 things I liked most about this resort:

Its Views. At Caesar Augustus, you truly feel like you're on top of the world! You can look down to the Capri Marina, out to Mount Vesuvius or over to Sorrento, all the while feeling like you're physically "above" them. Plus the views of the sea... they were never ending! It was stellar.
Its Welcome Gift. One we arrived at the rooms in many hotels I stayed at, I was greeted with a bottle of wine or champagne (not complaining at all!!), but Caesar Augustus had something unique and gave us cherries from its garden. Caesar Augustus operates a neighboring garden where it harvests its produce. I thought it was so special to incorporate it upon our arrival!
Its Hang Out Areas. There were TONS of places to hang out with a glass of wine on this property ... and none lacked views! I loved how Caesar Augustus really showcased its amazing location and promoted a sense of community.
Its Owners. The owner, Mr. Signorini, and his son are constantly on the property. They make sure to greet and talk to every guest making that person feel extremely VIP. There really wasn't a second I didn't see them working! It was very impressive to see the commitment to making their guests stay extra special.
Its Infinity Pool. Ceasar Augustus has a multi-leveled infinity pool that is perfect. I had the opportunity to lounge here for the day, and I couldn't stop smiling... it was incredible!

*Caesar Augustus was seriously so amazing. It was one of those resorts that you can't believe you're staying at because it was so dreamy. It's definitely one everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime!!