Review of Belmond Hotel Caruso

4 years ago

Tips for guests:

Tips for guests:
1. Don't leave Ravello for day excursions, despite the free shuttle to other towns! Save yourself a long trip in traffic on winding mountain roads and skip crowded tourist traps like Positano, Amalfi, etc -- none of them are a tenth as beautiful as Ravello. Wasting time in other towns on the Amalfi coast is our main regret.

2. Stay at the Belmond, not Palazzo Avino. We stayed at both hotels for a couple nights in the base level room category, and the Belmond is far superior. The room at the Belmond was larger and more nicely furnished/decorated. Fresh flowers in the room, an espresso machine, fresh fruit upon arrival with a chilled bottle of prosecco, large size Bvlgari toiletries - these are just a few touches you'll find at Belmond but not Palazzo Avino. The gardens at Belmond are also significantly larger and absolutely stunning. With many more quiet, private nooks, both indoors and outside, it's easier to relax and take in the incredible view undisturbed at the Belmond. The lobby and common areas at Palazzo Avino were modern, white, and stark, whereas Belmond is filled with warm colors and antiques, preserving the old world charm you would expect in an 800-year old palace (and traveled halfway around the world to see). Even walking through the hallway to our room was an experience - we passed through a small, carefully preserved chapel with beautiful frescos and a cozy reading room. We both agreed the view from the pool was among the most beautiful we'd ever seen.

3. Take advantage of the free 2 hour boat tour of the coast. Two hours is more than enough to see the coast (all of the Amalfi coastline looks very similar). You can take my word for it because we rented a 7-hour charter boat for 800 EUR and saw the entire length of it -- very repetitive after the first hour.

The only negatives: Belmond, unlike Palazzo, doesn't have a hot tub. Also, the wait for drink orders at the pool can be quite long, and the plastic glasses used to serve drinks at the pool are too small, so you'll soon be waiting again. A real hardship!