Amalfi Coast

Concierge.com's insider take:

The ruined Renaissance palace that houses this 43-room hotel was given a complete overhaul in 1997, resulting in an opulent pink bonbon that has everything going for it except antique atmosphere. Unlike the revamped Hotel Caruso, Palazzo Sasso makes no attempt to conceal the fact that it is a hotel rather than a princely residence. There are twice as many staff members as rooms and all the amenities to boot (a rooftop sundeck with two plunge pools, hot tubs, satellite TV, Frette linens, Bulgari bath products, and a Moroccan-style spa), however, so no one's complaining. The rooms are lavishly done in handmade Vietri tiles, with precious rugs, antiques of assorted periods, and heavy swag curtains. Unfortunately, only six of them—all of them suites—have balconies or terraces. Still, as long as you don't get stuck with the one entirely viewless internal room, you'll likely be happy (you can always head to the roof terrace or the swimming pool surrounded by gardens to get your fresh-air fix). The gym has a panoramic view, too: The equipment is set high on the mountainside under gazebo tents. The main restaurant, Rossellinis, is among the best in Italy, but there's also a more casual place and a café for your less extravagantly gastronomic moods. From summer 2009, a private villa called Sasso by the Sea has opened for the exclusive use of guests. The villa has a saltwater pool, gardens with two cabanas, changing rooms, two "relaxation living rooms", a small restaurant serving pizzas and seafood, and a bar. Sasso by the Sea is a bracing 40-minute walk downhill to the coast from Ravello, but there's also a free private shuttle from the hotel for those who don't want to exert themselves too much.