Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast — Hotel in Ravello

I recently stayed at Caruso for four nights in early June with my wife and one-year-old, as the final stop on a trip through Italy. I had high hopes based on the glowing reviews and stunning photos, but I was not fully prepared for how much we would truly fall in love with this hotel. This is an exemplary luxury hotel and gem of the Amalfi Coast.||||Trip Planning/Pre-Arrival:||||We booked through a travel agent in Belmond’s Bellini Club, which gave us complimentary perks: a room upgrade at check-in (we were not offered one, due to the hotel being fully booked), a one-time €90 resort credit, daily breakfast (which I believe is already included for all guests), and priority late checkout (we were offered to stay until 1:30 pm when we asked).||||We communicated frequently with the concierge before arrival to arrange airport transfers, dinner reservations, and tours of Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. We also mentioned that we were celebrating our anniversary and our daughter’s first birthday. Responses were consistently prompt, professional, and helpful, with well-organized PDFs for excursion and restaurant suggestions. I also appreciated thoughtfulness when we requested a Pompeii tour. The concierge suggested stopping there en route from Naples Airport to the hotel, since it’s close to the airport. I hadn’t thought of this, which was a time and cost-saving suggestion versus making a separate trip all the way back there another day.||||Arrival:||||We arrived in Naples mid-morning, and everything went smoothly with the hotel-arranged transfer. We loved the driver, and were delighted when he was also our driver back to the airport at the end of the stay. This was a full-circle touch that felt serendipitous, whether intentional or not.||||The comfortable Mercedes van came stocked with bottled water and cool towels, and the plan to visit Pompeii on the way worked out perfectly. The private guide who met us there was excellent. She was engaging and accommodating while touring with a toddler on a hot day. After the tour, our driver was waiting and ready to continue on the scenic, winding mountain road to Caruso. Without any stops, the drive from Naples Airport takes roughly an hour.||||Upon arrival at the hotel, we were warmly welcomed and led into the lobby, where we caught our first glimpse of the magical coastline view from high up in the cliffs. Rosy completed our check-in and was incredibly kind, offering us lemonade and a comfortable place to sit with our daughter. She embodied the perfect mix of professionalism and sincere warmth that we consistently experienced throughout our stay. Rosy also gave us a tour of the property, and we were immediately captivated by the gorgeous and well-maintained historic hotel. It evokes a charming, bygone era where you can easily imagine famous past guests like Jackie Kennedy and Greta Garbo strolling the halls and gardens.||||Room:||One thing I’d recommend is that the hotel improve its website information on the different room types. Many room types have similar names and descriptions, and the photos don’t show consistent things across room categories, so it’s hard to compare. At one point before reserving our room, our travel agent reached out for clarification on differences between room types, but we never got a real answer.||||We ended up reserving a Superior Sea View Junior Suite with Garden, hoping for ample indoor and outdoor space. After settling in, we realized we really didn’t like the room we were given (35). It felt small, with a particularly disjointed and tight entrance and bathroom layout. The room also felt a little tired. While there was some vintage charm, many furnishings and accessories were dated. A refresh of the rooms that preserves their classic style would be very welcome.||||The biggest issue, however, was that the room felt subterranean, with windows looking up at the garden like being in a basement. To access the garden, you had to go out the door and up a set of stairs, making it dark with no view at all from the room itself. This was in spite of the website description for this room type promising that guests could “savour the spectacular views of the Bay of Salerno from your picture window.” The stairs and raised sections also made it tricky for our daughter, who had just recently started to walk. However, the garden itself was beautiful and huge, filled with beautiful flowers as well as a grassy lounge area and dining table with a sea view. ||||A bit dissatisfied with the room given its high cost, I reached out to the staff to explain our concerns. They seemed genuinely invested in helping, but since the hotel was fully booked that night, said they’d get back to us the next day. As promised, the next morning, a staff member greeted us in the lobby as soon as we arrived back from an excursion. They offered a complimentary upgrade to a Sea View Suite with Garden (now a full Suite rather than a Junior Suite).||||The new room (32) was just a couple doors down, but a major improvement. It was significantly larger and a bit more updated, with a separate living area, full dining table for four, and four-poster bed. The bathroom was also much larger and more functional, with dual vanities. The garden, while smaller, was more usable: it had a flat, direct path outside, perfect for our daughter, and included a comfortable covered area with a dining table and daybed. Though the view was slightly more obstructed, it was still beautiful and the view was visible from inside the room.||||The staff were incredibly gracious about the move. Three bellmen were sent to help us, offering to transfer everything as-is so we wouldn’t need to pack. Though we still packed our loose items to make things easier, the team made the process seamless. They insisted on handling everything and did so quickly and kindly.||||We also appreciated welcome amenities that were left in our room: a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, fresh cherries, bottled water, and a welcome note (though it surprisingly didn’t mention our special occasions). Later, our daughter received a kids’ backpack and a coral-shaped stuffed animal. Each Belmond property in Italy has its own stuffed animal character, so we were excited to add this one to our collection.||||The hotel also provided excellent baby amenities. In addition to offering a crib, we received towels, washcloths, a diaper pail, a high chair, and a changing table. This was the first luxury hotel we’ve visited with our daughter that offered a changing table in the room, and it was so helpful to have.||||The room was quiet and peaceful, but we noticed guests made heavy use of their balconies and gardens (rightfully so, given the amazing views), which meant we often overheard conversations while outside, which was no big deal. We were more bothered, however, when guests above us played loud music and smoked marijuana on their balcony, directly affecting us via unpleasant smell and noise in such a peaceful place.||||Housekeeping was excellent, well-timed, and thorough. Turndown included nice surprises like lemon candies or larger food items, though the food items weren’t always clearly labeled, which would have been helpful. On our last night, we found a farewell bottle of limoncello in the room, which was a very thoughtful touch.||||Pool:||||A crown jewel of Caruso is its gorgeous infinity pool with dramatic views over the coast. The views of the nearby hillside town of Scala were also just as beautiful from the opposite side. The setting and views are truly jaw-dropping, and the area as you approach, with arbors and plantings of flowers, is so beautiful. We also loved how things were set-up with a variety of areas to sit, including near the pool or in grassy space nearby. ||||We absolutely loved spending time at the pool, where the staff members were incredibly kind and helpful. They remembered us and our daughter from day to day, offering her a baby float for the pool, and always making sure we had everything we needed. Although they provided a button you could hit for service, it was rarely necessary, since they were around so often. Complimentary waters and Evian face spray were provided, as were small snacks of potato chips and olives that were refilled as needed. There was a cart with complimentary granita as well. ||||Despite being told it was heated, the pool itself was a little chilly during our stay in early June. It is also odd that it is only shallow for a couple feet before dropping off to a depth of seven feet for the remainder of the pool, which isn’t the most useful in a hotel setting. However, we did enjoy time in the shallow portion. ||||The only other minor negative at the pool is that there is no food service when seated at your lounge chair. There is a lovely poolside restaurant that we visited for lunch almost every day and really enjoyed, but it’s sometimes preferable to just have food delivered informally while lounging.||||I recall the hotel advertising a nearby private beach area in prior years, but I heard nothing of it during our stay, so I believe it has been removed as an amenity. The pool is so enjoyable that beach access didn’t feel necessary.||||Dining: ||||We found food and beverage at Caruso to be strong suits of the property, and could easily have eaten every meal there. Dining options include:||||Poolside Restaurant: This lovely spot offered consistently fresh and flavorful food. The lobster pasta was a standout, as was the Caruso Lemon Experience cocktail, which was perfectly refreshing. The staff here were always thoughtful about our daughter’s needs, even offering to make her an off-menu fish and chips that she loved. Enza provided especially outstanding service. She remembered us, our preferences, and dietary restrictions by heart day to day.||||Caruso Grill: The more relaxed (but still not 100% casual) of the hotel’s two main restaurants, Caruso Grill, is housed in a beautiful open-air pavilion with views of the gardens and sea. It’s open for lunch and dinner, and quickly became a favorite of ours. We had dinner there on our first night and returned again because we enjoyed the solidly good food and warm, attentive service in a comfortable setting.||||Ristorante Belvedere: This is the more formal dinner venue with a tasting menu, which we didn’t try. It looked lovely, but Caruso Grill had similar views and was right next door.||||Bar Caruso: The hotel bar is important to us, and Bar Caruso truly delivered. The space oozes class and elegance, with a classic wood-paneled indoor section mostly used later in the evening, and a covered outdoor area with wicker chairs and amazing views that’s popular before dinner. Every drink we had was excellent, from a perfectly crafted martini to more creative specialty cocktails. Everyone there was very nice, but Carmine stood out for his bartending skills and warm personality. He was so wonderful, and I looked forward to chatting with him each night.||||Breakfast: Breakfast is served on a covered outdoor terrace near the indoor bar area, and comes with panoramic views and warm hospitality. The option to order freely from an à la carte menu was included, while also enjoying a cold buffet of fruit, cheeses, yogurt, pastries, juices, and prosecco. The staff were attentive to the point of literally running over to help so we didn’t have to serve ourselves from the buffet. Food quality was high, and the setting made it an enjoyable way to start the day.||||In-Room Dining: Breakfast was also included for us via room service, which we tried and enjoyed on a couple occasions. Orders always arrived on time and were thoughtfully set up by staff on our choice of our indoor or outdoor tables. We also ordered lunch on our arrival day, and it was tasty and well-presented.||||Location:||||Being in the charming town of Ravello felt magical. Walking right out of the hotel onto pedestrian-only cobblestone streets and wandering to the central piazza was delightful. We also enjoyed visiting Villa Rufolo and having dinner at Mimi Pizzeria, both recommended by the hotel. After touring other Amalfi Coast towns, we especially appreciated how Ravello never felt crowded. It was peaceful and quiet all times of day, in stark contrast to more tourist-heavy towns like Amalfi and Positano, where crowds were overwhelming. Moments like watching our daughter run around the piazza in Ravello with local kids were genuinely heartwarming.||||Caruso is located right next to Palazzo Avino, a competitor hotel with similar views. We stopped by there one evening for drinks at their Martini Bar to check it out. It was lovely too and worth seeing, but had a very different feel with a pink-focused décor.||||Ravello’s location also made logistics easy. While some Amalfi Coast towns are only reachable via the congested coastal road, Ravello has access to a scenic mountain road that leads back toward Naples. This meant we could get to and from the airport without being trapped in the infamous traffic that plagues the area in the high season.||||Excursions:||||Caruso includes a complimentary daily shuttle down to the town of Amalfi on a very nice mini-bus. It runs a couple times a day and takes about 15 minutes each way. The shuttle is also used for the hotel’s two complimentary boat tours that depart from Amalfi (one route in the morning, and another in the afternoon). We took the two-hour morning cruise, which went along the coast to Positano, where you could disembark for a few hours before an afternoon pickup, or stay onboard for a roundtrip. We stayed on, since we had visited Positano earlier in the trip. The wooden boat was beautiful, and the captain and crew member were very friendly. It was nice that complimentary drinks (water, soda, and prosecco) and snacks were offered, though the prosecco being served in paper cups felt unnecessarily lowbrow. ||||As mentioned earlier, the concierge can also arrange paid excursions. We loved our two-hour Pompeii tour. We also booked a four-hour Amalfi Coast driving tour through them, but found it to be one of the few letdowns during our stay. The hotel’s description of the tour stated that “a private driver will be your guide for the day”, leading us to expect a fully guided tour through the various towns, helping avoid (or at least navigate) the most tourist-heavy spots. In reality, our driver, though incredibly kind, warm, and professional, mostly just took us from place to place and wasn’t truly a guide. ||||Our stops in Positano and Amalfi had no direction, and ended up with us wandering in the most congested areas, exactly what we were hoping to avoid. Traffic was another issue. We spent much more time in the van than outside of it, largely in standstill traffic. What made it worse was that we had unknowingly booked the tour on Republic Day, a public holiday in Italy. Our driver said it was one of the worst days to be there, with traffic comparable to peak summer, despite being earlier in the season. Given how thoughtful they were with our Pompeii tour logistics, it felt like a surprising miss that the concierge team didn’t flag that we had unknowingly booked this on such a poor choice of days. We enjoyed the interesting contrast in perspective, seeing the coast from above on the road versus from a boat another day, but ultimately felt the driving tour was a waste of money.||||Kids:||||For those traveling with kids, it’s helpful to know that the clientele is mostly couples, (some younger, many older), but we did meet a few families, including one other with a toddler and several with school-age children or teens. That said, the overall vibe is definitely more adult. While I think it’s fine to stay here with kids, the atmosphere can make certain moments feel more stressful than at a more family-focused resort.||||The staff were exceptional and gracious, and the baby amenities in our room were exactly what we needed. Still, even the casual dining spots like the poolside restaurant and Caruso Grill, felt just a little formal for meals with a toddler. For example, our daughter got briefly fussy during one dinner, and an hour or so later when we left, several tables commented on it, not necessarily unkindly, but in a way that made it clear she had been an interruption.||||Staff Service:||||While we loved many things about Caruso, the impeccable service truly made us fall in love with the hotel. The service culture clearly starts at the top, and Iolanda, the general manager, deserves special recognition. I’ve never seen a hotel GM so directly involved and invested in the guest experience. She knew us and our daughter by name, regularly checked in, and clearly poured her heart into ensuring everyone had a phenomenal stay. We spoke with her at least once a day, and it was obvious that she set the tone for excellence. The staff clearly respect her, and she brings out the best in them through her passion for Caruso and careful oversight and stewardship of the property.||||A WhatsApp number was provided at check-in to contact hotel staff about anything we needed during our stay, and this was a great way to handle any requests or questions, which were always answered quickly and in a professional manner. However, the service at Caruso went beyond basic professionalism. The staff work together seamlessly, and genuinely feel like a family. We also appreciated how staff, particularly in food and beverage, rotated across venues, which added to the sense of familiarity. For example, a server on the buffet at breakfast might also be working at dinner at Caruso Grill, or a bartender in the evening might be serving at lunch by the pool the next day. ||||A few other examples of Caruso’s caring service:||||-Staff would go out of their way to prevent guests from lifting a finger. For instance, when I planned to carry a couple of unfinished drinks from breakfast to our room, the staff insisted on escorting me to carry them for me. Similarly, when I inquired about ordering a pizza to-go from the pool restaurant, they insisted on delivering it directly, so I didn’t have to wait or carry anything myself.||||-Our daughter was warmly embraced by the team. One day, when she was peeking into the open kitchen at the poolside restaurant, the head chef waved us in and graciously let us observe, despite being mid-service. Throughout the property, staff members would remember her and always just seemed genuinely excited to see her and similarly would let her explore with ease.||||-Even minor slip-ups were proactively addressed. After a surprisingly long delay in getting glasses of wine we’d ordered at the pool bar one time (due to some confusion over finding the right bottle), a team member later came over, apologized, and removed the entire round of drinks from our bill. I hadn’t complained, which made the proactive nature of the gesture all the more impressive.||||-Service was anticipatory in ways that made even minor details smooth. At checkout, the staff had already loaded the luggage we had stored with them earlier in the day into our airport van without waiting for us to ask for it to be done. We could just step in the van and go.||||The service misses were limited. We were disappointed by the concierge’s lack of helpful guidance regarding the Amalfi Coast driving tour. We were also surprised that the hotel never acknowledged the special occasions we had flagged (our anniversary and daughter’s birthday), despite multiple mentions from both us and our travel agent. While we care more about genuine service than celebratory gestures, it felt like a surprising oversight.||||Overall:||||Overall, we absolutely loved Caruso. I don’t know that we’ve stayed at many hotels with such seamlessly aligned strengths: a stunning location with breathtaking views, beautiful facilities, and a staff that provides such a high level of service that feels effortless. Caruso is an idyllic Amalfi Coast retreat, and I truly hope we have the chance to...

King of hotels.

Town of Ravello is a charming place with the most beautiful gardens maintained by italian master gardeners. It is less crowded than Amalfi, or Positano, because it is in the hills, which is good if one wants to avoid crowded streets. However, it is just the opening of the season.

The hotel is a masterpiece. Rich, marble lobby leads the way to the terasse. The view is astonishing. The natural parfume of lilacs fulfilled the air. Lemon trees all around. The path to the infinity pool is also a big garden with plenty of sunbeds and chairs, all aranged and possitioned so that guest can enjoy the view. But the views are so beautiful one doesn't know in which direction to look. Italians are capable of maintaining gardens as well as Chinese and Japanese. Here you can see their mastery. Not only in the hotel, but also in local villas, which are accessable with the fee of around 10 Euros. (Worth it)

Room had spectacular view from the terasse, sunbeds, sun shades, chairs, table, all surronded by plants and lemon trees in terracotta vases. Comfortable beds, (extra bed for kid), king-size, nicest pillows, bottles of water in every corner, nespresso, tea, quick bites, all tasty are included in price of the room, cookies, fruits, champaign, aqua di Parma cosmetics in bathroom which was also beautiful in white marble and supplied with everything that you might need, like sun lotion, or after sun lotion etc. Everyday someone came to prepare the room for the sleep, and we always found new and fresh bites on the little table when we came back to the room. So they were taking really good care of us.

The service is at the highest level. They trully care, but with taste and good measure. The food is 6 out of 5 stars, meaning it always exceeded the expectations. There was one pasta with lemon that I tryed and didn't understand the meal, but the rest was superb. Risotto Capri was possibly the best risotto I ever tried. Everything was made without mistake. Presentation of food I also liked very much. Buffet for breakfast was wonderful. Cocktail master Carmine made us for two nights in the row cocktails that were so wonderfully equilibrated. One feels care and love for the work, true commitment. There was one waiter, probably chef of the staff, with moustache in style of Pirandello, (maybe not Pirandello, but his time, vintage style moustache), who's movements I was studying and admired his commitment. He was also the best dressed in the room, (since some of the guests thought that it would be appropriate to go to breakfast in swimming shorts), showing his seriousness about the job that he was doing. I don't know his name, but he made a strong impression on me. He should be in White Lotus series. Francesco - dinner service, Marco and Donatella at the pool many others who's names I don't know, experience manager - sweetest little woman, then manager madame Iolanta, perfectly dressed in Chanel costume, with lovely smile, literally everything and everyone in this hotel made us feel like in a place reserved for Gods only. We have been in wonderful places and hotels before and we were treated excellent, but I must say that so far, overall, this might be the best hotel ever nella mia mezzogiorno vita.

I think I expressed enough my deepest admiration for Caruso hotel in Ravello.

Thank you...

Our experience at Caruso was truly magical from the moment we set foot outside its doors. The porter was quick to greet us and all the staff were friendly, warm and welcoming. The check in process was smooth and easy with an orientation tour of the hotel provided which was incredibly helpful.

The views from across the hotel of the Amalfi coast were breath-taking; something we enjoyed at breakfast, by the pool and most importantly from the comfort of our room.

The rooms were spotless and incredibly spacious - even its double rooms which is what we stayed in. The bed was comfortable and pillows perfect - they even had a pillow menu that allowed you to choose one of your liking to ensure a good nights sleep. Everything you could possibly need was provided in the room including a bag which you could use to put your things in to take to the pool.

The gardens were beautiful and tranquil space; pruned to perfection. The pool simply serene. The staff at the pool were friendly and attentive getting your towels and preparing the sun loungers promptly. Small thoughtful touches around the pool area made the experience even more pleasant from board games, cards, books, magazines to keep you entertained all the way to Evian facial mist to help keep you cool.

Breakfast was a smoothly run service with a range of options available from the buffet and the menu. The food was so good, I wish we had stayed long enough to be able to try the whole menu.

The reception staff were genial, knowledgeable and considerate. They gave us some great recommendations for dinner and places to visit in Naples, taught us to play Scopa - a traditional card game - and even had a goody bag with water, sun cream and a face mist ready for us when we went to visit Pompeii.

The paid and complimentary activities the hotel provides are very carefully thought out and run like a well oiled machine. Key details provided and everything ready on time. We used the complimentary shuttle service to Amalfi as well as their boat tour to Positano and back.

For every service and at every level, the staff were exceptional. They are an asset to the hotel and made our experience what it was. A standard of service in hospitality that was truly outstanding and unrivalled.

My husband and I would like to extend a heart felt thanks in particular to Iolanda, Roberta, Ciro, Claudia, Andrea, Ida, Marco, Francesca, Rosy, Nicola, Giofranco, Frederica, Alessio, Adriano and Luigi who made our 10th wedding anniversary trip an experience we shall never forget.

We usually never return to the same place twice because we like to travel to different destinations but the kindness and hospitality we received during our stay has meant we are looking forward to...