Hotel Belvedere

Built in the 1920s, the Hotel Belvedere -- with its high ceilings, traditional wood furniture, and colorful tile floors -- charmingly evokes another time. The lobby lounge features golden candelabra lights, a blue-and-white checked tile floor with Persian-style accent rugs, and sitting areas with vintage upholstered armchairs in mustard yellow, rich red, and blue clustered around wood coffee tables. The hotel takes advantage of its spectacular location with large windows and roomy terraces throughout, all of which face the sea and offer astounding views. A stone stairway with some pretty mosaics leads down from the back of the hotel along the bluff to a seawater outdoor pool and terrace (there's also elevator access), then all the way down to the rocky shore. The hotel draws tourists, especially couples, looking to get away from it all, but families check in here too.

Hotel Belvedere is perched on a cliff above the sea in Conca dei Marini, one of the many fishing villages on the Amalfi Coast. The area is quiet and fairly secluded, about a 10-minute drive to Amalfi's town center. A shuttle bus (for a fee) or local bus can take guests to the town. Free parking is available directly across from the hotel's entrance. The nearest train station is in Salerno, about an hour's drive away. Naples train station and Naples Capodichino International Airport are about a 90-minute drive from the hotel. Nearby sights include Pompeii (an hour's drive), Naples, and picturesque Positano (a 40-minute drive).

The Hotel Belvedere's 36 rooms and suites are individually decorated, incorporating Mediterranean details like colorful tile floors. Standard Rooms, which along with Superior Rooms measure 260 square feet, have solid blue-tile floors, white walls, cane chairs, and yellow drapes, and like the other rooms, include balconies with terra-cotta floors, sitting areas, and spectacular views of the sea. The largest Suite measures 480 square feet and includes a living room, while the Family Room can sleep up to four people. 

Upgraded rooms are more elegant, with bright-tile floors, candelabra-style lighting, arched architectural features, and upholstered chairs. Some guests might find the decor dated, but it evokes the charm and refinement of an earlier era. White-tile bathrooms have marble sinks, and most have bidets, and either showers or shower/tub combos. 

All rooms are air-conditioned and include desks, wardrobes, sea-facing balconies, and flat-screen TVs with Sky channels, along with safes, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms provide hairdryers and toiletries. There are no in-room coffee- and tea-making facilities. Cribs and rollaway beds are available for extra fees. 

The hotel's features and amenities are geared toward relaxation, and many take advantage of the spectacular sea views. A long stone staircase leads down from the hilltop hotel to a terrace with bright yellow loungers and a long seawater swimming pool. The pool seems to hang over the sea, and a slew of loungers sit along the edge of the terrace, allowing guests to take in the view. There's also a poolside bar and elevator access to the pool. Guests can descend farther down from the pool to the sea, a tiny rocky beach area.

The hotel has a restaurant serving Mediterranean and local dishes. A free continental breakfast is included in the room rate, though it's not a buffet breakfast and some of the a la carte offerings come with a fee. For snacks, lunch, and dinner, the hotel also has a swimming pool menu, an a la carte menu, and a changing daily menu with different choices for appetizers and main meals. Half-board options are available. Guests generally rate the food as excellent. There are several spots to eat, including an outdoor terrace and a room with expansive windows, all overlooking the sea. There's also a lobby lounge with a small bar. 

The front desk is staffed 24 hours, and the staff is multilingual -- most speak English and French. The concierge is available to recommend restaurants and book tours and trips at reasonable prices. The hotel offers currency exchange, childcare, luggage storage, laundry and dry cleaning, car service, and shuttle service. Parking and Wi-Fi are both free. There's no fee for pets.