Hotel Aurora

This three-story hotel surrounded by lush landscape is hard to miss: It is marked by not one, not two, but three signs, one after the other. Guests are immediately greeted by the smells of flowers and ocean. The Aurora has classic Mediterranean architecture (reminiscent of the buildings on some Greek islands) -- the smooth, whitewashed building is surrounded by impressive manicured grounds. The garden terrace is particularly charming, with an arbor covered in climbing vines, terracotta pots filled with bright flowers, and white wrought-iron bistro tables on the brick patio. Blues and whites dominate outside, popping up in the floor tiles, patio furniture, beach lounge chairs, and various decor accents. Inside, the decor is mostly wood and clay. Local art can be found throughout the hotel.

Those looking for a loud and lively place will do better elsewhere -- this hotel is designed for lounging, with fantastic sea views and plenty of outdoor seating (shaded and in direct sun). Be sure to check out the area with funky wooden chairs and a big underwater-themed mural (there's another in the breakfast room!).

Located in the town of Sperlonga on the Latina coast, smack between Rome and Naples, Hotel Aurora claims a spot directly on a beautiful sandy beach. It's at the foot of the quaint fishing village, which is perched atop a rocky outcrop and has old whitewashed houses, arches, and alleyways that weave down to the sea. Visitors can find a number of Mediterranean restaurants here, particularly for fish. The main cultural attraction, the museum on the grounds of the Villa of Tiberius, is a five-minute drive away.

While it may be hard to peel away from the sparkling sea views and the hotel's aromatic gardens (a major draw of the hotel), the concierge can arrange activities such as canoeing, sailing, and boat tours. Within a 15- to 20-minute drive, guests can access Arenauta Beach, with rock climbing and horseback riding, and the medieval beach town of Gaeta -- plus, an abundance of nature hikes are within 18 to 25 miles of the hotel.

Rooms here begin at homey and basic (single-color tiled floors and walls, simple furniture, framed artwork on the walls, and somewhat dated bedding), and get nicer bit by bit with room category. The Junior Suite Alicia Mirabilis has a gorgeous blue tiled floor with decorative inlay border, patterned couch, contemporary bedding, arched doorways, in-room kettle with tea and coffee, and a fantastic, large terrace decked out with sun chairs and table. The suite's bathroom is more luxurious with softer colors, a separate bath, and basket overflowing with toiletries. Other bathrooms are simple and bright with white and turquoise tiles and notably fewer toiletries.

Double Rooms with an ocean view have enormous tiled terraces covered with slanted straw overhangs. These are big enough for a full set of wicker patio furniture, sun chairs, and a breezy umbrella. Some rooms have in-room painted murals. All rooms are exceptionally clean and come with individual air-conditioning units, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. All bathrooms have a bidet.

Be sure to explicitly ask about the features of your room, particularly sea views and balcony size, as most sea-view rooms do not have balconies and vise versa.

The Hotel Aurora delivers more features than some may expect for this category of hotel, including a big fitness center and multiple spa treatment rooms (the hotel is home to a massage school). These are in addition to its plethora of outdoor seating areas, flowering garden terrace, live piano music on weekends, and the occasional yoga class. There's also free Wi-Fi, free parking, free beach loungers with umbrellas, and (how could you forget?) inspiring sea views. While there is no full restaurant on-site, the hotel still has a generous free breakfast buffet with meats, cheeses, omelets, and more; a snack bar that serves light lunches and local specialty dishes; and room service (during limited hours). Guests can also take advantage of the indoor/outdoor bar and lounge area, a library, babysitting services (for a fee), or even the occasional art workshop.