Graal Hotel Ravello

Run by the Fraulo Vuilleumier family since the mid-1960s, Graal Hotel was first the family home, then a small guesthouse in the center of Ravello. Finally, it expanded to its current incarnation as a 42-room hotel on a hillside overlooking the town and gulf of Salerno. Despite, or perhaps due, to its consistent history, the hotel is starting to look a little tired. Seafoam-green couches and blocky wood-and-glass coffee and end tables dot the lobby in seating clusters, making it a comfortable but unexciting place for a nightcap from the lobby bar. The rooftop pool, though, as well as the restaurant on-site (not run by the hotel) are more attractive and offer those striking Amalfi Coast views. Most who come here are vacationing couples, and the setting set back from the main road keeps the vibe peaceful. 

Located a four-minute flat walk from Ravello's town square, the hotel is located on a hillside with great views of the coastal landscape. There are a few things to do within walking distance: the area has no shortage of gorgeous walks, and the iconic Villa Cimbrone gardens are a 15-minute walk away. A 10-minute walk brings guests to the Church of San Giovanni del Toro and Villa Rufol. It's also a 20-or-so minute drive to the beach from the property, though it gets pretty crowded with tourists when it comes to high summer season. Cars are ideal for a stay here, as it's easier to explore the surrounding areas, but there's also a bus stop close to the hotel. Getting to and from the airport is definitely easier with a rental, though: Naples Airport is around two hours away by car, depending on traffic, or slightly over two-and-a-half hours by a series of public transit connections. 

Any room you book here will come with a view: furnished balconies look out over some gorgeous landscapes -- not the least of which are the property's own gardens -- and the blue waters of the sea. The large units are quiet, thanks to their positioning away from the road, and Superior Rooms on the upper floors even more so. The rooms themselves, however, are looking a little tired, with white walls, wood or tile floors, and unremarkable medium-brown wood furniture interrupted by either shocking jolts of red, or more traditional blue-and-gold mismatched linens. Some rooms have charming patterned tiling on the floors. Rooms are air-conditioned and come with satellite TVs, desks, and minibars. Bathrooms are fairly spacious across all room types, equipped with shower/tub combos and old hose-style hairdryers. Superior Rooms include showers or whirlpool tubs. On the downside, some guests have complained about easily rectifiable maintenance issues that hint at the need for a property-wide renewal: loose wall sockets, dysfunctional whirlpool tubs, and showers that aren't attached to the wall. 

One of the most gorgeous parts of the property is its rooftop pool with gorgeous, sweeping views over the sea. It's surrounded by a sun terrace with plenty of cherry-striped loungers and umbrellas, and towels are available for guests to use for free. However, some guests complain about the policy of opening the pool to the public for a day rate, as it makes the area far more crowded than it otherwise would be. The hotel's restaurant is only open to guests and offers a menu made up of traditional regional dishes, developed largely by the monks who lived in the area in the 13th century, as well as modern, original takes from the chef, who grew up in the area. Breakfast is generally included in the room rate, and the buffet-style morning spread includes meats, homemade cakes and tarts courtesy of the hotel's pastry chef, and local jams, though the quality is pretty hit or miss. Views from the dining room are themselves worth a meal there: panoramic, floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto the Amalfi Coast. There's also an excellent a la carte restaurant, Al Ristoro del Moro, on the hotel's first floor. Although it's not technically associated with the hotel, it also offers regional dishes from the same chef. It has a lovely al fresco terrace with striking vistas. In the evenings, guests can kick back on sofas in the hotel's comfortable lounge bar. Covered parking is available on-site for a reasonable charge. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, though some have reported the signal being spotty.