The finest hotel we have ever stayed

Without a doubt, this is the finest hotel that we have ever stayed at, and we have traveled world wide at other wonderful hotels. We were at the Caruso for three nights in September 2005. It was re-opened in June of 2005 after a five year renovation. It was perfect! The rooms are large with extra large modern bathrooms. The staff could not be better. Everything about the Caruso is luxurious. The dining room is first rate, and overlooks the sea. Be sure to ask for a room with a sea view. The rate is expensive, but well worth the money. The hotel provides a shuttle bus to go to Amalfi and Positano. Cabs are extra expensive, so be sure to use the shuttle. The Hotel Sasso is immediately next door to the Caruso, and is world famous. We predict that the Caruso will replace the Sasso in reputation for high quality accomodations. We loved it!

Heaven

We stayed at Caruso the first day of the re-opening. In fact we were the second guests.

It was stunning. What else can I say after such a week? This is beyond words.

We go back.

Italian splendour

Hotel Caruso, Ravello - having found this hotel purely by chance via searching on the internet, any prior reservations i had had of this hotel were immediately dispelled upon arrival. My family and i arrived from Naples via a luxury Mercedes minivan which the hotel had arranged. Upon our arrival we were met by Snr. Caruso - Snr.Caruso is in charge of external relations for the hotel and so he should be - no better person could be employed in such a job since Snr Caruso's family had previously owned the hotel - he knows a lot about its history!

The hotel is under the ownership of the orient express hotel group and they have totally renovated the hotel from the ground up providing a very wonderful mix of classical interiors combined with all the luxury amenities one would expect.

The hotel feels like a statley home and it is almost as if Snr Caruso is welcoming you as his house guests. Each room is furnished in appealing neutral tones and each again has its own unique identity in terms of layout. My wife and i were traveling with an 8 and 6 year old and we required an adjoining yet seperate room for the kids - my wife and i stayed in a junior suite on the 3rd floor with breathtaking views out to the sea and neigbouring towns, the suite was over-sized with a beautifully appointed large bathroom, the children stayed next door in a deluxe double which itself again was extremely comfortable and dare i say good enough!

There are a choice of restaurants and bars - al fresco or indoors depending on the weather. The infinity pool is simply breathtaking and here they provide an informal pool side buffet/wood fired pizza which is ample for lunch.

The staff are numerous, charasmatic (some of them sing!) and very accomodating.

Quality of food in the hotel is good with ample choice of alternative simple but wonderful restaurants in the neighbouring towns (amalfi, atrani, minori etc)

Evenings in the hotel are reminiscent of a bygone era - get dressed for dinner and go for pre dinner cocktails in the bar with pianist in the background whilst watching the moon rise. Wonderful!

Conceirge - top marks to the conceirge (previosuly from Park Hyatt and Westin Palace in Milan) - they can arrange day trip outings, boat excursions

- no request is too demanding!

Overall - one of the best holidays my family and i have together in years - i can highly recomend this hotel for the luxury discerning been there done it all customer - it is expensive but as the saying goes - you get what you pay for!

Salute Caruso!

Beyond Beauty....

Simply said... beyond beauty!.... we arrived at the hotel with the highest expectations, after having heard and read so much about the anticipated re-opening of this wonderful resort following 5-years renovation by Orient-Express Hotels... Everything, from the incredible spacious guest rooms and amenities, to the breathtaking views and the infinity-pool and the gracious yet impeccable service went well beyond our imagination... and mind you we are spoiled travellers, used to Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Aman Resorts etc.... well, we have to say Hotel Caruso belongs to a superior league and we cannot wait to go back there.... thank you staff of Caruso!

Outstanding with a World-Class Concierge

Just returned from a trip through Italy to celebrate 30th anniversary. The Hotel Caruso was a highlight--beautiful property with great service and food. Francesco, the head concierge, is terrific and arranged dinners, transportation including a trip to Capri, cooking class with Mama Agata and more and was always on top of things. Stayed in deluxe junior suite with balcony facing the coast and it was everything they had promised and more. Ravello is a very special place and we were very happy staying there and going into Amalfi and Positano for dinner (although the hotel restaurant was also exceptionally good).

The views are incredible!

My wife and I stayed for 3 nights while honeymooning in Italy. While the hotel had only opened a few nights before we arrived, and there was still some work going on, we still still loved the Caruso. The views were fanatastic and the infinity pool (and the surrounding area) was unbelievable. We would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a romantic retreat with understated elegance.

The town is simply beautiful and feels much more authentic than some of the more touristy towns on the coast (amalfi, positano, etc). We would recommend both Cumpo Cosimo and the Ristorante Salvatore as dining options as well.

Plainly and simply, unmatched and unforgettable: Six stars

Start with a location that was the inspiration for the architects of heaven. Nothing in Carmel, Positano-no view anywhere equals the look at almost infinite blue sea and cliffs thick with lemon and olive trees, tumbling down to the water.

Forget dining at Le Sireneuse, which we did; the food and service here is better, and the view dramatically better-if you can imagine that. Giovanni, the full-time maitre de (he leaves only between two and three pm for a shower and to change into his dinner tuxedo), is charming, thorough, witty and efficient. Marianna is a delighttful assistant, Paola at the desk ditto.

Christine lost an earring one night. We weren't sure where. The next morning when we came to the front desk with a request, they had the earring in an envelope. How did they know it was hers? Not just good service-you also get clairvoyance, apparently.

The place is so special that we cancelled our day trip to Capri so that we could spend all day at the hotel. (The pool is spectacular, and equally well-served with anything that you need.)

It poured rain for three hours one afternoon so we decided to order a movie. The hotel had every Academy Award winning film, and most of the nominees, of the past 40 years. (We chose Strangelove; the film was in our room in ninety seconds.)

Is there a better hotel? There cannot be. Is there one to equal it? Perhaps, but it isn't Le Sireneuse, nor any hotel in North America.

A new jewel for Ravello

Just got back from Hotel Caruso. It has only been open two weeks but the staff are fantastic and the location is quite unbelievable. The views are truly breathtaking - 90 per cent of rooms have sea views - and from the pool up in the Belvedere you feel as if you can swim over the infinity edge right into the bay below!

If you love excellent service in a beautiful and historic setting, Hotel Caruso is for you.

Stunning

I stayed at the Caruso in the first few weeks of opening and it was just stunning!

Not only are the views from the rooms breathtaking but the service and staff were incredible - certainly the best experience I've had on the Amalfi coast

Blissful retreat finally re-opens June 2005 (seriously pricey)

Before I moved to Italy, I came to Ravello for the first time with a friend 6 years ago or so in winter. We were staying in a cheap place in Amalfi (Lidomare - very nice) and made a point of going to all the 5-star hotels for a cappuccino on their terraces. Santa Caterina, Convento Cappuccini, Luna, Belvedere Caruso, Palumbo et al - and this was our favourite by far! The link with Caruso, Garbo, Fonteyn and other greats - such as wonderful Hallé conductor Sir John Barbirolli - with the signed photos on the walls gave it great charm - the gardens, the view, the decor all sublime. (and the coffee!) Back then it was a charming family concern - and we both vowed to go back and stay there. Then it closed and after years of restoration (I've been checking on an annual basis to see when it'd re-open) it's now part of the Orient Express Hotels. AND THE PRICES ARE ABSURD!!!!!!! They open officially in June 2005 - good luck to them - I hope they have some special offers in the future cos I doubt anyone will be able to afford going - even the richest of Americans. And the intrinsic part of the charm - the family ownership - is gone. What they are offering for that money, I do not know. But their website isn't fantastically suggestive...and if you're paying top dollar you want top everything. I simply CANNOT imagine how they justify their prices....hence I look forward to seeing comments from actual guests!