I’ve Stayed at This Amalfi Coast Lodge Twice Now — Here is Why It is Good for {Couples} and Households

Each occasions I stayed on the Borgo Santandrea in Conca dei Marini, I couldn’t cease wanting up on the resort from the seashore. Each occasions, I will need to have had my mouth open with marvel as a result of a seashore attendant requested me, twice, if all the pieces was OK. That sums up the magic of Borgo Santandrea in a paragraph.

Whenever you stand on the shore of the Italian resort’s personal seashore membership and lookup, you possibly can see that the resort is sort of embedded into the aspect of the mountain. Beneath it sits a formidable cave, nearly like an open mouth, the place, a valet informed me, they set nativity scenes into the caves alongside the road in the course of the holidays.

In the course of the summer season, it’s bordered by vibrant purple bougainvillea, which covers nearly all the pieces on the Borgo. Each stroll is replete with flowers contrasted by olive and lemon timber, the latter hanging heavy with shiny yellow fruit. Little issues like this make it inconceivable to withstand the great thing about this mesmerizing luxurious resort between Positano and Amalfi.

The otherworldly setting drew me to Borgo Santandrea for the primary time throughout my honeymoon a couple of years in the past, shortly after the resort opened. It was so magical then that I vowed to return sometime. The second time, nevertheless, occurred to be with my 11-year-old daughter. I beloved my first go to, however the second journey satisfied me that Borgo Santandrea will not be a one-trick pony — a rarity in Amalfi, the place honeymoon lodges dot the shoreline.

The resort’s proprietor and common supervisor, Maurizio Orlacchio, enlisted architect Rino Gambardella to rework the property from the Sixties into fashionable Mediterranean class — with a wink to its mid-century fashionable previous. I’d say they succeeded. After a five-year renovation and three years in enterprise, the resort has grown to 52 rooms towards the dazzling backdrop of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Amalfi Coast.

Like many lodges within the space, the Borgo is sort of hidden from the road, making it really feel like a secret. You journey down to succeed in the resort, and every degree reveals a number of rooms, eating places, bars, swimming swimming pools, and the seashore membership. My daughter and I beloved strolling down the meandering stairs of the constructing. They’re so plentiful that you just get a bit dizzy, however it’s lovely sufficient to warrant the trace of hazard. (There are, nevertheless, elevators in case you favor a extra direct route or have mobility issues.) You lastly emerge into a protracted, warmly lit hallway with a curved ceiling — excellent for selfies or capturing candids strolling towards the glimmering darkish blue water.

The property is filled with hidden secrets and techniques ready to please and properly worthy of its recognition on our 2022 It Record. It’s a particular place I like, and I can’t wait to return. Learn on for my full assessment.

The Rooms

The resort’s magnificence will make you cease and stare typically.

They’ve accomplished a unbelievable job changing the Arab-influenced constructing right into a smooth, fashionable masterpiece. Gambardella enlisted native artisans to create bespoke furnishings for the resort that harkens again to its retro-modern previous. He expertly mixes the brand new modern furnishings with a uncommon classic assortment and strategically locations artifacts all through the resort and its rooms. The small print even prolong to the scents, with monumental glass vials of the resort’s signature scent permeating the halls — it is so alluring that I purchased some for my residence after my first go to.

Rooms have jaw-dropping panoramic sea views and vibrant blue and white tile that continues onto the patios. Many balconies oversee the water, which is a plus, though there are rooms with higher views than others, and a few even have personal swimming pools. Every room has an Italian marble tub stocked with high-end Italian manufacturers, together with Dyson Airwrap multi-stylers and luxurious facilities like Marvis toothpaste and Acqua di Parma toiletries. Rooms are spotless, and the minibars have complimentary snacks and drinks, together with ice-cold glass bottles of Coca-Cola and native sodas.

Meals and Drink

Every day begins with an included breakfast expertise. Think about wandering by way of an elegant open kitchen, the place chrome steel islands overflow with artisanal salumi, creamy cheeses, and vibrant native fruits. Nicola, the breakfast ambassador who typically wears a jaunty hat, is the actual gem right here. His ardour for describing every ingredient’s expertise and provenance makes mornings a culinary journey.

Below the masterful eye of government chef Crescenzo Scotti, Borgo Santandrea has three eating places and two bars, every celebrating the wealthy flavors of Italian delicacies. At Marinella, you possibly can savor conventional dishes on a terrace with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean — excellent for indulging whereas absorbing the serene ambiance.

Alici is a Michelin-starred restaurant with an open kitchen the place the chef creates culinary masterpieces from recent native substances. In the course of the day, there’s a informal spot close to the seashore the place you may get pizza Margherita and different regional specialties like fried pizza and zucchini flowers. Catch the sundown at La Terrazza bar, with panoramic views that remodel all through the night.

One in every of my daughter’s favourite promoting factors was selfmade lemonade in chilled glass pitchers served all around the resort. There have been additionally small bites of lemon-infused pastries, like lemon sponge cake and almond cake, completed with delicate shiny latticework.

The meals on the restaurant is great, however an insider tip: I additionally advocate El Zefferino, a family-run restaurant on the opposite aspect of the seashore that isn’t affiliated with the resort. You’ve by no means had higher spaghetti with clam sauce, and so they serve jugs of wine full of recent summer season peaches when in season.

Actions and Facilities

Simply since you come right here to sit down for some time doesn’t imply you could keep nonetheless. The resort’s seashore provides loads of free actions like kayaking and snorkeling, and there’s a big primo rock that adults and kids like to leap off of. Nevertheless, you possibly can sunbathe on the shiny black volcanic rocks that harm your toes however surprisingly really feel good to lie on when warmed by the solar. One of many cutest issues concerning the seashore is the throwback cabanas adorned with the standard striped sample. Chairs on the seashore are comfy (by Italian seashore membership requirements), and the mounted plastic umbrellas present a respite from the solar’s warmth — and still have helpful hooks to your cover-up or hat.

The resort has a personal pier the place you possibly can experience to city to discover or get picked up by a personal boat for a day-long coast tour. The Borgo additionally has its personal fleet and may manage a visit for an added value. On-site, there’s a saltwater pool above the seashore and a fitness center with adequate tools. The whole lot has a view of the water, so even the smaller spa, with only a few cabins, feels deliciously luxurious within the serenity of its setting.

There are additionally shuttles through automobile to Amalfi do you have to wish to store or dine within the small city. The resort’s linked concierge may also help you manage all of it, however make reservations for all the pieces as a result of the world books up upfront.

Household-friendly Choices

The resort permits youngsters aged 8 and as much as keep on the property. There are a number of interconnecting rooms or suites, and lots of the actions might be tailor-made to the household, similar to one of many boat excursions touring the coast’s many cities and sights just like the Blue Lagoon and the Faraglioni rock formation. My daughter mentioned our boat day was the very best, however she additionally particularly loved the free watersports, like kayaks — an effective way to soak up the resort’s magnificence from the water.

Most of the actions are family-friendly. The resort may also help you arrange day excursions to instructional locales like Pompeii and close by actions for youths, like lemon grove excursions and cooking lessons. My daughter was comfortable to sit down on the shore and store in Amalfi, the place the costs are comparatively decrease than in cities similar to Capri and Positano. (Trace: Purchase the customized sandals all around the space there.) As I discussed, the world might be busy, particularly when attempting to take all of it in, so it is a uncommon place to cease and recharge.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The resort is totally accessible and ADA-compliant. It has additionally made many sustainability efforts all through its renovation. A lot of the meals comes from native purveyors, and there’s a real dedication to leaving a smaller footprint.

Location

Attending to the area might be difficult, and it is a excellent first cease, though it’s a bit longer than a drive from Naples than Positano or Sorrento. Have an espresso on the airport and have the resort manage its automobile service to take you to the resort. It will likely be lunchtime in case you’re coming from the East Coast, which suggests you possibly can indulge within the seaside restaurant.

There’s little you possibly can stroll to from the resort since it’s on a windy road alongside the coast 10 minutes exterior Amafl within the historic seaside village, however the resort offers a complimentary shuttle into city in a Mercedes van or through a ship throughout sure hours. That is the form of resort you test into and calm down, punctuated by the occasional day journey — though loads of alternatives are close by that the concierge can manage for you. A rental automobile will not be really useful since there’s little parking, and it’s typically not really useful in Amalfi as a result of congestion and the dearth of parking. You too can attain it by personal boat, relying on the place you originate.

Methods to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

The Amalfi Coast is a seasonal vacation spot, a lot of the world is closed to tourism throughout winter months. Inns use the chance to make enhancements, and Borgo is not any completely different. There are few alternatives for reductions since it is a luxurious resort, however Orlacchio recommends reserving upfront to get the very best rooms to suit your funds.