Hotel La Conca Azzurra

Hotel La Conca Azzurra has traditional -- some might say old-fashioned -- ambience. It's perched above the sea with layers of terraces scaling down a bluff connected by a beautiful winding path with stone stairways, plants, ivy, and lots of nooks for lounging and outdoor dining. At the street level (the top of the bluff), there's a pottery shop and bar, and above that, a rooftop terrace. At the bottom of the bluff, a lido offers a cordoned-off swimming spot in the sea, and a terrace with loungers and a bar. The hotel's outdoor common areas all face the sea and offer wonderful views. The indoor areas might seem dated to some, but they have a certain Mediterranean flair: The lobby has a neutral-tone tile floor, white walls, colorful pottery, and wood cabinets with glass doors. Country-style chairs surround a glass table with an elaborate wood base, while couches are covered with striped damask slipcovers in green and gold. The hotel is for travelers seeking a getaway, and it draws mostly couples and families.

Hotel La Conca Azzurra is perched on a bluff above the sea in Conca dei Marini, one of the many fishing villages on the Amalfi Coast. The area is quiet and fairly secluded, though the Grotta dello Smeraldo, a cave known for its emerald-green seawater, is a one-minute walk from the hotel. The hotel is about a 13-minute drive to Amalfi's town center. Local buses to Amalfi and Sorrento stop outside the hotel's door. Beaches dot the coast, and many are an easy drive away. Conca Beach can be reached by a free water shuttle from the hotel's lido. The nearest train station is about an hour's drive away, in Salerno. The 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, Sorrento (an hour's drive), and picturesque Positano (a 30-minute drive). Free on-site parking is available. 

The traditional decor of Hotel La Conca Azzura's 18 rooms has a Mediterranean touch, with terra-cotta floors, chandeliers, and vintage wood desks. All rooms have furnished terraces or balconies with views of the sea. Upgraded rooms have additional decorative details, such as silky floral bedding, sitting areas, or wall murals encircled by brick. A few details, such as the slipcovered chairs, can feel fussy or dated, but they add to the rooms' old-fashioned appeal. Some of the suites, which are located in an annex, include living areas, sofa beds, gardens with loungers, and full kitchens. White-tile bathrooms have brown-tile floors and include bidets, and standing showers or shower/tub combos. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided.

Rooms are air-conditioned and include desks, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi, along with minibars and safes. There are no in-room coffee- or tea-making facilities. 

Many of the hotel's features and amenities take advantage of its spectacular seafront location. A long, meandering pathway leads down the well-manicured bluff past the hotel's several terraces to a private lido -- a small swimming area cordoned off in the sea at the base of the cliff, with a small terrace and a small bar serving snacks and drinks -- it stays open from June to September. The hotel also offers a free water shuttle to and from the lido to Conca Beach, a larger swimming area with shallow water. 

The pathway leads guests past layers of terraces with little gardens, flower boxes, stone stairways, and ivy. One terrace includes a hot tub and a grassy patch of lawn with lounge chairs. Another has cafe tables, a tile floor, loungers, and a glass roof for multi-seasonal use. Dining terraces, including a rooftop terrace, offer outdoor seating for the hotel's bar and restaurant. Excellent sea views abound.

The hotel is home to Calajanara, a bar and restaurant that serves a changing menu of Mediterranean and Italian fare made with locally sourced products. A breakfast buffet is included in the room rate, offering cereal, fruit, coffee, bread, and pastries. Dinner and lunch include a changing daily menu of appetizers and entrees, which guests rate excellent. Half-board packages are available, and room service is on call 24 hours a day.

The hotel also has a wine cellar and Allere Art Shop on the street level (top of the bluff), which sells pottery and souvenirs, and also has a bar. Staff can arrange tours and activities, car service, childcare, and laundry service. Parking and Wi-Fi are both free.