Capri Palace Hotel & Spa

Tonino Cacace -- whose parents bought what would become the Capri Palace in 1960 -- took over the hotel at the age of 23 when his father passed away. He has added plenty of distinct artistic touches. Gold decor accents pop against whitewashed interiors, and vaulted ceilings and arches make for an open atmosphere that’s reminiscent of the 1800s, with modern artwork placed throughout. The entryway is covered with vines and features a walkway decorated in white sculptures and a line of windows with into the pool. The hotel has a large art collection that includes an oversized bronze helmet at the entrance, mannequins climbing out of canvases, and a rowboat with TVs displaying ocean scenes. Most guests are well-heeled families with children and couples who come here for a quiet and upscale vacation. 

The Capri Palace Hotel & Spa is located in Anacapri, an area that offers a quiet reprieve from the tourist crowds but still has restaurants, bars, and shops, including the nearby Mariorita boutique, which offers custom-made sandals. The Monte Salero chairlift is just outside of the hotel and there's a bus stop just down the road. Alternatively, guests can hop on the hotel’s free shuttle to the beach club, which is a 15-minute ride  away. The heliport is a 10-minute drive from the hotel and the ferry terminal takes 15 minutes to reach. By hydrofoil boat and car it’s about two hours to the Naples International Airport or four hours to the airport in Rome. Speedboats are available through the hotel for excursions or transfers. 

Overall rooms are spacious, bright from natural light, and stylish, with a grayscale color scheme. Many also have balconies or terraces that overlook the sea or hillside, but some Classic Rooms only have windows. Select Superior Rooms offer white and blue interiors with a Mediterranean vibe. Deluxe Rooms have colonial-inspired interiors and some have living rooms. Seven upgraded rooms and suites have private plunge pools. For the price point, some may feel that the decor lacks wow factor, and walls are thin. Some rooms have refreshed decor, but not all. Bathrooms in entry-level room categories have shower/tub combos, not the separate showers and tubs one would expect from an advertised five-star hotel.

All rooms offer flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, safes, and minibars -- though no iPod/iPhone docks. Some units have one or two bedrooms in addition to living rooms plus second bathrooms and even treadmills. Themed suites include the Warhol Suite, which features Mao portraits on the pool floor and a poster of the artist's iconic Campbell Soup can. The Marilyn Monroe Suite features artwork dedicated to the movie star. Capritouch Suites and Penthouse suites are extra roomy and have vaulted ceilings and archways. The two-bedroom Presidential Suite on the top floor is dedicated to Gwyneth Paltrow and has two pools and excellent views. 

Hotel guests get access to a multi-level beach club arranged on the cliff, enjoying gorgeous waterfront views from the Ristorante Il Riccio, which has stunning blue and white design. Stairs from the beach club lead to a ladder that drops down into the Gulf of Naples. The beach club can be reached in 15 minutes on the hotel's shuttle. 

Back at the hotel, guests will find an indoor pool, a hot tub, a steam room, and the Capri Beauty Farm spa which provides treatments for varicose veins or cellulite. Wellness and diet programs are also available and the gym offers modern cardio machines, weight equipment, and fitness classes. There's an outdoor pool surrounded by orange cushioned lounge chairs with service from a pool attendant. Also at the hotel is the L’Olivo restaurant with two Michelin stars and terrace dining. Casual fare is provided in the Ragu Bistrot -- which overlooks the sea -- and wine tastings are available in the Dolce Vite cellar. Weddings are often held on-site or at the beach club with catering service available and three meeting rooms that can accommodate banquets of up to 144 people. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.