The Perfect Seaside Villa on the Amalfi Coast

Image 1: Morning breakfast in Villa San Michele's restaurant ; Image 2: One of the many dishes served at our dinners

Hotel Villa San Michele has 12 rooms, but I would call them suites as our room had a sitting area, ensuite bathroom, small stocked refrigerator and a French balcony with ocean view. While well-appointed, the Villa has a beach house vibe reflecting Italy's simple, rustic and relaxed culture. Family-run with no fuss, on-site chefs prepare meals for couples daily in their beautiful restaurant that overlooks the sea and across the Gulf of Salerno to Miori. Our stay included breakfast and dinner (beverages charged separately) and aparitivo offered on the cocktail patio. Guests can relax on their private balconies, in the gardens, on the sun terrace or take a dip from the splash pad at water's edge.

The Villa is walking distance to Ravello, Atrani and Amalfi with easy access to Lido Di Ravello Beach Club, making it the perfect location to take in all that the area has to offer. Atrani is a gem, laid back with a small square and wonderful trattorias. The adjacent beach area offers both a private club experience with umbrellas and lounge chairs as well as a public area close to beachside cafes. Amalfi is beautiful with a bustling retail and dining area where all things lemon-inspired are en vogue. Do not leave with out trying a refreshing lemon gelato served Amalfi style in a shaved lemon cup set upon a grand parfait glass. We loved wandering to find unique places and experiences to dine and explore. Definitely charter a cruise on a "gonzo" (traditional Amalfitan boat). We did a half-day sunset-style cruise that took us to Conca del Marini, the Emerald Grotto, Fiordo Di Furore, Praiano and Positano. We swam and snorkeled while our captain shared the history of the area, poured champagne and limoncello with a side serving of fresh-cut melon to enjoy on board.

Villa San Michele checked every box for the experience that we wanted when traveling to the Amalfi Coast. Historic Villa: check. Gardens: check. Oceanfront views: check. Exquisite cuisine: check. Easy access to coastal towns, excursions, sites: check. The property offers the perfect, quiet respite from the lively atmosphere of neighboring towns for couples to retreat. While the Villa was fully booked, it felt spacious and exclusive without forcing interaction among guests. The family/staff went out of their way to make us feel at home with warm greetings, smiles and excellent service while giving us our space to enjoy our time on their private property.

Getting there:

We took the "fast train" from Rome to Salerno. The port of Salerno is located a short walk around the corner. We booked tickets ahead of time for the ferry with direct route to the Port of Amalfi (you can also choose the TravelMar commuter ferry which stops at all the towns between Salerno and Positano). Times for the ferry are posted on-line but you can also purchase tickets at the docks if you get there early. Upon arrival in Amalfi, we hired a golf cart "porter" for $25 (vs. $50 taxi for same drive, approximately .6 miles), to help us up the winding hillside road to Villa San Michele.

Get ready to get your steps in:

The Amalfi Coast is a "cliffside" haven with properties built into the hills sloping up from the water. Hotel Villa San Michele is located down the hill from the main road placing it on the water with leveled terraces and cobbled stairs connecting these tiers. Villa San Michel's porter used a zip line to transport our luggage to the resident rooms and then carried them down three floors to our corner room located on the first floor situated over the sun terrace with stairs down to the splash pad water entry. The Villa has approximately 10 levels or tiers from the road to the water. There is no elevator.

Walking to and from the areas of Atrani, Amalfi and Ravello require traversing the main road filled with busy traffic but in our experience drivers are aware and mindful. We opted to walk down from Villa San Michele on the oceans side (facing traffic) to Atrani and we went through a very cool, hidden pedestrian tunnel through the mountain that popped us directly into the town of Amalfi. We opted to hire the golf porters to deliver us back up the hill in sync with traffic. The views from Castiglione Ravello to Atrani to Amalfi are out of this world.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to the Amalfi Coast. In need of further inspiration? Check out Angela Marini’s guide, Exploring Italy's Amazing Amalfi Coast.