Ravello
Hotel Caruso
Spiel:
Overlooking the Gulf of Salerno 1,000 feet below,
Hotel Caruso is one of the great hotels in the
Mediterranean. The rooms and suites have spectacular sea
views and there’s an incredible infinity pool, 2 restaurants
(the one on the terrace is impossibly romantic), 2 bars, a spa
and health center. The terraced gardens lend to the enchantment
of this property.
Deal: “One
More Night” package in August & September: for
bookings of 3 consecutive nights, the 3rd night is
free.
Double room rates start at 710 euro per night(approx $964), but
3rd night is free. Rates include full
American buffet breakfast and either lunch or dinner per person,
per day. Special Bear & Bear amenity: one bottle of
excellent regional wine to accompany the daily à la carte meal.
Steal:
Hotel Palumbo dates back to the 12th century
and is located in the hills of Ravello overlooking the
sea. This lovely gem is a mixture of arches, corridors,
interesting niches, passageways and rooms with antiques from
the 16th, 17th and 18th
centuries.. That’s a lot of centuries going on! In addition to
a separate villa on the sea where you can sunbathe, swim, lunch
and relax at seaside, there is a swimming pool, panoramic
garden, solarium and restaurant.
Rates starting at 250 euro(approx $335) including breakfast and
tax.
Meal:
Il
Pesce d'Oro:
Keeping it all in family, the big-hearted brothers oversee the
place, their kids serve you and mamma cooks at this comfortable
roadside restaurant . None of them speak much English, but great
food is a universal language! The menu features freshly caught
fish from the sea. Try the ’spaghetti al cartoccio’
(translation: spaghetti in a bag) with squid, olives, capers
and shellfish.
Positano
Le Sirenuse
Spiel:
Just steps from the town of Positano , this 18th-century
palazzo has been lovingly converted into a five-star, deluxe
hotel. Everyone wants to stay in Le Sirenuse because of
the impeccable service, staff that goes out of their way , rooms
with antiques and original master paintings, a full -service
spa, heated swimming pool and the best location in town. Take in
the wonderful views of Positano’s colorful harbor from
their restaurant, La Sponda, which has the best
homemade mozzarella cheese known to mankind.
Deal:
Rates start at 500 euro (approx $670) including upgrade subject
to availability, continental breakfast, tea for two once during
stay, bottle of Italian spumante and fresh flowers in room.
Steal:
28-room Villa Franca, located in the center of
Positano, is full of charm and value!. This privately owned
hotel is a favorite for people in the know with a rooftop pool,
pool/snack bar, restaurant, wellness center and seaside or town
views. Rates starting at 210 euro ($281) including breakfast
and tax.
Meal: La Taverna de Leone
has the BEST pizza in Positano and draws a crowd ranging
from local fisherman to Ferrari owners. This rustic
roadhouse trattoria serves a variety of antipasti and creative
pizza toppings, cold beer and local wine. Open evenings only.
Rome
Hotel De Russie
Spiel:
The oh-so-fashionable Hotel de Russie is in an enviable
location near the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo.
All of the 122 contemporary rooms are stylish and sophisticated
and their extensive, terraced garden is a tranquil oasis in the
bustle of central Rome. You'll also find a health club
and wellness zone with hydropool, jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish steam
bath, beauty treatments and gym.
The chef at ‘Le Jardin de Russie’ Restaurant has
received 2 Michelin stars and everyone who is anyone flocks to
the Stravinskij Bar.
Deal:
Rates start at 476 euro (approx
$647). Bear & Bear exclusive amenities in June and July
include: upgrade upon availability, 2 complimentary drinks at
the Stravinskij Bar and a 10% discount when dining at ‘Le Jardin
de Russie’ restaurant.
Steal:
A former 17th palazzo with only 18 rooms, Hotel
Forte, is steps from Piazza de Spagna. With internet/wi-fi,
satellite TV, a 24 hour bar serving drinks, espresso and snacks,
this hotel is a ‘steal’. Hotel Forte was voted the best
3-star hotel in Rome in 2007.
Rates starting at 90 euro (approx $121).
Meal: Gusto,
a
Rome favorite, is now a culinary empire; a cutting-edge
restaurant, an ever-popular pizzeria with a fantastic salad bar
at lunchtime, a trendy wine bar and book/culinary store. Around
the corner there is a café and an osteria serving classic Roman
fare.
Capri
Villa Marina Capri Hotel & Spa
Spiel: Villa
Marina Capri Hotel & Spa
is
an exclusive, new hotel complete with a secular park, glorious
gardens and views of the
Gulf of Naples.
This small 21 room/suite hotel has a substantial
state-of-the-art spa facility with wellness treatments, an
infinity pool and solarium. Restaurant "Ziqù" is getting
rave reviews already.
Deal:
Sunset Lighthouse Package: 4 nights stay including buffet
breakfast, champagne upon arrival, roundtrip transfers from
Naples airport or train station, island boat trip with a
stop to watch the sunset at the famous lighthouse, dinner for
two at Ziqu restaurant and a 45-minute massage for two.
Rates start at 512 euro (approx $695) per night with additional
nights at 400 euro (approx $543). Valid until October 31, 2009.
Steal:
Located in exclusive and unspoiled Anacapri, the
Capri Palace overlooks the open Mediterranean Sea and the
Gulf of Naples. "L'Olivo" is the only Michelin
star restaurant in Capri with an impressive wine list
of more than a thousand labels. Capri Palace has a
fabulous Beauty Farm Spa with a doctor and nutritionist
on staff. Their new Il Ricco Beach Club is the
rave of Capri and many of the rooms have private plunge
pools. Look for their private label olive oil and Capri
Palace cashmere, cotton and wool products designed
exclusively by Loro
Piana. This is one
of the
best kept secrets in
Capri.
Rates start at 450 euro (approx $611) with an upgrade subject to
availability, buffet breakfast, fresh flowers, Limoncello &
petit-fours in room upon arrival, 1 spa service per person at
the Capri Beauty Farm and a Beauty Farm amenity kit.
When booking a room with private pool or suite, a dinner for two
at ‘L’Olivio’ is included.
Unreal:
Casa
Morgano is casually elegant, small (only 30 rooms)
and in good company; the Morgano Brothers
own this hotel along with La Scalinatella and the
Quisisana. There are some lovely diversions such as a
heated swimming pool and fitness center, tennis and a restaurant
serving lunch and dinner. You can’t beat the breathtaking views
from the teak verandahs or terraces in all of the rooms and the
Via Tragara location is where you want to be. Double
rooms are 250 euro (approx $340) including continental
breakfast, tax and service. This is a great rate for Capri.
Meal: Ristorante La Capannina,
where the local elite dine, is one of the best
restaurants on Capri, offering first rate ravioli caprese
or grilled island fish, a wine list with over 200
Italian and foreign labels and a gourmet shop next door.
Portofino
Hotel Splendido
Spiel:
Perched high on a hillside, Hotel Splendido overlooks Portofino
Harbor—the perfect vantage point to view the yachts and
yacht owners from around the world. The picturesque town,
restaurants, and nightlife are a short stroll away.
There’s always the fabulous pool, the hotel's speedboat for
waterskiing, a round of golf at nearby Rapallo, a
treatment at their spa or enjoying the view from your balcony.
Hotel Splendido is all about glamour and asthetic beauty; even
the floral linens are color coordinated with the fresh flowers
du jour!
‘No’Deal, but
worth it if you want to spend it!
Rates start
at 730 euro (approx $991) including upgrade subject to
availability, full breakfast, fruit and flowers in room and
$100 resort credit.
Steal:
San Giorgio Hotel,
a
Ligurian town house with just 18 rooms and 7 suites quietly
situated minutes from Portofino’s renowned piazzetta, is
a wonderful alternative if you want to holiday in Portofino,
but don’t want to ‘break the bank’. The rooms are soothing with
canopy beds, pastel walls and a concierge that can help with
boat excursions, scooter rentals and dining reservations.
There’s even a private beach.
Rates start at 295
euro (approx $400) including
breakfast, private parking and shuttle service to their private
beach.
Meal: reserve
an outdoor table at Ristorante Puny, order the
unforgettable pappardelle with pesto and get set for some prime
people-watching in the main square with views of the bobbing
boats in the harbor.
SICILY
San Domenico Palace Hotel, Taormina
Spiel: Built on the site of a 15th century
monastery, San Domenico Palace is in an exquisite setting
amidst manicured gardens, surrounded by lemon trees, trumpet
flowers and bougainvillea at every turn. In addition to a
beautiful pool-side area with extraordinary views of the sea and
Mt Etna, San Domenico Palace also has a Beauty Corner
Spa, fitness area and boutique, their well-known restaurant,
Principe Cermai, and their famous Oratorio dei Frati
lounge bar.
Deal: Summer package: 1079 euro (approx $1466) for
3 nights. Approx $488 per night including daily breakfast, a
candlelit dinner for 2 at Principe Cermai restaurant, flowers
and fruit in room upon arrival, complimentary parking, welcome
drink at Oratorio dei Frati bar, a gastronomic gift and
newspaper of choice each morning. Valid until September 30, 2009.
Steal: On Pantelleria , stay at Santa
Teresa Resort. It is part of the Design Hotels Collection
and, no wonder, since Pantelleria is one of the chicest
islands in Sicily. Comprised of 18 “dammusi” bungalow
style buildings, there are 3 swimming pools, Arabian gardens,a
restaurant serving local fare, a golf practicing course and
boats for day trips to explore the caves of the island. Early
season rates starting at 325 euro (approx $441) per night
including breakfast. Valid until May 31, 2009.
Meal: Not only is Ristorante A’ Zammara
one of the most famous restaurants in Taormini, but it is
one of the friendliest. The recipes reflect the traditional
Sicilian cuisine; we recommend the lemon-style risotto, pasta
with sardines and, for desert, the almond cake.
FORTE DEI MARMI
Hotel Byron
Spiel: Forte dei Marmi is the hottest
place to be and
Hotel
Byron is the hotel to be in. Comfortable, quiet and
unpretentious, this 30 room hotel has wonderfully atmospheric
accommodations each one different than the next. There is a lovely
garden with a large swimming pool where guests dine for lunch
and dinner and their ‘La Magnolia’ restaurant is superb
with a menu that changes daily depending on the catch of the
day. The beach is across the street, but you may not want to
leave Hotel Byron’s premises!
Deal:
Stay 3 nights in a double room and get upgraded to a jr
suite (subject to availability), breakfast daily, ,bottle of
Prosecco, one dinner for 2 in La Magnolia restaurant
including wine, visit to nearby Lucca for a bicycle tour
of the town by an English-speaking guide, tax and service:
1340 euro (approx $1820) for 3 nights. Approx $607 per night.
Valid until May 31, 2009.
Steal:
With fantastic views of the Apuan Alps and the beach,
Il Negresco, is right in the heart of Forte dei Marmi.
In addition to La Terrazza restaurant, there is a bar
serving light snacks and drinks, pool, 24-hour front desk and
children’s program.
Special rates starting at 202 euro (approx $274) including
full buffet breakfast, appetizer at swimming pool, 1 taxi
transfer with return from hotel to the exclusive shopping
streets in the centre of Forte dei Marmi, 1 relaxing massage per
person in room or at Teresita Wellness Club and a 30% discount
at restaurant. Valid until June 10, 2009 with a 2 night minimum
stay.
Meal: Da
Lorenzo
is located in
the center of Forte dei Marmi and considered the best
fish restaurant in town. Good food, good location, good vibe,
great recommendation!
