If you’re following me on Instagram, you’ll have seen me gushing about how much I love Villa TreVille just outside of Positano. So, I’m here to tell you all the reasons why you NEED to book this gorgeous property next time you travel to the Amalfi Coast. I know, I know, it’s not technically in Positano, but who wants to be pushing between hot and sweaty tourists on the way back to your hotel? Not me!
Villa TreVille was formerly the home the celebrated Italian opera and film director, Franco Zeffirelli. Well-known guests from Leonard Bernstein and Elizabeth Taylor to Liza Minelli and Elton John have stayed there. The hotel is a haven for lovers of the arts as singers, writers, musicians, painters, and actors have flocked to Villa TreVille to retreat from the world.
Villa TreVille strikes that perfect balance of being close enough to the action (a 10-min complimentary water shuttle to Positano) while remaining relaxing, trendy, and luxurious without the Positano crowds. I tell every client who asks about Positano – don’t stay there. It’s crowded. It’s hot. It’s full of tourist shops. Unless you’re hunkering down at Le Sirenuse (which is almost impossible to get reservations at unless you’re working with a luxury travel agent – like me!) I would not stay in town.
During my stay at Villa TreVille, I was able to explore Positano at my own pace and return back to my peaceful sanctuary overlooking the sea. Keep reading to find out what my luxurious experience was like and why I recommend it every time!
Table of Contents
Location
Ville TreVille is located just outside of Positano. In fact, you can even seen the town of Positano lit up beautifully from the terraces of Villa TreVille at night. I love the location because it’s outside of the one-way pedestrian-filled traffic of Positano so it’s easy to access the other Amalfi Coast towns. You can also easily access Positano within 10 minutes, again without having to contend with the traffic.
Travelers staying here will likely fly into Naples or Rome and then take a car to the hotel. From Naples, you’re looking at about an hour drive on the winding Amalfi Coast roads. From Rome it would be about a 3.5 hour drive. Not ideal, but sometimes the flight schedules don’t work out and there are better direct flights to Rome than to Naples.
First Impressions
Coming from Sorrento, I arranged a car through Villa TreVille to pick me up and take me to the hotel. I was greeted by a factory-fresh Mercedes sedan (don’t ask me what model – I’m totally clueless when it comes to cars!) whose friendly driver promptly stored my bags. We made pleasant small talk admiring the views and listening to mythological tales of the Li Galli islands on the way. Before I knew it, we were pulling up through the gates of Villa TreVille.
The hotel is located on a terraced cliffside which makes for dramatic views from every corner. When I stepped into the lobby, it felt as if I was being welcomed into a luxurious Italian family room. The lobby was small and painted in azure blue with gold accents. Coffee, fruit water, and jars of nuts and candy were laid out as if I was visiting a friend’s house. It only took a minute to check in before I was escorted to the elevators to descend towards my room.
My first impressions of the property went something like, “Wow. This is stunning!” and “Those views are something else!”. Coming out of the elevator to walk towards my room, I had to walk through a beautiful long hallway that was carved from the hillside. From that hallway I walked through the lounge with it’s high ceilings and large fireplace through the open air restaurant and was fully enveloped in sea views. The property is expansive but feels cozy and a bit of a labyrinth because everything is built on terraced landscape.
Style
The best way to describe the style of Villa TreVille is art nouveau, but that really doesn’t do it justice. The hotel was designed as a chic hideaway for artists and writers, and it shows in the decor. Beautiful Italian tile lines the floors of almost each room. You’ll notice paintings, sculptures, and ceramics – an ode to the arts, all over the property and in the rooms. Villa TreVille is bright and colorful yet tasteful and authentic.
Rooms
There are only around 16 suites at Villa TreVille starting around a generous 400 sq ft. Most have balconies or terraces, some categories have private plunge pools, and all have spectacular sea views. Each suite is decorated in a different style and typically named and designed for an artist or writer. The layout of the property is a bit funky, which is why it helps to work with someone (like me!) who has been there in person to explain what you’re looking at.
The property is made up of several villas each with multiple room categories per building. Even though each suite has a name (the suite I stayed in was named “Carmen”), you can’t necessarily request to book a specific room – only categories (e.g. I would need to book a “Signature Junior Suite” to be able to possibly get assigned “Carmen”). I recommend looking at the accommodations on their website and seeing which one speaks to you the most, and then asking your travel agent to book that category. Or leave it a complete surprise! It’s common for guests at Villa TreVille to stay in a different room every visit because it’s like a new experience each time.
I stayed in suite “Carmen” toward the edge of the property. It was a couple of categories above entry-level Junior Suite and over 450 sq ft. with a gorgeous sunny balcony. My room was stocked with a complimentary mini bar, an air purifier, a pillow menu, a fluffy king-sized bed, plenty of wardrobe space, and Carthusia amenities. Oh, did I mention heated tile floors and towel warmers? This place is luxurious. The balcony was without a doubt the star of the show with a large sliding door opening up to an incredible view of the turquoise sea. I sat out here in my bathrobe for quite a while drinking champagne, working on my laptop, and eating my welcome amenities.
Amenities
Although there isn’t a full-length swimming pool, there are plenty of amenities at Villa TreVille. There is a small plunge pool built into the hillside to enjoy, though I’m guessing most guests prefer to stay within the privacy of their suite. While I will say the hotel is geared towards adults or families with older kids, I do think there is plenty to do for all ages. Do note that there is no kids club on property and the cliffside setting may be a bit much for younger children.
The hotel boasts a small spa and wellness center with the most unique gym I’ve ever seen. Note: Since my visit, the gym has been moved to a different location and the spa is now located where the gym used to be. The gym was located in an original iron and glass paneled greenhouse with views of the ocean as you’re running on the treadmill (now this is the spa). You can also opt to have treatments in your room or on your balcony. Want to visit Positano for the day and avoid the traffic? Villa TreVille runs a complimentary water shuttle to Positano daily in the warm season.
There is an extensive farm on the property supplying fresh fruits and vegetables to the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, Maestro. You’ll also pass by the spacious chicken coop near the gardens. These chickens have the best views of their life, and you can taste their happiness in the cooked eggs at breakfast! You’ll receive a direct Whatsapp to the concierge who you can message at any time with requests – super handy.
Restaurants
Maestro is the fine-dining main restaurant at Villa TreVille, and the good news is that it’s open to non-guests as well. I highly recommend having at least one dinner here even if you’re not staying at the hotel. You can also grab a bite at the TreVille Lounge which is connected to Maestro. Finally, no stay at Villa TreVille is complete without a visit to Bianca Bar on the lower levels.
I had the pleasure of having both dinner and breakfast at Maestro during my stay and I still dream about it. For dinner, I dined al fresco during sunset facing both the sea and the town of Positano. I could see the terraced buildings starting to turn their lights on as the sun went down, and it was beautiful. My dinner started with a pour of Italian white wine followed by an amuse bouche of tempura shrimp. I then opted for a primi of handmade pasta with fresh vegetables from the hotel’s garden – divine. As is Italian tradition, my secondi was a pan-fried fish (I forget the kind) with a melange of vegetables. It was light, bright, and super tender which left me for just enough room for dessert. Dessert was a beautiful glossy chocolate mousse with raspberry. There’s something about dining in ambient lighting with the salty sea breeze and fresh food that feels just perfect.
When in Italy, a nightcap is a must. I visited Bianca Bar after my dinner as I had to see for myself what the hype was about. The bar is pure white – tiles, walls, furniture, all of it is shockingly white. The accent decor is Moroccan-inspired, and being in the bar feels like being transported to a different place entirely. If you forget where you are, don’t worry, there is a book on one of the lounge tables detailing the rich history of Villa TreVille including some of the famous artists who have visited.
For breakfast, I went back to Maestro. As is tradition, I ordered a hot chocolate first thing and they brought me some of the thickest and richest I’ve ever had. They followed this up with a tray of fresh pastries including croissants, buns, and cakes. One of each, please! With my carb limit reached for the day, I ordered the classic American breakfast consisting of an omelette, bacon, and toast. The omelette tasted all the better knowing the eggs came from happy chickens on property.
Beach Club
I mentioned that Villa TreVille is located cliffside – so where could the beach club be? Trick answer: there are two beach clubs within the vicinity. As is typical along the Amalfi Coast, you’ll mostly find small pebble beaches in hidden coves with beach chairs, umbrellas, and a cute restaurant. Laurito Beach Club is next to Villa TreVille and can be accessed with a complimentary 3-minute boat ride. You can reserve beach chairs and have lunch there, though both are usually at an additional cost.
On property, there are beach chairs thoughtfully placed on the rocks on the lowest level. It’s not a traditional beach, but you’ll get the lounging experience with excellent service Villa TreVille is known for. I highly recommend booking a few of the other trendy beach clubs along the Amalfi Coast as your private boat transfers can pick up and drop off at Villa TreVille directly.
Activities
There is no shortage of activities in the Amalfi Coast area. Some of the more popular activities clients ask me to arrange include cooking classes, yacht charters, Pompeii excursions, and privately guided hikes. If you’re looking for exclusive activities like those – private and luxurious – feel free to reach out as I specialize in booking extraordinary experiences.
If you’re looking for more ideas of things to do, and don’t mind doing them in a group, then I recommend checking out Viator. You can sort by traveler rating and read reviews to make sure you’re getting a good experience. Here are some of the tours I recommend:
Disclaimer: the following are affiliate links which, when clicked and booked, generate a small income to maintain this blog. Thank you for your support!
Who Do I Recommend Stay Here?
Villa TreVille is definitely for the luxury traveler, and it’s priced accordingly. You’re paying for a historic and artistic boutique hotel experience a stone’s throw away from Positano. Having only around 16 suites means a quiet and intimate experience – a premium for the area. I will say that I do NOT recommend Villa TreVille for anyone with mobility issues as there are a lot of stairs on the property. There are just a few suites that are within elevator access, but it would require a bit of walking still.
Here is who I would recommend stay at Villa TreVille:
- Luxury travelers who are looking to spend 3,000+ EUR per suite per night (in high season)
- Anyone who enjoys an intimate boutique luxury experience
- Those who want to be close to Positano but not deal with the crowds or traffic
- Art lovers who appreciate the art nouveau style with an eclectic Italian flair
- Couples and families with older children who don’t mind being cliffside
- Foodies who enjoy farm-to-table fine-dining and a trendy bar
When you book Villa TreVille with me, you’ll receive these exclusive perks for free:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Complimentary daily breakfast
- $100 Hotel Credit
- Early Check-In/Late Check-Out
- VIP Welcome Amenity
Final Thoughts
Villa TreVille is one of those hotels that always sticks out in my memory. It was actually just one of eight hotels I stayed in during my weeks long Italy trip, but it was by far my favorite (aside from Belmond Caruso). I immediately fell in love with the views, design, and focus on healthy eating. The staff were so friendly and concierge on Whatsapp was ultra responsive. It felt like being at home at Villa TreVille, and that’s one of the main reasons why I always recommend it to my luxury clients traveling to Positano.
What is your favorite hotel along the Amalfi Coast? Comment down below!
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