Review of Albergo Villa Sarah, by The TI Review Team

Surrounded by a well-tended, walled garden and accessed via an unassuming iron gate (there's just a brass plaque reading '3A'), Villa Sarah's charms are more subtle than some of Capri's more fabulous luxury hotels, but its appeal is undeniable to anyone seeking simplicity, comfort, and traditional good looks.

The facilities

Guests can arrange transfer to the hotel from Marina Grande-or, if they fancy a scenic stroll, just their luggage can be taken ahead, while they're left with a map of the walking route. Villa Sarah's concierge can also book boat tours of the famous Grotto Azzuro or Faraglioni, or more personalised walking and culinary excursions. The hotel's vast gardens, which guests have run of, include grape vines and an organic vegetable plot; and there's a heated pool.

The rooms

Spare and uncluttered, each of the 22 spacious rooms has an en suite bath, and the majority have private sun-drenched terraces with view over the garden and an occasional peek at the sea. Furnishings are serviceable rather then splendid-simple blue or yellow coverlets on the beds, unadorned chestnut chairs and chests of drawers-but then again, you can't really go wrong with an historic villa boasting period majolica floor tiles in riotous colors, soaring white ceilings, and lovely french-door windows.