Review of Le Sirenuse, by Joanna Monkhouse

Le Sirenuse is probably the best luxury hotel in the village of Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast. And it is certainly the most expensive.

The distinctive dark red building was an 18th-century palace that has been converted and extended over the years to create a luxury hotel with an excellent reputation, based on its exceptional service.

The facilities

The romantic restaurant at Le Sireneuse is lit with 500 candles every evening. Lunch and dinner are also served at tables by the pool on a terrace overlooking Positano and the green and yellow tiled dome of the village's Renaissance church.

The pool itself is especially popular with the leathery-skinned Italians who frequent Le Sirenuse, along with its hipper (and younger) jet-set. Children under 8 are not welcome in high season (April to October).

The rooms

The 63 rooms and suites at Le Sirenuse are large compared to most of the luxury hotels on the Amalfi Coast. All have tiled floors and elegant antiques, but some of the bathrooms are in need of renovation. Most have sea views and private terraces, but these come at premium prices. But high room rates do not seem to discourage the wealthy guests. During the summer months reservations are extremely hard to come by - many devotees book their next year's holiday at the end of the current year's stay.