Virtuoso Review: Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel and Spa, Amalfi Coast

This Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa Review is part of a trip report featuring the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Florence, Rome, Singapore Suites, Air Berlin Business Class, and luxury hotel stays, dining and activities in Berlin and Italy.

For the prior posts, please see:

Review: Air Berlin Business Class A330 JFK to Berlin

One of Europe's Best Hidden Secrets: Guess the Place

Review: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, New York JFK Airport

Review: Hotel de Rome, Berlin

Review: Singapore Suites A380 New York JFK to Frankfurt with a Kid

Katz Orange Berlin Restaurant Review

Review: Portrait Roma Hotel

Marzapane Rome Restaurant Review

Emma Pizzeria Rome Review: Great Pizza in Rome

Review: Pompeii with Private Tours of Pompeii

TravelSort Clients enjoy Virtuoso Benefits at Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa:

Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Welcome cocktail
$100 USD Equivalent Food & Beverage credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability

Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa Location and Check-In

Monastero Santa Rosa is located on Via Roma 2 in the small town of Conca dei Marini on Italy's Amalfi Coast, with one of the most spectacular settings and views the Amalfi Coast has to offer. Since this is an adults-only boutique property of only 20 rooms and suites, my husband and I took turns enjoying it, while the other took care of our son in a simple apartment we'd rented. Conca dei Marini is about a 10 minute drive from Amalfi, and the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to and from Amalfi, based on guest request.

Since the town is so small, there's no mistaking the Monastero Santa Rosa, given its amazing position on the cliffs, even though the entrance itself is understated, in keeping with its origins as a former convent.

Check-in was quick, and I enjoyed a welcome glass of refreshing homemade lemonade, made from the Monastero Santa Rosa's own lemons, along with a cool towel–much appreciated given the hot day. Afterwards, I walked a little around the hotel, including down the hallway my room was on, which led to the Sunset Terrace with these views:

Monastero Santa Rosa Sea View Superior Room

Since we were there during high season, we booked into the entry level Sea View Superior Room. Even though this is the smallest room, at 280 square feet, it felt a bit more spacious than that, thanks to the high vaulted ceilings.

Here, as elsewhere in the hotel, your eyes are drawn to the sea view. The window is right above the desk, so if you do have to get work done, at least you can work with natural light and a view.

Also on the desk was a fruit welcome amenity of the most perfect looking (and tasting) apricots I'd ever seen. Monastero Santa Rosa has an ethos similar to Aman Resorts: simple, understated luxury.

The king bed itself was very comfortable; I lay down on it for a rest, and my husband ended up sleeping there. It was a welcome reprieve from the usual hard and fairly uncomfortable European beds.

The bedroom was on the left side of the entrance, with the bathroom on the right. While small, with one sink and no bathtub, I loved the fact that the floor was heated. You might think this superfluous in the summer time, but somehow that warmth underneath your feet feels so soothing. The rain shower offered great pressure:

Bath products are by Ortigia, a Sicily-based maker of paraben-free, locally made range of soaps, bath products and lotions.

In the closet facing the entryway, I was happy to find unique slippers and a Monastero Santa Rosa bag that proved invaluable to us as an additional bag for our further travels.

Monastero Santa Rosa Infinity Pool and Gardens

Photos just don't do Monastero Santa Rosa's infinity pool and terraced gardens justice–they have to be experienced in person. The terraced gardens, with stepping stones, were in full bloom during our visit:

As you meander down to the pool, there are comfortable round loungers and umbrellas, affording great privacy and views if you don't wish to be directly pool-side:

And then of course there's the pool itself–fairly shallow and not one you'd be doing laps in but large enough to give several couples in them without feeling crowded. Do note that the pool closes in the evenings, around 8pm, so my advice is to not overschedule your time here–preferably do most of your sightseeing before coming to Monastero Santa Rosa, as you'll want time to savor the experience and each other's company.

Monastero Santa Rosa Spa

You wouldn't expect such a small boutique property to have its own dedicated spa, let alone the fantastic one Monastero Santa Rosa has. I usually don't get too excited about spas, but I loved this one, given the way it was thoughtfully integrated into the existing historic building and had everything I wanted.

After changing, I visited the Hydro Pool first, where I soothed sore muscles against the water jets. I'm not much of a sauna person, but there was a choice of both a Finnish dry sauna and an herbal steam room, with ice just outside the Finnish sauna to refresh.

I also tried the Experience Shower, which offers different scents with the different temperatures; my favorite was “Tropical” with warm water and mango and passion fruit scents.

I wrapped it all up by relaxing on the warm bench, where there were bubbling foot baths available.

The Verdict

Monastero Santa Rosa is a must-stay for any couple looking for a romantic, secluded luxury stay on the Amalfi Coast. While rooms are fairly simple, they're still luxurious, with wonderfully comfortable beds and linens, heated bathroom floors, great sea views even from entry-level rooms, and a lovely fruit welcome amenity.

The only criticism I have is the hotel's child policy, since I do think it's quite extreme to forbid kids under 16 from staying. We've taken our son to several Aman Resorts that are also small (just 24 villas at Amansara and Amantaka) in addition to many first class flights, and have even received compliments rather than complaints from other guests on his behavior. At least in my experience, there are just as likely to be issues with certain adult guests as with kids–it all depends on the individual.

The Monastero Santa Rosa Spa is likewise a treat for the senses, with its herbal steam room, sauna, hydro pool, warm relaxation benches in the tepidarium, and experience shower.

As you might expect for such a small property, the General Manager, Flavio Colantuoni, is very hands-on and checks in with guests regularly yet unobtrusively, to see if there's anything you might need for your stay. Highly recommended, at least for couples or families with kids 16 and older.