Driving to the hotel, it's easy to get lost because the entrance is not big and grand as you would expect with a hotel of this caliber. For me that was the first sign that this was a special place. From the moment I arrived, I was taken by the simplicity and beauty of the hotel. The friendly check-in staff made the process very easy and when I was finished, I was met by the incredible smile of Pasquale, the head concierge, letting me know his team was there if I needed anything. He is a truly special individual and his pride in, and love for, the hotel is clear. Throughout my stay he made me feel like I was the only guest, even giving me a private tour to show me the newly born kittens of the resident female cat. Arriving at my room I opened the door and was astonished by the incredible architecture and care to details, and walking into the bathroom impressed me even further. I'm not usually one to take the time to soak in a hotel bathtub, but this one, with the incredible skylight above, was a must. The grounds of the hotel feel intimate, and I was surprised to find out the number of guests the hotel can accommodate. Walking around the property, it’s easy to get distracted by the smells of the flowers coming into bloom, and the ability to look inside the structure of the old growth olive trees that dot the landscape, being awed by how these enormous trees are still lush with leaves even though a majority of their trunk is missing. While I didn’t have the opportunity to check out the golf facilities, I did spend some time by the pool and was always greeted with a smile from Sabatino and his staff. When I was there the hotel had just opened for the season and, like the rest of the world, was facing staffing issues in the restaurant. The vast majority of the staff was very welcoming, but Paula, who greeted me at breakfast one day and dinner another, was so friendly and obviously takes her job very seriously. Heading into the cocktail lounge after dinner, I was greeted by my “cousin”, the incredible Carmelo Padellaro. Just thinking of Carmelo brings a huge smile to my face and there are no words that can convey the experience of seeing this man perform – it has to be felt firsthand. He’s a wonderful musician, he’s a great comedian, and has a way of making all the guests feel special. If only for the experience of seeing him perform, you should stay here. As I was getting ready to check out, I had the pleasure of talking with Franco Girasoli, the General Manager. It was clear from our conversation that he knows the hotel is beautiful, but it’s his staff, and the wonderful Carmelo, that makes the Masseria special. I hope to be back again very soon.