A Nest with a View

The splendid cliffside view provides much of Il Pellicano's appeal. So too does its creative, homegrown Tuscan cuisine. But what ultimately makes this hotel in Porto Ercole, Italy, a don't-miss on the Mediterranean luxury tour is something that you can't quite see or taste. It's in the way that the pool staffer hands you a towel without missing a beat, or how the sommelier suggests a wine without jamming it down your palate. The only word that can capture this particular brand of indulgence all'Italiana is simpatico: a mix of kindness, likability and just plain fun.

Some of...