This was one of the worst experiences I've ever had with a host, his name was Dario.We had a…read moreconfirmed reservation for seven people for a special birthday dinner, and when we arrived, Timeo told us we only had a reservation for two. Instead of trying to help or even showing the slightest concern, he was unbelievably rude and dismissive. He made no effort to accommodate us, separate the group, or offer any kind of solution. He acted like we were the problem -- with a smug, condescending attitude that made the situation even worse. This was supposed to be a celebration, and Timeo's complete lack of professionalism and basic decency ruined it. The way he treated us was disgusting -- cold, disrespectful, and completely careless. If you're looking for a place that values guests or knows how to handle a simple booking, go anywhere else. Timeo should not be in hospitality -- because they have absolutely none.

We had a confirmed dinner reservation for my father's 50th birthday, a milestone we were excited to…read morecelebrate in what we thought would be a world-class setting. But when we arrived, the host stand acted like we didn't exist. They couldn't find our reservation, offered no apology, and treated us as if we were the ones who made the mistake. No ownership. No effort to fix it. Just blank stares, cold responses, and a half-hearted offer to "wait and see if something opens up." We waited over 30 minutes while other parties were seated ahead of us some who clearly walked in without reservations. My father was standing there in a suit, on his birthday, being ignored and disrespected by a hotel that supposedly prides itself on hospitality. By the time we were finally seated (with no birthday acknowledgment, by the way), the energy was completely drained. The night we had planned for months was ruined. It's one thing to mess up it happens. But the complete lack of care or accountability from the staff made it 10x worse. At this level of luxury, basic courtesy shouldn't be optional. Grand Hotel Timeo may have a beautiful view, but if you're hoping for good service or any kind of special occasion to go smoothly look elsewhere. This place failed us.

Best hotel - beyond amazing. The staff are so incredibly kind. It is gorgeous. The restaurant and…read morethe gardens, the pool, everything is absolutely amazing. I couldn't wait to come here being a huge fan of White Lotus series.

This is an amazing hotel. Service is friendly and helpful. The facility is gorgeous. We were off…read moreseason so the rates were reasonable.

Absolutely stunning location, beautiful breakfast. Plenty of spaces beautifully decorated. We…read morestayed in the Rock Suites, worth every Penny. Special staff, especially Joshua.

This is a truly special hotel in one of the most special towns in all of Europe. Taormina is of…read morecourse sensational and Hotel Villa Belvedere offers the very best of what you can find in the area. It's a little out of town, but the walk through the public gardens or via the teatro greco make for a lovely stroll into the main area (do know, however, that if you are looking for something near the main tourist strip, you will likely walk 10-15 minutes to get there). Overlooking the waterfront by the pool with an Etna spritz is really an unforgettable experience, as is the incredible breakfast, the excellent staff and the comfortable albeit somewhat cramped rooms. One caveat to all: we had requested interconnecting rooms or something adjoining when we booked months in advance. The manager assured us he would do his best. They also offered a family villa for the price we had paid for the 2 rooms, which we should have accepted (we didn't, and we ultimately wish we had, despite the fact that the view was not as special - you can really enjoy the view any time in the breakfast and lounge areas, or by the pool). When we arrived, the best they could offer were rooms nearly 8 doors apart. We worked out a favorable compromise and they were really very willing to work with us, to their credit. But, if you are hoping for truly interconnecting rooms, you will not find them here. The garden suite has sufficient space in the living room for two twin beds (but the garden area is full of mosquitos and frogs, so both unusable during the day and evening and noisy at night), or perhaps the villa rigamonti would be a worthy alternative. We managed to make do with a small suite that had an extra twin bed, which they augmented with a second bed for our young kids. It was perfectly adequate for us. Ask for room 65 if you are in a similar situation and wish to pay for just 1 room but have your kids nearby). All that said, the service is very special, the location is stunning, the beds very comfortable. The breakfast is unmatched and Taormina itself is simply not to be missed.

We were in Taormina and wanted a restaurant close to our Hotel Bel Soggiorno. The Villa Carlotta…read morewas the perfect location. The hotel interior is very charming and tastefully decorated. We went to the rooftop restaurant. We were greeted by Luigi and given a wonderful table with a view of the Ionic and the full moon. We chose the fish croquettes as our appetizer. They were outstanding, and so delicious. I had the baby lamb chops as my entree, delicious. Our friend chose the pasta with Lamb Ragu which was outstanding. We then chose the desserts, all works of art and so delicious. The wait staff could not be accommodating, my wife wanted a French 75 which they made for her. I am recommending this as a must go restaurant in Taormina.

I did not stay here, only came for dinner on the rooftop, which was just amazing. The views are…read morespectacular. The food amazing, the drinks inventive, the service exceptional. Came here with a group and everyone really enjoyed their dishes. I had been in Taormina for a few days and was on the hunt for the best cannolo. We went here on our last night and at last, the best cannolo I had on my trip. Highly recommend dinner here.

Beautiful historic hotel; fancy atmosphere, well kept. We stopped by for a full breakfast at 8am…read morebecause nowhere local had food yet. Terrace seating with amazing view of water; waitstaff were phenomenal with 5 star service. Full breakfast was 20 euros each but was essentially all you can eat from the menu. Would definitely come back and consider staying at hotel in future.

Very nice hotel in the center of Taormina! The view from the rooms is breathtaking and the a la…read morecarte breakfast is really good. On the negative side the hotel has a very limited number of parking slots. Better to book them well in advance. In alternative there is a quite close private parking but expensive.

Absolutely unforgettable! The view of Mt. Etna is beyond words--hands down the best I've seen…read moreanywhere. The food matched the scenery: fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Service was attentive without being overbearing. This isn't just a meal, it's an experience you'll remember long after you leave. A must-do and well worth going further into the hills...

Sicily was the last stop on our annual vacation and we decided on Taormina as the base for…read moretraveling during a 7 day period. But which hotel? After lots of research, we chose Villa Ducale. Pros: - Views are magnificent from the restaurant and patios of the individual rooms. You get a 180 degree panorama with Taormina and the Mediterranean down the hills to the east and Mt Etna to the west. - Great people on the reception desk. Very helpful with information, reservations and arrangements for luggage and keeping our car safe in their parking lots. - Very good food...especially at the included buffet breakfast which had lots of fresh ingredients...and the servers were quite personable - Bathroom was nice with excellent water pressure - Shuttle service to and from Taormina in the hotel van was an added convenience - A paved trail starting 3-4 blocks from Villa Ducale allows people to walk down to the shopping district (20-30 minutes) and climb back up (we didn't try). Vistas are amazing. - The mountain top town of Castelmora is a 5-7 minute drive up the road from Villa Ducale and offered charming shops and restaurants with "top of the world" views Cons: - We had a Junior Suite where the only difference from a "regular room" was some extra space for a large bench - Try as we might, there was no access to English language TV stations with current news. That was especially tough since the Middle East was thrown into turmoil on day #1 of our 7 day stay. - Housekeeping didn't seem to change the sheets more than every 3 days, but they cleaned the room each day - Toilet paper seemed to be single ply or verrrrry thin 2 ply Despite those few qualms, we're glad we chose Villa Ducale and recommend it to other travelers.

Modern hotel with friendly staff. The beds, towels and toiletries were ok. There was good closet…read morespace. The room cleaner managed to get conditioner into the shower gel. There were design issues: not enough electrical outlets- almost none without unplugging a lamp. The electric kettle had a cord so short that it was hard to use. The bathroom had glass walls that were translucent from knees to head- not appealing and leaks light into the bed area, which can disturb a sleeper. The breakfast buffet was good.

Don't stay here if you don't have to. For 700 euros a night, it's a rip off. The rooms are as big…read moreas a closet, the beds are uncomfortable, and the cleaning staff is lazy and disappointing. Our maid service would forget to clean our room, not change dirty towels to clean ones, wouldn't clean the floors, or wouldn't change our cups/spoons for days unless harassed to do so. To prove a point, we left our dirty towels OUTSIDE the room in the hallway and the maid brought them BACK in the room from off the floor. Ridiculous! Furthermore, the staff was confused except for 2 employees. We had major issues at check-in where one employee said one thing and the next contradicted what the former said. Very unorganized, dirty hotel for a high price. Wouldn't stay again.

Very posh and classic luxury here in Taormina. This is the sister hotel of the grand timeo. The…read morepool is warm and the poolside service is exceptional. Warm towels always available. Go down to the private beach accessible only to guests where full bar service is available. If you are hungry, stop by the restaurant next door and get the seafood linguini. Rooms are beautifully designed in classic old-world Italian style. Bathroom fixtures are of high quality. Great place to stay to be close to the beach but away from the touristy craziness from the Main Street: corso umberto.

Lovely hotel, beautiful view, fresh seafood and fine wine. Does not get much better than this.read more

For the money this is the best hotel, close to Porta Catania and beautiful views, pool and gardens.read more

The view of Mt Etna is stunning! There were no AC/fans yet in April. Depending on side of hotel,…read moregreat breeze through windows or doors. Can keep them open all day. No counter space in the bathroom. Tight/small shower. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion and other small amenities like shower cap, nail file, etc. Bed is comfortable. Mini fridge is packed with many beverage options to buy. Close to all shopping. Pool is very far and down many steps. Poor reception/wifi gave us no tv access. Others reported that when they have access, no channels with English. Overall, I would stay here, again.