This is a truly special hotel in one of the most special towns in all of Europe. Taormina is of course 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. read more
