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.

Antico Borgo Petralia lies beautifully high on 650 m, between the Ionian Sea and the living craters…read moreof Etna. Both present for your eyes while having breakfast, dinner or take a swim in the pool. The great Sicilian nature surrounds you at this family own hotel, just outside the town of Zafferana, a region famous for its honey. You will find a hotel with a touch of country style, where everything is in perfect order, without striving for luxury. As soon as you arrive you are met and welcomed by one of the family members and this is one of the great advantages with a stay here. You are met with openness, respect and at the same time taking care of in a very warm and generous way. You can come here and spend your days relaxing by the pool or as a base for trips up to the top of Etna, down to the beaches of the Mediterranean See or go wherever you like to meet the Etna Land. The rooms are very convenient with the air conditioning working perfectly. Breakfast includes in a rich way everything you expect in a place like Sicily. In the evening dinner is served, very tasteful with again a certain rustic feeling. There is of course no place that suits everyone in taste and preference, but Antico Borgo Petralia covers everything except being a swinging lively and eruptive arena. The last thing though not really true as Etna constantly makes herself present. But no, you don't have to be afraid of lava coming to catch you. Antico Borgo Petralia is built on the side of a rock high over where lava streams, if it should come further than to Valle di Bove, the huge valley above, which historically swallows most of the lava. As a frequent traveller in Sicily I can warmly recommend Antico Borgo Petralia. It is one of the best hotels on the Island, when you prefer to share its richness, beauty and dynamic power.

Gorgeous Hotel that sits just above Acquamarina beach and overlooks the Tyrrhenian sea. Our…read moreexperience was incredible from the moment we walked in. We were greeted by gracious hotel staff that offered us champagne to enjoy on the rooftop terrace. When you walk out onto the terrace, you get the most incredible views. They also have a hot tub on the rooftop. The main lobby of the hotel small but includes a dining area where you eat breakfast and a small wine cellar. The receptionist are great and can book any events or make restaurant reservations for you. The rooms are very clean and spacious compared to a lot of the other hotels in the area. Overall, a wonderful hotel with some of the most beautiful views of Tropea. I highly recommend staying here on your next trip.

A boutique hotel in Tropea overlooking the Tyrrhenian sea that has it all....and then some!…read more Tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood a few short blocks from the main Piazza, The Hotel Rocca Della Sena, is an exquisitely appointed 15-room boutique hotel with sweeping, panoramic views of the sea and every ammenity that travelers would want to experience when planning an authentic Italian seaside holiday in true Italian tradition and comfort. Having come from Sorrento after a week's visit, it is obvious to me that the Calabria coastal region is the best kept secret of Italy. The medieval history, architecture, piazza, churches, food and warmth of the local people beckon you to stay, enjoy, be nurtured and rejuvenated by all that southern Italy has to offer. Wake up to the sound of the sea and enjoy the hotel's outstanding breakfast selection with every choice of fresh, local foods that are both, extensive, delicious and characteristic of this region. All this with views of the sea from a position perched high above the cliffs. An ideal location to walk to the grand piazza, which is perhaps the most charming, piazza I have seen in all of Italy with it's many medieval buildings, cobblestone streets that meander throughout the town, taking you through dim lit alleyways that boast one market, restaurant and boutique after another. Here you will find the multi-generational locals who embrace all tourists with open arms and wide smiles. Though English is limited, the body language says it all...." Benvenuto nella nostra città e apprezzare tutto ciò che abbiamo da offrire . Siamo molto orgogliosi di Tropea e la sua ricca storia." (translated: welcome to our town and appreciate all that we have to offer. We are very proud of Tropea and it's rich history."

We stayed here for 3 glorious days with a group tour. The amenities are superior. Room has great…read morebeds, 4 pillows per bed for superior comfort with sheet covered comforter. Gym is outstanding with fresh water, a locker room, up to date equipment. The pool is gorgeous and beach chairs and towels provided. Front desk staff was polite and helpful. We loved the big chaired lobby and gorgeous fresh flowers. In short we loved this hotel - only wish the internet was more consistent but with all the comfort- that's a small deal.

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.

If you are heading to Sicily this is an amazing place! I would stay here and never leave. The…read morestaff and amenities are excellent.

The hotel is close enough to the main parts of the city so you can walk. The surrounding properties…read moredo not look so good but the hotel is very nice. The staff was great and the room was very clean and nice. The sliding door lock was broke and the staff fixed it in the first hour. The tv is way too small 15 inches I think. The rooms don't have much of a view due to the surrounding properties. But the rooftop "garden" has a great view. We didn't try the restaurant. As you drive to the hotel you pass through a beach parking area/facility where in this case there was a mountain of garbage on the side that you had to see each time you pass and there was an abandonded building that detracts from the hotel's otherwise great image and location in the city.

From start to finish loved this charming hotel by the water in Ortigia / Siracusa. Denise and the…read moreteam at the front desk were so warm and helpful. The location is perfect to stroll into town, walk to the water, or take boat excursions. Wish we could have stayed here longer.

Photos do not do this very special hotel justice. We were lucky enough to book the family room and…read morecouldn't believe our eyes when we walked in. Two exceptionally spacious rooms with beautiful bathrooms, high ceilings, stocked refrigerators connected through a perfect hallway that allowed both for privacy and the comfort of togetherness for our younger kids. It was fabulous. The location is lovely in perfect Ortigia, which in and of itself is such a gem. The staff offered many great restaurant recommendations and could not have been more accommodating. The breakfast was excellent - you would be hard pressed to find a person who wasn't delighted by the myriad of offerings. The hotel also has a spacious seating area to relax with wine, water, some juice and little bowls of snacks during the day, which made for a nice area to relax with our kids in the hot afternoons. A couple of teeny tiny quibbles: the tvs were so small they were unusable (wouldn't care normally but we were there during the world cup and the ball was a mere pinprick) and had very few stations, the shower floor was so incredibly slippery that my son took a nasty spill (I almost did as well, so it wasn't kid horsing around) and the parking is more expensive than it should be. The air in one of the rooms ran very cold and refused to adjust, but in a 105 degree heatwave, that was certainly preferable to the alternative. One final quibble - they use some sort of a pod machine for the coffee, which in addition to being environmentally questionable when used on a large scale, it also makes pretty low grade coffee. We'd come to enjoy our morning freshly ground lattes elsewhere, so again, though a minor quibble, I think they should switch to a standard machine to step it up just a notch. We would enthusiastically recommend this hotel to all. It's a real find.