Sicilia's Residence Hotel Art & Spa

The rooms were modern and clean, and the stay was pleasant overall. The location is quiet, though a bit far from everything. Like the other hotels we visited in Sicily, the spa costs extra, but we thought the price was too high. The rooftop has an amazing view, yet it isn’t used at all. Also, one of Booking.com’s main photos isn’t actually of the hotel.

At first glance, this looks like a lovely hotel, but be careful with deals that seem too good to be true. I booked what seemed a reasonable rate through hotels.com, only to find the room was on the ground floor, wasn’t properly maintained and had a shower that didn’t work. We discovered that in the morning while rushing to catch our flight. The hotel hasn’t engaged with me so far and is trying to send me to hotels.com for a refund for the mis-sold room. UPDATE: The hotel acknowledged on WhatsApp that the diverter was broken, though they thought a handheld shower was sufficient. They then plainly lied in their reply below, claiming we didn’t know how to use the diverter. If you’re given room 4, check the shower, or you might have the same experience.

In short, there’s some misleading information on the website and photos that don’t really show the hotel. The location is lovely, but without a car you’re stuck up on the hill with nothing around. The hotel restaurant was very expensive for basic food, and the prices were really high. The staff were okay, but not very friendly and seemed bored all the time. Sometimes we had to chase the receptionist for toilet paper or soap. For a four-star hotel, that shouldn’t happen. The hotel is clean, and the cleaning was okay. Breakfast got boring after the third day. The selection was small and the same each day, with scrambled eggs that were old and dry. An omelette cost an extra 7 €. There was a dog barking all night and alarms beeping, which was also unpleasant. We’ve worked in hospitality, including hotels, for 16 years, and this wasn’t a pleasant stay. At checkout, the receptionist went straight to the outstanding bill without even asking how our stay was, just pay and leave. My partner lost a personal item after the second cleaning visit. We still don’t know what happened to it, and we’re not accusing anyone, just sharing what happened. Sicily is amazing, by the way, but check before you book here.

The room was decent for a very reasonable price, and the staff gave excellent service. The location is fantastic, close to Mount Edna and within reach of Taormina and Cantania.