Fiesta Hotel Garden Beach

Alessio made us feel very welcome, helped us find free parking, and suggested places to visit and typical Sicilian restaurants. We stayed two nights in September and would happily come back. Our Room With Balcony looked out over Campofelice di Rocella Marina, and it was tidy, clean, with working air conditioning, TV, and shower. Breakfast at Roccella Bar in the square, among the locals, was a treat, with pistachio and Nutella croissants, almond pastries, and more. A lovely, relaxing stay. Grazie Alessio 👍😊

The setting is the main draw: the B&B is right on the Belvedere above the sea, a few steps from the piazza, restaurants, and shops. Finding the beach access on foot or by bike takes some figuring out, though once you find it, the town's solution seems clever. CampoFelice di Roccella should mark the access points, which are meant to be in five key spots, but currently aren't marked anywhere. The building is new, with modern fittings. The floor-to-ceiling windows and doors glide on up-to-date hinges, and the double glazing gives good insulation and sound protection without shutters. There was still a chemical, perhaps polyurethane, new-building smell. The balcony has a discreet washing line that lets you dry clothes out of neighbors' sight, a nice touch reminiscent of old Sicily. The room itself is roomy, but its layout feels unconsidered: the desk is small and the only table, there are no drawers, and the comfortable chair is heavy, has no floor pads, and scrapes and thumps loudly when moved. Electronic units have glaring LED lights that should have been hidden or better placed. The lighting is bright, but a warmer golden tone would feel less harsh. The elevator stops five steps above ground level, an odd design choice in a new building, and some stairs have no railings, so someone could slip off. Smoking shouldn't be allowed here. Staff are young and friendly, and they tried to help, though their hospitality experience seemed limited. They answered emails in Italian, but appeared to prefer WhatsApp or phone. They mainly speak Italian and only a little English. They didn't seem to anticipate what guests might need or offer tailored suggestions about things to do. They work daytime hours on weekdays and aren't present at all on weekends. The quoted rates were higher than the property's own booking page and Booking.com; after six rounds of negotiating, they agreed to lower them. They wouldn't take a credit card, and seemed reluctant to provide a receipt for cash. The shower pressure was very low. When I raised it, staff offered no fix. I later unscrewed both shower heads and found them clogged with calcium deposits; after cleaning them, the water ran better. There was a kettle, but no cups, tea, or teapot, and management couldn't provide any. I borrowed a styrofoam cup from the cafe across the street. Even after boiling water in the kettle 20 times to see if it improved, plastic bits and corrosion from the metal elements got into the water. Breakfast comes from a cafe across the street, with only a cornetto and coffee included, and nothing healthy. The ground-floor restaurant is separately owned, but its location would make it a good spot for a breakfast buffet.

The staff were all lovely and moved us to a room with a sea view. We really liked the town, and being close to local beaches and Cefalu was a big plus. For the price, I'd recommend it.

The balcony view was beautiful, and the place felt clean and recently updated. I was very satisfied with my stay. The location was great too.