Arathena Rocks Hotel

Great spot for a short getaway, with superb views. The room was sparkling clean but very basic in its decor. There was no tea or coffee in the room, which was a bit irritating.

The staff were wonderful and helpful throughout breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I’d like to thank them all. I had a delightful stay at the Arathena Rocks hotel. My room was comfortable, and the balcony looked out over wonderful sea views.

Breakfast was a real disappointment. In Sicily I expected fresh, good-quality food reflecting local traditions, but there was very little to choose from and what was there was poor: the coffee wasn’t like a proper espresso, the croissants were hard, and the spreads were low grade. The building is old, dated, and badly maintained, and poor insulation made it impossible to rest properly. The elevator wasn’t working during my stay. There is a lovely seafront pool and private beach access, but the property’s potential ends there. I’ve added photos so future guests can judge for themselves.

The staff were friendly and seemed to care about guests’ comfort. We were moved to a nicer room, which was thoughtful and earned the hotel an extra star from us. It’s a decent budget base for seeing Sicily, with free parking and a great view. The gardens, building, and pool area are attractive, with lots of beautiful sculptures. The pool is saltwater and quite shallow, so you can’t dive in. Rooms are sparsely furnished, with no rugs, for example. It’s about a 15-minute walk to Giardini-Naxos’s main promenade and its many restaurants. The food was disappointing, though. The breakfast bread wasn’t fresh, and the deli meats seemed like low-quality Lidl products. They used the same meats on the pizza, which didn’t meet the standard, even for a budget hotel.