Hotel Antares

It’s a lovely hotel, but it’s quite far from Taormina Center. Interbus does stop nearby, though it only comes once an hour, so you need to plan ahead. The staff let it down. The trainees don’t speak English, and the regular staff aren’t friendly. 3/10.

The breakfast was good and the views were beautiful. Parking was a struggle, though. There aren’t spaces set aside for guests, and the free spots near the hotel and along the roadside don’t guarantee you’ll find one. Even in February it was pretty full. Paid car parks are at the bottom of the hill and around halfway up. The Wi-Fi was weak, maybe only on level 6, and kept dropping out, making me log in again and again. One useful thing that isn’t mentioned much: there’s an elevator from the level 0 reception, just outside on the opposite side from the main entrance, down to the car parks at the hill’s foot. You don’t have to walk the winding road. From below, follow the directions through the tourist bus parking lot and into the tunnel to reach it.

We had a good vacation overall, but that wasn’t thanks to the hotel. I’d give it 4.5 stars if I could. The views from the rooms and grounds were beautiful, the landscape was lovely, there were plenty of terraces and cozy places to relax, and live music played every evening. Water was available around the clock. The buffet meals were well prepared, and the elevators and funiculars between the two hotels and the beach area were convenient. There were several parking lots. The lower pool had dirt along its walls, and a red flag was always hanging there. Some things still cost extra despite the all-inclusive package, and there were air conditioning problems. Staff were disorganized. The man at the information point, with slicked-back hair and glasses, was unpleasant and rude. He kept looking at his phone and talking on a video call. When tourists asked how to get to the beach, he sent them to reception and said it wasn’t his responsibility. I felt sorry for the elderly women he treated that way. The bartender’s mood kept changing, too. Dinner service was mediocre. At the piano bar, the cocktails weren’t good. The bartenders seemed to mix juice with strong alcohol and call it a classic cocktail. My Aperol Spritz had regular wine and juice, with no sparkling wine.

The hotel sits on a hill, so getting around could be hard for anyone with limited mobility. There are great views from its different terraces, and the lift running up the side of the hill is an experience in itself.