Hotel Corallo

The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, and both the room and the well-maintained pool were clean. The location was okay: not very near the center, which has pros and cons, and not ideal for the beach either because of a busy road and train tracks. We spent one night here while visiting Taormina, paying €180 for a night in a 4-star hotel, so we expected more comfort. The bed was hard, pillows were flat, and the air conditioning barely worked. There were mosquitoes everywhere, the bathroom could use renovation, and noise was the worst part. Loud footsteps and shouting, mostly from cleaning staff, woke us at 6 AM. Breakfast also fell far short of what you'd expect from a 4-star hotel. It was an okay stay, but definitely not worth €180 a night or up to 4-star standards.

The staff are very nice, but the hotel is expensive and doesn't meet 4-star standards. There was no kettle or coffee machine in the room, and the rooms aren't well insulated, so we could hear guests in other rooms. Breakfast was very basic: no olive oil or orange juice, and the tomatoes were tasteless, which was disappointing in Sicily. Walking to taormina is quite a hike. The road is steep and rough in the middle section, so I'd avoid it if you're with kids or hills.

We liked being close to Taormina without staying in the busy, pricey center. It was easy to find parking right in front, and having reception and a bar open 24 hours was a real plus. The pool area was beautifully maintained and had stunning views. Our room was spacious and spotlessly clean, and the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. Hotel Corallo is a convenient, clean, welcoming place, but despite its 4-star rating, don't expect luxury. The rooms are basic and the bathrooms could use an update. Our room was directly below the breakfast area, so breakfast preparations woke us around 6 a.m. Getting to the center means a steep 25-minute uphill walk or a taxi ride that costs around €20. There are some compromises on comfort and accessibility.

The only bright point was the staff, who were polite, helpful, and nice. The pool was okay, though the sun disappears behind a hill very early in the afternoon. I was surprised to see staff clean the last tile above the water level in the morning after the pool had opened and guests were already in the water, spraying a chemical on it and scrubbing with a sponge. For 160€ in mid september, it was way overpriced for what was offered. The room was literally white walls, white tiles on the floor, and a white bed, nothing else. There was a gap under the door, so you could hear every sound in the corridor and even people talking in neighboring rooms. Breakfast was as basic and unmemorable as the room. Absolutely not memorable, just a place to spend a night and forget.