La Plage Resort

The reception team was kind when we reported what happened, and the other staff were friendly too. Our experience at the beach club, though, was awful. We paid €60 for the two of us for one day, using the last row of beds. The other beds were reserved for hotel guests, which we understood. Since this was a five-star hotel, we expected basic courtesy, but Hamsa was cold with us from the start. He warmly welcomed hotel guests and even laid out their towels, while barely acknowledging us. It felt as if he considered us second-class because we were day visitors. There was hardly any shade and no other guests around, so I asked whether I could move our bed, as I’ve seen people do many times. He said yes but didn’t help. Later, when other guests arrived, he rudely told me to move it to make room. Moving it was fine, but the way he spoke to me wasn’t. When we said he could have asked politely, he raised his voice and became aggressive. We reminded him that we were guests too and had paid for the day. Eventually I told him to leave us alone because the conversation wasn’t going anywhere. I never expected a €60 day at the last row to end with Hamsa yelling at me. It didn’t feel like classy five-star service. For context, I was with my friend, two women aged 35 and 38, and he was around 50. We were day guests at the beach club, so I can’t comment on the hotel stay itself.

The resort was spotless, and the view was beautiful. We had some of the best food of our whole trip right there, and the location made it easy to get into town for shops, gelato, and restaurants. The staff were wonderful, especially Diego, who was the best. We had such a lovely time and would highly recommend it.

The people working here were genuinely friendly and helpful, and the service was good. Still, the facilities didn’t match what we expected for the price or a five-star rating. Our room felt humid and could use better ventilation. It was small and dated, with no high-quality bedding or towels and very few amenities. There was no kettle, tea or coffee setup, or ironing equipment. When I asked for tea, they brought an old kettle and just one kind of teabag. Reception suggested asking the bar for other options, but I was charged for the tea in the end, which seemed unreasonable. Breakfast stayed the same each day, so a bit of variety would have been welcome. The hotel has a gym and spa, but it would have been nice to have access to a sauna or a few complimentary amenities.

The setting is spectacular, below Taormina, with a wide panoramic view. Our teenagers were made welcome, and nothing seemed too much trouble. Service can be unhurried, but that’s part of taking your time and enjoying the surroundings in Italy. Irene, Antonio and Hamza at the beach club were standouts, and Alycia and Pasquales at reception gave us plenty of useful information. They stayed professional even with some ungracious guests around. The local food was excellent, so I’d explore the wine bars and restaurants nearby. Bring mosquito repellent.