Relais 147

The location is the best thing about this hotel. We loved Taormina and would come back to town, but not here. It’s basically a luxury hostel, not a traditional hotel, and I regretted staying for three nights. I hate leaving a negative review, but the high ratings could mislead other people as they did me. You enter through a “secret garden” that’s fine, nothing special, and at first there’s nobody around. A guy eventually comes to show you the room and gives you a WhatsApp number for anything you need. The house itself feels strange. You get a skeleton key that you have to carry everywhere, and it’s the only way to lock yourself in or out. When we arrived, the doors were open and there were flies and gnats everywhere. They hadn’t shut the doors or turned on the AC. The room isn’t insulated, and since it’s on the main strip, you hear everything. The bed was uncomfortable, the sheets felt cheap, and the shower was so tight you could barely fit without touching the walls. Breakfast is served in the living room, with a few tables, and the spread isn’t much: a few slices of meat and some cheese. You make your own coffee, and mine was cold. The instructions said to add milk for a cappuccino, but there was no milk, so you basically have to ask someone to go make it for you. There seem to be about three people running the place, one to let you in, one assisting him, and another making food. It all feels very unprofessional and strange.

We were made to feel so welcome, and the hospitality went above and beyond to make our trip pleasant. Relais 147 - Secret Garden sits just off Taormina’s Main Street on a secluded property, so the location is perfectly tucked away. Breakfast is simple Italian fare, cake, pastries, coffee, and fruit. The apricot croissants were especially good. I really can’t recommend this place enough.

The AC broke for a second night, and I’m writing this at 1am while sweltering in the room. Before that, I was going to give it an average 3 stars. It’s a beautiful location, but the open plan setup means breakfast service can wake you up. Getting up earlier than you’d like on a 2-3 night trip isn’t the end of the world, though lots of tourists are American, so jet lag could make it a rough start. Our room had a nice, spacious king bed, but it creaked a lot and woke both my husband and me several times. The nightlife is very close and you can hear local music late into the night. That didn’t bother us too much given the location, but if you’re sensitive to noise, this may not be the place for you.

The service was excellent and breakfast was very good. The “secret garden” is cozy and beautiful, and the location puts you right in Taormina with easy access to the main street shops and restaurants. Evenings can be a little noisy because of nearby bars with live music, but you can think of it as a free concert. My only concern was the shower size. Showers are generally small in Italy, but larger people may literally have to squeeze in.