Villa Bianca Hotel

The staff did their jobs excellently, and the rooms were clean with everything working, apart from the occasional need to replace a light bulb. Language gaps didn’t stop us communicating. The hotel has two separate buildings, and the upper one means a lot of stairs, so it’s a poor fit if you have limited mobility. But those rooms reward you with a breathtaking sea and coastline view. The location is excellent, beside bus stops and the lower station of the funivia. You can take a cheap bus or pay a little more for the cable car up to Taormina’s upper town. Walking around the area isn’t recommended, since traffic is heavy and the road shoulders are extremely narrow. Breakfast at the restaurant was adequate and very Italian, mostly sweet pastries with only a few small tomato slices as vegetables, though everyone should find enough to make a breakfast they like. The restaurant menu is Italian as well. The food itself is fine, but the kitchen could use more boldness and imagination. It’s a charming, old hotel that clearly shows its age and has seen better days, yet it still has a certain decadent charm.

We booked half board for two weeks, but after nine days the restaurant shut. They said it was because there weren’t enough guests, so our dinners ended up being served in the bar next door. The roof terrace started out covered with sunbeds, tables, and chairs. By day nine, only seven sunbeds were left and most of the chairs had disappeared. Maybe they don’t like tourists?

The bar staff and service were great, so I’d give that part five stars. The beach-view rooms, though, were noisy at night because of the street, and my room was mouldy. I have asthma and had to buy an inhaler. Be aware that there’s no parking, pool on site, or room service, despite what was advertised. I paid 33€ a day to park. It’s a three-star hotel, not four-star as advertised, and the 4€ per day tourist fee wasn’t disclosed beforehand. It was charged at the end of my stay.

The staff were friendly and very helpful, and the food was really good. I chose half board, which cost only an extra £80 for the week, so it was well worth it on a budget. As a woman traveling alone, I felt happy and safe going out by myself. It’s one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at. A couple of things to know: the pool is at a hotel five minutes up the road, which didn’t bother me, and the wifi wasn’t great. I could only get online in the lobby and on the roof terrace, not in my room. Overall, a brilliant experience.