Hotel Scialara

The hotel makes the most of its setting, looking out over the beach and its distinctive rocks, and it’s close to the center and nearest supermarket. The rooms were clean and kept in good condition, and the value for money was okay. But the street outside is busy with heavy traffic, and room service started around 7:30, making a lot of noise in the morning. There were no cups, glasses, or cutlery in the rooms. Even with a small fridge, having a glass of wine on the balcony wasn’t really possible.

The staff were nice and tried to make up for the hotel’s shortcomings. It was clean and well located, but the experience felt cheap. We asked for twin beds and first got a box room with two beds set up together and no space to separate them, plus a shower literally 50x50. They moved us to a larger room, but the beds were arranged the same way. The recent renovation seemed to cut corners and miss basic things. There were no hooks by the entrance, and the only small plastic bathroom shelf was half taken up by their soap bar, toilet roll, and plastic cup, leaving nowhere for our toiletries. The shower had just one product supposedly serving as shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner, and it barely worked as shower gel. Breakfast was miserable, with very little choice and almost no savory food beyond cheap ham and cheese. Apparently each guest got only one croissant. Coffee came only from a machine, with no decaf or soy milk. For what we paid, €200 a night at the beginning of August, this was shocking. I think it might be almost acceptable below €100, but I spent less in Manhattan for a much better hotel. I wouldn’t recommend it and won’t come back.

The sea is lovely, and the beach clubs are very well equipped. The hotel is close to the water but a long way from the town center. It’s a fairly large place with plenty of greenery and a pool, though the pool was a bit dirty and leaking. The restaurant was the biggest problem. The manager didn’t seem very capable, and the waiters couldn’t understand us. If you have small children, I’d avoid it, since they wouldn’t warm up milk or pastries. You could also hear people shouting in the kitchen next door.

We found the rooms clean, and all the staff were kind, which made for a genuinely relaxing weekend with our small children. The hotel sits right by the sea, with a spectacular view of the Mizzomunno monolith. The historic center, bars, and restaurants are a short walk away. It’s well suited to families, with private parking and a pool, and breakfast was delicious. We’ll be back for sure.