Taormina hotel Villa Ducale

Superb, the hotel has incredible views

My husband and I stayed here for a few days of rest and relaxation following a fascinating but tiring few weeks touring Turkey. We couldn’t have chosen a better place. Perched high up, the hotel has incredible views over the coast and Mt Etna from their stunning terrace, where guests can have breakfast, dinner, predinners and afternoon teas, and to our delight, our large, immaculate room had its own balcony where we could sit and enjoy the same marvellous outlook. This alone would be more than enough to recommend it, but this hotel also comes with wonderful staff. All of them are polite, welcoming and helpful, but I feel I must especially compliment Paolo, Alessia, Antonio and Santina who are each tremendous assets to this hotel. Paolo, Alessia and Antonio are there to check you in, give helpful advice on where to go, what to do and how to do it, and ensure your stay goes smoothly in every way. Alessia also makes a fabulous Bellini! Santina creates the wonderful food at the hotel, from beautifully served afternoon teas, platters of antipasti in the afternoons, dinner menus, even the table covered each day with homemade cakes, all of it delicious. One afternoon we lost a shopping bag down in the town and I was particularly upset as among other things it contained my trip diary which, after travelling for some weeks, was of very special value to me. Antonio did his best to trace our footsteps for us, but with no sign of the bag. The very next morning, Alessia came to me carrying the bag, with all its contents intact, after a relative of hers had found it in their shop and actually tracked us down from my references to the hotel in my trip diary! I was so overwhelmed by the kindness and honesty this showed that I could hardly speak. And one of the nicest things about all this was the way Alessia and Paolo shared our relief and delight. The hotel provides a regular shuttle bus to the town and back, but there are also local buses, so it’s never a problem to pop down for some great lunches and shopping. The Sicilian ceramics available in Taormina are excellent, and there are many examples displayed throughout the hotel, in particular the stunning ceramic-topped tables out on the terrace. We didn’t hire a car during our stay, and took advantage of the hotel’s private car service which took us to and from Catania Airport, with polite and punctual drivers. The only detail which I feel we should point out is that as this hotel has such a commanding position high above Taormina and the coast, guests need to be prepared for steps. However, don ‘t fret about managing your luggage – there’s a fine, strapping young man (I’m embarrassed to say I can’t recall his name) who takes charge of it for guests, and always with a beaming smile. As I’ve said, this is a marvellous hotel, with a truly outstanding staff. Thank you again, Paolo, Alessia, Santina and Antonio, for making our stay so special – we’ve told so many people about our stay, and recommended the hotel to so many, your ears must surely be burning!

Rating by Treedwellers on Tripadvisor: 5.0 stars