The hotel rooms were huge with high ceilings, nicely furnished and clean. The patio was a fantastic bonus. It was idyllic to sit out there and watch the sea in the morning or to drink a glass of wine, enjoying the warm evenings. But bear in mind, Acquacalda is tiny and far away from everything (though such a tiny Italian island village is interesting in itself, being different from anywhere most tourists have stayed): there is nothing to do but go to the pebbly beach or eat at the sole restaurant. That said, the beach was beautiful and empty and the water clear, plus there were fantastic views of nearby islands. This was my favourite beach on the island, better than the crowded ones nearer Lipari (some of which were guarded by packs of wild dogs). As the region used the mine pumice, the industrial equipment does remain dilapidated in the sea yet oddly this added to the charm of the beach: instead of being sanitized and fake, the beach was historical and charming. The nearby restaurant ranged from adequate to fantastic: one evening we walked in to find it completely empty (not uncommon except at the weekend when it becomes the social centre of the village). Yet the owner opened the kitchens just for us and cooked us up the most fantastic fresh squid. The owner of the hotel spoke little English but we got along nicely using a mixture of French, German and Italian; however, on passing us waiting at the bus stop one day she did offer to drive us into Lipari which was very kind of her. The breakfasts involved a nice, adequate spread: croissants, yoghurts, juice etc. In conclusion, if you're looking for a idyllic little get away, with what is effectively your own private beautiful beach, this is the place to stay. Yet bear in mind, getting in and out of Lipari means relying on the hourly bus service or incredibly expensive taxis. Don't stay here for value for money if location is important; but do stay here if you want to experience a calm and peaceful break.