We stayed here for 5 nights in early September. The hotel was meant to arrange a cab (pre-paid) from Catania airport to the ferry. They forgot. We callled and it took them 2 hours to sort this out. We called to tell them the ferry time, but still had to call again on arrival at the port as they had not turned up to meet the ferry. No apology - although they left a basket of fruit in the room, apparently to say sorry - the receptionist told us when we arrived, when she also explained the lack of a cab to meet us was not her fault but the manager's - but he was not available. Unfortunately, the fruit was not very good - and we would have far preferred being met! A poor start.
Room was fine - with nice big spa bath. In fact, the bathroom was the best part. It is not the hotel's fault that the weather was poor for 2 days of our stay. But it IS their fault that reception was uniformly unhelpful, except for one person. We spent time, weather permitting, by the pool - which is lovely, but there was no-one to help with the umbrellas for shade, waiters at the restaurant adjacent would not provide drinks - and when I asked about drinks poolside at reception, they suggested we go to reception each time we wanted a drink (3 flights up stairs)... The room was,a as said, fine - but we found hairs under the bed on arrival and a couple in the bath. We asked for extra pillows an a blanket each as it was cold - but only got these on the second day. We were told there should be some in the wardrobe, but there were not.
Food in the restaurant was uninspired, but adequate. Very slow service. Generally, the attitude of staff was unhelpful and careless: asking anyone at the restaurant for anything was greeted as an interruption of their talks and chats together. We saw groups of visitors, in large tour groups, who seemed to be served much faster at meals. Arriving after us, their food was served before we had even had our orders taken - maybe they had pre-ordered, but we still waited half an hour to just order! The bar area was completely and consistently empty and unstaffed - we could have easily poured ourselves a drink and just left. We never sawe anyone in there at all.
There was apparently no room service available while we were there - again, maybe there is in August, but not first week September.
The main road from hotel into the town goes past several very malodorous large dustbins (not belonging to the hotel, but just down the road from it). Not a particularly nice walk - and distinctly smelly. We had been dismayed that after the second day, approx 20 yards from the hotel entrance, there was a large dead rat on the pavement we had to walk past to and from the hotel en route to the town (approx 500 yards away). It was there for 3 days, until we left.
We commented on this unpleasant walk to the receptionists and were finally told - after 3 days - of the back entrance to the hotel, avoiding this road - and less hilly (which matters for me as I have mobility difficulties). Having asked previously of reception for alternative routes, we had been greeted with shrugs.
We were there in early September and were often the only people at the pool - the hotel seemed quite dead most of the time and very empty although the dining room was quite busy at breakfast and in the evening. There were no lunches available so we had to go into town - when we asked for something, they seemed surprised - although there were staff in the dining rroom.
Maybe staff are more attentive and helpful in high season but I would not recognise the hotel we experienced from many of the good reviews here. It all left us feeling unwanted and a bother to them. Not nice. We were very glad to leave. And as we had really been looking forward to our stay, that was sad.
Maybe the other reviews are accurate in high season - but I would say avoid otherwise...
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
