SteveYou know what it’s like. You begin researching hotels based on things like location, star rating, and facilities. This was us, in spring 2022, seeking the best hotel in Taormina.
A little background
We’d been wanting to visit Sicily for ages and see a little more of Italy. Sicily seemed like a good choice for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I really wanted to see just how pretty Taormina was. Secondly, it was a good route to earn a large number of BA Tier points (that’s a story for another time). Having never been to Sicily before, we had our work cut out trying to find the best hotel in Taormina!
As we were flying with British Airways and chose to book our trip through the amazing BA Holidays, we had a number of hotel choices to pair with the flight. Typically budget is always a factor and there were some extremely nice (and pricey) hotels to choose from. Let the research begin!
The Town of Taormina
During our research we realised that Taormina is perched on a hillside on the eastern side of Sicily. This meant we had a decision to make. We could either choose a hotel at the beach level (Mazzaró) or choose one nearer to the town itself. There is a cable car that runs between the edge of the town and the beach, otherwise, it means a long, steep walk or a taxi to travel between. Trust me, it is a tough walk!
Given that the cable car does not run late into the evening we decided that a hotel near to the town was our best option. It meant we could enjoy the beaches during the day if so desired, and spend the evenings exploring the beautiful bars and restaurants in the town. Not forgetting the array of shops to lose yourself in, which seemed to open late into the night.
Hotel Ariston and Palazzo Santa Caterina
Without beating about the bush, we settled on the Hotel Ariston and Palazzo Santa Caterina for our stay in Taormina. Like anywhere new, it was a leap into the unknown but we were not disappointed.
The Hotel Ariston and Palazzo Santa Caterina is a bit of a mouthful! It is because there are actually two parts to the hotel. The Hotel Ariston is the main building, and the Palazzo Santa Caterina is a separate building just a few metres away.
One of the reasons why we think this could be the best hotel in Taormina is the location. There are a couple of ways to get to the town of Taormina and the main street that’s called Corso Umberto. The quickest is a 10-minute walk up a hill and brings you to the start of the famous street. The alternative is a slightly longer 15-minute walk, past the delightful public gardens, but is a little easier on the legs!
The position of the hotel on the hillside makes for a quirky layout. There are lots of steps around the property as you wander around, and there are a couple of strategically placed lifts to help those who need them. To the rear of the hotel is the Taormina bus station, where tours depart from as well as regular buses to other towns along the coast – as well as the airport.
The Hotel Ariston part has a number of different room types to choose from. These range from single rooms, and economy rooms all the way to superior and panoramic rooms. The Palazzo Santa Caterina has the largest rooms which all face a garden and most have sea views. After asking nicely at check-in, the amazing staff gave us an upgrade to one of these.
Our room, at the best hotel in Taormina!
When we first entered our room having been escorted from the hotel reception, we were blown away. Having been told we were being upgraded, we really did not know what to expect.
The room is a generous 24 m², with a double bed and a single bed offered so would suit 3 guests easily. The sofa bed made a great staging area for our suitcases! The room had everything else you would expect, like a decent-sized desk, plenty of electrical outlets, TV, and WIFI. Let’s not forget the tea and coffee-making facilities either! The bathroom was also pretty good, with a powerful shower and hairdryer.
Probably the best thing about the room was the balcony. It wasn’t large but it was large enough to include a table and two chairs. The view from the balcony was impressive, to say the least, and we enjoyed many a drink whilst looking out to the Ionian Sea.
The Pool
We’ve all got our own view of hotel pools. What suits one person may not necessarily suit another. For us, it was perfect and another reason that this could be the best hotel in Taormina!
We loved the pool area for a whole host of reasons. There are plenty of sun loungers for guests, and not just directly next to the pool either. There are sun loungers dotted around on different levels, and some of these can offer privacy to those that want it. One of my better half’s grumbles can be that there are not enough parasols to go around. Not the case here, there are plenty of them.
There is a small pool bar, right by the lift up to the hotel restaurant level. Prices are fair here, and is a godsend if you are in need of an emergency beer whilst sunbathing! There are a couple of other points to mention about the pool, in that there are noodles aplenty and that there is no shallow end. Some of you will be pleased to hear that it is quite a serene place to be, as there is no blaring music to be heard.
Restaurants and Bars
The hotel has two bars and restaurants on-site. There is the pool bar that I mentioned earlier, along with the main bar with indoor and outdoor terrace seating.
There are two restaurants at the Hotel Ariston. There is the grill restaurant that is open at lunchtime and in the evening. The second restaurant is called Pirandello, and is used for breakfast and sometimes a dining service in the evening.
The breakfast is a self-service buffet, with a brilliant choice of items for even the fussiest of eaters! As you may expect, there are plenty of pastries, cold cuts, and some hot food like bacon and eggs. The standout for me was the freshly squeezed orange machine. It was so delicious, and the guests seemed happy to help themselves to more than one glass of the good stuff!
The grill restaurant is very popular in the evening, and surprisingly the food and drinks are priced quite reasonably. Most nights there is live entertainment, with musicians playing to happy guests. We can vouch for the food quality, as well as the happy hour drinks early in the evening!
The happy hour drinks are fairly well discounted from the standard prices, and we definitely recommend the Aperol Spritz, Bellini, and Rossini cocktails!
Location
For us, we decided that the hotel was located perfectly. I said earlier that it is about a 10-minute walk to the town, yet there are shops, bars, and restaurants to stumble across along the way. The cable car down to Mazzaró and the beaches is only a 5-minute walk from the rear of the hotel. The ancient greek theatre is actually right behind the hotel, although you will have to take a twenty-minute walk around to get to it as there is no direct access.
Taormina itself is just over 40 miles to the north of the airport in Catania. You could fly into Palermo, but this would be a much longer transfer as it would mean a journey of almost 180 miles! Transfer-wise, there are ample buses and taxis from the airport in Catania which can get you to Taormina in as little as an hour.
Is this the best hotel in Taormina?
Granted, this is the only hotel we have stayed at in Taormina. That said, having spent lots of time exploring the area it’s hard to see how any other property could be as good when you consider everything I’ve already mentioned.
We found the hotel fantastic value for money and really couldn’t fault the service and friendliness of the staff we encountered. This and some other little details made the hotel feel like a 5-star property, rather than the 4-star that it is (unlimited freshly squeezed orange juice anyone?).
The views from the hotel are simply to die for. All of Taormina is pretty, and the hotel was decorated accordingly and in keeping. Location-wise, it really couldn’t be in a better spot. Right by the bus station for easy transfers to the airport. Not too much of a walk to town, and not very far to get down to the beaches either. Being between the town and beach access was ideal, so neither was too far to get to.
Typically you find that food and drinks in hotels are a lot more expensive than the local restaurants. At the Hotel Ariston, we thought that the prices for food and drinks were very respectable when you look at establishments in the town.
Finally, I need to mention the room. Whilst we did not spend a huge amount of time in it, it was plenty spacious and had everything we needed. Decent WIFI, air conditioning, a coffee machine, plenty of electrical sockets, an amazing balcony, and thoroughly amazing service from housekeeping every day.
At the end of the day, a hotel review is quite a subjective thing. Based on location, stunning scenery, service, food quality, and value for money, I think this could be the best hotel in Taormina!
Why not check out my other posts about Italy?
