Reviews

“Exceptional place, exceptional people”
We have just returned from a week in at the Villa Belvedere. As enticing as the website is, Villa Belvedere is one of only two places, in which I have stayed, where the hotel, itself, outdoes its advertising. It’s all there and more.
Villa Belvedere is delightfully furnished and appointed, cheerful, colorful and impeccably maintained as to both the common areas and rooms.The gardens are something to behold and provide an aura of tranquility. In the morning, when one ambles down to the sunlit breakfast room, you’re greeted by an array of pastries, cheeses, meats, fruits, breads, rolls and a greater variety of juices than you will find in any one place at any one time. The food was excellent.
The location was perfect. Leave the Villa, go left, walk 5 or so minutes to Joli Bar, go right, up a short winding, narrow, little “road” and your in Taormina central. Go right when you leave the Villa and a 10 minute walk will take you to the bus station which we used to take a day trip to Naxos and Castelmole on another day. After one thirsty excursion we found ourselves back at the Villa bar where one of the gentlemen, on duty, took the initiative in preparing tall drinks consisiting of Campari, soda and freshly squeezed oranga juice. OUTSTANDING! Where else could you get something like that without even asking?
But, enough said about the physical amenities, which have to be experienced to be appreciated. The real heart and soul of such a place, that which makes you want to return, are the people. We can’t say enough good things about them. They are highly competent, professional and efficient, yet genuinely warm and personable.You truly feel like a guest and not like a customer. Importantly, when a service is provided, such as a restaurant recommendation or reservation it is done with integrity and with concern for the interest of the guest. That’s a hard commodity to come by, these days.
So, if you’re thinking about a trip to Sicily, stop thinking about it and book into the Villa Belvedere and request a sea view room with a full balcony as was our preference. When you arrive, do what we did. Go up to the room and forget about the luggage for a bit. Step out onto the terrace and look down at the sun reflecting brightly from the city of Naxos and the calm waters of its bay. Now, look to the right and behold the majesty of Etna. Let the images wash over you. You have now truly arrived in Sicily.
Okay, time to back inside and unpack and let the Villa Belvedere and its people help build you a memory.

Date of Review on Tripavisor: 16 October 2011

“4′th year in a row and longing for next summer…”
Villa Belvedere is a lovely hotel that provides everything that our family appreciate :
-A warm and welcoming atmosphere created by all the friendly persons that work there
-A great, more than 100 years old, hotel that is continuously is updated (changes happen every winter when the hotel is closed) by the caring owner- family.
-A fantastic garden with lots of lemon-trees and flowers and a very nice pool-area with an unobstructed view over the sea.
-A generous breakfast and a calm environment to enjoy it.
–Guests on the hotel come from all over the world which result in an open atmosphere compared to, what I’m sure that many experienced, places where big groups of the same nationality sort of “take over”.
Other things that we appreciate :
-The situation of the hotel means that you are able to go up to Town (10 minutes) by passing through the Public Park with its stunning view and floral splendor.
-The Sicilian cuisine! There are numerous restaurants with food that I’m sure will satisfy most. I’ll mention our favourite, Al Giardino, also situated on Bagnoli Croci so its very close to Villa Belvedere – Simple but great food at a very reasonable price – Here you always feel welcome, to us even like home. Another restaurant that was new to us this year was Vicolo Stretto with some of the best dinners we ever ate – but more expensive of course.
Several other guests that we met over the years and that were on a roundtrips of Italy or Sicily often told us that Taormina and Villa Belvedere was the peak of the journey.
With that in mind – why should we go somewhere else next summer?

Date of Review on Tripadvisor: 20 August 2011

“Simply Beautiful..”
This is the kind of place you can come back to- year after year. At least we do.
In beautiful Taormina lies this pearl of a hotel; Very “Italian” and super friendly staff, great service and a lovely atmosphere. I always go with my mother as uor little “treat” during summer; and I would recommend this hotel to small families or couples who wants something special, and not just another unfamiliar hotel with hundreds of guests cramped together.. The brekfast room is something of its own; in comparison to a bit lousy standards elsewhere in Taormina, the food is great! Hams, cheeses, eggs, cakes, yoghurts, cereals, lots of juices, any coffee etc. Try and sit by the romantic windows overflowing with bougainvilles and enjoy the view! Relaxed atmosphere by the pool, which is also beautiful, and a great buffet/snack/lunch bar just next to the pool. I have nothing very negative to point my finger at; except that the beds could have been a little softer… Many renovations during the last years has given the rooms a very clean and modern look, though always classic and stylish. Nothing in this hotel is done cheap it seems. Try and get rooms with sea-views on the second floor, – the breathtaking view of the horizon far far out in the mediterranean is worth the extra money. Just five short minutes to the main road is nothing and you get to walk past the communal garden; think fairytale- gardens (!) on the way. ..
The hotel may never rise to a five-star, but hallelujah- this place is exactly as it should be; small, romantic, clean, nice and – yes, beautiful!
Expect to see us there summer 2012!

Date of Review on Tripadvisor: 8 July 2011

“Absolutely wonderful. We will certainly be back.”
Over many years we have stayed in numerous three, four and five star hotels in Sicily and all over Italy and France. None of them come near to the Villa Belvedere. The management and every member of staff are outstanding in their professionalism, warmth, and attention to a very high standard of service. The hotel is spotless at all times of the day, bedrooms very comfortable and with excellent bathrooms. The highlight is the most wonderful views of sea, Mount Etna in all its varying glory and a huge vista of Sicilian land from every viewpoint in the hotel because of its situation in Taormina. The hotel has the most lovely garden, obviously created and tended with Sicilian flair, a real eye for gardening, and love. An outstanding feature is the expertly prepared Sicilian food at lunchtime served by the pool using fresh ingredients every day. Believe us, because we know, this is true Sicilian home cooking at its best – and we would not say this lightly and without real evidence. Breakfast is of a high standard and served in a lovely room with bougainvillea round Gothic windows and views of sea and greenery. We are very well travelled and have gone to Sicily for many years now as we love it, and we always plan our Sicilian holidays so we can end at the Villa Belvedere which has never once let us down.

Date of Review on Tripadvisor: 17 June 2011

“Loved this Hotel”
So glad we chose this hotel over the others we considered. The Villa Belvedere’s atmosphere is so peaceful and serene. The grounds are beautifully manicured with lovely gardens, lemon trees and bougainvillea growing everywhere. The views of the coastline are just surreal. Our room had a terrace with chairs and an umbrella overlooking the sea and lovely pool area. We could have just sat out there all day taking in the beautiful views and all the birds singing! The entire staff was also very nice and helpful. The hotel was so lovely that it was actually hard to leave it for sightseeing in and around Taormina!

Date of Review on Tripadvisor: 15 June 2011

“the Idilic location, friendly staff and stunning views made our holiday unforgetable”
We booked Villa Belvedere for three nights and decided to stay for an extra three nights after the warm welcome by the hotel staff and a quick snap of the extraordinary mt etna and sea views from our bedroom window not to mention the hotel pool. The location is convenient and within walking distance of Taormina’s town square and the main streets also two minutes walk to a lovely park – Our 21 month old son loved the children’s play area, the fountain, fish and ducks. The staff was very helpful and accommodating. They provided fresh milk for our son at different times and also offered to cook special meals for him. The room was spacious and there was plenty of room for our son to move around – this is on comparison to other European hotels that charge the same rates. The only downside was that the pool was quite cold and we couldn’t enjoy it was much as we would have liked to. In summary it is a great hotel and it made our holiday unforgettable. We strongly recommended !

Date of review on Tripadvisor: 25  May 2011 

“Lushly beautiful”
I travelled with my wife and two children as well as my father and his companion. The room my immediate family occupied featured two bedrooms, a full bathroom, a WC, and a kitchenette. It was located just a few steps from the pool and had a view of the beautifully landscaped gardens. In front of our small patio were lemon and orange trees, which the staff cheerfully allowed our kids to climb and gather fruit from. The pool area was gorgeous with a view of the sea below, and the outdoor bar offered drinks and a good, if limited, menu–a bit pricey, but worthwhile for the setting. The hotel is not far from Taormina’s main street, and while it doesn’t have a restaurant for evening dining there are numerous places to eat only minutes away on foot. Breakfast was varied and ample. To round off the praise, the staff were wonderful–friendly, polite, knowledgeable, eager to help. The Hotel Belvedere costs more than I ordinarily pay for accommodation, but it was worth the splurge. I hope to return. Highly recommended.

Date of review on Tripadvisor: 23  May 2011 

“Quietly professional, unpretentious and totally charming.”
Location : Peaceful yet an easy walk to restaurants and the pretty park.
Views: Stunning.
Communal areas: spacious and elegant.
Rooms: comfortable and super clean.
Staff: Professional and competent, courteous and helpful.
Guests: mixed ages and nationalities.
For a relaxing week’s holiday the Belvedere would be hard to beat.

Date of review on Tripadvisor: 18  May 2011

“Your wish is Belvedere’s command”
During a trip to Sicily we visited Taormina for three days. Villa Belvedere had been selected because of its location, pool and relatively good price for touristic Taormina.
Everything lived up to our expectations. The location is superb! You have views over the sea and towards mount Etna. The garden with the pool is absolutely fabulous! I agree with a previous reviewer who said they didn’t feel the need to leave the hotel because of its loveliness.
The room we had chosen was on the level of the pool. Actually the hotel takes up 5 floors. But because it is built on a hill it is actually just the slope of the hill that is followed. The floor for the garden and pool is floor -1. The owner however wanted us to see also an equally large room with a balcony on the top floor. We decided to take that one and it was really great. As parents we had a large room with sea view and our 13 year old daughter had her own lovely room. Both rooms were equipped with airconditioning, writing table and their own TV. The connecting space was taken up by a large wardrobe and the bathroom.
The effords of the staff of Villa Belvedere meet the quality of the view, which means they do a superb job. All restaurants they advised us were fantastic in their own way; they mentioned interesting things to do and were extremely friendly. Since I wanted to practice my Italian they even tried to help. Also when we had a problem with the bathroom door it only took literally 2 minutes for somebody to come and fix it.
Also great is the lunch that is served by the pool. The food quality is very good at a very reasonable price. Here also staff is very helpful and even if you are moving 1 meter with your coffee cup, a waitress is already making her way to help you (even if it is not needed).
The location is also top of the bill with cosy Taormina’s main street and Teatro Grecco at walking distance.
This hotel only is a 3 star, but should be a 4. If I would go back to Taormina I wouldn’t hesitate for a second but book Villa Belvedere again.

Date of review on Tripadvisor: 7 May 2011

“The best”
Should be five star. Everything is perfect including the setting with the pool, beautiful plantings, and Etna in the background.

Date of review on Hotels.com: 14 April 2011

 

“Paradise Found”
Since 1988, I have been regularly returning to Villa Belvedere in Taormina. It is my home away from home as I am warmly welcomed by an always friendly staff in a century-old hotel beautifully maintained with impeccable rooms offering the best sleeping conditions to the weary traveler. From most rooms, it offers a few of incredible gardens always in bloom as well as a stupendous view of the Mediterranean and Mount Etna.
In its sunny breakfast room, you can taste the best undiluted freshly-squeezed orange juice, made of sanguine oranges, that even the Airport Hilton Rome does not offer. Furthermore, you can also savor the best cappuccino of Sicily and Italy made by Carmela every morning.
High-quality standards, loving pride and Sicilian hospitality make of this family-run hotel for four generations one of the best stays in Sicily and a perfect place from which to tour all of Sicily.
I have recommended this hotel to family and friends who have also enjoyed Villa Belvedere. I would not go elsewhere…

Date of review on Tripadvisor: 4 April 2011

“An enchanting hotel with a special atmosphere”
We spent a week at the Belvedere and enjoyed every minute, it certainly is one of the best hotels we have ever been to. Our room was lovely with a view of the sea, the garden and the delightful pool with a palm tree in the centre. The whole hotel exudes a feeling of cleanliness and our room was spotless. A special thanks to all the staff, they are very good at their job, patient and very helpful with guests like us who kept asking for advice. The restaurant by the swimming pool serves lovely food and we enjoyed our days of relaxation on the terrace. We shall be back!

Date of review on Tripadvisor: 28 March 2011

“A taste of Sicilian Paradise”
We booked 10 nights at this beautiful Villa / Hotel to celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary – our room had a large private terrace overlooking the beautiful gardens with the bay of Naxos and Mt Etna in the distance – what a fantastic view, particularly at night!
We had a lovely traditionally decorated room – with nice shower ensuite (etc) – and the staff went out of their way to ensure it was clean and tidy each day.
Very friendly reception staff – always on hand to help and offer advice, nothing was too much bother.
Breakfast was more than adequate and the views from the breakfast room were out of this world – good selection of food and drinks and as a bonus we could to take our cappucino out onto the terrace – why rush out when surrounded by such beautiful surroundings?
We booked our holiday through Italia nel Mondo who were most helpful and efficient and gave personal recommendations regarding places to visit and where to eat of an evening – Da Nino was our favourite – fantastic view from their terrace and great food at reasonable price…and the wine, well who can beat Sicily for red wine?
One of the highlights of our holiday must be the boat trip to Stromboli where we watched the volcano errupting – a sight we will never forget.
Taormina is a beautiful townfull of interesting buildings, the Greek Theatre is not to be missed – and we well recommend the bus ride up to Castelmola for fantastic views.
A perfect holiday – and we certainly will return to do it all again!

Date of review on Tripadvisor: 18 January 2011