Hotel Arathena Rocks

"The hotel has a lot of style. None of that gray/beige modern stuff. Small, cozy, packed with antique furniture, it has a somewhat charming quirky vibe. Staff are super friendly. Manuela at the reception is amazing, as are the good people in the bar and the restaurant. Much love to my man Piero, always ready to smile at you. But everyone is 100% sweet and profesional. The cleaning ladies are super nice and tactful too. Beer and cocktails are nice, plenty of room at the pool, lots of sunbeds and umbrellas. There's also a lawn area with garden chairs and tables where you can chill and have a drink.There is direct access to the sea, but note that there's no beach: you go down a path through lava rock, climb down a ladder and go in. There is no aqua aerobic, water polo or loud music at the pool. Place is quiet, relaxed and tranquill. There isn't a schedule for anything other than meals. Speaking of which. Food is great. Breakfasts are fine: there's cheeses, hams, eggs, bacon, fruit, youghurt etc. Lunches you have to pay for, but well worth it: pasta con le sarde is my new goto dish. But the dinners... My god. It starts with soup and veg, then you get served the first dish which is a choice of two pasta dishes, then you get served the second dish, which is a choice of three dishes, then there's dessert, and coffee. The whole affair takes around 90 minutes. Nice choice of wines and cocktails and coffees as well. Typically you can choose between meat and fish options, but if you're vegetarian let them know and they'll sort you out. Unlimited amounts of bread, olive oil, aubergine and zucchini. The staff are invariably friendly, quick to help, always ready to explain the food or the wines. And, apart from breakfast and the soup/veg part, there is none of that self service thing you get in all inclusive resorts. You get table served, they pour drinks for you, open the wine in front if you, let you taste it first, they serve cocktails in glass not plastic, apart from those you take to the pool, heck, there's even plaque with your name on your table. Rooms are nice. Reasonably spacious. Bathrooms too. We had a balcony facing the sea and the view was amazing. Folks on the other side of the corridor faced Etna, so you can't really go wrong here. There's wifi and TV, and you can switch language to English, so there's that. Location is generally good. Giardini Naxos is close to Taormina and you can easily get to Catania or Syracuse or Messina. Mind that the hotel itself is about 15-20 minutes from the beach and nearest shops. There is a beach, but there's no place to put down your towel, so you really have to pay for sunbeds. At 30 euros for a pair it's better to stay at the hotel pool. To sum up: if you're looking for some old world vibe with a touch of luxury there's your place. The two weeks we spent there felt like the beginning of an episode of 'Poirot.' The sun, the sea, the pool, the cocktails, the tranquility of it all. Amazing place, heartily recommend. Nb. There is a resident cat. Quite sweet and friendly and cuddly. BUT the cat is a liar, a beggar and a cheat. It GETS fed by the kitchen staff. AND the limping is fake. I know, I caught it walking, running and jumping normally when no one was watching."

"We stayed in this fantastic hotel for two weeks in July and could not have enjoyed it more. A beautiful hotel with amazing views. The salt water pool and access to the sea from the rocks just beyond. I noticed a lot of people commenting on how the place needs updating but I think they are missing the point as the place is full of interesting antiquities and is full of the history of the island. All the staff, were out of this world whether on reception, housekeeping or in the restaurant, all were helpful, caring and went out of their way to make you feel at home. the hotel is in a quiet area about a fifteen minute walk from the beaches, harbor, shops and restaurants we were able to get the bus into Catania and Taormina, and could also get a bus to the train station to go to Messina. The receptionist was also on hand to book excursions for us to Etna, Syracuse and a boat trip around the coast. I would highly recommend this Hotel to visit the beautiful island of Sicily, and hope to return again in the near future. Thank you to the incredible staff at the Hotel Arathena Rocks for making our stay so memorable."

"The Arathena Rocks hotel was a great choice for me. It is at the southern end of Giardini Naxos and is a pleasant passeggiata to the port, main beach and promenade. It is about equidistant to the bus stops of Recanati and Via Dalmazia (about 10-15 mins walk) for trips out and about. I had a room with a sea view and hence had a balcony which was perfect for enjoying the view at any time of day, with a cheeky limoncello. The non sea-view rooms don’t have a balcony. My room was large and the comfy bed huge. The seawater pool was lovely though in the end I swam in the sea more. Even in the sheltered areas close to shore, the variety and colour of the underwater world seen with my snorkel kit was stunning. I really loved the use of Sicilian antiques, artwork and artefacts throughout the hotel, bringing authenticity, history and interest for guests. The traditional Sicilian cart in reception is particularly beautiful."