Baia Azzurra

"Currently in room 306. Contrary to what others have written about this hotel, ie, some real negative reviews, we have found the hotel to be an excellent little bargain! Our room is a decent size, with a large double bed. We have a small tv, a fridge and a small sized balcony on the side of our room which has a lovely view of the hills and the sea! Our bathroom is a really good size! Some have commented on the small shower cubicle! It's more than adequate! Rooms are cleaned regularly and you can exchange towels at any time! Again, some have commented on the noisy trains! It's not constant and the noise last a few seconds! Nothing to bother about! Staff are friendly and helpful, especially in the breakfast room! For those expecting a 'full English'..(makes me laugh), it's not for you! Lol! You're not in England! Lol! The breakfast is lush! Lots of fruit, cheese and bread! Cereals! Juices! Croissants! Boiled eggs! Scrambled eggs and lots more! My faves are the mini croissants with ham and cheese! If you want to travel..the bus stop is on the road, just outside and the cable car, to take you to the top, where all the shops are, is 20m away! Beach is a few steps down the underpass! There's some real good restaurants just outside the hotel and a very reasonably priced shop, just next door, which has everything you need for a takeaway lunch! Sandwiches, arancini etc! Would definitely stay here again!👍🏽"

"This hotel is a 4 star hotel however our experience at this hotel is a struggling 3 star (between 2/3star). Here's the points for truly doesn't comply to a 4 star; 1. Bedrooms are small . It's like a bed sit style with table and small fridge. 2. Wardrobe is small like a triangle shape with only 5 hangers. Have to ask more. 3. Very small balcony with 1 chair. As we put the dressing table chair in the balcony so that we could sit out and unwind but our knees are over on each side as the space is so small. It might be ok for 1 person balcony. 4. Bathroom is too small with a tiny shower cubicle that's enough to turn round. The screens that open is not wide enough for someone to get in. You have to go sideways. The floor area is enough to turn round and the shower head is fixed. So you either have the hot or cold water down on you as you work on the temperature as you haven't got space to move away from the shower. You can control the temp from the outside of the shower before getting in. 5. The corner shower screen had its days: chrome part is rusty and the corner is truly had its days. Can't move outside the shower because the sink is so close to the shower. The good thing is that it has a bidet and the room is cleaned everyday. The room is not ready for you to relax between 3:30/4pm. 6. No tea making facilities in the room. 7. There's only 1 lift that can take a max of 4 people but if you have a big person maybe another small person can join. If you have a big case that will just you and your suit case. 8. No sun bed facilities to use in the small roof top area.....only 3 good ones and 4 plastic chairs with 2 tables. It's appalling facilities. Plenty of broken unusable chairs at the back. 9. No swimming pool. 10. It's not wheelchair/walking stick/ pram friendly as the beaches are accessed via steps; ex. . 68, 168, etc 11. Dinner at the hotel is rubbish so it's better to eat at the side cafes/resto/etc. 12. Road crossings are not a strong point as the drivers don't stop. 13. Not a friendly lounge and the bar is not always manned. It looks sad and no life. GOOD POINTS: 1. Good view looking to the sea at the sitting area and beaches down the steps. 2. Near to eating areas with mini markets nearby. 3. Near the cable cars/lifts transport to Taormina 4. Near to bus stops and quite regular. 5. Brilliant weather."

"This hotel, is in dire need of investment, first room we stayed in was on top floor, accessed via a very narrow corridor.with a small step down into the room with no warning and was difficult to see. The room was more hostel standard, with old dilapidated furnishings, wall paper hanging off walls, bathroom walls stained, fittings badly corroded, paint peeling due to damp. Asked to be moved, 2nd room slightly bigger still poorl furnishings, bathroom not different to the first but had the addition of black mould on ceiling and upper walls. As half board customers we were not allowed to select from the A la Carte menu were given limited selection from 3 sraters 3 mains, with one fixed side dish and one fixed desert. There are few facilities, bar only opened st 5.30pm, one member of staff manned the bar and when restaurant opened at 7.30pm took food orders at table and waited on. There is no pool the hotel has a private beach, across the road for which you are charged €36 a day, for sunbeds and are so tightly packed no room to put your own towel or mat down. The only plus points are the location and the very friendly staff who try their very best with limited resources to help in any way they can."