Hotel El Jebel

The staff was exceptional. Everyone was so helpful and friendly. The hotel is gorgeous and our suite had a stunning view of the Ionian Sea. The mattress was wonderfully comfortable and the breakfast was delicious. I loved seeing Andrea every morning. However, I would skip the restaurant, it was disappointing. There are many other great restaurants in Taormina. I highly recommend the Palazzo Vecchio.

This hotel far exceeded my expectations. The location is in the heart of Taormina. The hotel is near the duomo, but set slightly off the Corso Umberto, so it’s quiet. The lounge and the dining room look like they’re from a Merchant Ivory film set. The roof top bar is a must, with the best views of sea and city. All staff members are extremely professional, friendly and very attentive. Miriam, Andrea, Francesco, and Nick are great. Made to order breakfast included a varied menu and was delicious.

A TRULY EXCELLENT HOTEL Taormina is a town where you see over-heated day trippers walking side-by-side with the super-rich. One might be 'on a budget' and the other might sport a handbag that cost more than a year's wages for a local worker, as they peruse the top-end designer shops which dot the main street. But what about those of us rooted somewhere in the middle? We are looking forward to a holiday that is special, of which we will have fond memories, but we don't want to stay in a hotel that is starchy and 'grand' and the preserve of multi-millionaires. This is where Palazzo Vecchio comes into its own. It is a recently converted palazzo in a perfect location in the centre of the old town but just far enough away from the hubbub to be quiet. The refurb was clearly expensive and high-end but has kept a sense of fun with Moorish/Arabesque flourishes throughout. The rooftop bar is a must, with stunning views of Mount Etna at sunset, an imaginative cocktail list, very helpful knowledgeable staff, and an excellent DJ who knew to play toe-tapping classic pop songs along with up-the-minute contemporary music. The other guests were 'normal' people from all walks of life who were clearly not 'hard up' but neither were they the designer super-rich (I am not against people being rich, but you know what I mean - they are not necessarily fun, are they?). Every guest at the Palazzo Vecchio was definitely enjoying themselves as much as we were. Our room was stylish, spacious and constantly kept clean and tidy. The staff were friendly and informative, and yes, of course that is their job, but is it their job to walk you to the taxi rank, carry your bags, and make sure you are setting off safely? Apparently it is. In a nutshell, this hotel is special enough to be a delight, but small enough to not be impersonal. Fun, but classy decor, and did I mention the DJ and the cocktails?

This hotel was great, the staff are all so lovely and helpful, location is perfect and it’s also very quiet if you want to get out of the hustle and bustle of the streets. I would highly recommend it. The rooftop bar has a great vibe and really good DJ.

It’s hard to do better than this hotel. The hotel itself and the rooms are absolutely gorgeous, and it is perfectly located. The staff and service are top notch, with the service perhaps the best we’ve ever experienced, anywhere in the world. Could not recommend this hotel more. The breakfast was amazing, and the rooftop bar perfect. Our family has decided we are coming back to Taormina (which is lovely) just to stay at this hotel!

We were agonizing between this hotel and the Belmont Timeo... Ended up choosing the Palazzo Vecchio and there is no doubt we made the right choice. The recent renovation is spectacular. Simple elegance... our suite on the 4th floor had a Moroccan theme and the room and bath were wonderful... We honestly preferred the hotel to the Rocco Forte property at Verdura where we spent 3 nights the week prior. The bed was very very comfortable and the breakfast was the best we experienced in 16 nights in Sicily... The young man who poured us a brandy at the bar was most charming. The staff, each and every one of them were so proud of the hotel and so kind and helpful. We were really overwhelmed. Location is perfect... we would return again and again.