A Guide to Sicilian Hotels

3rd May 2017: Renowned for its glorious diverse landscapes, natural wonders and temperate climate, Sicily makes for a truly stunning destination to visit. Its location makes Sicily a great place to visit most of the year, sometimes it's even possible to swim and sunbathe well into November. On her recent visit to the island, Amy, Travel Specialist at our Abergavenny branch, guides us through her hotel favourites.

On my recent visit with Titan, I took an escorted tour of the island and saw some of the breath-taking sites Sicily has to offer. An important part of every trip is the type of accommodation you choose as it can make-or-break your holiday. When choosing a hotel there are many factors to consider and everything from its location to the food can influence your choice, so here are my top picks of hotels in Sicily.

San Alphio Garden

Located in the heart of Giardini Naxos, the beautiful San Alphio Garden Hotel is a fantastic place to relax after a long day sightseeing. With a private beach just a few minutes away, one of the great things about the hotel is its location. It's centrally located and is close to many of the highlights of Sicily including the incredible Mount Etna. Giardini Naxos town is relatively low-key, but comes alive of an evening with the awakening of its lovely bars and restaurants (I highly recommend the cocktails!).

The hotel is also near the beautiful hillside town of Taormina which boasts quaint restaurants on every corner. It has to be on top of your list! Its traditional décor and superb service is really what sets the San Alphio Garden apart from other hotels in the area - nothing is too much trouble.

Fiesta Hotel Anthenee Palace

Surrounded by lush gardens and set on its own beach, the Fiesta Hotel Anthenee Palace is located just 10 minutes outside the picturesque town of Cefalu. You'll be spoilt for choice at the hotel's restaurant where its huge buffet room caters for all tastes and dietary requirements. The hotel's lobby is the main port-of-call for guest entertainment as it leads out onto a huge terrace area where many guests choose to enjoy local music while dancing the night away.

UNA Palace

This hotel is truly elegant and chic. Whilst modern, the hotel's façade is very traditional in style and is located in the centre of the commercial area of Catania. My favourite thing about this hotel is its seventh floor where the Etna Roof Terrace offers unique and sensational views over Mount Etna and the surrounding city. The terrace is a fantastic place for a cocktail and a chat before settling down to dinner. If you're a shopaholic, like me, there are other hotels which are more centrally located to the city's shops.

Baia Di Ulisse Hotel

This hotel is beautifully furnished with local paintings adorning many of its corridors. Furnished with mahogany wood and located just 4km from the UNESCO Valley of the Temples in Agrigento - the only complaint to have here is that you don’t stay here long enough! As part of Titan's escorted tour, guests spend just one night in this truly beautiful hotel and, upon arrival, you feel instantly relaxed.

Amy Corran, Travel Specialist