Hotel Ipanema

The hotel has great character and charm. It's family run, a traditional Hotel building, not a modern chain. Almost all rooms have a balcony with a sea view and there's a lift. The rooms were beautifully cleaned everyday. The beds have cotton sheets and plenty of blankets. The hotel is close to the sea shore which is much quieter than being in Taormina. To get to the town you can walk up stepped path in 25 minutes or take the funicular. All the hotel staff from reception to waiters to cleaners are polite, kind and attentive. The waiters in the dining room will know your name in five minutes and chat to you if you want. I was by myself but never felt lonely. The food is exceptional: The evening meal menu offers a choice of three or four different starters and main courses every evening, always a different fresh fish available for a main course. Plenty of vegetarian options. There's a pasta or soup or risotto or salad first course which is big enough for a meal in itself. Desserts are a choice of gateau or fruit salad or delectable creme caramel. The waiters bring your food on a trolley under silver dish covers, everything is done with old style and real charm. A peaceful relaxing place to stay where you'll meet local Sicilians and enjoy true hospitality.

Hotel Ipnema is well situated to explore and enjoy some of the most acclaimed coastal spots in all of Sicily. The hotel really does facilitate the best of both worlds: walking distance to beautiful beaches and coves such as Isola Bella as well as close proximity to local bus stop and two minute walk from the cable car which transports to Taormina centre. Prime position for sure. The hotel itself hosted character and charm with well informed staff who facilitated every possible excursion detail or amenity required. Such lovely people who are invested in their work and enable guests to feel reassured and catered for at all times. Fellow guests at the hotel were also quality company enabling a safe, happy and relaxed atmosphere for all. The rustic charm of the courtyard on an evening was particularly a highlight - surrounded by beautiful lemon trees and the ambience of a vast and eclectic music experience, guests were able to sit independently or collectively to reflect their adventures and relax each evening. The bar served a vast range of choices and was attended by staff with care and consideration.

Staff at reception were friendly and very helpful. Great location for access to the beach. Comfortable beds. Good value. AC worked well.

The staff are fabulous, nothing is too much trouble for them, from the wonderful receptionist Maria, to the engmatic bar manager, Mario. The rooms are excellent value for peak season as is the optional evening meal, which is 3 courses for €25 and beautifully served at the table. The wine is also good value, very decent Nero d'avola at €22 per bottle is excellent for a hotel or restaurant. The pool area is ok for a dip but somewhat cramped. The level below is much bigger and would have been a much better choice for the pool area. There are 2 mini markets a minute down the road for pretty much anything you would like which is really handy, as it's the cable car to Taormina town, at €10 return in summer. We got lucky with one of the 6 parking spaces, but if you miss one, parking is an absolute nightmare. We didn't move the car at all while there! All in all a recommended hotel if you want to stay in Taormina.

Clean & comfortable hotel typical Italian style decor. And a great view of the Mediterranean Sea from the hotels roof top area with a pool . The breakfast was lovely & the staff in the breakfast dining room were friendly but did not speak English very well which is not really a big deal just very hard to understand them. They did a fantastic job in the dining room. The location was perfect only 4 min walk to the cable cars to take you into town & only 3 euro each way .. and a little mini market down the road only 2 min walk from hotel which was handy for little essentials like water & fruit. The beach is also only minutes away across the road . It was a very pleasant stay !