Villa Carlotta, our sixth & final stop on a month long tour of Italy was everything we expected. A beautiful boutique hotel, luxurious, gracious & totally welcoming. We had a Junior Suite overlooking the pool and gardens with ocean views beyond that. The room was beautifully furnished though smaller than expected and the balconies not large enough to sit out. That said it was so hot that it would have been too uncomfortable to do so anyway. We could not fault anything really, the bed was superb, (so comfy), it was very quiet with added blackout drapes,well serviced and quite spotless.

Our two favourite venues, the rooftop terrace restaurant and beautiful pool & garden area. Upon arrival we were taken to the rooftop for a welcome drink (beer, prosecco, juice) and time to enjoy the fabulous views out over the sea & to Etna in the distance. It was so beautiful we decided to dine there that night and we actually ate in on three occasions during our stay when we wanted a a quieter evening. I have to say breakfasts were awesome, such a spread with everything imagineable - you couldn't fail but gain at least a couple of extra pounds by just looking. Wonderful mediterranean roasted vegetables, meats, cheeses and the cakes & pastries tasted like they had come straight from Nonna's kitchen. I want to go back just for those, they were so good ... and the coffee was also fantastic - a great way to begin each day. The pool area was small and at times it seemed to be overrun by a couple of family groups with small children but still nice to enjoy when you wanted to relax for a couple of hours. The hotel runs a free shuttle service to a couple of beaches where you can also spend the day. Also loved the short walk into Taormina via the beautiful gardens along the way - great location to stay in.

Of course none of this works unless you have a dedicated team striving to make your stay a pleasurable one. Villa Carlotta can be very proud of their wonderful staff who obviously enjoy being a part of this hotel family. I cannot remember everyone's names but I can still see their smiling faces, especially Simona, Riccardo, Ajith and the lovely waiter in the restaurant each night. Nothing was too much trouble and whatever we requested was provided in a most caring manner. Honest, unbiased recommendations for the best places to eat, great tables reserved for us, maps, directions and suggestions for our day trips, they took care of our parking, absolutely everything. And when we left, they were there at the front of the hotel waving us goodbye - it was like parting from family or close friends. Lovely hotel, lovely week and Sicily the highlight of our travels - we hope to come back one day !!!

We stayed at Villa Carlotta at the end of October with our two small daughters aged 5 and 2. We were a little anxious about taking two such young children to such a grown up, luxury hotel but we needn't have worried. From the minute we arrived, fairly late in the evening, we were looked after with great care - pasta and prosecco arrived within minutes of us settling into our room. Our first two nights were spent in the tower suite, a really stunning room with beautiful views out to sea from huge windows. We then moved to Apartment one, again beautifully arranged and perfect for us as a family with small children. As many others have said, breakfast was magnificent and made a great start to the day. But for us, it was the staff who made Villa Carlotta such a very, very special place. Our children were treated like royalty and nothing was ever too much trouble from hot chocolate at breakfast to tucking up their teddies everyday in their beds. When our eldest daughter got chicken pox halfway through our holiday, and although we were in the apartment, which was a few metres down the road from the main hotel, breakfast was brought to us at no extra charge - as well as a doctor when we needed one - and again we were made to feel that nothing was beyond the wonderful staff. And finally when it was time to go home, we headed on foot to the bus stop only to find the hotel's owner, Mr Quartucci, had brought the rest of our luggage up to the bus station in his car. We absolutely loved our stay at the Villa Carlotta and in Taormina (which turned out to be a wonderful place to go with young children even though we didn't make it to Etna due to chicken pox)and we absolutely and unreservedly recommend it to anyone who goes to Taormina. We'll certainly be going back.

We stayed here for a week at the end of October and thought that Villa Carlotta was excellent in all respects. The hotel staff without exception were friendly and helpful and nothing was too much trouble.

Breakfast is undoubtedly a highlight, taken on a terrace on the top floor with stunning views of Mount Etna (freshly covered with snow while we were there) which often seemed to be at its best early in the day before the clouds built up. The breakfast buffet selection was one of the finest I have ever seen (including omelette, stuffed tomato and peppers, and vegetable fritters) if at times a little bizarre (cauliflower as a hot breakfast item - what are you like?). There was plenty of fruit available, cold meats and cheeses, yoghourt and fruit juices (I particularly enjoyed the blood orange juice).

We stayed in a garden suite (Room 21) which we would particularly recommend as it had its own private patio area with steps down to the lovely garden and swimming pool. Rooms on higher floors would of course enjoy a better view of the coast.

The staff very kindly arranged for us to visit Villa Ducale, the sister hotel, one evening. We were taken there and back by shuttle bus and enjoyed drinks on their terrace with fabulous views from a position high above Taormina.

All in all a fantastic place to stay, fully deserving of its high ratings on Trip Advisor

We stayed in the apartment for two families which was so comfortable that we settled in just like it was our own. Everything from the charming furnitures to well-equipped kitchen made the apartment exceptional, in a sense that it allowed us not only to stay but to live in Taormina. Everyday, we would go to mercado to get some fresh catches which we would cook them in a way taught by kind Taorminans. Then, we would sit in the cosy living room and dose off a little enjoying gentle Sicilian winter sunlight. The window of living room is facing South, meaning abundant sunlight all day long.The view from the window is breath-taking, offering a panorama of Meditereanian sea and Mount Etna. The apartment was spacious and just so cosy that you can spend a whole afternoon in it without feeling uncomfortable. It is located close to city center but distant enough so that it is quite at night. It is also just a minute away form the botanic garden, a nice place to walk in the morning and in the sunset.
Our days in the apartment has also been very comfortable thanks to the hotel staffs who were very professionel and helpful. They even took care of our forgotten belongings swiftly, to which we are extremely gratefeul.
To summarize, it was an apartment which really allows you to relax and plunge into the daily life of Taormina. We are definitely going back.