After having to postpone our holiday for 1 week due to the volcano, we were collected at the airport by the transfer company, Sim Sala Bim and taken to the hotel. The frontage, garden area and swimming pool were imaculately presented, and we were given a friendly welcome by the receptionist, Linda. Having booked a suite for a small extra charge, we were pleasantly surprised by a large living space including our double bedroom and a smaller single room (which we used to store our cases). Large wardrobes, dining table, satelite TV in both the living area and bedroom, along with fridge and safe, all very clean and well kept. Nice bathroom, but small shower. Good balcony with sea view. Having read previous reviews, we were anticipating the food to be quite basic, but am pleased to report that all those guests staying including ourselves, praised the quality and quantity provided. Two choices were given for both the starter and main course - starter always pasta, and the main course varied from Chicken, Veal to different types of fish (swordfish, bream, etc), with choice of potatoes and vegetables/salad (note green salad was only fresh lettuce!). A desert was also included (all quite delicious). On two evenings we decided to have the a la carte menu - I had melon/proscuttio then beef in hot oil, my husband had pasta with mushrooms & sliced truffle and the beef, and we both felt it was more than equal to meals we'd enjoyed in high quality restaurants (such as Harvey Nichols). The only small criticism would be the restaurant lacks a little atmosphere, the TV should be removed and the lighting dimmed or candlelit to add ambience. Otherwise, all staff were most helpful (especially Linda, Lydia & Stephania), we attempted to converse with the lady owner and her daughter in broken Italian and thereafter were most warmly received and greeted daily. The nearby beach could be beautiful if tidied, other guests said the beach/sea were fantastic. A 15 minute walk into centre of Balastrate (via busy road or beach) - go beyond the main square to find more bars/restaurants, and also past the jetty is the best beach by far, suitable for snorkelling, etc. Great trips available from hotel or airport transport company - definitely include Erice, but if you want to go to Palermo (very busy and dusty), then go by bus or trip rather than train. Other local beaches are within easy reach. Other guests hired cars which did make getting around much easier, but avoid visiting Palermo by car - it's manic. Overall, great hotel with good facilities - we would definitely use again.

Stayed here in Oct 2009, hotel probably 2* only. Sea views none existant due to angle of hotel. Situated out of the town, which was not much to see anyway.Rooms a good size, but bathrooms very small. Trains run through the night and approx every hour during the day, can be very noisy especially if you want to open the windows, which we had to do as air con not working. Food was disgusting & certainly not as suggested in hotel advertising , very little choice and tiny portions. Always pasta dish as a starter , which was better than the main meal. One night meal consisted of 2 bones which had no meat at all. Probably worst food we have ever had on the Med.
Breakfast same every day,some cheap processed cheese,& thin smoked plastic ham.Rest continental breakfast and not very appertising. Nothing topped up unless you asked.Tokens for evening meals & breakfast coffee. Bar doubled as breakfast room & pop & adult drinks very expensive & very limited. Best find a bar in the town if you have a car as we did, car hire limited and expensive, cars not very clean either. Staff on reception helpful, but maids rifle through any bags you bring back & report to the owners. You are not supposed to have any food/drink in the rooms as they have a mini bar. This consists of a few tiny shorts,very small bottles of water & some juice all charged at excessive prices (ie Jack Daniels 8.5euro)plus a few little snacks a choc bar at 3.5euro more than 5 times more than a local shopwas selling for,So avoid touching these. No tea/coffee making facilities as stated.
Pool ok, but if hotel had been full was not enough sun beds etc.only alllowed 1 towel per dayAlways seem to be cleaning before lunch so limits use..Beach dirty and full of rubbish, full of stray dogs packs. Hotel is well out of town and down ill from the main road, anyone with walking difficulties would find it a nightmare, car hire is so limited that they ran out of cars even though no main season, so you need to book early.
Best thing about this holiday was coming home, which is something I have never said in over 35yrs of foreign travel. As we had hired the car for all of our holiday visited most of the island, there is little to attract and everywhere we went was run down & neglected.
We would never recommend either this hotel or Sicily to anyone, unless we really disliked them! Have visited mainland Italy, and although someparts are run down it is really nice & the people are great, sadly neither can be said for this island. Outward appearance of hotel is fine but does not meet up to hotel info on the internet.Also has only breakfast /bar to sit in or reception, which is cold and drafty and when raining wet, as water runs under the glass and into the reception area. Be careful when wet as corridors open to the elements and get very slippy.
So all in all there are far nicer Med desitinations to visit.!!