We spent 5 lovely nights at the Villa Carlotta. The hotel, which has been beautifully decorated, has lovely sea views and although not in the centre of Taormina is only a 10 minute stroll away which is particularly beautiful through the communal gardens. It was nice to be able to get away from the very busy Corso Umberto occasionally! Our room, overlooking the sea with a balcony/terrace and sun loungers, was very comfortable and always clean - the chambermaids were excellent and always happy to fit round you and to come back at a more convenient time, if necessary. The food, for all meals, at the hotel was delicious - from a wonderful array at breakfast (too great a choice to list here!), a lovely lunch in the garden and delicious dinner on the roof terrace. All the waiting staff were friendly and helpful. Last, but definitely not least, were the reception staff - Olga, Simona, Natalie and Riccardo. They were amazing! So friendly, right from the minute you arrived until you, sadly, had to leave. They were extremely helpful and came up with excellent recommendations for restaurants and places to visit, both locally and further afield. We can't fault them and are extremely grateful to them for all their help - nothing was too much trouble for them. Thank you!

I am a seasoned traveler and not easily impressed. The first thing you notice is the amazing fragrance throughout the hotel. Smells get me sick but this was so light and fresh with such a tranquil quality to it, whomever picked it really knew what they were doing. This choice was not by accident. That goes for every other detail in the hotel. I liken it to the gramercy park hotel NYC. But this hotel was very calming and the service is top notch. The staff is genuinely friendly and warm. We had a jr suite, the room is generous for a family of three in Europe, I am aware that American standards are different, and have read reviews that complain about the room size. Those people should do their homework on euro travel. This room is above average size and very comfortable. Lovely sitting room with spectacular views on top floor. We sat and enjoyed pre dinner drinks. Breakfast is over the top! A vegan would have no problem they have a wonderful assortment of hot and cold dishes that would satisfy all. The wait staff are also attentive and very eager to make your holiday one you would not forget. This hotel is a must on any bucket list. Amazing. Thank for a lovely holiday.

We spent a week at Hotel Villa Carlotta Taormina at the end of April 2013. Unfortunately the weather was uncharacteristic for the time of year but the hotel cannot be faulted. On arrival our car was whisked away to be valet parked (20 euros a day charge for this) and Nathalie greeted us and advised us to head to the rooftop terrace for a welcome drink of Prosecco as we watched the sun set over Mount Etna. Our Junior Suite was beautiful with two windows (one overlooking the stunning pool and the other toward Etna) We couldn't believe how large the room and we wanted for nothing. Breakfast is amazing with so much choice and the blood red orange juice was to die for!!! On our first day we did have sun and we ordered lunch by the pool by picking up the phone by the bar straight through to reception. 15 minutes later our meal appeared and was laid out beautifully. The second day we woke to cloudy weather and Riccardo advised us to head up the hilltop village of Savoca where parts of the 'Godfather' was filmed. We were alone in the village and felt as if we had entered a film set. Even Bar Vitelli looked exactly as it had in the film. The hotel lent us an umbrella for the rain! Simona and Olga were also unbelievably helpful and advised us on where to eat, visit etc. We had one meal in the hotel and Chef David and Maitre D Marco were incredibly attentive and the food amazing. The hotel's location is perfect with just a seven minute stroll through the beautiful public gardens to the main street in Taormina. We even had a drink on the stunning terrace of Villa Carlotta's sister hotel Villa Ducale on the drive up to Castel Moro. We thoroughly recommend the hotel.

Arriving at the hotel at 9.30pm after a complicated,tiring tour of the roads around Catania Airport we were given the warmest of welcomes by the Hotel Villa Carlotta Taormina reception staff.Within a few minutes we were sitting on the roof terrace at Villa Carlotta overlooking the sea with a glass of cold Mount Etna wine.A few minutes later a table is laid and we are eating a delicious seafood spaghetti.This is a hotel who really understands travel and travellers.The delightful staff cannot do enough for you-booking lovely little restaurants or sorting out your day's itinerary. The location is great,tucked away from pretty Taormina's hustle and bustle and 10 minutes walk down steps to the sea.The rooms are well appointed and relaxing,although we were lucky enough to be upgraded and the gardens are lovely. Even breakfast ,a soulless buffet in so many places,reflected the huge care and effort this hotel makes.Plates brimming full of stuffed peppers and aubergines;dishes of omelettes or fruit and platters of very fattening but delicious looking sweet pastries.The range of options in this bufffet was huge-and all served with a smile. We had one evening dinner in the Grand Hotel Timeo.The food was good,although not quite as tasty as a couple of the smaller restaurants,but the welcome from some of the staff paid to greet you would have frozen a polar ice cap. We were so pleased that we had opted for the warmth and helpfulness of Villa Carlotta,and significantly cheaper too.Highly recommended.

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. Room Tip: The tower Suite has beautiful views. It is on two floors with a spiral staircase connecting the two...