Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina

Our recent visit to the GHT was just exceptional in every respect. The reception, front desk, guest services and concierge teams are welcoming, resourceful and dedicated to making a visit to Taormina and this world class hotel a wonderful experience. Breakfast, dinners and cocktails come with a truly magnificent view of the sea and Mt Etna. The Michelin rated restaurant Otto Geleng is a memorable experience. The wine service reflects their expertise and attentiveness to their guests. The hotel is right near the iconic Greek Theater which is convenient for browsing the shops and sites in the beautiful town. There is a shuttle that takes you down to Villa St Andrea, the sister property by the sea, if you want to go to the beach. There is a spa for wellness. The pool is very well managed. Housekeeping and room service are attentive and very efficient.

This was our tenth consecutive stay at the Timeo and we can honestly say that it was one of the very best. The hotel is classic Sicilian and the grounds are stunning, with gardens overlooking the sea and vistas of Mt. Etna. We are always assured that the hotel will be wonderful and our accommodations superior. We had an extended stay and were able to experience much of what the hotel has to offer. The staff and service at the Timeo are best in class—outstanding among five-star hotels. Universally, the staff is upbeat, professional, and extremely helpful. They go the extra mile. The staff knows the guests, refers to them by name and understands the things they enjoy. We can’t express how much we appreciate them. Dining at the Timeo is a treat starting with breakfast. Drinks at Bar Timeo are memorable; excellent cocktails are served with a nice selection of snacks—and the view! The dining room, the pool bar, and Michelin star restaurant Otto Geleng are all superb. The Fire and Wine dinner, where we learned about the wines we were served from a representative of a local vineyard and had a delicious meal, was a great new addition to the Timeo’s dining options. Spending time relaxing at the pool is one of our favorite things to do at the Timeo, and is all the more enjoyable because of the friendly and attentive staff. The Timeo offers a range of experiences, including wine and olive oil tasting, cannoli making, a cocktail class, and wellness sessions (fitness and meditation). A highlight was a walking tour with a concierge who has lived in Taormina his whole life. All-in-all, the Timeo is exceptional.

We were very pleased with our stay at Grand Hotel Timeo and would definitely stay there again. The property was unbelievably gorgeous, extremely convenient, and the service was fantastic. The food and drinks were also excellent -- Fabio really took care of us and made us feel welcome! The pool was gorgeous and well attended. No issues with the property at all. The staff were also very helpful and made an effort to remember all of our party (7 of us) and our preferences. We have some food allergies, and there were ample options and the staff generally remembered our needs without prompting -- bravo! The food was across the board excellent, and the drinks superb. The pool was refreshing and well-tended. The beach was also very nice with excellent food. Any issues we had were with Taormina and not the staff (not a fan of the rocky beaches). We had two issues. The first was one of the rooms we booked was not reserved for us on the first day for some reason, necessitating a move from one room to another on the first night. I booked the rooms more than six months in advance and was notified of the error the day before arriving. It was just all a bit odd and something not expected from a hotel of this caliber. We also had an issue with moving rooms that day -- we asked to pack our things and get help moving but the staff arrived while we were at breakfast and began packing our things on their own. Completely a misunderstanding, but the staff should really make sure they understood the instructions. This is why I rated the rooms and service less than a 5.

Highlights: *The hotel grounds, location, overall presentation 100/10. By far the most beautiful, romantic hotel I’ve ever seen. Feels like a film set. *Bar Timeo for cocktails every night, always lively, full of interesting looking people, live music every night, stunning view of Etna. *Beach club at Sant’Andrea was fabulous, went there multiple times as it was very hot, really enjoyed the complimentary 2hr boat tour which took off from their beach. Beach bar cafe had pizza and simple salads, just what we wanted. Beach staff also delivered excellent service. *Dinner at Otto Geleng, we’re not usually prix fixe Michelin types but we decided why not. It was delicious and enjoyable and reasonably priced for the quality. We chose the a la carte four course and had a perfect Etna wine. Memorable and fun meal. *Overall service throughout the hotel was 10/10

Wonderful hotel with fabulous staff and service Facilities and view amazing with great food and location