Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges

Liked: Amazing property run by the most attentive team. Would highly recommend.

Liked: The property itself is beautiful, with attractive grounds and a peaceful setting. The overall design and concept of the estate have a lot of potential, and we appreciated having a spacious resort environment for our three-night stay.

Disliked: Unfortunately, the overall experience did not match the level we expected from a property in this price category. There was construction taking place during our stay, and the noise around the swimming pool was quite loud on one of the days, which affected the relaxing atmosphere. Cleanliness was also disappointing — we found blonde hairs in the bidet when we arrived, which immediately gave us a poor first impression of the room. Service throughout the stay felt rather amateur and, at times, defensive rather than genuinely welcoming. For example, we were offered a welcome juice on arrival, but when we asked whether we could have Prosecco instead, we were charged around €15 for a very small glass. It was not really the price itself, but the way this was handled that felt surprisingly ungenerous for a resort of this standard. There is also only one main restaurant, and it felt more like a formal fine-dining experience. For a three-night resort stay, we would have appreciated a more relaxed option for simple pasta, pizza or casual meals. Overall, although the estate itself is attractive, the service, cleanliness and atmosphere did not feel as polished or hospitable as comparable hotels we stayed at in Sicily and Puglia hi

Liked: Breakfast was ecxellent

Disliked: I would prefer fresh orange juice...

Liked: The serene atmosphere and surroundings; the rooms; the pool; the extremely attentive and pleasant staff.

Liked: Beautiful botanical garden, lovely helpful staff, charging stations for EV, amazing restaurant

Disliked: The location is quite remote from the coast and the city

Liked: I recently stayed at Donna Carmela and, while the property itself was pleasant, I was extremely disappointed with the transfer arrangements organised by the hotel. I was advised that the hotel’s transfer provider offered rates that were cheaper than other available options. Based on that recommendation, I allowed the hotel to arrange my transportation. I was charged €180 for a transfer to Taormina and €500 for an airport transfer to Palermo, which became necessary due to the disruption caused by the Mount Etna eruption. After returning home and researching local transfer prices, I discovered that both amounts appear to be more than double the normal market rate. This was particularly concerning given that the driver informed me that he had been booked by the hotel to collect another client at the same time as I was being dropped off, suggesting that the airport journey was not an exclusive transfer despite the premium price charged. As a guest, I trusted the hotel to act in my best interests when recommending and arranging these services. Instead, I was left feeling significantly overcharged during an already stressful travel situation. I also emailed the hotel afterwards to express my disappointment and request an explanation, but unfortunately I have received no response. The lack of acknowledgment has been as disappointing as the charges themselves. My advice to future guests is to independently compare transfer prices before accepting the hotel’s recommended service.

Disliked: I recently stayed at Donna Carmela and, while the property itself was pleasant, I was extremely disappointed with the transfer arrangements organised by the hotel. I was advised that the hotel’s transfer provider offered rates that were cheaper than other available options. Based on that recommendation, I allowed the hotel to arrange my transportation. I was charged €180 for a transfer to Taormina and €500 for an airport transfer to Palermo, which became necessary due to the disruption caused by the Mount Etna eruption. After returning home and researching local transfer prices, I discovered that both amounts appear to be more than double the normal market rate. This was particularly concerning given that the driver informed me that he had been booked by the hotel to collect another client at the same time as I was being dropped off, suggesting that the airport journey was not an exclusive transfer despite the premium price charged. As a guest, I trusted the hotel to act in my best interests when recommending and arranging these services. Instead, I was left feeling significantly overcharged during an already stressful travel situation. I also emailed the hotel afterwards to express my disappointment and request an explanation, but unfortunately I have received no response. The lack of acknowledgment has been as disappointing as the charges themselves. My advice to future guests is to independently compare transfer prices before accepting the hotel’s recommended service.

Liked: Beautiful room with breathraking greenery!Staff were always welcoming and helpful! Location was convenient for us between Catania and Taormina.

Disliked: Nil

Liked: Charming property with very attentive staff and great restaurant. Loved our stay