Sant Alphio Garden Hotel & Spa

Restaurant it’s best to be fancy, including ties and jackets by the waiters even for the free breakfast. Lots of pastries only hot item was scrambled eggs. Did not like the shower at all floor was bumpy had to work shower shoes just to keep it from hurting my feet and it’s smaller than a cruise ship shower . Nice balcony with a great view of Mount etna, we were lucky and it was even active when we were there. But if you restaurants within walking distance

I cannot stress enough how fabulous this hotel is! The staff, pool, view and area are all fantastic. Breakfast was great and we had dinner in the restaurant one evening which was superb. So much so, that when we go next year (about to book) we will definitely choose half board. Special mention must go to Valentina and Vittoria who helped tremendously when my husband left his backpack on the transfer bus. We are looking forward to seeing them next year!

First impressions? Reception area and bar area very palatial with limited seating. My room was quite large but with very little in it; upright chair, dressing table, enough storage space, no info on opening times, room service, etc. - the only thing was a leaflet about the Spa! No tea or coffee making facilities. Bed was very firm but bedside lighting was good. Bathroom was small but OK; shower head was awful with no adjustment and shower tray very slippy with nothing to hold on to - it took 2 days for a non slip mat to appear! Tiled floor also vey slippy when wet. Toiletries consisted of 2 small bars of soap and 2 small shower/shampoo bottles. NIce view from the very small balcony but the room had no protection from the sun during the day so it got hot! Air con. was very noisy. Breakfast had a poor buffet with not much in the way of choices - the only hot food was scrambled egg and this wasn't always very hot! A small array of cakes and pastries was available to finish off your meal. Dinner was four courses and the dishes were delivered to side tables where the waiters doled out the food before bringing it to you. Dining room enormous with waiters struggling to serve all the tables when it was only half full - there were lots of coach parties. The gardens were very nice and the pool area had a cafe/bar with a large under cover seating area. At the bottom of the gardens was a gate to the lane which led you down to the beach area; the hotel's reserved area (for which you have to pay to use the loungers, etc.) was to the right and the public beach area to the left. The hotel's beach also played loud music all day long. This hotel could be very nice but at the present time, it has no character and needs someone to sort out the little details that warrant a four star rating!