Villa Angela

Before i get to the review of Hotel Villa Angela i really must praise Katherine, she was the lady handling my booking and arranging pick-ups and returns to the airport in Catania. To say she went the extra mile would be an understatement. So very helpful and pleasant to deal with, nothing was too much trouble and indeed everything went as planned. So a BIG Thank You to Katherine indeed. We were picked up on time in a Mercedes from the airport and driven directly to the Hotel, travel time was about 45 mins door to door. Upon our arrival we were checked in quickly and efficiently and went to our room (205). A room which absolutely exceeded our expectations. My criteria when i walk in to a hotel room is to think that i'm the first person that has stayed in it, obviously i know i'm not but that's how i judge things. The room was absolutely spotless. And the view from the large balcony was stunning, overlooking the Bay and with Mount Etna gently steaming away in the background. (see Pics attached to this review!). Walking around the hotel there are some lovely pieces of artwork on display which really adds to the overall ambience. There are 2 lifts to get you up and down to the various floors and they were never busy, i think being a small (ish) boutique hotel really lets you feel you've plenty of space, never overly busy in any aspect it was genuinely lovely. There's two ways to get to the town below the hotel, there's the steps down the side of the cliff which are a great experience to walk down, we did this once (just so we could say we did it!!) but our preferred option is to use the shuttle bus from the hotel to the town, walking the road way down to town isn't really recommended (by me at least!) as there are many sharp twists and turns on the mountainside that leave you unsighted to oncoming traffic. The shuttle bus does have to be booked in advance and the reception staff are always willing and helpful to do this. Top tip though, if ringing the hotel in the evening after a night out in the town to book the shuttle bus for a return trip (we didn't pre-book as we didn't know what time we'd be returning) be aware it does get a little busy/pre-booked in advance so you may need to be a little flexible with your return times! Another nice little touch from the hotel is that we wanted to hike Etna and visit a Vineyard during our stay, again reception were able to help, advise and recommend who to book with and emailed the company (MrExcursions - see my separate review of them) on our behalf. The staff are just fantastic, nothing is ever a problem, they are always helpful, always polite, always friendly and always welcoming. Housekeeping is superb, our room way cleaned daily and always to a top standard. In all honesty three nights wasn't enough, we genuinely wish we could have stayed longer and when you come away from a hotel feeling that way, then that in itself is testament to its many outstanding qualities. A genuine Thank You to Katherine a

This trip was incredible and the hotel totally made it for us. It’s an absolutely beautiful location with views right over Etna and the Bay of Naxos. The staff are a real asset to the hotel. Everything is thought of and taken care of, from Katherine helping with our booking, to Sam greeting us with a cheery Buongiorno in the morning at breakfast to Antonello’s excellent cocktails. The shuttle bus is such a convenient service and small details like breakfast boxes offered before an early morning trip really made a difference. The facilities in the hotel are excellent, the rooms are spacious and the beds are so comfy. The lunches we enjoyed in the hotel were fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. We particularly enjoyed the artwork in the hotel which is quirky, personalised and detailed. We will definitely be back.