Hotel Principe di Salina — Hotel in Malfa

My mandate to my wife and I was to find a location and accommodation that was not a run-of-the-mill location or accommodation. My wife and I had the same big birthday within a few days of each other earlier in the year, so I wanted to find somewhere different - I had no idea where but it had to be special and different. The hotel had to be boutique style - small, personal, great location, and not too distant from Ireland. No 'resort' in the name. No ridiculous time differences and long flights thank you. Apologies for the length of review but there's a lot to say!|Googled 'best boutique hotels' and Principe Di Salina was on the list. As soon as I saw it, read about it, looked at photos, read reviews (which I always, always do) I knew instantly that this was the place for us. Located north of Sicily are the Aeolian Islands and Salina is one of these islands - a small but stunningly beautiful one. Now, Aer Lingus started twice weekly direct seasonal flights from Dublin to Catania (Sicily) in 2024 so that simplified things somewhat. There are no airports on the Aeolian islands so getting there does pose a few, not insurmountable challenges however.|Principe Di Salina consistently had wonderful reviews and has only 14 rooms so I was in no doubt it would be good, very good, and so it was. A beautiful white-washed hotel in a superb location in the small town of Malfa. |Firstly, the good things. Exceptional staff, probably the friendliest and most efficient I have ever encountered, from Anita the front-of-house co-owner with her super husband Filippo who is now the chef, to Donna the exceptional organizer, Paula, Paula's partner (whose name I never got - sorry Paula), Micaela/Michela?, and every other member of staff, from the lovely guy who drives the hotel minibus to the ladies who clean the rooms, the breakfast staff, Jacobi on reception in the evening - everyone was friendly, helpful, always smiling, and a pleasure to be around. Any request, from organizing transfers from Catania to the port in Milazzo, hydrofoil tickets, packed lunches, car hire - could be done through Principe. All our transfers were organized for us and were just added to the bill at the end of the stay - so simple.|The food. Good choices of hot and cold food at breakfast. Lunch offered some tasty dishes and snacks. Cocktail happy hour before dinner was always enjoyable with cocktails at 6 euros - great value, but dinner was the event of the day. Everyone sits at one big table overlooking the ocean and the 4-course dinner, from a menu created and cooked by Filippo, was always tasty, beautifully presented, and great value at 40 euros pp. It was a set menu so there was no choice but if we didn't fancy a particular menu we would have something from the snack menu and eat in our room. Didn't happen often but the option is there. The wine choices were very good - all local or Sicilian wines at fair prices. The whole communal experience works very well and guarantees meeting some wonderful people and great conversation. We thoroughly enjoyed the communal experience but it may not be for everyone.|The rooms. We chose to have one of the two top floor suites, simply because we were celebrating the big birthdays. They were lovely, spacious, fabulous views, and with every amenity you could want. It was a little expensive but totally worth it for a special stay. If we went again we would go for a smaller, less expensive but still lovely room.|Secondly, the less than good things. There aren't any. This beautiful hotel didn't disappoint in any respect. It was all we hoped for, and much more. |Thank you to everyone at Principe who made our special vacation...

Where to begin... I feel like a written review won't do Principe di Salina justice. This is a rare gem of a place that has to be experienced first-hand for you to fully appreciate how special it is.

Anita, Filippo and the whole Principe family have created a beautiful island sanctuary that feels chic, serene, but also unpretentious and comfortable. The design of the hotel is flawless, and everything you'd want from an island escape - think open plan spaces to relax and admire the views from one of the strategically placed hammocks, gorgeous daybeds framing the pool with billowing muslin curtains where you can top up your tan or have an afternoon siesta, and the most beautiful dining table with sublime views over the Tyrrhenian Sea.

In truth, I spent very little time in my room - I was too busy exploring and mingling with the Principe team and guests; but my superior room was well appointed, with calming decor, ample storage, a lovely bathroom with Ortigia toiletries, a private terrace complete with hanging chair (great for cosying up and reading that book you've been meaning to!) and an incredibly comfortable bed, along with some other thoughtful touches.

I'd heard great things about the food at Principe and I was not disappointed. Dinner was an absolute delight and is served to guests around the aforementioned (gigantic) dining table. The 4-course menu changes daily, and is a feast in all senses of the word. Breakfast is equally delicious with a delightful continental spread and eggs made to order. There is also a tasty poolside menu with generous portions of bruschetta, salads and of course, cocktails, juices and wines on offer.

There's no shortage of things to do on the island, and the team were very helpful in making suggestions and helping me plan trips so I could make the most of my stay. Though I only scratched the surface, I absolutely recommend taking a boat trip to explore some of the island's best swimming spots, and if you're a foodie, having a tasting at a local caper farm. There are also vineyards, hikes and evening boat trips to Stromboli if you have the time to squeeze it all in!

The hotel is a short stroll into the town of Malfa, which has some lovely boutiques, restaurants and bars, and a great swimming spot on a rocky beach. It's equally easy to hop in a taxi (€25 a trip) jump on the island bus, or hire one of the hotel's e-scooters (if you're a confident driver - the roads can be steep and winding) to explore further afield.

But for me, what really makes Principle special is the people. Every member of the Principe team welcomed me with a smile and open arms. Nothing was too much trouble, from the fantastic recommendations, to having a good old chat at the bar. Despite this being my first visit, I felt like I was welcomed as an old friend.

I can't recommend Principe di Salina enough. So much so that I'm a little worried that it'll be permanently booked next time I want to visit! Whether you're a couple seeking a romantic retreat, newlyweds looking for the perfect honeymoon destination, old friends in need of some R&R, or a solo traveller looking for a chic retreat, Principe is the...

I want to start my review by saying - I have never walked into a hotel in my entire life and actually felt genuinely cared about, that the hotel were actually committed to making my time enjoyable, until I came to Principe di Salina.

This should be rated a 5 star hotel at a minimum, it is incredible. Anita and her beautiful family have gone the extra mile in every aspect. There are so many intricate details that they have gone above and beyond. The entire team at Principe are so kind and caring, and are wholeheartedly committed to helping you in every way they can.

On initial arrival, I was amazed - after travelling through so many places the past 6 months across Europe and Italy, nothing compares to Principe di Salina. They have thought of everything, from the moment you arrive you are welcomed by Anita’s smiling face and warm embrace - they provide you with a beautiful newsletter/personalised daily information sheet that includes information on the weather/excursions etc. They have thought of everything.

Principe is tastefully decorated with beautiful details from across the world and especially from Sicily. We enjoyed an incredible dinner by Silvana on our first night, an experience we will never forget! Thank you.

From here, Anita, Federica and the team were so kind and caring to us. We felt comfortable and for the first time in a long time, relaxed!

Things I especially loved about Principe di Salina:

The food! Don’t bother going elsewhere, they do it better and honestly more reasonably priced than most places.

The team! I love them and I miss them already - big thanks to their kind and caring natures

The suites! Principe recently released their newly built suites and we were lucky enough to book one during our stay, it was incredible, one of the more luxurious experiences I’ve had during my travels across boutique hotels/5 star hotels in Europe. With beautiful hammocks/swings attached and a gorgeous concrete table and chairs, they’ve thought of everything.

The views! Unbeatable, it’s impossible to take a bad photo here, honestly!

The music! Acoustic, chill but also hit songs, the music is tastefully chosen, we loved it, especially at Silvana’s dinner.

The breakfast/the lunches/the cocktails, fresh, homemade ingredients all made with love, and reasonably priced, it makes a difference! I especially enjoyed the granita and the spaghettini pomodoro fresco.

Apologies for the long review, but this hotel deserves the recognition, you leave feeling like you’re part of the family, thank you Principe di Salina. We can’t wait...