Etna Botanic Garden — Hotel in Mascalucia

Location not too hard to find. Upon arrival no one was there to greet us. As we came to the gate we had a large selection of bells to ring. As we didn’t know which one, we tried calling the number with no answer. After a few minutes the gate opened as someone was going out and they told us to go inside. Inside the owner asked us if we rung the bell because he’s not the one to greet us. A woman who didn’t know a word of English showed us the way down to the cabin and left us there without any information. After some time we went back up and called for the owner again to ask some questions. Got some short answers before he run away in the middle of the conversation with some woman. The accommodation was nice and cozy. Good AC in bedroom. Missing quite a few necessities in kitchen. No hairdryer in cabin, nor iron. Half a toilet roll and a bar soap. Got one set of towels supposed to last us 7 days. Same with bedsheets. Cabin was combined with other apartment so we shared walls. Lyhört. So if it’s peace and quite you want this might not be for you. We had babies and the dogs keeping us up most of the night. Also the water heater was beeping a few times every hour throughout both day and night. The garden is more like an overgrown jungle. Pool was nice, a bit too cold. When we needed help or information we went back up as we were told we could just knock if we had any questions. The doors are guarded by 3 dogs who attacked as you tried to enter the premises. So you definitely couldn’t knock, trying to call for someone didn’t work either. We tried calling the number 3 times with no answer or callback. Breakfast was ok, not a big selection but had most of what you’d want. As for food you could pay 20€ for a lunch or dinner at the premises. The area around have about 2 restaurants so you definitely need to be able to get around by car. So, you do need a car for this location yet the garden is not adjusted for it. The roads are very slim and the garden around grows over to scratch your car. Not well lit at night. As we were checking out we had no information about where to leave key and no one to help us. In conclusion, very high price for what you’re getting, with...

A family of four stayed here for five days, and it still wasn't enough. The surrounding gardens on the property are so beautiful—lots of space for kids to run around, very authentic, and plenty of shade.

We stayed here with three other families with kids, and they prepared a special table for our group every morning for breakfast so we could all sit together. The staff were very friendly and helpful whenever we needed anything extra or had questions.

The owner, Slavtor, was a gentleman and kind enough to share the rich history of the property and the story of his family, who have owned it for seven generations.

The location is great, as it’s close enough to drive to all the main attractions within an hour. There are also lots of shops and restaurants within walking distance.

Although the place seems a little run-down and the gardens overgrown, it adds to the charm and authenticity of it all.

We really enjoyed our stay and will...

Beautiful accommodation that I would love to come back to again. The garden, where several apartments are located, is huge. You can discover so much here and find a lot of attention to detail. A lot of work has gone into this, it has not been left to its own devices (as suggested in some reviews). The apartments are nicely furnished, clean and have everything you need. There could be a little more equipment in the kitchen (for example, glasses or the like) but this is only a minimal criticism. We especially liked that you have a lot of privacy, even though there are several apartments. The pool was clean and large. There are a lot of great restaurants and shopping possibilities in the area surrounding the property. Huge thanks to the nice staff and operators! A really nice place that you should...