Eurostars Monte Tauro — Hotel in Taormina

This was our first visit to Sicily and we booked at the last minute because we wanted some sun. We liked most aspects of the hotel but there were a couple of things that really jarred but other people might not mind them.|The reception staff were particularly helpful and so were the lovely staff at breakfast. Views from the dining-room were spectacular and there was a wide variety of food. It was a real treat to eat fresh peaches every day for breakfast and the glutenfree selection was very good. |Our room was spacious and had a large balcony too. It also had a bath which I always enjoy. So many modern hotels only have showers.|The pool area was very spacious. During our week's stay there was always plenty of choice of where to sit. However, we were disappointed that we couldn't easily have an umbrella each so that we could lie in the shade when there were so few beds in use and many umbrellas unused. When he grudgingly did give us a second umbrella, the pool attendant wanted it to look as if we weren't together. We also found it offensive that we couldn't have a drink at the pool restaurant and enjoy a view as that was reserved for people who were ordering food. While I am not blaming the staff for following orders and I can appreciate that these rules may be practical during busy times at the pool. such pettiness goes against the essence of hospitality when there are so few people eating and drinking in the restaurant as happened on several occasions this week. There is one very loud noisy waiter whose English is not very good. On the one day we did order lunch, he completely misunderstood our order. He hadn't bothered to check it carefully with us although we had had a conversation about the food wth him before deciding what to order. During the week he would also dump bottles of water in front of me and not open them so I had to go in search of him to do it for me if the caps were tight. |The one lunch we ate at the pool was fine. However, the pool restaurant is the only restaurant in the hotel and closes early afternoon and after that time there is no restaurant so the website is somewhat misleading.|We are older and walk a lot and live in a hilly area so we hadn't anticipated a problem with the slope that you have to climb up and down to reach the hotel. However, it was a problem when it was very hot. The temperature reached 33 degrees while we were there. If you have any kind of mobility issue, do consider this hotel carefully before booking if only from that point of view. If you don't like heights you should also check out photos of the outside lift as it is the only life taking guests to all floors.|We did think that the lighting could be improved on the hotel access slope to make it easier in the dark. There is a handrail next to the slope (not the stairs which are in the middle) but it doesn't go right to the top.|We also had a battle with the transfer company taking us to the airport when we left. They had been booked on our behalf by the travel agent. The driver didn't want to come down to the front door of the hotel. The hotel receptionist was very helpful in getting the matter resolved but it probably happens regularly. Eventually the driver left the car at the top of the slope, walked down and took our large cases up for us. We could not have done it ourselves. |Taormina is built in the side of a mountain so wherever you go, you are climbing up and down slopes and stairs. The town was very crowded and buzzing with life. Once you are at the top of the hotel slope, the location is very good. There are dozens of restaurants and beautiful shops and although it was very crowded, the atmosphere was lovely and very vibrant. But if steps and slopes are a problem for you, consider very carefully exactly where you plan to stay...

I booked this room with my partner for two nights on our 9-day vacation across Sicily. We’re in our 40s and are very much done with bargain hotels, cheap beds, etc. We have no issue paying a bit more money to get those amenities, because we value comfort and a good night’s sleep. I had called in advance to confirm the bed situation, and was told that the room we were looking to book had a queen bed, which is just what we wanted.

That’s why we were quite miffed after arriving to Eurostars Monte Tauro, given its price and that it was a 4-star hotel, to find two twin mattresses pushed together, without so much as a topper to ensure a smooth sleeping experience. We didn’t discover this until bedtime, at which point we decided to wait until the morning to go complain (since it was close to 1 AM). The mattresses came apart in the night and were quite literally the most painfully hard surfaces we’ve slept on at a hotel in MANY years. We woke up quite sore, which is not the experience you expect from any hotel bed.

When we politely brought this up the next morning we were told that the beds are only “queen sized”. This is not the information we were given on the phone. We’re very seasoned travelers in Europe and know what questions to ask, as previously mentioned, we value comfort and don’t want to sleep on two twin mattresses pushed together. This was the only hotel out of the five we stayed at on our trip that didn’t have a queen or king sized bed, and was by far the most expensive coming in at around €275 a night, with taxes and fees. The only accommodation the hotel was able to make was adding a very thin topper on the bed, which still left our backs hurting the following two days. It really left a sour taste in our mouth from what should have been a pleasant stay.

The views are lovely and we really don’t mind the fact that rooms are “older” as other guests have mentioned, but if you’re going to be a 4-star hotel, that’s simply unacceptable. We can’t recommend this hotel for the price based on the beds and lack of other amenities (poor WiFi, shower backed up and leaked all over bathroom floor, no electronic keys, etc).

If this was a 3-star hotel for half the price, there’d be no issue, but unfortunately this place desperately needs an upgrade or they need to be far more honest in their...

I was slightly concerned before staying at this hotel recently after reading the reviews that it is in need of some love and attention. However, we did not find this an issue in the slightest and I feel people need to realise that if you’re looking for a 5* modern all-inclusive feel then this is not the hotel (or indeed the area) for you. But if you want an authentic Sicilian experience with stunning views and attentive staff then you will be in luck!||We stayed for 7 nights and arrived a few hours before check-in, but were allowed into our room early which we were very grateful for following an early morning flight! We had a room on the second floor - the hotel reception is on the eighth and bar / restaurant on the seventh, so the views decline slightly the lower you go, although we still had stunning views from our balcony. The room was clean and tidy and we noticed that the maids worked tirelessly to keep the rooms fresh every day. ||There are about 30-40 sun loungers by the pool which doesn’t seem a lot, but we never had an issue with getting one. The pool attendants would always see you approaching a lounger and would supply you with towels straight away.||We opted for B&B and were very happy with the offerings at breakfast. Fresh fruit and jars of compote / yoghurt were always available, in addition to a large selection of pastries and cooked food. We also particularly enjoyed the fresh honey that was available.||I understand why some reviewers have had trouble with the steep slope outside the hotel, but unfortunately I think you need to expect that when you visit a volcanic island! The whole town of Taormina is hilly, so if you don’t like hills, I wouldn’t recommend the area! But if you’re willing to laugh a little over the concept of feeling like you’re scaling a mountain as soon as you walk out of the hotel, you will be absolutely fine.||We would love to return to this hotel (and Taormina in general) and had no complaints at all about our holiday here. A little tip to travellers - the restaurant at the top of the hotel’s hill on the right is amazing and if you’re lucky (like we were) you can sit and watch the views whilst indulging in some delicious pasta and a few...