Guest reviews Excelsior Palace Hotel

by rosemarym238 United Kingdom

excellent location but !!!

First the good points Excellent location 3 mins from the main street,Corso Umberto.Also our room(223)had a fantastic view across to Mount Etna.Staff on the desk were polite,Guiseppe being more friendly. The cleaning ladies were extremely friendly,our own and the ones we passed in the corridors. Now the not so good. The staff in the dining room were the most miserable we have ever encountered anywhere in Italy,not one eye contact,not one buongiorno or ciao all week.They all seemed to walk about like zombies refilling trays etc but no smiles with anybody.There were no condiments on the tables ,so the first day I found the one and only salt cellar for the whole dining room,day 2 there were 2 and there always seemed to be a shortage of cutlery and having to get up and go and search for them as quite often all staff seemed to disappear back into the kitchen.It just all added up to a feeling of frustration and made breakfast a chore. Our room although it had a good view was very dated,mustard yellow walls and red curtains,although the bathroom had been renewed,but the shower screen had not been sealed properly causing a flood every time we showered.One morning we had use the towels to mop up it was that bad. The public rooms and corridors are also in need of updating and we had to report a stair handrail that came loose and a water leak dripping from a corridor ceiling. The pool does have a wonderful view you access it through the gardens but it is down many steps and a bit of a trek which was too much for us. This hotel could be so much better than it is.It has a prime position in Taormina and many rooms have wonderful views of Etna but as it is we would never return to this hotel. However we are planning a return to Taormina.

by 53Shadrach London, Canada

Wonderful Location

This was probably a grand hotel at one time. However, it has not aged well. Our room was adequate, but only just. What we loved about it was the fabulous view out over the Ionian Sea and Mt. Etna, a view we never tired of. The hotel is also very conveniently located for comfortable walking into Taormina. One can walk the main thoroughfare without having to navigate any steep stairs, a real convenience for us older folk. The room itself lacked sufficient electrical outlets and needed better lighting. We had problems with the shower and the tub. The tub did not drain well unless we removed the stopper entirely, and it was impossible to shower without causing a mini flood over the bathroom floor. Getting in and out of the tub would be a real challenge for someone with limited mobility. We loved the beautiful gardens at the hotel, but sadly, the pool was closed for the season. We were travelling with a group and a number of group dinners had been arranged at the hotel. The food was somewhat abysmal, to say the least. Breakfasts were adequate but unvaried.

by luvtogo6 Norfolk

Wonderful location - great service

Arrived by train, so got a taxi to the hotel, a must do as only a mountain goat would want to attempt the walk. Easy check in and our room had great views of the sea and Mount Etna. No tea or coffee in the room but good size Sky TV - some reviews said the tv was small as in a TV cabinet but this is to try and keep within the atmosphere of the historic hotel I expect. Bathroom had a good shower and all the facilities we needed. Safe in the room too. Location is great just outside the city walls and close to bars etc. where you can easy walk to, the bar area is a large table and comfy sofas, again I thought lovely and in keeping with what it must have been like when originally built. My husband didn't like it as it didn't feel like a bar, with the high bench and seating but I loved it. Really friendly service too. Easy check out and they will call you a taxi to get back to the train station if you need to catch a train - warning if you are getting the train (which goes direct onto the ferry for train geeks like us) to Naples or further they do not have a refreshment car necessarily - there wasn't one on ours but we had prepared for this but eight hours without a chance to buy any food or drink is not a good option.

by Billythefish1 Southport, United Kingdom

Great situation and views

Situated at the end of the main street into Taormina, perfectly situated to allow easy access to the town. The hotel was comfortable in an old fashioned way with large rooms and good size bathrooms. The meals were good and reasonable choice. The bed was large and comfortable. The Tv was quite small as it was inside a TV Cabinet so it took up a lot of room in the room. small fridge, tea and coffee making facilties. The bathroom was large with a bath and over bath shower. A walk in shower would be more suitable for most guests. Grand design for an original hotel from the 1920s.

by Markymoomoomoomoo Newquay, United Kingdom

Who ever owns this place is taking everything out and putting nothing back.

Wonderful position and veiws and you pay for them. The rest is very poor. The staff are good and try hard to assist. The rooms are so dated, the furniute is terrible, stained sofas and carpets, all furniture scratched chipped or worse. Stayed one night and ran off to find far better accomodation. You get the feeling its going to be an adventure when you see the illuninated letters of the big sign not working. Then you get to the main entrance door and its got a length of string attached to it to stop it banging shut! Breakfast was lavishly set out, but food was bland. Cannot blame staff on duty, have to blame owners they need to invest in this place make it grand.