Guest reviews Verdura Resort, A Rocco Forte Hotel

by Claire B Gt Dunmow

Disappointing. Strange energy about this place.

I went here for some late summer sun with my son. We chose this resort so my son could play golf, and he did and enjoyed the golf. The weather wasn't great so we needed other things to do... there isn't really anything here once you've been into the spa. The resort is miles from anywhere, the nearest town didn't have anything to offer. Concierge recommended a restaurant there which was awful and we left before we sat down. I'm a vegetarian and found it difficult to find things to eat at the resort after the first few days (and had to eat the same things). The place had a strange energy about it, the buildings austere, like a prison camp, concrete and sharp edges, nothing to soften the harshness in the interiors. There was no natural beauty here, the beach was fake, the palm trees carefully positioned in rows. It felt cold (though having everyone walking round in masks didn't help!). A few days into the trip I discovered that the Illuminati have an annual get together here (obviously no public allowed) under the title of Google Camp. Staff are sworn to secrecy about the event and there's no way any press could get near the place. They also hire the Valley of Temples (complete with many sacrificial alters) for a big event as part of their camp so piecing together what I saw there together with what the illuminati are rumoured to get up to left me feeling very uneasy and I checked out the next day moving to the other side of the island which was far more beautiful and it was so nice to check into a Belmond hotel. I would advise anyone visiting Sicily to choose the north east side of the island here both Belmond hotels there are beautiful.

by eleph4nt London

Very good, almost exceptional

Let’s start with the positives. The property is stunning. Much better looking than what I was expecting. For some reason the pictures available online don’t do it justice: I got the impression of an industrial-looking concrete resort with cheap finishes. In reality, it’s a charm. I would strongly recommend one of the sea front rooms or suites; watching the sunset from your own patio with unobstructed view is well worth the extra cost. Finishes are showing a little bit of age, but overall they are still excellent. The resort’s facilities, particularly the pool and the SPA, are also beautiful. One big caveat: we were there in September and occupancy was very low. I am not sure how this resort would feel when it’s at full occupancy in super high season... There is a concrete risk it could feel like a mass resort (it’s massive). Service overall was very good, with some room for improvement. Breakfast service was particularly slow and a little chaotic, but that’s understandable given that due to COVID regulations they couldn’t run a buffet. One of the beach attendants was full-on rude, but thankfully his colleagues were great. Food was good, but not great and quite frankly overpriced. This might be an issue for extended stays, given there is very little around. On the other hand, the bar upstairs was excellent. I would certainly consider it again for a weekend getaway in mid/low season. Probably not for a long stay or for high season.

by Mirage1990 London, United Kingdom

5 star facilities with 2 star service

We had a disappointing stay at the Verdura resort unfortunately, largely due to service. Good points: - the rooms are spacious and well equipped. We stayed in one of the Deluxe rooms which has a gorgeous view (definitely no need to upgrade to the next level room as you end up on the ground floor with a less nice view) - they have imported soft sand on to the beach which is really nice to walk on compared to pebbles - the food at dinner was good without being overly expensive. Service at dinner was good and definitely much better than breakfast/ lunch - parking was free and easy - reception staff polite and helpful Disappointing areas: - on arrival we weren’t shown around our room. Not a big deal but I would usually expect this for a boutique hotel. Our electronic key card didn’t work so we had to call reception from our mobile to get someone to bring a heavy duty metal key which we had to use the rest of the trip. - the room phone kept showing as our neighbours room which meant the reception staff kept calling us by the wrong name and our room service order would go to the wrong room. By the time it arrived to us it was cold and had been reheated which made the food taste poor. - breakfast and lunch service was really appalling and certainly not what we expect from a 5 star resort. We had to ask multiple times for things, orders were forgotten or wrong. Breakfast was never quicker than 1.5hrs which means most of your morning is wasted. We had a day trip to do and told the staff we needed to order food but you had to order coffee then wait for another person to come and take your food order which was usually over 20mins later. Other people were even getting up from their tables to go and ask the staff for something as they were so inattentive and slow. They seemed to have a lot of staff so I really don’t understand why it took forever. - there was no complimentary water in the room until towards the end of our stay when a couple of small bottles would occasionally appear. The water in the room was expensive. I find it grating when there is no complimentary water in the room as it feels a bit cheap for an expensive hotel in a hot country not to include this. - the spa was prohibitively expensive and so we didn’t use it - location is in the middle of nowhere so if you don’t have a car and want to do trips it is difficult - the beach bar was closed most of the time we were there and there was no beach service, if you wanted a drink or food you had to walk to the pool bar with similarly awful service as per breakfast Overall the resort is beautiful and if wasn’t for the terrible service I’m sure it would have been a great stay.

by Traveltheworld196 United Kingdom

Great set up but needs updating

Verdura has the potential to be wonderful with the beach and spa and great kids club. But the rooms are in big need of updating, looking old and with humidity staining the bottom of the walls in the bathroom and with pretty much zero sound isolation between the rooms, making it feel like one is sharing the room with the neighbors. Towels at the beach are so old they all have threads coming apart. Service is great but can not compensate for a somewhat mass market look of the restaurants. Overall poor value for money. Bills itself as exclusive and high end but feels much more like old luxury rather than updated current luxury.

by Mulhern1966

Service above and beyond in crazt times

I am writing this as I finish the only holiday I have had in 2020 due to COV19. Leaving in London few countries still except us. Italy was one and what an experience at Rocco Forte Verdura I am having. A great location makes a holiday good, great people make it memorable. When you visit make your 1st stop Granita, the hotel bar . Ask for either Chistian or Maurizio. I felt like I had been there every year for the last 10, was actually my 1st visit. My knowledge of Sicilian wines as limited that was fixed in 1 sitting. Each visit was better than the last and they remembered everything about what I had, the day before and what new wines I should try. Weather was not bad but not perfect , their ability to make everyone feel like they were the only ones in the place , during a huge rain storm , was amazing. You couple this with Emanuele, Angela and Debra from the Concierge team and you will want for nothing. An outstanding time during a period of challenge around the world. Thanks to all of you.