Grand Palladium Sicilia Resort & Spa

We read the reviews before we made our last minute booking and we can see why most are positive but some are not. This is stated to be a five star hotel but if you’ve travelled to many five star hotels outside Europe you may feel that it’s more of a four star experience. We booked the day before we travelled and were not told by the holiday company or hotel that the Signature option would not be available. It turned out that the Portafino restaurant was closed and the other two restaurants had limited opening times. Nevertheless the helpful Guest Relations lady managed to get us bookings at both the Thai and El Dorado restaurants where the food was good but more four star than five. What we feel really let the hotel down was the buffet restaurant. It was not an enjoyable experience being rushed into seats designated by men with earpieces resembling a security detail, who did not smile or engage in conversation at all. After a quick question and answer session about whether we wanted still or sparkling water, beer, house wine or a soft drink, a waiter would rush off to get drinks and deliver them without a word. It was like being in a canteen at a railway station with people rushing back and forth and queuing for ages just to get an unpleasant cup of coffee. Inside was extremely noisy due to the number of people. Outside was better but there was no view from the restaurant other than concrete. The food was typical international buffet food, mostly edible with a decent amount of variety and warm if no one had left the top off the serving dish, which they often did. Again there was no social interaction with serving staff. It was a case of eat and go. That was the most negative aspect of the hotel for us but there were positives. The entry to the spa cost 25 euros but because we had massages the cost was less. The spa was clean and the massages were excellent, thanks to Martha and Elisa. We had a good sized sea view room on the second floor with a lovely view of the pool and coast. Our cleaners were brilliant and kept the room immaculate. Water and tea bags were replenished daily but we felt they were being rationed. We were all inclusive and kept having to ask for water. There was no water station apart from in the gym. Mo on the front desk was particularly helpful but not all of the front desk staff. The bell boy Salvatore was extremely friendly and helpful and took us to restaurants in the buggy. The beach bar guys (Andreas and Salvo), one tall and one with glasses, were also extremely friendly and made the best cappuccinos we tasted in Sicily. The disposable coffee cups contain plastic but should be recyclable. The hotel could improve its approach to 'sustainability' as lots of plastic bottles were used. The hotel was in an isolated location but the grounds were pleasant to walk in. The beach was not the best we've seen in Sicily but take water shoes if you want to go on the beach or swim in the sea as it’s pebbly! The high points o

To start with positive; Animation team were amazing, friendly, fun and engaging and very hard working, they did seem to have some limits on resources, the dartboard and darts for example had seen better days but they were amazing. Drink quality good and not watered down, most bar staff lovely and again hard working. We stayed in a bungalow and it was spacious and kept clean. Views from beach area are lovely. Shuttle bus from hotel is needed and great to have at reasonable cost. The negatives; Food was awful, 3 star at most. Poor quality, lacked flavour and was served luke warm. Only decent food was from cooking stations like pasta or fresh meat/fish. Cups at breakfast so small not worth bothering with. There was fresh orange juice at breakfast which was great but only one choice of youghurt. Was only able to book one of the extra restaurants on stay as no availability, this was better but portions very small. Major problem with seating in evening, yes there are multiple bars but the one most people wanted to sit at had limited seats and every evening people either carried seats from other areas or just stood around. No one at hotel did anything to address this obvious issue, there was space to increase seating. Pool was dirty in places on the pool wall was green. Gym was poor, equipment broken and extremely hot as on roof and air conditioning was poor. Not a five star hotel or experience so expensive for what it was.