Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges, an SLH Hotel - Carruba, Metropolitan city of Catania

Zoltan H.

We've spent a couple days after Christmas at this hotel - having experienced many Hilton and a couple SLH hotels, this is a top notch place with great crew, good location and fantastic views.

Getting there by car is relatively easy from Catania airport, but make sure to have satnav available as the last couple turns can be tricky, especially at night. The hotel isn't very close to the major towns, but you can easily drive to Catania or Taormina within 25 minutes.

The Superior room we were in had refined interiors, direct view on the Etna, and the fact that the volcano was erupting while we were there have only added to the experience (yes, it was visible from the room with a telescope). The crew was very kind to offer a small dinner of cold cuts into the room on the first night, as we've arrived after the kitchen has closed - this was a nice touch we've very much appreciated. As we were there in December, we didn't try out the pool and the hotel wasn't crowded at all, with nice Christmas decoration inside and outside.

Breakfast was great with a lot of local pastries, cakes offered, and there was an option for a'la carte selection for hot food. We had one great dinner at the restaurant, where we went for the Il Viaggio tasting menu with the wine option. The wine pairings offered by the sommelier went very well with the dishes, the dishes were nicely prepared and tasted fantastic, the allergies were carefully taken of (some dishes were changed or updated). Also, the Creme brulee with the fine cocoa topping in my opinion was a creative and nice touch resembling the Etna eruption at the time.

To sum it up, small luxury island in Sicily that's very much recommended for a visit.

Flyboi47

Stayed here with a friend for 1 night at the end of our time in Sicily. We were in one of the Flora Lodges which was truly wonderful. So peaceful with stunning views. Dinner in the main restaurant was amazing. We decided to go for one of the Taster Menus which was utterly delicious. Breakfast was equally enjoyable with plenty of choice. All the staff go above and beyond to ensure that you have an wonderful time. Our stay here was a lovely end to our holiday.

amandamC4821LB

We had a great three night stay. We were in the two floor suite which was very spacious. The bed was very comfortable The bathrooms could use some updating and I think adding a door stopper would be nice so the door can stay open. The air conditioning temperature does not decrease, it’s set at 70 plus Fahrenheit but the extra fan made the room comfortable. The dinner and lunch were exceptional. Some of the best meals of the trip. The breakfast was also very nice. The staff are all friendly. ||The only area that can be improved is to add service at the pool area. The bartender at the pool could also benefit from a course to improve how the drinks are made.||Thank you for a wonderful stay!!

Michael L.

Had a wonderful stay at Donna Carmela, along with our friends to celebrate a special occasion. The service and staff were outstanding from top to bottom! Everyone on their team is very warm, welcoming, and professional.

The breakfast each morning was incredible with an impressive assortment of pastries, cakes, loaves, tarts, as well as a small a la carte menu of hot items made to order.

A big thank you to Aurora who helped plan and manage our group's stay, as well as Giuseppe at the bar for his great drinks and a fun cocktail masterclass. Some in our group also did the cannoli making class and LOVED it (great activity for kids).

Aurora also helped our group coordinate a trip to Pietradolce winery on the North side of Etna, owned by the same family as Donna Carmela. This visit and wine tasting was also one of the highlights of our trip! Highly recommended.

Judith

We had a wonderful stay! A beautiful accommodation with very friendly and helpful staff. We arrived late in the evening, which was no problem at all. Since the kitchen had already closed, they had kindly placed some cold dishes in our room without us even having to ask — such a thoughtful gesture. The hotel is in a fantastic location, offering stunning views of Mount Etna on one side and the sea on the other. Highly recommended!

Jon131313

Amazing boutique hotel with great views of the Ionian Sea. Large beautiful rooms so wonderfully presented. Beautiful quiet property. Great bar and lounge areas. Michelin star restaurant that did.l not disappoint. Not close to anything but great place to stay if you have a car.

Maddie B.

This was a wonderful stay!! Lovely staff, updated and chic rooms, beautiful property. Free breakfast every day was a huge highlight. Quiet and sunny pool, amazing restaurant on property for dinner. The location isn’t near a major village / town, but if you have a car and are happy to drive, it is perfect! So quaint and lovely!

Janusz G.

We spent 6 nights here with our family of three. Fantastic place for relaxing and exploring the coast around Taormina and Mount Etna. The Resort and rooms are very tastefully designed. But what stands out above all is the friendliness of the staff! Every single person we interacted with was very kind and helpful. Great atmosphere! I’d highly recommend this place.