Hotel Il Gabbiano, Messina

Advantages: restaurant, pools, garden
Disadvantages: house-keeping, expensive.

...I stayed in the Il Moresco Hotel for a week in September 2005. It's a 5 star hotel on the island of Ischia and is located about 5 minutes' walk from the coast. Check-in was fairly easy, they found our booking reference, gave us the keys and saw us to our room, showing the facilities on the way. Our room was not particularly large - two beds, two bedside tables, a table, satellite TV, a couple of chairs and a dressing room. The bathroom was fairly clean but we had a problem with the housekeeping - they failed to restock toilet paper twice in a week! What I also found weird is that the switch and sockets were in the bathroom itself which was potentially unsafe to use. Do Italians have different safety regulations? They also forgot to restock the mini-bar. Beds were changed daily and were quite comfortable. The room had air... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Excellent location and facilities
Disadvantages: Does not live up to its 5* rating

...to get up for a refill - the staff would come to us! Dining -------- Breakfast can either ordered as room service, or taken in the hotel's restaurant where breakfast is a very extensive buffet offering all the usual breakfast goodies. Do be warned that in high season breakfast time can be very busy and if possible try to get there early. The continental choice is very impressive and a good breakfast often meant that we did not want lunch, preferring to wait until the evening. Lunch and dinner is also served in 'Il Carrubo'. The restaurant offers Italian cuisine as its specialty alongside other wonderful international dishes. Do be warned that dining here is mostly alfresco and you may well find one of the local feral cats at your feet waiting scraps. We did not often eat here, but preferred the local restaurant which is located... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Personal service, restaurants, leisure facilities, luxurious rooms, beautiful gardens
Disadvantages: none

...Situated in the exclusive residential area of Puerto de la Cruz - La Paz. The hotel enjoys extraordinary views of the Atlantic Ocean, Orotava Valley, and Mount Teide. The Botánico is surrounded by more than six acres of magnificent gardens, the ideal location for those seeking quiet and privacy in a beautiful environment. The Botánico is proud of its personalized service, thanks to the warmth and the charm of the local staff. A vast breakfast is served on the terrace by the pool and in the lobby; an extensive cold and hot section with well over one hundred different items is superb. The 1 Michelin starred Oriental restaurant offers exotic Oriental cuisine. La Parrilla (the grill) features Spanish and regional dishes. Both restaurants have received awards by the gastronomic magazine Ambiance. Il Pappagallo (the parrot - named after... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful