bbk511

My husband and I plan to visit Sicily for about 5 days and then the Amalfi coast.
I think we have decided to focus on the east side of Sicily, skipping Palermo, and definitely want to stay in Taormina for 2-3 nights. We do want to visit Siracusa and any other valuable sites that we can squeeze into that time frame. I am assuming that when we go to Siracusa we should plan to stay in that vicinity rather than Toarmina for a night or two. Open to recommendations of sites not to miss as well.
We do like to stay in 5 star hotels or as close as we can get to 5 star.
What are the best hotels in these areas?
We did look into San domenico Palace hotel in Taormina- any comments?

Also, would like to hear your top 3 picks of hotels on the Amalfi Coast. Interested in a great view and 5 star hotel.
Thanks for your advice- we are celebrating a very special anniversary

nytraveler

Do you want to be right on the AC - for just a relaxing stay? Or do you want to do more sightseeing - when Sorrento may be a better choice - much more convenient transit connections, many more restaurants and shops?

If the latter have a look at the Excelsior Grand Vittoria. Set in a private garden opening right onto the main town square, it overlooks the Bay of Naples with terraces and many rooms have balconies and there is a private elevator from the main terrace of the hotels down to the dock for ferries and hydrofoils. We have stayed twice and like the property a lot.

ekc

Assuming you want to be actually on the Amalfi Coast, where you can relax or take day trips to the various towns on the AC, I would recommend Hotel Il San Pietro or Le Sireneus in Positano, or the Convento hotel in Amalfi.

Sorrento is 45 minutes to an hour from Positano, which is the first village on the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento makes a good base if you want to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius and Naples.

bon_voyage

In Taormina, check out the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo. I'd want an Etna view from my 5 star hotel, preferaby from my room, and I think the Timeo may be superior to the San Domenico Palace here.

sandralist

I would be very careful picking 5* hotels in Sicily (but also in the Amalfi coast). Star rankings in Italy are awarded on the basis of fixed amenities like on-site restaurants, elevators, parking or swimming pools -- or other amenities you might care less about than superior service. They also attract a lot of package tours, especially in Taormina. You might find that a highly regarded boutique hotel without a restauarnt is more to your liking.

Most travel bugs advising on the internet have never stayed in more than one 5* star hotel, if that, and have no basis for comparison. That is true for the Amalfi as well as Sicily. You do best to read lots of reviews, since not delivering the expected goods for a 5* in Italy never stops the hotels from charging super high prices.

You are right that you need to stay in the Siracusa area to enjoy it, rather than day trip from Taormina. (In fact, doing it the other way around would be more plausible). Again, I would be less interested in an officially ranked 5* hotel than I would in a high end agriturismo or winery stay.

You didn't ask, but the spectacular vistas of the Amalfi coast and the spectacular vistas of Taormina aren't exactly the same, but 2 or 3 nights in Taormina, followed or preceded by more nights on the Amalfi coast is a lot of gazing at vertiginous seaviews in the company of masses of other tourists. You might consider using your 5 days in Sicily to get more of the flavor of historic and gastronomic Italy. Everything of great interest can be seen in Taormina in half a day + lunch.

sandralist

I meant to add most people do not want to be in Sorrento if they want to see the Amalfi coast, and hotels tend to be of higher quality on the Amalfi towns. Furthermore, you cannot possibly feel deprived of a variety shops and restaurants in any of the Amalfi towns unless you are planning to stay for several years or have a shopping addiction that needs professional help. The towns are wall to wall shops and eateries. Sorrento only has more because it is a small city/port, not a former village.

bobthenavigator

The GH Timeo is superb with a fabulous view.
We only ate there, but not hard to appreciate that location.

ekc

"Most travel bugs advising on the internet have never stayed in more than one 5* star hotel, if that, and have no basis for comparison."

Sorry, but I have stayed at many 5* hotels (both in the US and Italy) and will be staying at Hotel Il San Pietro next month.

Since the OP asked for 5* hotel recommendations, I assumed they wanted recs for the best hotels on the AC, which is what I gave them. Each hotel has differing amenities, but since the OP didn't specify which amenities were important, recs for the overall "best" were in order. Then it is up to the OP to determine which of the "best" is right for them.

Dayle

BBk

I don't stay in 5* hotels, so I will just recommend you follow sandralists suggestion to stay on Ortigia and visit Taormina as a day trip.

I loved Ortigia, spent 3 full days and would have loved 2 more. There is much to see and do and it's very charming, historic etc etc. I was there during one of the major holidays, May 1, and it was busy but not crowded. Most of the visitors were Italian or Sicilian.

In contrast , I spent 1 day and night in Taormina and saw everything I chose to see. The views are nice and the flowers gorgeous. The hoards of people were not. You literally couldn't move in the Main Street. Very touristy shops.

However lots of people like Taormina. I went there to find out why. I discovered it was my least favorite place of a 3.5 week trip in Sicily. I didn't hate it, but I just liked all my other destinations much much more.

I would recommend La Foresteria Planeta Estate, but it's is probably too far for your 5 days. You might look it up for your next trip!

Buon viaggio.

kja

In Siracusa, stay in Ortygia.

While I thought the views from Taormina spectacular, I found it unpleasantly crowded during the day. YMMV.

Happy Anniversary!

denisea

Well, I can say more after our trip in a month. We are staying at Le Sireneuse and Monastero Santa Rosa on the Amalfi Coast. I researched the heck out these, including Fodorites advice and Trip Advisor.