Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Donna Carmela Resort and Lodges

We enjoyed four nights at this lovely hotel as part of a longer stay in Sicily. As the hotel was not full, we were upgraded when we checked in and were therefore able to enjoy a spacious two-storey suite with magnificent views of Etna. The suite was very comfortable, with a good sized private terrace, table and two chairs. I felt that more comfortable chairs would have been appreciated, as the hard chairs weren’t really suitable for relaxing. We had a delicious lunch on the beautiful, sunny terrace on our first day, but tended to eat out in the evenings so can’t comment on the evening menus. Breakfasts - also served on the lovely terrace - were fabulous, with so much choice! There were delicious fruits, pastries, a huge variety of cakes (chocolate, blood orange, lemon…), arancini etc, along with substantial a la carte options. Our orders were taken each morning by the delightfully charming and friendly Daisy, who always greeted us with a smile, and who quickly got to know our preferences (chocolate pancakes and extra orange juice for me!). She was definitely the “stand out” member of staff, although everyone was warm, friendly and approachable. We had a very special time at this peaceful, intimate hotel, and would definitely recommend. We hope to return - next time to one of the lodges with plunge pool!

The service was impeccable with excellent attention to detail and a great love for fantastic food and wine. I loved the privacy of the rooms and plunge/private swimming pools. One of the best breakfasts I have ever had. Our room and balcony (by the plunge pool) felt like we could have been in a jungle or somewhere green. Very relaxing. Beware that in our room, which was not in the main manor building, there was no separation/door between the toilet and the sleeping area. The common swimming pool is not too large and we opted to spend more time by our private plunge pool. Lovely spot to relax and superb service for their guests.

Our stay at Donna Carmela was just awesome. They have the full package in experience -- a wonderful team of people there to help; Michelin dining and a relaxed onsite bar, pool and relaxation amenities -- the list goes on and on. Where else can you see the sea from one of the resort and then escape to your room with a volcano view? Our stay at Donna Carmela made our trip to Sicily amazing. For those gluten free eaters, the restaurant was highly knowledgeable and even had various kinds of gluten free bread they would bake especially for my husband. Breakfasts were bountiful with plenty of unique options. Out of convenience after being out all day, we ate at the restaurant 3 out of 4 nights and had plenty of options for a different meal each time. For the other night, I emailed ahead of time with the concierge and they helped confirm a restaurant just a 5-10 minute drive away with gluten free options. So it was just perfect. Don't hesitate to stay here. It's worth the experience.

We had an excellent stay at Donna Carmela! A large part of what made our experience so positive was Monica, who was absolutely lovely and so helpful with organizing various activities. She went above and beyond to make our experience as great as it was. The rest of the staff was also very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommended arranging a visit to the Pietradolce winery through the hotel as that was a highlight and excellent wine! Rooms are a little outdated but the grounds of the hotel are lovely and the food was exceptional. Breakfast setting is amazing and all items on the menu were delicious. We also enjoyed one dinner and it was equally incredible and good value for the quality. Great location for visiting Etna and any of the wineries around the area. Lovely pool and great place to relax!

The hotel has beautiful amenities and very nice and comfortable rooms. We went as a family (11 persons) 6 rooms, and we were offered to eat at the hotel restaurant (michelin star) the 6 nights same menu, very good but not what you want to eat everyday. But on top of that there were lunch- nights that it was full, because it was reserved by visitors. So if you are staying in the hotel, the only option you have to eat is room service unless you book the restaurant with anticipation. They don’t offer you other options. So as a group having a holiday vacation there was no way we could eat together. We couldn’t have a sandwich or a small bite in the common areas. The only way to eat was going to your room alone. The hotel location is in the middle of nowhere, so you can’t go out and eat nearby if you don’t have your own car. At the end, the experience was not a good one if you are traveling in group and for many days. The 1st of January we wanted to stay relax and have lunch in the hotel restaurant. It was full, they don’t have in consideration that you are staying in the hotel. So we had to rent the hotel van (they only have one, it had to go and come back for the rest of the group) to go to a nearby restaurant and have lunch.

We stayed in the exclusive suite with heated pool this winter as a family. The hotel staff were all so friendly and welcoming during our entire stay. The restaurant had delicious food every meal. We also drove into Catania for the restaurants in about 35-40 minutes comfortably. The room descriptions were accurate, and if not, the room was larger than what was depicted. We specifically wanted the heated pool in the winter, and the heat was just enough for slightly breezy winter days. I would recommend this hotel without hesitation to anyone considering a luxurious stay in Sicily.

Our second time at Donna Carmela, it's such a stunning property with great attention to detail, cozy rooms, amazing food and the friendliest and most helpful staff you could ask for. We can't wait to come back this summer!