EliteVoyage CEO Petr Udavský explores Taormina in late November. Where it was 23 degrees and sunshine. And Grand Hotel Timeo has extended its season for the first time.
Petr has many recommendations to help you experience Sicily any time of year. His trip report includes a detailed review of his stay at Grand Hotel Timeo, plus an inspection of San Domenico Palace, the signature properties of Belmond and the Four Seasons.
Psst…Taormina could still be a great option for your New Year’s Eve.
Sicily Out of Season
I was in Sicily in late November early December. The weather was amazing. 23 degrees and sunshine from morning to evening, for three days. The real feel in the sun was 25 or 26 degrees. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt during the day, while at home in Prague it was snowing.
Maybe I was lucky. It’s certainly true that other Italian and Mediterranean destinations are staying warmer and sunnier for longer now. Our colleague Stephen Bailey enjoyed similar weather in the Amalfi Coast in November.
September to December is a great time to holiday in the Mediterranean, especially in Sicily. Many of the best hotels are extending their season. Instead of opening from March to October, Grand Hotel Timeo now opens from late March to early January.
This brings an opportunity to enjoy New Year’s Eve at a beautiful, warmer place, not so far from home. Grand Hotel Timeo’s minimum stay over new year is only two nights and the hotel closes on 7th January 2024.
First Impressions of Grand Hotel Timeo
I had a very strong feeling entering this hotel for the first time. It’s located on the edge of Taormina, just below the amphitheatre, around one hour from the airport.
Grand Hotel Timeo has a genius loci. You feel all this history, you feel so much charm, you have a feeling that you are in real Sicily.
The hotel is inside an historical building and in comparison to other Taormina hotels it feels extremely secluded and serene. Yet it’s only a two-minute walk to the village centre, shops and restaurants.
It’s not unusual to meet well-known people around the hotel. For example, Russell Crowe is known to stay here regularly. Belmond is owned by LVMH so Acqua di Parma is everywhere.
The vast hotel gardens were one of my highlights, so spacious and green, dominated by mandarin trees and fresh smells. They’re something amazing and rare, a reason to experience this hotel.
It’s definitely the hotel with the best views in Taormina. You can clearly see Mount Etna, the village and the sea. For incredible views, Grand Hotel Timeo is one of the best hotels in the world. You enjoy these priceless views from almost everywhere in the hotel.
Although the hotel’s main restaurant Otto Gelong is closed for the season, I did meet chef Roberto Toro. Within a year of opening he was awarded a Michelin star for his restaurant.
It was a pleasure experiencing a special menu Chef Roberto Toro prepared for our visit. What a divine piece of tuna, in quinoa crust with zucchini and spicy orange sauce!
Rooms and Suites at Grand Hotel Timeo
I enjoyed a nice upgrade to a Premium Sea View Junior Suite with Terrace, one of the perks of EliteVoyage being a Belmond Bellini Club member.
This suite category has exceptional views. I could see Mount Etna erupting directly from my terrace.
The room is very spacious and nicely appointed, in this distinctive style.
For all our clients I highly recommend either a Junior Suite with Terrace or Deluxe Seaview Suite with Terrace. Perfect views, peaceful and lots of space.
Overall I find Belmond hotels to be very authentic, really respecting and following the place in which they are based. My stay truly felt Sicilian.
Inspecting Four Seasons San Domenico Palace
I also inspected San Domenico Palace, which is now globally famous after featuring in The White Lotus series.
I find the Four Seasons style of rooms to be very similar everywhere, so the actual accommodations felt more Four Seasons than Sicily.
The building itself is beautiful, a real palace with a fascinating history. San Domenico Palace is almost like a museum and gallery, filled with paintings from famous artists. You can do an art tour just of the hotel and it takes an hour to see them all.
It’s much bigger than Grand Hotel Timeo and the garden is smaller, albeit beautiful. One disadvantage is the location on a busy street, where there’s a lot of traffic. From the terraces and balconies of most rooms you can hear street noise. As we’d expect, the sound insulation is excellent so any noise disappears when the doors and windows are closed.
Grand Hotel Timeo has a Dior spa in its treehouses. It’s a small spa though, just one sauna, steam bath and the treatment rooms. If you want a nicer wellness centre I’d recommend San Domenico Palace. Their entire wellness area is under renovation and I’m sure it will be amazing when opened next year.
Taormina has an excellent collection of hotels. Grand Hotel Timeo is the best in my view, for reasons of location, gardens, views and authenticity.
Recommendations for Sicily
We spent an afternoon at a winery called Fischetti in the Etna area and did a cooking class.
It’s definitely recommended. You cook traditional meals in a beautiful setting and try volcanic wine.
Later I hiked up to the small church of Chiesa Madonna della Rocca above Taormina. It’s only a 20-minute hike and the views are stupendous!
Walking around Taormina was so pleasing too. The village isn’t crowded during these off season months. Some shops are already closed, for example, the Louis Vuitton boutique is under refurbishment, but most shops and restaurants are open.
It’s so nice to travel outside the main tourist season, especially when you don’t want to be in a crowded city. Now, a hotel like Grand Hotel Timeo is staying open too. I can highly recommend visiting Sicily any time from September to December.
Grand Hotel Timeo still has availability for New Year’s Eve. It could be a great choice for your festivities!
