Escape to Paradise: Villa Sole - Stunning Plemmirio Sea Views!
Escape to Paradise: Villa Sole - Seriously Stunning, But… (A Review That's Probably Too Honest)
Okay, folks, buckle up. I just got back from a stay at Villa Sole – the one with the breathtaking Plemmirio sea views. And let me tell you, paradise isn't always perfectly packaged. This review? It’s gonna be messy, just like my luggage after the trip.
SEO & Metadata (because apparently, I’m supposed to care about these things):
- Keywords: Villa Sole, Plemmirio, Sicily, Sea Views, Accessible Hotel, Spa, Swimming Pool, Luxury Hotel, Family Friendly, Wi-Fi, Restaurant, Review, Travel, Italy
- Meta Description: A brutally honest review of Villa Sole in Plemmirio, Sicily! Stunning views, yes, but what's the real deal? Accessibility, spa, food, and all the quirks… let's dive in!
First Impressions (and my immediate, possibly irrational, feelings):
Walking into Villa Sole… WHOA. Seriously. The view? That’s what all the hype is about. Seascapes that make you want to sell all your worldly possessions and live there forever. I mean, it’s genuinely stunning. They aren't kidding. But…did I mention the view? My first reaction? Genuinely breathless. Photos do NOT do it justice. You can practically taste the salt in the air.
The "Available in All Rooms" Stuff (Let's Get Down to Brass Tacks):
Okay, okay, back to reality. Let's see what's in the rooms:
- Air Conditioning: Yes, thank the heavens. Sicily in summer? You need it.
- Alarm Clock: Fine. Needed.
- Bathrobes & Slippers: A touch of luxury. I appreciated the soft robe after a long day.
- Bathroom Phone:…seriously? Who even uses those anymore?
- Bathtub & Separate Shower: Good. Double points for choices.
- Blackout Curtains: Crucial. Sleep is precious, especially after all the cannoli.
- Closet, Coffee/Tea Maker, Complimentary Tea: Standard, expected amenities. The coffee maker was clutch in the morning.
- Daily Housekeeping: Did a great job, the room always felt fresh.
- Desk: Functional. Worked.
- Extra Long Bed: Yes! Finally, somewhere that understands us tall folk.
- Free Bottled Water: Always a winner.
- Hair Dryer: Essential.
- High Floor: I'm not sure how high it was but it gave me a good view. I'm scared of heights.
- In-Room Safe Box: Useful.
- Interconnecting Room(s) available: Good for families.
- Internet Access - LAN & Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi was fine. Enough.
- Ironing Facilities: Needed.
- Laptop Workspace: I was on holiday. I barely looked at it.
- Linens, Mini Bar, Mirror, Non-smoking: Check, check, check.
- On-Demand Movies: Never used it. Who watches TV during a view like that?
- Private Bathroom, Reading Light, Refrigerator: All good.
- Safety/security Feature: You feel safe.
- Satellite/Cable Channels: A few. You're not here to watch TV.
- Scale: For measuring how much you've indulged in pasta. (Let's be honest.)
- Seating Area, Separate Shower/Bathtub, Shower: Nice layout.
- Slippers: Yes!
- Smoke Detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa: Standard.
- Soundproofing: Pretty good.
- Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella: Needed.
- Visual Alarm, Wake-up Service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: All appreciated.
The "Accessibility" Angle (Because It Matters):
- Elevator: Yay!
- Facilities for disabled guests: They say they have them. I didn't scope it out myself, but they mentioned it.
- Exterior corridor: Not sure what that means.
- Accessibility: The hotel seems like it tries hard in this area, but more specifics are needed.
Things To Do & Ways to Relax (The Fun Stuff… and the Slightly Less Fun Stuff):
- Body scrub & Body wrap: Didn't try it. Maybe next time?
- Fitness center: I saw it. I did not use it. The sea is my gym.
- Foot bath: Sounds relaxing.
- Gym/fitness: Again, sea!
- Massage: Yes, YES, YES. Book it. It's worth it. Seriously. I’m still feeling the effects. Divine. However, I'm pretty sure the masseuse was slightly psychic. I found her a bit too good.
- Pool with view: OH. MY. GOD. The pool. The view from the pool. Honestly, I think I spent about half my trip just floating and staring. Heaven.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom: Didn't use 'em.
- Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: See above. Pool is GREAT.
- Terrace: Perfect for a sunset spritz.
The Food & Booze Situation (Because Fuel Is Crucial):
- A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant: They had a lot.
- Bar & Bottle of water: Nice bar, with a stunning view.
- Breakfast [buffet] & Breakfast service: The breakfast buffet? It’s good, with a good variety. Think Italian standards, but a little bit more boring then I like.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant & Coffee shop: Coffee was decent.
- Desserts in restaurant: The desserts were good.
- Happy hour: Yes.
- International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar: Fine.
- Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant: Good.
- Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant: Varied.
- Western breakfast & Western cuisine in restaurant: Fine.
Here's the real tea on the dining: The food in the main restaurant was… fine. Not bad. Not mind-blowing. A little bit… hotel-y. And, the staff at dinner were generally attentive but rushed. Sometimes, you just wanted a leisurely dinner and you’d feel a bit pushed along to finish. The poolside bar? Great spot for a cocktail.
Cleanliness and Safety (Because, you know, the world):
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: They were clearly taking safety seriously. It felt very clean.
Services & Conveniences (The Practical Stuff):
- Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping: Standard.
- Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests: Good.
- Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings: Great.
- Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area: Mixed.
- Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: Helpful.
For the Kids (If You Have Them, Which I Don’t):
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Seemed well-equipped for kids.
Getting Around (How to Actually Get There and Get Around):
- Airport transfer: I’m pretty sure I saw this offered. Check.
- Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: Parking was fine.
The Quirks, Imperfections, & Honest Truths:
Okay, let's get real. This isn't a perfect hotel. It's… lovely. But…
- The "Hotel-iness" Factor: It feels a bit like a very nice hotel. Not necessarily a unique, boutique, completely unforgettable experience (except for the view, obviously). 2.
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because you're about to dive headfirst into my version of paradise: a week at Villa Sole - Mare & Relax, just a hop, skip, and a sun-kissed step to the Plemmirio sea in Italy. Don't expect a pristine, perfectly polished itinerary. Think more… a glorious, slightly chaotic, and absolutely delicious Italian adventure.
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Pizza Panic
- 14:00 - Arrive at Catania Airport (CTA). Okay, let's be honest, airports are everyone's least favorite part. BUT, Sicily's airport? Pretty manageable. The air practically smells of sunshine and good food. Grabbed the rental car (hoping I didn’t accidentally order the one with the stick shift, again). The drive to the villa? Spectacular. Winding roads, glimpses of the Ionian sea – it's like a travel cliché come to life.
- 15:00 - Settle into Villa Sole. This villa…it's charming. Seriously, it's like a sun-soaked hug. Maybe I was so excited about being there that I dropped my phone and almost fell.
- 16:00 - Grocery Run Catastrophe! Oh, the panic! Google maps was useless. I drove in circles, missed my turn, and ended up staring down a very unimpressed Sicilian Nonna. Eventually, I found a supermarket. The choices! The olives! I swear I picked up at least five types.
- 18:00 - THE PIZZA! I’d been dreaming of authentic Italian pizza all week, but what I learned? Prepping the pizza dough is a talent. I was aiming for a picture-perfect pizza, and it ended up looking like a sad, soggy pancake. I mean, it tasted amazing (everything tastes amazing in Italy, right?), but visually? Disaster. Note to self: Master the pizza dough BEFORE the trip.
- 19:30 - Relax and Sunset. Cracked open a local beer (Peroni, naturally), sat on the terrace, and watched the sunset over the sea. Pure, simple bliss. I'm already in love.
Day 2: Sun, Sea, and Sea Urchins (and a possible sunburn)
- 08:00 - Wake up to the aroma of coffee. The Italian way. Glorious.
- 09:00 - Beach Day! Down to the Plemmirio coast. The water is crystal clear, turquoise, everything you'd expect. Snorkelling (I'm no expert, but I saw fish!), swimming, all the good stuff.
- 12:00 - Lunch at a beachside trattoria. Pasta with fresh seafood. The best I've ever had. I’m pretty sure a sea urchin ended up in my teeth at one point.
- 14:00 - Sunbathing and the Great Sunburn Incident. Let's just say my Irish skin and the Sicilian sun did not make friends. I'm now a lobster. Sunscreen is your friend, kids!
- 17:00 - Gelato Rescue. Needed immediate relief from my sunburn. Gelato is my therapy. Pistachio is my soulmate.
- 19:00 - Dinner in the villa. Trying to recreate yesterday’s pasta success. It's not quite the same! But, it's still edible (and definitely better than my pizza attempt).
- 21:00 - Stargazing from the terrace. The sky here is absolutely breathtaking. So many stars. So much peace.
Day 3: Syracuse & The Lost Wallet
- 09:00 - Exploring Syracuse. The ancient city of Syracuse. Duomo and all that jazz.
- 11:00 - Greek Theatre. Mind-blowing. Honestly, you could feel the history. The scale of it is incredible, and it got me all teary-eyed.
- 13:00 - Lunch in Ortigia. Wandering the narrow streets of Ortigia. Food, history, and beauty all wrapped up into one amazing experience.
- 14:00 - Panicked Wallet Search! After my lunch, I realized my wallet was gone. Cue level 10 panic. Tears, frantic searching, and beratement of myself for not being more careful ensued. Thankfully, after retracing steps and a generous helping of help from the locals, it was found! Lesson learned: keep your valuables safe.
- 17:00 - Gelato again for the emotional trauma. It did not help that I dropped my gelato on the way to the car, but at least the taste and the walk back were great.
- 19:00 - Dinner and reflection. Simple dinner back at the villa. Reflecting on the day. Grateful for the kindness of strangers.
Day 4: Diving and the Lemonade Revelation
- 09:00 - Diving. Certified divers should dive this is a must. Non certified ones should go swimming in the shallows and maybe trying snorkeling.
- 12:00 - Lemonade Revelation. Found the perfect roadside stand with freshly squeezed lemonade. It was… life-changing. Seriously. The tartness, the sweetness, the pure simplicity… it was Italian sunshine in a glass.
- 14:00 - Beach time again.
- 19:00 - Dinner in the villa. Decided to attempt grilled fish. It's not burnt! Success! Actually, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this cooking thing.
Day 5: Etna High and the Great Sicilian Drive
- 08:00 - Early start for Mount Etna. Yes, it really is active.
- 10:00 - Etna. The volcano. The views. The lunar landscape. It's absolutely incredible. Made it up to the upper parking lot, and took the cable car up for an even closer look.
- 13:00 - Lunch among the clouds. Pizza again!
- 14:00 - Amazing drive. The winding roads, the crazy drivers (I'm looking at you, scooter guys!), the beauty of the Sicilian countryside.
- 19:00 - Dinner. Went for street food at a local market. Fried, delicious, and perfectly greasy.
Day 6: Relax & Recharge
- 09:00 - Late wake up. Needed the rest.
- 10:00 - Reading, napping, and sea views. Bliss.
- 12:00 - Lunch.
- 14:00 - Beach.
- 19:00 - Aperitivo in the villa. Cheese, olives, wine, and the best company (me! with a book.)
- 21:00 - Packing. Trying not to think about leaving. This week has flown by.
Day 7: Arrivederci, Sicily!
- 09:00 - Last breakfast on the terrace. Coffee, brioche, and one last soak in the Sicilian sun.
- 10:00 - Drive to Catania Airport (CTA).
- 12:00 - Departure. Leaving with a heart full of memories, a sunburn, and a yearning to return. Sicily, you've stolen a piece of my heart. I'll be back. Maybe I'll even learn to make pizza by then. Ciao!
Escape to Paradise: Villa Sole - Your Sicilian Dream (…Probably) - A Messy FAQ
Okay, so… Plemmirio sea views. Are they *really* as good as they sound? Because, you know, marketing…
Alright, let's get real. The marketing *does* use some pretty words, I'll admit it. "Stunning," "breathtaking"... blah, blah, blah. But listen, I’m going to be brutally honest. Yeah. They *are* stunning. My jaw actually *dropped* the first time I walked out onto that terrace. Picture this: coffee in hand (more on the coffee later... or maybe not, it's a rabbit hole!), the sun just painting the sea gold, and the little fishing boats bobbing in the distance. It’s… yeah, it’s *good*. Actually, it's damn near perfect. I almost cried. Don't tell anyone. But there's a tiny, tiny downside – the seagulls. They are *relentless*. Bring earplugs. Or embrace the chaos, I guess. You’ll get used to the squawking eventually. Probably. I think I did... mostly.
The villa *itself*… what's the vibe? Is it all marble floors and stuffy formality? Because I'm more "sand between my toes" than "gold leaf."
Oh thank GOD, no. No marble! It’s not like some pretentious museum. The vibe is… comfortable elegance. Think "sun-drenched Italian aunt's house" but, like, the cool aunt who actually likes you and gives you good snacks. It's spacious, the decor is tasteful (and *surprisingly* kid-proof – which is a massive bonus when you have a little monster like mine running around). It feels lived-in, in a good way. There's a real sense of ‘home’ – which is what you want, right? I spent a whole afternoon just… reading on the porch swing. Bliss. That porch swing is a life-changer, by the way. Don’t underestimate the porch swing. It’s where all the really important decisions are made, like whether to have another Aperol Spritz.
The kitchen… is it actually functional? I need to know if I can actually *cook* there, or if it's just a pretty face. (I'm a terrible cook, by the way, just in case you were wondering.)
Okay, here's the deal with the kitchen. It's *gorgeous*. Seriously. I wanted to rip it out and take it home with me (which probably would have involved several Italian arrests and a very awkward explanation to the authorities). It's got all the gadgets you'd expect – oven, hob, dishwasher (thank GOD, because I hate washing up). And the space! You could swing a cat in there, which is probably a good thing because I ended up doing (mostly) the same sort of things with my pasta, but it was great for not bumping into each other.
But. (Always a but, isn't there?) The coffee situation is… complicated. I tried to use one of those fancy espresso machines, and I think I accidentally set off some sort of interdimensional portal. So, be warned: coffee prep might require a bit of patience and a LOT of YouTube tutorials. Or stick to instant. No judgement here. At least there is a water filter, and there' the store is very very close by.
What about the location? Is it totally remote, or can you, like, *get* to civilization?
It's the sweet spot. Seriously. You're close enough to Syracuse (Ortigia, the historic island, especially) to go exploring – ancient ruins! Delicious gelato! Seriously, prepare for a gelato addiction. You're also far enough away that you can escape the crowds and enjoy the peace and quiet. The local shops are good, not like "tourist trap" good. I also rented a bike, and cycled... everywhere. Except where I didn't, which was mostly uphill. It's manageable. You *can* get supplies easily, and there are some amazing restaurants nearby. Just be prepared to navigate some narrow, winding roads. And maybe learn a few basic Italian phrases. "Grazie" and "vino" are your friends.
The pool? Is it as Instagrammable as it looks? And more importantly, is it *cold*?
The pool… yeah, it's Instagrammable. I mean, you *have* to take photos, right? It's that clear blue water, the sun sparkling... it's practically begging for a swimsuit selfie. But the important question is: is it freezing? No! Well, not as freezing as I expected. It's refreshing, don’t get me wrong, but it's not like you're jumping into an ice bath. It’s the perfect temperature to cool off after a day of exploring or, you know, just lounging around drinking wine. Beware, though, once you're in, you might never want to leave. I spent an entire afternoon floating around, staring at the sky. Totally worth it. Oh, and the poolside furniture? Super comfy. Again, don't underestimate the importance of comfortable furniture.
Let's talk about the kids. Is it kid-friendly? Because my little darlings are… well, they're a force of nature.
Kid-friendly? Yes, *absolutely*. And, trust me, I know a thing or two about the "force of nature" children. The villa has a large garden where the kids can run around and and is a HUGE plus. The pool is fenced (which, THANK GOD) so you can relax a little. But keep an eye on them, obviously. The best part? The local beaches are great. Shallow water. Soft sand. The kids will love it. My kids spent hours building sandcastles and chasing crabs (which, I won't lie, was pretty entertaining). Just pack a LOT of suncream. And maybe a spare set of eyeballs, because watching kids near water is an extreme sport. The owner has included a basic travel cot and high-chair as well, which is a real bonus!
Okay, the *biggest* complaint? What's the catch?
Alright, honesty time. Even Paradise has its flaws. And honestly, the only major hitch was... well, it wasn't a *massive* flaw, but it wasn't ideal. The Wifi was a bit… patchy. Let's just say it was "Italian wifi" speed. So, if you're planning on working remotely, you're going to want to download everything in advance. And accept that some days, you'll be blissfully disconnected. And honestly? Maybe that's not a bad thing. The wifi was poor! I could not live without my phone! I had to spend time with my family, talk to my children and look at the beautiful scenery, instead of scrolling on the net. The horror. (I jest). Oh, and the car hire company lost my keys! That was pretty inconvenient, but a quick call to the owner sortedRoaming Hotels
