Kempinski Hotel Giardino di Costanza

We chose Almar for two nights mainly because of its proximity to the Museo del Satiro, and because it is presented as a comfortable luxury hotel, even if the property itself feels a bit dated. The rooms are spacious, which is a positive point. However, for a five-star hotel today, small details matter. There were no USB charging outlets in the room, which nowadays should be standard. The main problem was the air conditioning. On our first night, the AC did not work. In hot weather, this should be the number one item on a room checklist before guests arrive. A five-star hotel should never assign a room without confirming that the AC is functioning properly. After a long and frustrating struggle, we were finally moved to another room after midnight. That completely ruined the stay. Instead of relaxing, we had to pack, unpack, move rooms, and lose a proper night’s sleep. For a two-night stay, one bad night is not a small issue; it affects the entire experience. At check-out, we also witnessed a very disturbing incident involving another guest allegedly being robbed by another guest. The police had to come. It felt like something out of Netflix, but not in a good way. Between the AC failure and the apparent lack of security, the experience felt more like the Wild West than a luxury hotel. We wrote to management requesting a refund for one night. Instead, they offered a discount on a future stay. Unfortunately, after this experience, a future stay with an expiration date is not to kind. God bless Aman — now and forever."

Excellent, not only is the structure wonderful, but especially the staff is truly excellent in professionalism, kindness, attention, hospitality, discretion, capable of sensing the needs of the customer, attention to detail; the lady who cleaned the rooms was always smiling and kind, asking if we needed anything and if the room cleaning was to our liking, wishing us a good day and a good vacation every day, truly superb! All the staff are very precise and attentive to the needs of the customer; I have never had an experience like this in any five-star hotel where I have stayed, not even in the Maldives, truly impressive.

A wonderful hotel that definitely deserves its 5 stars. Beautiful property with a huge garden, very good pool, and water features. For nature lovers, a dream; in the large park, there are countless butterflies and birds, everything is green and very well-kept. The pool and pool bar are also very well-maintained. The breakfast is very substantial for Italy, with a lot of variety and very good service. The rooms are large and super clean, the housekeeping staff is very attentive and thorough. There is also a turn-down service, which I personally appreciate, although some 5-star hotels have started to forgo it. Very good beds and pillows. All the staff at the hotel are very friendly and always approachable, and most of them have good English skills, allowing for smooth communication. Regarding the location, it should be noted that having a rental car is very advantageous if you want to go to the beach or into town in the evening. We had therefore planned to rent a car right away, as we also wanted to explore the surroundings and the restaurants in Mazara del Vallo. The beautiful Spiaggia di Tonnarella is about a 12-minute drive, and Mazara del Vallo is also about 12-15 minutes away; it is worth it. The hotel beach is also very nice, with clear water, shells, and anemones in the water, and nature all around; however, you should bring a pair of water shoes. The only thing that did not convince us was the restaurant in the evening; the ordered tuna came well done the first time instead of medium rare, and the second time it was only medium and not evenly cooked. We also found the price for an Aperol Spritz a bit excessive, even for a hotel in this category. However, we will definitely return; we have fallen in love with the hotel and Mazara del Vallo with its friendly people, and we got to know and love Sicily away from the large tourist crowds of Taormina, Siracusa, and Mount Etna.