Hotel Villa San Giovanni

The property has a super convenient location, a stone's throw from the historic center of Erice, and a breathtaking view. It also offers the possibility of parking for free nearby. However, the rooms and bathrooms are terrible, dated, and dilapidated. The rooms, although quite spacious and with a small balcony that offers a wonderful view, therefore on paper with huge potential, are left in a state of decay, with old furniture, uncomfortable mattresses (the double bed actually consists of two singles pushed together) and many things not working or damaged (window frames, bathroom door, faucets, towel rack…). The bathrooms have dated fixtures, do not have a bidet, and the shower, also dated, has numerous encrustations. If on one hand one could even overlook all this by telling oneself “it’s just for one night”, what cannot be tolerated in any way in 2026 in Sicily is the absence of air conditioning: only an “old-fashioned” fan is provided, which with summer temperatures is totally useless, if not even harmful (we caught a cold because of the infernal combo of sweat and fan pointed at us in the vain attempt not to suffocate from the heat). Finally, there is no consolation even in the breakfast, defined here as “excellent”, but which in reality does not even reach a passing grade: it is not admissible that in a “breakfast included” the basic coffee shop products, meaning coffee, cappuccino and the like, are not included. Only a “thermos coffee” is included, which when you pour it has more the transparency of an herbal tea and a flavor that I don't think even Americans would find agreeable or would even define as decent. In short: sleepless night, we got up at dawn and literally ran away early in the morning! Huge potential, a property that if renovated and with the right adjustments could become a gem, but it is totally abandoned to itself.

We spent one night as a couple at this hotel, staying in a standard room. The property could easily deserve a 5/5, especially for the location, which is truly perfect, and for the splendid view it enjoys. The lobby is also very nice and welcoming. It is also possible to park for free nearby, and the staff proved to be truly kind, helpful, and ready to provide all the necessary information. It's a shame about the rooms, which appear visibly dated and would need a renovation. Ours was missing a TV, air conditioning, and a refrigerator. Furthermore, the double bed was made up of two single mattresses placed side by side, not particularly comfortable and not perfectly clean, just like the bathroom. A real shame, because it would be enough to renovate the interiors to transform this property into a truly wonderful and almost perfect hotel, for which it would absolutely be worth paying the proposed price, and perhaps even a little more.

Everything is a bit too "vintage" (dated). From the rooms with balconies, the view is stunning! In addition to the various "flaws" in the furnishings, the lack of a refrigerator in the room.....