Therasia Resort Sea & Spa

My wife and I and another couple stayed three nights at The Therasia Resort. While there was much we loved about the hotel, we left with some mixed opinions about the hotel. First the good points. Our deluxe room was very nice with a large terrace and hot tub, with the most spectacular views everywhere you looked. The mini bar was complimentary and refilled daily. The grounds were well-kept, and the infinity pool was lovely with the same gorgeous views. The hotel provided a shuttle bus which ran on time but also was available for off-schedule trips. Without exception, everyone we encountered on the hotel staff were incredibly helpful and accommodating. When we finished a tour of Selina (one of the other Aeolian Islands), we had hours before the next ferry was scheduled to get us back to the Hotel. A call to the front desk was all it took to arrange for a private water taxi to whisk us back much earlier. The concierge also arranged a private boat tour to two other islands, Panarea and Stromboli. This tour was staffed by Marcos and captained by Tanino and together they provided us with one of the best days of our vacation. Marcos was an excellent and personable tour guide who spoke excellent English. And Captain Tanino was a skilled pilot who took us to many amazing spots throughout our day long tour, culminating in amazing views of the lava-spewing active volcano on Stromboli. The hotel???s spa is beautiful and while I received the best massage I have ever had in my life from Maria, my wife???s male masseuse was very sub-par. Our biggest disappointment with Therasia was that we often heard that because we were staying there toward the end of their season they were out of [fill in the blank]. For example, at the Steak House, at an early dinner reservation, we were told they were out of their number one steak on their menu. While the night bartender was as nice a person as you would ever want to meet, the bar was very poorly stocked. Running out of staples like steaks, basic bar liquor, and wine is unacceptable at a five-star hotel, end of the season or not. Overall, The Therasia Resort is in one of the most beautiful locations I have ever experienced, complete with the most beautiful sunsets and great facilities. But beware if you book your stay at the end of their season. On the other hand, if you want rest and relaxation in a stunningly beautiful setting, the Therasia is perfect.

We stayed here for two nights as part of a Secret Sicily tour and the location must be one of the best we've ever stayed at. We'd upgraded to a sea-view room which was well worth it for the fabulous views, even though the room itself (207) was not particularly outstanding. Being part of a group meant perhaps that the food was not exceptional, but nevertheless it was interesting, authentic and tasty. There was a good selection of wines, but probably being towards the end of the season, bar staff for late-night drinks were not always easy to find. There were excellent swimming pools and access to the sea and the gardens were carefully manicured. We would not hesitate to return for a longer stay as the place was so relaxing. The nearby harbour (accessed by free shuttle bus or taxi) had some good small restaurants to explore and a pleasant atmosphere.

My wife and I and our children [16, 10, 8] spent a lovely week early October. It was quiet - which was nice. We had a half board deal through Secret Escapes. Lovely rooms overlooking the other islands. Large balconies. Food very good with changing menu. Staff all very pleasant and helpful, Regular shuttle to port. Plenty to do on Vulcano - we walked up the volcano twice; had a boat trip round the island stopping at picturesque swimming spots; hired bikes for a day; wallowed in the mud baths; swam in the sea heated by fumaroles; hired bikes one day and jeeps another to explore the island; explored the coastal caves in sea kayaks; had boat trip to watch Stromboli erupting. An excellent week!