Name: Sikelia Luxury Retreat
Address: Via Monastero snc, Pantelleria, Pantelleria, Pantelleria, 91017, Italy
Rating: 9

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Wheelchair Accessible

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Pantelleria Airport

Sikelia Luxury Retreat

Pantelleria

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Sikelia ticks all of the boxes - superb setting, food, rooms, views, location and staff. Even before we arrived, we felt looked after and special -  and this only continued throughout the holiday. From superb breakfasts to specially commissioned days out, nothing was too much trouble. Day 2 of being home and it is safe to say we are missing the amazing sunset cocktails and aperitivi, so much so we have gone to the Italian deli to try to recreate a snippet. We stayed half board and are very glad we did - every single course was delicious (and this is coming from an Italian - though our waistlines might be regretting it!). We also ate at the vineyard one evening which was a special setting and equally delicious food (also included in half board). We stayed in The Penthouse - the views were incredible and the room felt like our oasis within an oasis. Everything has been designed with the customer in mind - from the beds, linen and pillows you select, snack bar, Hermes toiletries, wonderful showers, and so on - it is rare we say this, but we will be back!

A Beautiful Oasis!

For a beautiful, upscale sunset experience come to this extraordinary hotel for aperitivi on the roof of the dammusi looking out to sea over the ancient landscape. The staff were extremely friendly and professional, bringing us cocktails and delicious canapés from the restaurant as we watched the sun go down. Another charming experience on this magical island. Highly recommended.

Sunset aperitivi

This hotel is like a Paradise. We were met by Hotel staff at the airport and driven to the hotel. All staff were 100% friendly, professional and if we needed something, all was there in a minute. Our suite was just great. A lot of small details, which you would not expect from a hotel.  No critics at all, just that the daily rate is really very high. But this paradise was worth every cent we spent.

Heaven on earth...but very expensive

In short: a hotel that utterly misses the mark at every turn, especially when marketed as “five-star luxury” at an €800/night price point. We felt so cheated and disappointed we left a day early. When we sent a copy of our review to the hotel's owner, we were threatened with legal action as she found the review "defamatory, insulting, and offensive." Think carefully before you decide to patronize a hotel that threatens guests in such a manner in response to true but unflattering criticism.

Having booked a trip to Italy, my partner and I were most excited to arrive at Sikelia in Pantelleria as we had read great reviews about the hotel: a five-star luxury resort “for people who like the finer things;” an adults-only retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation. On paper it sounded perfect and on first impression it seemed this way. That is until just a couple of hours after our arrival.

During check-in, not only did we have to ask about the excursions available, but there was no mention of the complimentary items/events included in our rate (the “Sikelia Experience”). As per our room rate, which was around €800 per night for half-board, we expected to receive a hand-massage on arrival, a welcome drink, a daily newspaper, as well as a meeting with the hotel’s “tour expert.” Aside from water (the arrival drink!), we did not receive the rest, nor was there any discussion around it.
We expected an air of silence as we wandered the hotel, but instead heard only two screaming children jumping in the pool and running around the grounds. The fact that children were at the hotel was clearly in breach of the “adults-only” promise. We complained, and the staff had no excuse but to offer that the adults-only policy does not apply to the owner’s friends.

As things went from bad to worse, our main issue began with dinner the first night. One week prior to check-in, the hotel emailed seeking confirmation of allergies, and my partner notified them that he is allergic to shellfish which was acknowledged and reaffirmed by the staff several times. It then came as a shock for us to be served prawns and clams for dinner that night, despite the menu not listing these allergens on the menu. Simply put: if he had not noticed the shellfish and had eaten it, he would be dead at worst, or gravely ill at best. While the staff apologized, there was an air of hilarity about the situation and very little in the way of any remedy to the situation. In fact, the manager failed to apologize, or even introduce himself to us, until we challenged him on day three about the sorry state of his hotel.

Quite clearly this hotel is five-star in name only. It operates at around a low three-stars, with very little attention to detail and almost zero in the way of service. It seems as if the burden is on the guest to do anything. In fact, the manager did note that he does not think the staff think or operate at a five-star level. This, of course, confirmed what we had realized and was the impetus for us leaving: why pay €800 a night for something that should cost no more than €300 at most?

On retiring to our room after the awful dinner, we then noticed that the toilet seat was broken, the room was painfully warm for sleeping as the A/C is far from the bed, and some of the furniture retained stickers from when they were purchased from IKEA. A five-star hotel that prides itself on ultra-luxury and charges €800+ a night should not be buying from IKEA. Sorry. To add to this, we also noticed that the water in the coffee machine in the room was stagnant and had a layer of mold (picture attached) which we had to clean ourselves.

On top of this, despite asking three times on separate occasions for information about our complimentary “on arrival” hand massage and the general spa offerings, we received no information and only two different excuses. First, that the spa was incredibly busy (but there were few guests, with 50% occupancy?), and secondly that the masseuse had an “accident.” Again, remember the fundamental point – we are paying for five-star luxury. This is simply not good enough.

On multiple occasions, too, we also asked for body lotion and a fan for the room, and the requests went unanswered. Even the worst roadside motel we have stayed at has offered a tube of body lotion. Making requests were made all the more difficult by the fact that the phone in the room was non-operational. Yet no effort was made to fix this despite multiple complaints. It was the “island’s” fault, not the hotel’s, the manager said.

Breakfast the morning after the shellfish incident brought our experience to almost comical levels of poor service. On ordering eggs, we requested to have a hard yolk that did not run, and of course received two eggs each with the runniest yolk imaginable. After breakfast, we then enquired about the boat excursion that is advertised in the brochure, which to our amazement, was not for individual guests but for all guests to enjoy together! At a cost of €200 p/p for a boat lunch, it seems absurd that you are encouraged to go on the day on which other guests are going- perhaps a money saving exercise for the hotel.

Adding to all of this, we then visited the owner’s vineyard - again, a complimentary part of our rate which they tried to charge us for on check-out - and found that the place was under construction apart from a small garden area. In fact, the only toilet in use was that of the waiter in his accommodation on-site! Not only this, but the five pieces of ravioli served to each of us were ice-cold inside. On complaining, the excuse given was that the “heat dropped” whilst cooking our dish. To add to the chaos, we were being bitten by mosquitoes and they gave the repellant we requested to the wrong table. A five-star “luxury” hotel should not allow any of this to happen. The lack of foresight was utterly astounding and for the price point, was way off the mark!

Just when we thought it could not get any worse... it somehow did. As the island is remote, the hotel recommends to hire a car for exploration of different activities, which we did. However, only after the fact did they tell us that we should have a small car and that the one-lane unpaved roads were incredibly tight and uneven. We ended up with €400 damages to the rental car which was also treated as a moment of levity by the staff! Not to mention the staff only told us about an alternate driving route that was easier after we had returned to the hotel with a scratched-up car. If it was not such an expensive mistake, it would be funny.

In trying to relax amongst the screaming children, my partner and I ordered some aperitifs from the on-site bar. However, we were astounded that the hotel charges €20-€35 PER drink. This is beyond the prices in London and Hong Kong which have some of the most expensive bars in the world.

My partner and I have stayed in many luxury hotels that are truly five-stars: Serbelloni in Lake Como, Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the Savoy in London, Qualia in Hamilton Island, and the Aman in Venice, to name but a few. What we sought was not perfection but a service true to what is represented, what we paid, and what they pride themselves on. It simply does not exist. In fact, the manager even agreed that the staff does not know how to operate at a five-star level, and that perhaps it would have made more sense never to have built a hotel on such a remote island in the first place!

We would often hear in response to our complaints that, “some people love the island and others hate it,” a poor excuse that fails to acknowledge any wrongdoing on behalf of the hotel and instead shift the burden to the guest. To be absolutely clear, our issues are NOT with the island, but with the poor accommodation, service, and outright misrepresentations at the hotel. The difficulty in operating a hotel on a remote island is no excuse: either the hotel must find a way to deliver the services they promise, or not offer the services at all. Moreover, the fact that the hotel had opened only two-weeks prior is no excuse, either. For any true five-star luxury hotel, this would not be an issue, as was the case with Serbelloni that opened two-hours prior to our arrival yet offered impeccable service.

Overall, the staff are kind and well-meaning. But the issues with the hotel clearly go beyond the on-site staff. We checked out one day early, and thankfully received a reduction in costs owed as we simply refused to pay €3000+ for the utterly atrocious experience (not to mention we never received the hand-massage...).

Take it from us - if you want five-star luxury that is relaxing, has high quality service, good food, and even an iota of attention to detail, AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. It is abundantly clear, in our opinion, that senior management think they know how to operate a five- star hotel, when in reality only charge exorbitant prices for a three-star experience.

Sikelia: “Five-Stars” Full of Hot Air

Welcoming staff, Super friendly staff, Amazing Rooms. Stunning views, with dark skys. Nice pool, massage services, Recommendations on where to hike, and see the island. They even called to check on us when we climbed a strenuous hike. From when they meet you at the airport, to booking restaurants this hotel does it right. We appreciated the upgraded spacious room, with turn down service. With only 20 rooms you are in a private oasis, and the stress melts away.This hotel could not have been better. It is a five star plus.

Its Just Amazing

Sikelia was a dream come true - we've been trying to get here since Oct 2016 when a journalist friend told us about his preview visit. We finally made it, and we'll be back! From the airport pickup (to help with the rental car logistics and escort us back to the hotel) to the daily activity suggestions, indulgent breakfast spreads to aperitivi on the roof, this is the place to stay on Pantelleria, and a good reason to visit the island in and of itself!  

Gorgeous, warm, zero stress retreat

We have just left Sikelia, and Pantelleria, and had the most wonderful visit.  The staff was - simply put - the finest, most lovable and loving group of people we have met in our expansive travels.  Everyone associated with Sikelia was happy to help and brought heart into each conversation. We LOVED them and hated to say goodbye.   The property itself is a little oasis in the middle of an otherwise non-descript area.  There is little to do in the direct neighborhood and a car is absolutely necessary to properly enjoy the island.  The room that we stayed in was a large suite with a lovely view.  The room suited our needs, however I am not certain how happy we would have been in a smaller room or one with less of a view.  I suspect not very.  The pool is in a tight area and is quite tiny, with only six lounge chairs.  Clearly, this is meant for only a short respite/quick dip - not as a hang out.  The property is also totally inappropriate for kids (good).  One of the big positive surprises, the food ... was sooooo good. Both breakfast and dinner was perfect each day.  Tiny menu for dinner but we were always pleased.   In the end, I am not positive that the value was there.  It is not cheap.  But we had a lovely experience and if your travels take you to Sicily, I would recommend a long weekend with the wonderful people at Sikelia looking after you. 

Wonderful, with the appropriate expectations

We only stay @ 5 star hotels & this one is @ the top of our list! From the moment we entered  until the (sad) day of our departure, we were enchanted by our beautiful surroundings, exquisite room, delightful staff & delicious food. All of this in the magical island of Pantelleria! The front desk staff’s service & friendliness rivals the best in the world - including our former favorite, the Peninsula in Beverly Hills. Luisa, the general manager is hands on & couldn’t be more helpful in assisting us with the most minute details. Brava! Her front office staff consisting of Alexandra, Gaia & Francesco are simply amazing! WOW! We were truly impressed with their strong desire to help in any way they could. Grazie mille! The breakfast staff was delightful, especially Halim (please forgive spelling). We were privileged to meet the owner/visionary, Giulia, who invited us & other guests to her phenomenal winery, Costa di Ghirlanda, which is a short drive away. We had a grand time & can’t wait to return. We’ve been spoiled beyond what words could fully express.

Breathtaking!

We were in Pantelleria for a 3 days wedding event and the first evening was a get together wedding reception at Sikelia luxury resort.

Nice ambiance and high chill factor here as the wines flow. Caught the amazing sunset at the rooftop with Pantelleria region wines in hand and finger foods - cannot get any better than this...

Wedding reception over an amazing sunset 

Went for lunch, food was outstanding started with Gambero Rosso which was fresh and very well cooked! Main dishes of fish and meat were also very good.

Only problem was when they brought the bill they added a starter that had been brought to us by mistake and they said they would take it off the bill. They also include in the bill a bottle of wine when we only had ordered two glasses. Restaurant was empty so there was no excuse for service to make these mistakes on the bill.

Sikelia Luxury Retreat

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