Hotel Cutimare - Aeolian Charme ★★★★

"This was my first trip to the Aeolian Islands. A bit of a hike from Catania airport but well worth the effort (bus to Milazzo - 1 hour - and then hydrofoil ferry to Lipari). The hotel is charming and clean, and the staff are extremly attentive to guests' needs (My A/C unit didn't work, so I got an upgrade to a junior suite with terrace) and friendly without being invasive. The sea views and dawn sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking from the roof terrace where you can also enjoy a pre-dinner/pre-lunch drink. Excellent breakfast buffet and I'd recommend halfboard as the restaurant on the top of the hill (you get picked-up and dropped back at the hotel) has excellent fish fare even on the set menu, as well as a fine wine selection, available by the generous glass. The beach is right in front of the hotel and has sun loungers available. The beach is also volcanic stone which is where the hotel takes its name: "cutimare" means "ciottole" in Italian or stones. Buy a pair of rubber shoes in Lipari to save your feet from experiencing excruicating pain getting in and out of the water, although the locals walk across the stones effortlessly. This was not my case! However, the stone beach has an upside - not an ideal place for young children and families, so the beach is almost "adult" only and quiet. On my final Sunday in June, I had the beach to myself. The sea is crystalline. I used taxis but if you have a car, there are some lovely places to visit around the island or you can do a boat excursion from Lipari to explore the other islands. I added a week here after holidaying in Trentino, Barcelona, Spain and Minorca and, of all the places, I loved Lipari and Cultimare the best. In fact, I'll be returning to Sicily at the end of August. And I'd like to go back next year ... Happy holidays, folks!"

Hotel Mea - Aeolian Charme ★★★★

"Beautiful hotel with amazing views of Lipari port & ocean surrounding. Super clean room, comprehensive breakfast with lovely service (big thank you to the head waiter who taught me about espresso sizes and how to order a long black coffee😁), in general excellent service all around (nothing too much for the reception folk), pool is clean & beautifully situated with ocean views, and massage service is a good price & the most relaxing massage I’ve had! The only drawback is the transport to & from the port which is only 200m (uphill for arrival) - hotel charges €15-20 for 1 person and taxi charges £20 for 2 people. You can easily walk down to the port with your bags but it would be nice if the hotel offered complementary pickup given it’s a quality hotel."

Hotel Aura ★★★

"Nice structure in the center of Vulcano, not far from the port and the beaches. Kind and helpful staff. Clean rooms equipped with smart TV, air conditioning, hairdryer, fridge. There is also a really nice swimming pool with hydromassage. The only thing that could be improved is the breakfast, the essentials are there, maybe it could be larger and more varied. Good quality/price ratio, recommended."

Arciduca Grand Hotel ★★★★

"Good location and helpful staff . Sprawdź pokład dachu . basen nie jest ogrzewany . Jest kilka kroków, jeśli nie jesteś na parterze . Okna nie mają ekranów, a jeśli chcesz tkanki lub elektryczny czajnik musisz przynieść własne. Nie ma światła czytania przy łóżku."

Therasia Resort Sea and Spa - the Leading Hotels of the World ★★★★★

"Our stay was absolute luxury from start to finish. The whole family, ranging in age from 1-70, loved the many beautiful pools, each offering something special for kids and adults alike. The adults especially enjoyed the two Michelin-starred restaurants—every meal was unforgettable. Our room was exceptionally spacious, and the private balcony was a perfect spot to relax. We loved it and hope to be back soon!"

Hotel Tritone Lipari ★★★★

"A good hotel. The rooms are nice and very clean, the sea view is great, Good quality breakfast food and extremely bad coffee. Service friendly and efficient. Only minus: Very long and steep walk to town, plus a high staircase without handrail leading up to hotel. I would not return as for me that was a problem that disturbed my stay."

Eolia Rooms Lipari ★★

Hotel Villa Cute - Hvc ★★★★

"HVC is immaculate and very friendly. Maximum of 26 guests ; stunning view from the pool area and from some of the rooms. Good breakfast al fresco at the pool bar . Some rooms with huge terrace and view. Would thoroughly recommend. Good beach a short walk near Marina Corta and excellent upmarket restaurant E Pulera , 5 mins down the road."

La Piazza Luxury Hotel & Spa ★★★★

"I was with my friends, who had booked at this property, and we were "guests" at the hotel pool. My friends, who were also hotel guests, were told that outsiders could enter for free. We arrived at the pool and shortly afterward were told that entry would be €25. Despite not having been told anything at first, we decided to stay. Shortly afterward, they told us that in addition to the entrance fee, the management, instead of charging us a MANDATORY aperitif along with the entrance fee, would have charged us €25 in total. Not content with this, they told us—to "accommodate us"—that they would offer us a more generous aperitif so we could also eat more. This aperitif, I repeat, none of us had asked for, and one of the guys working there had proposed it to us on his own initiative, telling us it was included in the infamous €25 price. Moral of the story: after spending just an hour at the pool (and drinking tonic water, tea, and a spritz), we went to pay and the same guy told us we were supposed to pay €55 (that is, €25 entry fee plus a whopping €30 for an aperitif, which, I repeat, none of us had asked for). After minutes of insistence, during which all six of us pointed out that the price he'd quoted us was €25, we asked to speak to management, who ultimately "agreed" on us the modest sum of €35. All this for an aperitif we never asked for, for an entrance fee no one had told us we'd pay, and for an aperitif that was, moreover, poorly presented and with very little to offer. What shocked us, however, wasn't just the price, but the way this guy addressed us, acting like nothing was happening and taking back everything he'd said to us at the pool. Absolutely not recommended. Entrepreneurship is something else entirely, I'm sorry... they've lost customers forever, and we'll definitely spread the word about this awful, sordid episode."