Arathena Rocks Hotel

The sea is part of the setting rather than a distant view: Arathena Rocks Hotel sits beside volcanic rocks in Schisò, a quiet residential district of Giardini Naxos. This is a family-run hotel with a distinctly Sicilian identity, not a standardised beach box with the local character ironed out.

Handmade crafts, Mediterranean-style furniture and pottery from Caltagirone give the rooms and shared spaces something to look at besides the television. The swimming pool sits next to the volcanic rocks, so your post-dive routine can move from the water to a lounger without turning into an expedition.

Couples will find the setting particularly easy to use: seafront, close to the town, and with a restaurant and bar on site. Families are welcome too, with children's meals available and a larger triple room for three guests.

You are in Schisò, on the seafront in Giardini Naxos, Sicily's first Greek colony. The town centre is about 0.6 miles away, while Taormina is roughly 3.7 miles from the hotel. That gives you a practical base for combining sea time with an evening in town or a day around Taormina.

Dal Pirata Beach is close by, and Giardini Naxos Beach is about 0.5 miles away by road. Lido Bonday Beach is around 1.2 miles on foot, with Recanati Beach about 1.4 miles away on foot. You have several stretches of coast within reach, rather than one obligatory patch of sand.

For a change of scenery inland, the Riserva del Fiume Alcantara is about 4.4 miles away by road, and Parco Fluviale dell'Alcantara is roughly 9 miles away. Catania Fontanarossa Airport is about 32 miles by road; Reggio di Calabria Airport is also listed at around 50 miles by road.

The room choice comes down to how much space and scenery matter to you. The sea-view double or twin room is the obvious pick for a couple who would rather wake up to the coast than to a wall, while the standard double or twin room keeps things straightforward for two guests. Both use twin beds, so check the arrangement suits you before booking if a larger shared bed matters.

The Classic Triple Room is the sensible option for three people, with one king-size bed and one single bed. At 25 square metres, it gives you more room to turn around than the 13-square-metre double and twin rooms. That matters when three adults bring three cases, three sets of clothes and the usual collection of damp holiday decisions.

Every room has air conditioning, a private bathroom, a television, a wardrobe and a refrigerator. The air conditioning will be welcome when Sicily has done its best to warm you through, while the fridge is useful for keeping water cold between meals. Some rooms look towards Mount Etna or Taormina, adding a proper sense of place to the night rather than leaving the scenery entirely downstairs.

Breakfast is continental, with sweet and savoury items served on the terrace each morning. It is the sort of arrangement that lets you build a proper plate before heading out, or keep things modest if an early start has left your appetite somewhere below the thermocline.

The hotel has one restaurant serving Sicilian cuisine, along with a bar and a snack bar. A coffee house is also on site. There is room for a full evening meal without leaving the property, but you can also keep the day lighter with a snack and a drink when a large dinner feels like an overambitious second dive.

Special-diet menus are available on request, and room service is available. Wine and champagne can be ordered, while children's meals are also offered. The terrace gives breakfast its outdoor setting; the bar covers the simpler requirement of sitting down with a drink and discussing the day's underwater findings with impressive certainty.

The swimming pool is positioned beside the volcanic rocks, with sun loungers, umbrellas and pool or beach towels available. It is a useful alternative when you want water without another organised outing, and the surrounding terrace gives you somewhere to dry off in the sun while your dive computer catches up with the day.

A garden, terrace and outdoor furniture create the main places to sit outside. The shared lounge and television area give you an indoor fallback, especially when the weather has turned or when your legs have voted against further sightseeing. Bicycle rental is available for an additional charge if you want to explore under your own power.

The concierge and tour desk can help shape a day away from the water, while the nearby coast, Taormina and the Alcantara area give you several alternatives to simply occupying a sun lounger. The hotel also provides luggage storage, which is useful when your arrival or departure does not line up neatly with the room.

Check-in runs from 14:00 and check-out is by 11:00. The front desk is open around the clock, with concierge service, luggage storage and a tour desk available for the practical business of getting organised. Car hire can also be arranged, and private parking is available nearby with valet parking.

Catania Fontanarossa Airport is about 32 miles from the hotel by road. An airport transfer, in private or shared form, can be arranged through the hotel. The hotel is also within reach of the Taormina–Giardini Naxos railway station, around 2.4 miles away by road; Alcantara station is roughly 2.5 miles away by road.

Wi-Fi is free in the public areas. Rooms have air conditioning, and daily housekeeping keeps the practical side of the stay moving. Children of any age are welcome, but cots and extra beds are not available, so the triple room is the relevant choice when three guests need beds under one roof.