La Chicca Palace Hotel

A restored historic building in the centre of Milazzo, La Chicca Palace Hotel suits divers who would rather have a town around them than spend the evening behind a resort gate. The harbour, restaurants and bars are close enough to keep the post-dive logistics pleasantly simple, while the building retains something more substantial than the usual anonymous holiday block.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Italian, so you can sort out the practicalities without resorting to underwater sign language. Air conditioning, a minibar, Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and room service cover the useful details when you return tired, salty and more interested in a shower than a brochure.

This is a sensible base for a couple or a small group wanting Milazzo at close quarters, with breakfast, a bar and a restaurant on hand. The hotel also welcomes children of any age and offers babysitting and a children’s menu.

You are in Milazzo, Italy, in the town’s historic centre and close to the harbour. The boats departing for the Aeolian Islands leave from roughly 100 metres away, which makes the location useful not only for island excursions but also for anyone who prefers to keep transport arrangements short and visible.

Ponente Beach is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Baia del Tono Beach is a little under 1 km away on foot, while Capo Milazzo Beach is 4 miles away by road. This is a town location rather than a barefoot-from-the-room beach base, so you can expect streets, local restaurants and the working harbour to be part of the setting.

For eating out, Hamuri Steakhouse Hamburgeria and Malvasia Pane Cunzatu & Restaurant are about 100 metres away. Il Pignataro Trattoria Rosticceria Bar is around 150 metres away, and Monkey Pub Milazzo is roughly 350 metres from the door. Milazzo railway station is about 2.5 miles away by road.

The room choice is fairly easy to read in practical terms. For two people, the Double or Twin Room keeps things straightforward, with an extra-large double bed, city views and the basics needed for a comfortable night. If you prefer more room to spread out after a day in a wetsuit, the Junior Suite is the one to look at first rather than trying to negotiate luggage around a compact double room.

Travelling three-up? The Triple Room has an extra-large double bed and a single bed, making it the natural fit for a small group or family. Children of any age are welcome, and cots or extra beds can be requested according to the accommodation selected. That is worth checking before booking if the room needs to absorb both people and dive bags without turning into a gear-themed obstacle course.

Every room has air conditioning, a minibar and a refrigerator, with free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Private bathrooms include a shower or bath, toiletries, towels, a hairdryer and a bidet; bathrobes are also available. Extra-long beds, wardrobes, a desk and a flat-screen television with cable and satellite channels complete the useful side of the room. Non-smoking rooms are available.

Ristorante La Chicca handles the main meals, with a Mediterranean menu served on a terrace with sea views. Breakfast is a buffet, combining continental and American choices, and the restaurant also serves lunch and dinner. The stated service times are 07:30 to 10:30 for breakfast, 12:30 to 14:30 for lunch and 19:30 to 22:00 for dinner.

Half-board is available, which can be useful when you want at least one meal settled before the day gets under way. The restaurant has a casual dress code, so there is no need to pack a jacket for the journey from the dive boat to the dining room. Lunch and dinner are available at the same in-house address when you would rather not go back out.

For the evening drink, Bar La Chicca is a lobby bar specialising in cocktails and other drinks. There is also a snack bar, a minibar in the room and room service. Breakfast can be served in the room, and packed lunches are available for days when the timetable matters more than sitting down properly.

The swimming pool gives you an easy way to spend a non-diving afternoon without planning an expedition. It is outdoors, with sea views and a relaxed setting, so you can take a book, find a lounger and let the Sicilian heat do the scheduling. The pool is not heated, which may matter if your idea of relaxation involves water at anything other than Mediterranean temperature.

The surrounding coast adds more active options. Snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and boat excursions are available, with equipment rental also offered. Those activities give a couple something to do together without committing to another full day underwater; after all, not every holiday hour needs a cylinder attached to it.

On land, hiking and cultural excursions are part of the programme, including trips to Taormina and Mount Etna. If you are travelling with children, babysitting and a children’s menu are available, while the hotel’s central position leaves you free to walk out for a drink, a meal or a look around Milazzo rather than organising every moment on site.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 23:00 and check-out from 07:00 to 11:00. A 24-hour reception, express check-in and check-out, luggage storage and concierge service make the arrival and departure windows easier to manage, particularly if your travel plans do not line up neatly with a standard hotel day.

An airport shuttle is available, and a shuttle service can also be arranged through the hotel. Reggio di Calabria Airport Tito Minniti is about 39 miles away by road, with the journey listed at roughly 1 hour 40 minutes by car. Arrange the airport transfer with the hotel before travelling rather than leaving the final leg to chance.

There is no parking available at the property, so the location is more convenient for arriving by transfer, train or taxi than for treating the hotel as a car-based base. The railway station is about 2.5 miles away by road. A lift serves the upper floors, facilities are available for disabled guests, and the front desk offers a safe-deposit service, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing.

Cash is not accepted at the hotel; Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Pets are not allowed, and the hotel has no age requirement for check-in. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, while the minibar, refrigerator and air conditioning take care of the small but important comforts after a long day.