Appartements Le Tartarughe

Simply the best :-) Surprisingly beautiful apartment in the relaxed place Letojanni. Particularly well cared for and equipped with everything. This close to the boulevard with sun, sea view and restaurants. Very nice and very helpful hostess. Strongly recommended. Special thanks to the woman behind the service desk, who patiently found answers to all our questions.

The rooms are quite big and they are very clean and everything is brand new, you got all the shops around you,the owner Concetto and all the stuff are amazing and very polite.I will definitely go back next year.

"20m to the closest market, 40m to the sea, big apartments, 45-50 m2 with separate bedroom, kitchen and living room". Oh yes, I expected much of our stay. Reception open only in the morning, cleaning once a week - yes, that's ok. But it wasn't. We arrived very late in the evening. A totally unhelpful and irritated looking young guy showed us our room but did not help with the luggage. When I asked about the air conditioning he answered that there is none, but I found the remote control myself and got it to work. There were seldom anyone at the reception, not in the morning nor any other time. An older nice lady (don't know if she was cleaning staff or what) told us in good English that the reception lady is having coffee and will be back in an hour or so.. Cleaning once a week - well... that's a big joke! After the 4th day I asked about the cleaning and got the answer that the room was clean when you arrived right? Yes, of course, no one comes to a dirty hotel room, right? But cleaning once a week means in this hotel that if you stay for "only" one week, no one will ever clean anything or bring you new towels or linen. They clean after you have left, there you go, once a week! I have always thought that once a week means during your stay. Of course the room must be clean when you arrive, that is common sense. But not at this hotel. Well, now I was happy I met the reception staff only twice, since we were the only ones that did not pay the horrible 100 euro deposit - because no one told us to. But that was not only a good thing, because when we wanted to check out, the cleaning lady (not the nice old lady but another) told us to come with her back to the apartment and forced us to take the garbage out. We had left the last garbage - not much, because we had no more plastic bags to use and I thought well, they can make the final cleaning when they haven't done anything during the whole week. It was quite embarrassing to carry out the garbage bin in front of all people (tourists) at the reception. Fortunately we had kept the apartment otherwise tidy, so the garbage was the only problem for them - we had taken garbage out many times earlier that week. I have stayed at lots of apartments in many different countries, but never ever have I experienced this kind of "cleaning". I have always been provided with linen and towels at least once a week and the cleaning lady has visited 1-3 times/week providing toilet paper and taking the garbage out, sometimes even washed the dishes even if that is not agreed! So do I recommend this apartment hotel? If you don't mind the total lack of cleaning and the totally unfriendly staff (except the old lady, let's call her grandma), sure, why not. The apartment was big, the terrace was big with a washing machine (you can wash your towels and linen yourself, ehe), the air conditioning worked just fine. But don't expect anything of the staff. It is a pity really, that the staff ruins everything, because with friendly staff and a little cleaning I really could recommend this hotel.

I mostly chose this place for the location and for very good reviews that I had read here in Tripadvisor. Unfortunately, Caterina, the lady who is often mentioned here and who offered a great service, wasn't there. She went on early maternity leave (by the way I wish her all the best). When I arrived at the resort, I was received by a young guy. I had two suitcases with me and I was alone, he showed me the appartment, he didn't help me with the suitcases, not even one of them. I had to pull one suitcase at a time and the guy was just looking at me. The same happened at the departure, he didn't at least opened the door. I had to hold the door opened and let one suitcase go at a time. And he didn't even say goodbye when I left. They leave a toilet paper roll in the bathroom, but then when I asked if I could get more, I was told that I had to buy it. In addition you have to buy plastic bags for bins, washing up & laundry liquid, kitchen sponges and so on. Linen and towels are changed once a week, however I had to remind them cause they were not provided. There's no clarity on reception open times, they said they were opened in the morning, but many times I didn't see anybody. The day before my excursion, I didn't know where the bus stop was and there was nobody to ask to, I had to find it by myself. Internet works only in the reception area, doesn't work in your appartment. Air conditioning at the reception is on only when staff are present, otherwise it would be turned off, windows cannot be open, and while you're using your internet, it may be hot and humid (sometimes in September it was 30-32 degree during the day and 27 in the evening). When you arrive, you have to pay 100 euro deposit which it will be returned to you. It's written everywhere that you have to leave sink, cooker, fridge and kitchen tools perfectly clean, otherwise they'll deduct 50 euro from the deposit for extra cleaning. Said this, before arriving, I had received an email from Caterina that I had got an upgrade, from a studio to a room appartment which was great. Also, the appartment was on the top floor from where I could get some sea view (you have to stand up to see it). The appartment was big and bright, and the kitchen well equipped. Lower ceiling in the bedroom which I found very cosy and bohemien. The place is only 50 metres from the sea. There are many places nearby where you can do your shopping or dining. I recommend Pasticceria Desir for your breakfast (their coffee granita with whipped cream on the top and brioche, is the best in Letojanni). Buy your fruits and vegetables in Despar, they have the largest choice. In September I found fresh figs and courgette flowers which I didn't see anywhere else, not even at the big market in Catania. Then I recommend you to try the Sicilian cuisine. I'm Italian myself, I didn't have an idea of how much delicious food I could find on this island. If you're unsure when you buy ingredients and food may look strange to you, sellers and locals will be very happy to explain to you how to cook it. Do try Sicilian food. It's an experience.

We're staying 11 days in this appartment. We've paid a little extra for a second bedroom and we got a nice, spacious appartment. The airco is switched down during the day, at the reception they explained to us that this is done to save energy. Luckily it doesn't get too hot in here. The climate in Letojanni isn't too nice. It's very humid. Taormina, which is located a bit higher in the mountains, has a slightly better climate, even though it's only a 15 min bus ride away. There is only reception service in the morning. But they've left a number you can call for questions. The kitchen is very well equipped with a cooker and a nice oven. We would recommend le Tartarughe to everyone, but keep the local climate in mind before you decide to go for Letojanni.