Viale Imera SS 113 Km 204.3, Campofelice di Roccella, Italy
Private beach with free sun bed and umbrella service
Two bars and two restaurants on-site -- one buffet, one a la carte
Periodic live music in restaurants and bars
All-inclusive option available
Large, simple rooms are spacious enough for families
Each room has either a balcony or patio
Four pools, including one by the sea and a children's pool
Tennis courts, soccer field, and archery area
Tuka-Tuka mini-club for children
Complete daily and nightly program of activities and entertainment
Beauty/wellness spa and gym at neighboring sister property
Fee for Wi-Fi and Internet point
Fee for shuttle buses to Cefalù and Palermo
Hotel grounds can be difficult to navigate at first
Room decor is bland
The 232-room Fiesta Hotel Garden Beach is a simple, modern resort outside the town of Cefalù. Fairly remote (it's a 30-minute shuttle ride to town), the hotel is ideal for those looking for a waterside getaway, particularly families. With a private beach, large garden, and four pools on-site, including a beach-side pool and a children's pool, there are plenty of places to relax and take in the sun. Rooms are large, clean, and comfortable, though they aren't particularly charming. The hotel has an all-inclusive package, though some guests are less than impressed with the buffet and drink options.
Scene
Basic but still comprehensive in its offerings
Fiesta Hotel Garden Beach gives off a vibe of simple relaxation. Functionality definitely trumps aesthetics, but the staff is known for its attentiveness. The lobby is a large, white-tiled area, home to metal-framed chairs with white and blue cushions. Similarly low-key in style, the hotel's restaurants are built to host large crowds. A Sicilian landscape painted on a wall is the only decoration.
The hotel has four pools on-site, including a large outdoor lagoon pool from which a team provides entertainment throughout the day and evening. There’s also a private beach equipped with sun beds and umbrellas, though its pebbles may be rough on the soles of the feet. Like many resorts in the area, the Garden Beach can get crowded during peak season and is generally geared toward families.
Next door, the newer Fiesta Hotel Athènee Palace appears to be the prettier sibling. There you'll find a spa/wellness center, more restaurants, and pools. Guests have access to both facilities, while staying at the Garden Beach may be more cost-effective.
Location
Fairly remote; better for guests looking to stay waterside and not looking for excursions
The Garden Beach is fairly remote, as it’s approximately a 30-minute drive to Cefalù, the closest town. The hotel provides shuttles to and from Cefalù and Palermo, which is about an hour away, but the service stops running in the evening. Some of the more well-known Sicilian attractions, such as Mount Etna or Taormina, are more than two hours away by car. Catania Fontanarossa Airport is also about 90 minutes southeast. The resort is best for guests looking to stay beachside or poolside, and may feel too isolated for those trying to take in Sicilian sights.
Rooms
Simple and basic, but very clean and large
The Garden Beach’s rooms are plain but quite large, with enough sleeping space for up to four guests in the standard Superior room. Typically, if there's any additional seating, it will be a day bed. Superior bathrooms are rather basic, with a range of styles, from white and gray tiling to a prettier, forest green color. Upgrading to a Bungalow means access to hot tubs and a more pleasant ambiance -- warm lighting and wooden headboards and furniture, as opposed to pale-blue fake wooden furniture and motel-like bedding. All rooms come with either patios or balconies, flat-screen satellite TVs, and minibars. Wi-Fi costs extra.
Features
Leisurely, not luxurious, with sports, beach access, and pool areas
The Garden Beach offers leisure, if not luxury. The four pools and private beach are stocked with sun beds and umbrellas, and there’s a soccer field as well as tennis courts for those active-minded vacationers. With two restaurants, two bars, and the option to make the stay all-inclusive, guests are well taken care of. There's daily entertainment for all ages at the pool, live music in the evenings, and special attention to children via the Tuka-Tuka mini-club. Getting to the fitness center and spa requires a trip next door to the sister property, where Garden Beach guests are welcome.