Via Consolare Valeria, Giardini Naxos, Italy
Large outdoor pool with infinity edges
Large outdoor kids' pool; small theater nearby
Hotel shuttle to private beach
Kids' club with activities, games, and performances
Outdoor playground
Large guest rooms, with space for loveseats
Buses to Giardini Naxos and Taormina close to hotel
Buffet restaurant with space for special events
All-inclusive option available
Fee for Wi-Fi; the quality is poor and it's only accessible at the reception and pool
Tacky, uninteresting room design
Buffets can be repetitive in offerings
Somewhat remote location
No toiletries provided besides soap
The 220-room Caesar Palace is not exactly regal but offers guests a resort-like option outside of the center of Giardini Naxos. A few minutes’ drive from the town center, the hotel is nestled in the suburban hillside, with little entertainment beyond the property. Still, the Caesar Palace runs a shuttle to the beach and there are nearby buses to the rest of Giardini Naxos and Taormina, so there's no reason to feel too isolated. The hotel has a big pool with two infinity edges as well as a separate (and large) children's pool. Geared towards families, there may be a lot of children running about during the high seasons, but the palace's entertainment and mini-club teams attempt to keep kids entertained throughout the day.
Scene
Kid-friendly, though sometimes kid-dominant
A bit dated and far from grand, this family-oriented hotel tries to keep guests relaxed and entertained, with an outdoor area that has a whole children's wing. It's a solid bet that the Caesar Palace's mini-club team will keep kids entertained, but the persistent music and games may be annoying to some. In addition, guests should expect kids around the lovely main pool as well. Bright blue and surrounded by lounge chairs, the pool is flanked by the ivy-covered hotel, offering a captivating color contrast.
The large buffet restaurant has a cafeteria-like feel due to its size, but the colorful tiling, orange paper tablecloths, and stained glass windows add character. The outdoor banquet area is more stylish with a pizza oven and a mural of the sea.
Location
Somewhat remote above Giardini Naxos, requiring transportation to sights beyond the hotel
A bit outside of the main city action, the Caesar Palace is in a suburban area of Giardini Naxos, high on a hillside. There’s little in the way of shops or restaurants outside the property, and guests staying here will benefit from having a car. That said, there are nearby buses that run to Taormina and the rest of Giardini Naxos for a fare. The hotel also runs shuttle buses down to its beach. Mount Enta is more than an hour's drive southwest, while trips to the cities of Messina or Catania, the latter having an airport, will take about 40 minutes each way.
Rooms
Large and clean, but motel-like in decor
Rooms at the Caesar Palace are large and clean, though not particularly sightly. Bedspreads, seating, and curtains are all made of a dark red and purple floral pattern, reminiscent of motel motifs. While loveseats provide extra seating (in addition to small two-chair tables), they lack armrests and have a dorm-like quality. Thinly framed prints of paintings hang on the walls. Each room comes with a small satellite flat-screen TV, coffeemaker, and minibar. Wi-Fi is available for a fee. The blue and white tiled bathrooms are sizable and distinctive, but shower heads are far from new. Soap is available, but no other toiletries are provided.
Features
Beautiful pool and lots of family entertainment
The hotel has a large outdoor pool and a beach to which it shuttles guests throughout the day. For guests traveling with kids, there’s an expansive children's area with a large pool, playground, and theater as well as a patio equipped with video games and foosball. The hotel's mini-club entertainment team works hard to keep the kids occupied.
The buffet restaurant gets a range of reviews, but generally lacks diversity in options -- something to consider before choosing to make your stay all-inclusive. For guests not looking to trek to town, the inclusive option may still be preferred as there are no other restaurants within walking distance.