Lungomare San Vito 3, Mazara del Vallo, Italy
Beautiful property was once a winery
Mazara del Vallo's center is a 10-minute walk from the property
Clean and spacious rooms -- some have access to a lovely courtyard
Luxe spa with indoor hot tub and chromotheraphy showers
Ghilbi Restaurant gets stellar reviews from tour books and locals
Outdoor pool with sun deck and sun loungers
La Piazzetta lounge bar serves a light lunch and cocktails
Freebies include breakfast buffet, Wi-Fi, parking, and a shuttle to the beach
Meeting and conference spaces for business travelers
Rooms have bland decor and hard beds
Private events can be noisy
Pool is seasonal
Spotty Wi-Fi
This three-and-a-half pearl hotel, once a winery owned by an 18th-century English family, is a low-key base for exploring the town of Mazara del Vallo and the western coast of Sicily. It’s a popular spot for weddings and conferences, so sometimes there can be loud music playing until late at night, but the large spa offers a peaceful escape. It’s easy to walk into town via the seaside promenade and beautiful beaches are a 10-minute drive away, with the hotel offering a free shuttle in season. The Mahara is affordably priced compared to the other four-star properties in town, though the rooms here are on the simple side.
Scene
Older architecture with modern decor and lovely courtyard
The cream-colored building, reminiscent of a monastery and filled with archways, is built around a lovely inner courtyard, which has a fountain that’s illuminated at night. Inside, the hotel is clean and fairly modern. The restaurant Ghibli is an airy space decorated in bright white and lilac, while the bar is covered in large color photographs of Sicily. Heading outdoors, the property swimming pool is surrounded by a wooden deck filled with sun beds. The spa has a slightly exotic feel, with orange, teal, and purple sponge painted walls, a large Turkish bath, and showers with colored lights.
Location
Right by the promenade and a short walk into town
The Mahara is by the sea, though bathing beaches are a 10-minute drive away -- the hotel provides a free shuttle in season. The property is also right next to a wide promenade that runs by the sea, with a 10-minute walk into the center of town. Many restaurants are within walking distance as well. It’s a little over an hour from the airport in Palermo, with shorter drives to Marsala and the Selinunte archaeological park. Parking on-site is free.
Rooms
Simple decor and hard beds; some rooms have terraces
The hotel has 77 air-conditioned rooms, half with terraces and most with views of the promenade. While the rooms are clean, decor is on the simple side, featuring neutral palates with tile or hardwood floors and cream-colored floral bedspreads. Some past guests have complained about hard beds. There are dark green and blue tiled bathrooms in the standard and superior rooms, while the bathrooms in the suites are brighter and come with jetted tubs. Amenities in all rooms include flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, and hairdryers.
Features
Free beach shuttle, an outdoor pool, and a sizable spa
The hotel offers a free shuttle to the beach in the summer and rents out beach towels for use on the sand. The Ghibli serves dinner and a free buffet breakfast, while La Piazzetta wine bar serves light lunches and drinks. A decent-sized rectangular pool is surrounded by shaded sun beds. The spa has a large hot tub, a spacious sauna, and showers offering color therapy with funky lighting. The hotel also has a large conference room and three meeting rooms. There’s free parking under the property and airport transfers are available at an additional fee.