More about Hotel Villa Athena
hotel villa athena
by TripAdvisor Member shadyhouse
After reading all the negative reviews for the Hotel Villa Athena I almost cancelled our booking. We stayed two nights early July and had the most wonderful experience. Our room was a terraced room that faced the Temple of Concord and it was wonderful to have such a view from the terrace. The staff were friendly and helpful and breakfast was the standard continental fare that we had in all our hotels in Sicily. As I didn't like the coffee the waiter brought me a cup of freshly made coffee both mornings for breakfast. We had an evening meal. Though it was slightly more expensive than some other places the cooking was supurb. Again the setting for dinner was outdoors on a terrace overlooking the sights.
I would stay at this hotel again, not just for the wonderful terrace, swimming and good service, but because it is walking distance to the archeological sites which can get very busy.
My recommendation is to ask for a terrace room.
Mary
Leicestershire
Very average & overpriced
by TripAdvisor Member loodoo100
Decided to stay at the Hotel Villa Athena because of its very close proximity to the Valley of the temples and because it had a good review in the Rough Guide which advises you to stay here if you want a night of luxury! The room we had was very basic, drab and very tired looking. Staff were pleasant ; breakfast mediocre. Yes, the location is wonderful and has a great view of the Temple Concordia - spoilt only by the horrid piped music in the hotel grounds. All in all, suprisingly basic rooms for a supposed 4 star hotel.
Over rated
by TripAdvisor Member WanderlustMaine
One of the worst places I ever have encountered. Overpriced, over rated. Take away the view of the Valley of the Temples and Villa Athena would be a welfare hotel. The food was terrible, the staff was missing in action, the rooms were the size of the bed, the bathroom was 17th century. For the prices charged, at least the place could have provided an elevator. Stay away, or stay somewhere else.
Horrible and depressing!!!
by A TripAdvisor Member
Me and my husband arrived at the Villa Athena with high hopes. Unfortunately we stayed five days in Taormina in a beautiful hotel.
The staff was rude and unwelcoming. The room was old dingy and smelly. I mean downright depressing! We actually called the airline to see if we could get a flight out earlier - that's how depressed we were. And we only stayed there for 2 nights! There was not even someone at the bar to give you a drink and if there was they had an attitude.
I think the people working there were ghosts. The whole place was incredibly morbid.
It was hard to make a phone call because the numbers on the phone were worn off.
Stay away!!!! When our travel agent booked us here we first objected because of what we read on-line. She talked us into it. PLEASE listen stay some place close enough to see the temples but don't stay there!!
great if you're only spending 8 hours to sleep!
by TripAdvisor Member Jessica819
we were traveling all across italy and decided to stop over agrigento for the night, before traveling to palermo the next morning. after visiting the valley of the temples, we passed by villa athena. as a walk in customer, we were quoted 170 euros for a night. we were there at almost 10 pm and were leaving at 9 am the next day so we thought it was too much. after bargaining, the guy at the front desk agreed to give us the room for 90 euros.
the rooms were okay, but the furniture very old. we didn't make it to breakfast, which i think is a blessing in disguise, based on what other people wrote. the pool looked really nice, but we didn't have time to actually enjoy it.
great location if you want to visit the valley of the temples, as it's just next door.
Terrible
by TripAdvisor Member anagiocla
Very basic twin rooms in the basement for a too high rate. Breakfast is even worse. Service is very unpleasant. Do not spend your money here. Unfortunately Agrigento does not offer much and all the "best" hotels are the same. The B&B even worse!! But we had excellent and abundant dinner in San Leone at Trattoria CANALE on the seaside. Also the Trattoria Giovanni on the main square of Agrigento near the Carabinieri in very good.
Location & view
by TripAdvisor Member debrigard
The hotel is banal. The food that you get for breakfast is pretty bad. The rooms to be sure, are acceptable, if you are not too fussy.There is only one reason you want to stay here: the location is superb. For one, in order to get to the temples, you cut across the fields and you are there in a 5-minute walk. The museum is a 10-minute walk the other direction. Then too, where else could you get a room where, looking out the window, you have the view of a Greek Temple immediately ahead of you? And since the hotel knows that is why you have come, they really don't need to bother with other aspects of your stay. Since the view is what you are there for, make sure your room is on the upper floor and that you have one.
visiting agrigento
by TripAdvisor Member hugohuybers
When booking the hotel we were scared off because of the very nasty critics on some of the reviews.
Since we were only staying 1 night we would take the risk, especially seen the location of the hotel.
We can only confirm that we found everything in order. Breakfast was as usual, not luxuruous but average as was the rest.
We found nothing negative to mention.
Shabby Hotel, Great Location
by TripAdvisor Member Member1700
The hotel is in an 18th-century villa that was renovated some decades ago. It is rather shabby today, but reflects its past glories. The rooms are large and clean. The service is correct and effecient, if not friendly. The food is very average and forgetable.
But the location is nothing short of magnificent! Just five minutes walk from the Greek temples, you get panoramic views from the terraces and from some rooms. And you can sneak out the back gates, or out over the side on the front drive, and cross through the old olive orchards, now brimming with wild flowers, to get straight to the ruins--like in a novel or something. (That in itself is worth the price of the room.)
So, don't be scared off by the nasty reviews. We found the staff to be pleasant, if a bit overworked. Yes, the place could use a facelift. But then, so could I !!!
Location worth the drawbacks
by TripAdvisor Member Luggage_Tags
Well my review is just like the others; either people hated this place, or they felt the view and location were worth any shortcomings. I tipped the front desk guy 50 Euro for a "camera con vista" (room with a view) and got one of the huge rooms with a terrace overlooking the temple. In my opinion, worth every penny as we had a leisurely glass of wine and watched the sun set. The food and service weren't as bad as some reviews but they also weren't spectacular. And the next morning it was just a quick stroll to the temples (get there first thing and rush to Concord for some great photo ops w/noone else around).
Photos
sky turns dark
Tombs in the Walls
Typical landscape
End of the Via Sacra
