Hotel Cutimare - Aeolian Charme ★★★★

"This was my first trip to the Aeolian Islands. A bit of a hike from Catania airport but well worth the effort (bus to Milazzo - 1 hour - and then hydrofoil ferry to Lipari). The hotel is charming and clean, and the staff are extremly attentive to guests' needs (My A/C unit didn't work, so I got an upgrade to a junior suite with terrace) and friendly without being invasive. The sea views and dawn sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking from the roof terrace where you can also enjoy a pre-dinner/pre-lunch drink. Excellent breakfast buffet and I'd recommend halfboard as the restaurant on the top of the hill (you get picked-up and dropped back at the hotel) has excellent fish fare even on the set menu, as well as a fine wine selection, available by the generous glass. The beach is right in front of the hotel and has sun loungers available. The beach is also volcanic stone which is where the hotel takes its name: "cutimare" means "ciottole" in Italian or stones. Buy a pair of rubber shoes in Lipari to save your feet from experiencing excruicating pain getting in and out of the water, although the locals walk across the stones effortlessly. This was not my case! However, the stone beach has an upside - not an ideal place for young children and families, so the beach is almost "adult" only and quiet. On my final Sunday in June, I had the beach to myself. The sea is crystalline. I used taxis but if you have a car, there are some lovely places to visit around the island or you can do a boat excursion from Lipari to explore the other islands. I added a week here after holidaying in Trentino, Barcelona, Spain and Minorca and, of all the places, I loved Lipari and Cultimare the best. In fact, I'll be returning to Sicily at the end of August. And I'd like to go back next year ... Happy holidays, folks!"

Hotel Mea - Aeolian Charme ★★★★

"Beautiful hotel with amazing views of Lipari port & ocean surrounding. Super clean room, comprehensive breakfast with lovely service (big thank you to the head waiter who taught me about espresso sizes and how to order a long black coffee😁), in general excellent service all around (nothing too much for the reception folk), pool is clean & beautifully situated with ocean views, and massage service is a good price & the most relaxing massage I’ve had! The only drawback is the transport to & from the port which is only 200m (uphill for arrival) - hotel charges €15-20 for 1 person and taxi charges £20 for 2 people. You can easily walk down to the port with your bags but it would be nice if the hotel offered complementary pickup given it’s a quality hotel."

Hotel Aura ★★★

"Sufficient stay but nothing special. Friendly staff and structure quite close to the center of Vulcano (about 10 minutes walk from the port) but there are many improvements to be made: the look of the rooms should be modernized a bit and the shower trays should be changed because they seem dirty and in reality they are just old and ruined, even the bedroom fridge should be renewed with something stronger that (especially in summer) keeps things cold and not simply cool. The TV does not work completely and the internet connection is also quite unstable. The breakfast absolutely needs to be improved as it is very poor both in quantity and quality. Unfortunately, something should also be done for the swimming pool to improve the temperature of the water which, both in the morning and in the afternoon, is always too hot and there is no relief in getting in. Recommended if you do not have great expectations of your stay or if you just have to sleep there."

Arciduca Grand Hotel ★★★★

"We stayed at the Granduca Hotel and had a truly wonderful time. The atmosphere is welcoming and familiar, without ever being intrusive. A sincere thank you for your hospitality. It's one of those places you'd happily recommend and want to return to."

Therasia Resort Sea and Spa - the Leading Hotels of the World ★★★★★

"This is a wonderful hotel in a fabulous location with the bonus of having not one but two Michelin starred restaurants on the premises, one of which (the extraordinarily imaginative vegetarian “I Tenerumi”) we tried and enjoyed enormously, despite it being very pricey. The view from all the hotel restaurants and the bar is absolutely amazing particularly at sunset and the predominantly youthful staff go out of their way to ensure that your stay here is unforgettable. The one suggestion I would make is that it could be made easier - and safer - to swim in the sea. There was not a bathing platform in position during our stay so the only access was by climbing down a rather precarious ladder straight into the sea. But anyway, we absolutely loved our 5-day stay."

Hotel Tritone Lipari ★★★★

"Spacious, clean and comfortable room, large terrace, quite convenient location, even if it's all uphill from the port and Marina. Unfortunately, the breakfast is not up to the standard of a 4-star hotel, poor in terms of both sweet and savory food which was really poor."

Eolia Rooms Lipari ★★

Hotel Villa Cute - Hvc ★★★★

"We (2+2) stayed there in the beginning of Oct 2013. There was only one other room occupied and the weather was cool but the pool was kept in order and we used it. It is a few minutes walk from the centre but not too close for a walk with suitcases. The owner will pick you up on your arrival, keep his phone number handy. Other apartment owners will try to steel you when you get off the aliscafo so he is sure to be there. The rooms are made in good taste, breakfast was OK and the service quite good. We had a mosquito problem when we came so they gave us a repellent. better bring some. For short, it was a comfortable place for rest and as a base for exploring the nearby ilands."

La Piazza Luxury Hotel & Spa ★★★★

"During a stop at the bar of this luxury hotel in Panarea, I ordered two coffees. At the table, we were also served a small bottle of water, which we hadn't requested, but which we consumed anyway. The final bill was 18 euros. Even considering the exclusive setting of the island and the hotel, I consider it unfair that the receipt reported a single cumulative total, without any breakdown of individual prices and expense items. A hotel of this caliber expects maximum transparency towards its guests."