A TripAdvisor Review of My Stay at the White Lotus-Sicily
Wonderful hotel, though I have some concerns about the staff/general air of doom.
First of all, let me say that the hotel itself is beautiful.
Even though no one at the front desk ever greeted me when I entered, I always felt welcome.
The murals on the wall are gorgeous — even if most of them seem to depict graphic or immoral sex. Why would a hotel hang artwork where a man is fucking a goat? Must be an Italian thing.
The hotel is beautifully situated. It overlooks the sea. It is walking distance to several world-class restaurants, theaters, and shops, none of which we ever went to.
Every night there is a pianist who plays lovely music — unfortunately he died (?) in the middle of his set.
No one seemed to think this was weird? They kind of just dragged the pianist away and replaced him immediately with a prostitute who was sitting at the bar. No one thought this was weird either. Honestly if they had plugged in an iPod for the night it would have been fine. The prostitute was a very talented singer, if a little overwrought. Hope the other guy is okay!
In the end I could only give The White Lotus-Sicily 4 stars instead of 5. This is due mainly to the general specter of death that seemed to haunt the grounds.
Sometimes at dusk I would sit on the beach and watch the dark waves crash against the shore, and I could sense a kind of doom coming for me, like a judgment from ancient gods. This is not the vibe I look for on vacation.
I’d be remiss if I did not mention that over a two-day stretch, I witnessed both a fist fight in the sea AND the corpse of a hotel guest washing to shore. While I cannot blame management *directly* for this, I also can’t help but feel these events wold not have occurred at, say, the Radisson.
In conclusion, the White Lotus-Sicily will give you an unforgettable experience…though I would caution that the hotel is not for everyone. For example, if you have reached a crisis point in your marriage, I would suggest a different hotel.
If not, have fun, and ask for Rocco!