Cefalu Sea Palace

Nice friendly hotel..rooms clean and roomy..but....No tea/coffee making facilities in the room, these and even bottled water was at a price..but only 2 euros..The plastic fixed sunloungers were so uncomfortable..needed a pad on them..and towel just wouldnt stay on..needed clips..which we saw one couple have..Cefalu is a nice town..lots of lovely places to eat..Beach really clean..but can be bit choppy and large bolders in some places..so beware when going in at first!!! Would I come here again..Probably not..

V A19/6/26 – 26/6/26 Mr J McVey Ref: 8195370 Easyjet Holidays To whom it may concern, We paid over £3300 to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary in Sicily. I would ask you to look at the recent reviews on Tripadvisor and note the number of complaints about Hotel Cefalu Palace, this is certainly not up to a 4-star level. I am looking for some form of compensation as this fell way short of the experience, I expected to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary we were very disheartened and disappointed. Below is a list of our complaints. After over a 2 hour transfer we were not offered a complimentary drink of water, we were advised either use mini bar in room or purchase at bar for 5 Euros. No kettle in room after 2 days a guest told us to ask at reception and were given one rather grudgingly. The no food/drink in room rule is strange guests like to have a glass of wine of an evening watching the sunset from balcony. Breakfasts were very poor. The same food every morning mostly eggs which were always hard boiled and cold, you also have to queue for coffee and if you’re at the end of the line you wait way over 10 minutes. Fresh fruit was mainly melon, pineapple and hard plums no bananas or oranges. Fruit juices were not natural and tasted awful. No condiment on breakfast table when I asked for salt, I was directed to the other side of the restaurant to collect a wee tiny bag of salt. Main meal choices were very poor very small portions fish being the main food which is fine if you like fish, some of the other choices were omelette, a very small thin chicken fillet with gravy and two florets of broccoli, pea risotto which was not attractive or very appetising as was most of the food. Italy is famous for ice cream yet there was not aa one in sight. Bar snacks and drinks are very overpriced which was driving guests out of the hotel into local bars. There was absolutely no entertainment at any time during our stay which was quite upsetting as my wife was looking forward to being entertained and celebrate our special 50th anniversary in style. We were on the 3rd floor and below the restaurant, the food was transported in large trollies which sounded like small trains driving over the top of us this went on until after midnight. The cost of this holiday is very overpriced and does not meet the standard of a 4 star hotel I would rate it as 2 stars. We have saved very hard for this holiday and it was very disappointing. We have holidayed in Italy for years and this was our worst experience I would not recommend this hotel to anyone. However, the staff throughout the hotel were very attentive and friendly. Mr J McVey June 2026 After over a 2 hour transfer we were not offered a complimentary drink of water, we were advised either use mini bar in room or purchase at bar for 5 euro. No kettle in room after 2 days a guest told us to ask at reception and were given one rather grudgingly. The no food/drink in room rule is strange guests like to have a glass of wine of an evening watching the sunset from balcony. Breakfast was very poor. The same food every morning mostly eggs which were always hard boiled and cold, you also have to queue for coffee and if you’re at the end of the line you wait way over 10 minutes. Fresh fruit was mainly melon, pineapple and hard plums no bananas or oranges. Fruit juices were not natural and tasted awful. No condiment on breakfast table when I asked for salt, I was directed to the other side of the restaurant to collect a wee tiny bag of salt. Main meal choices were very poor very small portions fish being the main food which is fine if you like fish, some of the other choices were omelette, a very small thin chicken fillet with gravy and two florets of broccoli, pea risotto which was not attractive or very appetising as was most of the food. Italy is famous for ice cream yet there was not aa one in sight. Bar snacks and drinks are very overpriced which was driving guests out of the hotel into local bars. There was absolutely no entertainment at any time during our stay which was quite upsetting as my wife was looking forward to being entertained and celebrate our special 50th anniversary in style. We were on the 3rd floor and below the restaurant, the food was transported in large trollies which sounded like small trains driving over the top of us this went on until after midnight. The cost of this holiday is very overpriced and does not meet the standard of a 4 star hotel I would rate it as 2 stars. We have holidayed in Italy for years and this was our worst experience I would not recommend this hotel to anyone. However, the staff throughout the hotel were very attentive and friendly.

We enjoyed our holiday at Cefalou sea palace. The location to many shops, bars and restaurants was perfect only a short stroll along the sea front. The room was positioned to the side of the hotel overlooking the car park, but also had a sea view. We found the drinks and food very expensive, which in my opinion made the hotel lack atmosphere especially around the pool area. There was only a very small amount of people. We used the beach bar every day simply for a bit of excitement. It had music, cheaper drinks and food. There is a policy about not taking food or drinks back to the hotel but I feel this is aimed at people taking liberties eg boxes of pizza and crates of beer. I took a travel kettle coffee and tea, I bought milk from the supermarket and used the mini bar to store it. Nothing was ever said. I would recommend this hotel to anyone who enjoys a slow relaxed holiday.

Lovely hotel, clean and in a great position but this is not a 5 star hotel. We were delayed and did not arrive till 00.30hrs and found that there was nothing to eat or drink available apart from a very over priced mini bar in the room. Not even water in the reception was available. Rooms are a good size and nice balcony but very uncomfortable seating outside and with nowhere to dry clothes/towels after a day on the beach/pool. Small extras could make the stay much more comfortable e.g nowhere to put your toothbrush, not enough coat hangers, no plug sockets at the side of your bed to be able to charge your phone. We stayed B&B and the food was truly terrible. There was an egg station which was the only part that provided hot food. Sausages, poached eggs, eggs Florentine, bacon, aubergines, pancakes, porridge all served cold - no attempt to even try and keep the food warm. Bread was stale. Nice coffee The hotel is in a prime location with a lovely walk down the promenade to the old town Beach opposite the hotel was really nice as was the beach restaurant but very over priced when compared to other beach bars a few hundred meters away.

Let’s start with that this is NOT a 5 star hotel. Awards are from many years ago. The people at the front desk were great. Prices at the bar are expensive, don’t even try to do laundry, because you are better buying new clothes. Location is great and the fact that you can access the lido is also great, but going back to the rating. The room was very outdated, no complimentary water, no toothbrush or toothpaste, no paper, no pen, the hair dryer was very very old, bathroom fan didn’t work, bathroom had 3 lights 2 were burnt. No plug in the bathroom, light switch was outside the bath on the opposite side of the door so if you get up in the middle of the night you will definitely wake up the other person. U get one beach towel and if you want to replace it for a clean one is $5. The breakfast was ok, egg station and chef were great, Coffee station was good too, pastries were flavorless, breakfast is served on the terrace and it was hot, I’m pretty sure the temperature of the food doesn’t comply with the required temp to be fresh but that is up to health department to determine. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to anyone that is looking for even a 4 star hotel.

Cefalu Sea Palace was extraordinary in every respect—from its stunning location and excellent amenities to its cleanliness, outstanding service, and, most importantly, its exceptional staff. A special thank you to Martina, Daniele, Federico, Monica, Riccardo, Concetta, the chef, and the breakfast team, all of whom contributed to making our stay the best we have had in Italy. Martina went above and beyond by assisting us with last-minute accommodation after we unexpectedly walked in off the street following a disappointing Airbnb experience. Federico was equally remarkable, arranging a doctor's visit for us at 10:15 p.m. when we needed assistance. The genuine care, professionalism, and hospitality shown by every member of the team made our stay truly memorable. We are incredibly grateful and would highly recommend Cefalu Sea Palace to anyone visiting the area.

Location is very good. Quiet at night, but not too far from beach and historic sights. It is a 10 minute walk to the edge of the historic centre. Other hotels on the beach road that we considered were nearer but when we walked past them we were glad we chose the Sea Palace. The others had much busier roads around them and less appealing outlooks. It is not far from the train station but the walk with large bags wasn't that pleasant with narrow pavements. (For the uphill return we got a taxi from reception). Our room was quiet and near the back. It was large, clean, with a comfortable bed. We also had a large terrace, which partial views of the sea and the town. The air con worked well. Breakfast was on the top floor with lovely views. There was a good range of food, including some nuts, and fresh coffee made by staff. Also some fruit. (Availability of nuts and fruit seemed to vary by the day). Its beach club almost opposite was good. We got beach towels from reception which was handy. We arrived before official check in but after a lunch at the beach club we were able to check in an hour and a half early. The main downside for us was the emphasis on no food or drink in the room, including it would seem water (it was not clear). For those of us to like to do the right thing it leads to unnecessary stress. Other reviews have mentioned this, and the response has been that it is a common policy and for safety and hygiene, which seems odd. We go to many hotels in many places and have never had this. The opposite in fact with bottled water often now provided free to avoid the need to go to local shops. And often space in the mini-fridge for brought in water, milk etc. We like to use hotel bars but also like to have lots of bottled water to drink, and a drink of wine or beer on the terrace, perhaps with crisps or nuts. If the issue is people having parties and being anti-social, that should be what is stated. Or bringing in lots of food, eg take-aways, that should be mentioned. If the issue is food debris, attracting mice etc, then a reminder to keep food wrapped would suffice. In terms of bars in fact we would have liked to have a drink at the hotel more often. We used the day-time beach bar which was fine, though as others have said a bit pricey. We also used the 4th floor bar once in the evening and it had a lovely night time view of the town and cliffs. But it still looked like the restaurant room, with a few tables on the edge for bar seating, and we were the only people there at 11pm. Not sure what can be done to make it more of a draw but it is a pity there was no more standard bar area for the evening (there was an outside area which was being done up when we were there - perhaps that will be a place to go in the evening). It would be nice to have some events like wine tastings or acoustic music early evening or happy hours that might encourage use of the bars. The breakfast food was fine but not as good as some places, eg no fresh yoghurt or freshly cooked mushrooms. We are not big fans of the white table cloth and white chair cover look, which is quite old-fashioned. The beach club loungers weren't the most comfortable - not easy to adjust.

Holiday | Couple I will start with the positives. Great location for beach and town which is stunning.great breakfast plenty choice Quiet around the pool for the most.great view from the restaurant. Hotel rooms are just ok,this hotel is more like a 3 star definitely not 5 star. We had a view of over grown weeds and a car park. 2 turtles in a supposed pond in the hotel,it was filthy limited water and a few stones thrown in. While knowbody really watches tv on holiday I did look and it only had 1 English channel bbc news,no access 2 tv apps eg Netflix (which u would expect in 5 star). No fridge to use in room and taking in food is FORBIDDEN (ridiculous rule) Drinks in the hotel are very expensive 16 euro for a pre made cocktail. The beds are rock hard. Overall the hotel is more style over substance and tends to prioritise weddings and conferences over hotel guests. Rooms: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Location: 5/5

Visited this hotel, in May 2026 for 3 nights on route to tour Sicily. The hotel is very modern and well equipped. We enjoyed our stay although it was located a bit further down the seafront from the old town than we had envisaged. One of the reasons for booking the hotel was it has its own section of beach located across the road, but on arrival we were disapointed to be told that the hotels beach section was unavailable until the very end of May, early June. We felt this really should be better communicated. Another shock was the lack of tea and coffee facilities in the room, which for a 5 star hotel is poor. One of the highlights of our stay was having breakfast in the roof top restaurant with panoramic views of Cefalu which was stunning. All in all a really nice stay but probably not 5 star.

This is a fantastic hotel the staff are so knowledgeable and friendly helping us organising trips to get the best experiences during our holiday lovely garden view room breakfasts were great fantastic coffee the restaurant was perfect so relaxed and great food for an evening meal beautifuly presented would definitely recommend a visit the staff were amazing thankyou for a lovely holiday 😀

☺️ - beautiful breakfast restaurant with magnificent view. Nice food selection (except for bread, which was very poor) - big, comfortable rooms and bathroom - on site bar, pool, fitness Center, spa (but did not use, so can not judge) - just in front of the sea (but check things to improve) 🙄 - there is a ridiculous policy that you can not bring drinks or food from the outside. This is the first time in my life I encounter this policy and I find it very disappointing and unfair. The reception even monitors people as they get into the hotel for this. - our room had a very partial view of the sea, not really worth to seat on the balcony which we were looking forward to - there is private parking, but it is very small! I can not imagine the fights to get in and out during high season - I guess during summer season is different, but middle may there was no beach seating provided by the hotel (not terrible, but good to know)