Bristol Park Hotel

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Stayed here in Sept 2007. A wonderful week in Taormina, spoilt by the dreadful Hotel Bristol Park! We paid around £800 each for a week’s B & B at this establishment, provided through Thompsons and felt totally ripped off buy the Hotel accommodation!
Shame is, this Hotel is in a fabulous location. Views to die for, probably the best view from a Hotel we have ever had, looking across the sea, the town of Taormina and on to Mount Etna (the views were the main reason we booked this Hotel). We had a room on the third floor with a 180 degree panoramic view. Mount Etna actually erupted whilst we were there which was a terrific sight. We spent several hours sat on our balcony with a bottle or two of wine, watching the great natural fireworks display.
First impressions usually count a lot and this one lost points immediately. On arrival at the Hotel, immediately walked into an uncomfortable silence with an old man (the owner) behind the reception desk not communicating anything to anyone. After a few minutes of silence we asked what the delay was and were simply told 'Rooms not ready'.
We then sat for over an hour until they were. The reception desk was old and shabby and the whole area generally grotty. There was a fancy lamp behind the reception desk which had the bulbs secured with electrical tape. The wall paper had seen better days. One of the brass banister rails leading upstairs had come apart, and repaired with sellotape!.
The Dining Room (fortunately we were only B & B) was no better. Paint peeling from window frames, wallpaper peeling in places and generally well beyond its sell by date.
The first room we were offered was Room 301 on the third floor. It was a decent size and had a good view, but reeked terribly of stale cigarettes.
Next room was room 305 which we ended up staying in. Again, a decent size and a stunning view. The room had a decent sized bathroom and a fridge but no safety deposit box. It had air conditioning which was on all the time but never cool enough.
The worst thing about the room was the shockingly patterned and very old wall paper! Near the doors to the balcony, someone had patched up the ten year old paper with a new roll of the same stuff and a bit behind the curtains had actually been nailed to the wall!
Certainly not good enough to call itself a 4 Star Hotel!
Fortunately, we only stayed B & B. Certainly not the best fare on offer but just adequate. The biggest fault was there was not enough choice. Every day, it was scrambled eggs or boiled eggs - obviously organic eggs as they were still covered in Chicken Poo.
Thompsons should remove this Hotel from brochures and stop charging extortionate prices for sub standard accommodation. PROBABLY the last time we travel with Thompsons. Two years running we have paid good money for sub standard accommodation.
TAORMINA however, totally recommend it - Great town, fabulous food, and people all within easy view of Mount Etna.