We didn't meet Elena during our stay at this hotel. The staff we did meet were very friendly and helpful.

The room was lovely - very picturesque shabby-chic decor. The bed was very comfortable and the bathroom well-appointed (though lacked any toilet roll or toiletries when we arrived - they were supplied on request). The air-conditioning was much appreciated. The little kitchen is surprising well equipped including a kettle, toaster and microwave as well as a large fridge and a two-ring gas hob.

The living area is very pretty and opens onto a terrace that ran the length of the room. It was equipped with table and chairs - lovely for having breakfast outside. You might struggle to see the sea view as there is a row of trees growing directly in front of the terrace that obstruct most of the view. Still, it creates a very private and secluded atmosphere.

There is a small but lovely swimming pool on the site. Its only open from 8AM to 6PM but its lovely and is surrounded by a pleasant seating area.

The reception area includes a comfortable seating area. They have a shop where you can buy water, soft drinks, wine and beer as well as a small range of toiletries. This is the only part of the property where WIFI was available and it was very patchy here. There was insufficient bandwidth to update my Twitter feed!

The only weak point about this property is its location. On a map its only a couple of km from Taormina 'as the crow flies'. However, that includes a tough climb of more than 200 steps (that's more than 10 stories!) in the heat of the sun. Which means that you'll be arriving in Taormina pretty hot and sweaty and its not a climb you'll want to make much more than once a day. Moreover, these steps are steep and uneven in parts and at night poorly lit. There are no facilities in the immediate vicinity of the hotel so you'll have to go up to Taormina or down to the beach if you want to go out to eat or go to the shops. If you have any mobility issues at all (bad knees, any form of breathing difficulties or even are just a bit unfit) I would suggest you consider an alternative location.

There is a similar climb (slightly shorter) down to the beach. Note that the beach is very stony - you will need swimming shoes, flip flops or similar if you want to go for a swim (other than the stones it is very nice swimming and snorkeling - plenty of fish to be seen).

Tips:
Coffee and cannoli or an ice cream while enjoying the view on the terrace at C&G cafe
The lovely views inside and beyond the Communal Gardens - a lovely place for a stroll or to sit and read a book.
Pizza from Da Cristina behind the Duomo.