Name: La Plage Resort
Address: Taormina, IT
Price range: From $579

La Plage Resort, TaorminaLa Plage Resort in Taormina, Italy has a corrected score of 3.3 ± 0.6 (thin evidence, no platform scores), ranked 18 of 28 hotels we score in Taormina. Its platform ratings, normalised to 0-5, average 4.4 before correction. Rooms from about $579 a night (cached, not a live quote).La Plage Resort is a five-star hotel inside the Isola Bella Nature Reserve in Taormina, sitting directly on a private beach above the Ionian Sea. Rooms come with jacuzzis and look out over the sea or the pine forest, and the property adds an infinity pool, a spa, a beach club, restaurants and a free breakfast buffet. It is family friendly, has a record of hosting weddings, and sits close to the Greek Theatre, so it suits couples and families wanting a beach and nature setting within reach of Taormina's sights. Rates start around $579 a night. Some guests have found the bathrooms and furnishings slightly dated, with occasional cobwebs in room corners.What stands out

Quiet, comfortable, clean rooms

Friendly, attentive staff

Free breakfast buffet

Private beach and infinity pool

Watch out for

Some bathrooms feel shabby

Furnishings look dated in places

Better-scored in Taormina

Hotel Mazzarò Sea Palace, Taormina: 4.2 ± 0.3 (fair evidence, 2 of 4 platforms), from $1,187 a night. Hotel Mazzarò Sea Palace is a five-star seasonal hotel situated on the Baia di Mazzarò seafront near Isola Bella.

Atlantis Bay, Taormina: 4.1 ± 0.2 (fair evidence, 2 of 4 platforms). Atlantis Bay is a 71-room luxury hotel set into the cliffs above Taormina's Baia delle Sirene, with terraces stepping down to the Ionian Sea.

Hotel Villa Carlotta, Taormina: 4.1 ± 0.3 (fair evidence, 2 of 4 platforms). Hotel Villa Carlotta is a boutique hotel set within a stone-clad villa from the late 19th century.