The Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina is truly spectacular, with impeccable service from beginning to end. Before our arrival, I had reached out to ask whether the room we booked might have a balcony or terrace so that we would have somewhere to relax while our three-year-old napped. I had also mentioned a preference for the Grand Hotel wing. Instead, the hotel did even better and surprised us with a beautiful, spacious suite in the Convento area overlooking Mount Etna, with a partial sea view and a private jacuzzi that our daughter happily used as her own little swimming pool. It turned out that the Convento wing was incredibly beautiful, peaceful, and full of character, and we absolutely loved it. Beyond the room, the hotel itself is phenomenal. The restaurants were excellent, with wonderful food, gorgeous views, and plenty of gluten-free options for me. We also did the tasting menu at Principe Cerami and really enjoyed it. I especially appreciated that there was an option for a somewhat lighter tasting experience rather than an overwhelmingly long meal. The main pool is spectacular and remarkably serene. Even when the hotel was busy, there always seemed to be plenty of loungers available, and the complimentary granita served by the pool was such a nice touch. There were not many young children staying at the hotel, so we were conscious of not spending too long at the main pool with our toddler in case we disturbed the peaceful atmosphere. For families with young children, I would strongly consider booking a room or suite with its own pool or jacuzzi—it gave us the best of both worlds and allowed our daughter to splash around without us feeling uneasy about disturbing other guests. The spa is relatively small but beautiful and extremely relaxing, and my massage was excellent. One of the loveliest touches came the day before my husband’s birthday, when the hotel surprised us with a bottle of sparkling wine and a cake. Sitting by our private pool, watching the sunset with Mount Etna in the distance, was a highlight of our entire trip. There was genuinely almost nothing imperfect about our stay. The only experience I would approach differently was a wooden sunset boat tour we booked through the concierge. We had expected something more in keeping with the Four Seasons experience, but it turned out to be a standard tour boat operating from the pier rather than a private service. The boat itself was quite worn, with peeling finishes, and the water was very choppy, which made us uncomfortable traveling with our three-year-old. We were a little surprised that this particular experience had been recommended by the hotel, and I would advise families with young children to ask for more details about the vessel and conditions before booking. That one experience aside, the San Domenico Palace is an absolutely impeccable hotel. The setting, service, food, atmosphere, and attention to detail were extraordinary. It is a very special property