The annual announcement of the Readers’ Choice Awards serves as more than just a list of high-performing properties; it acts as a definitive snapshot of the current global travel landscape. As the results are tabulated and shared, they offer a manual for the modern adventurer, highlighting the destinations and institutions that continue to resonate with the world’s most discerning travelers. Among the most celebrated entries in this year’s selection is a property that has long defined the heights of Sicilian hospitality: Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, in Taormina.
Perched on the rugged cliffs of Sicily with an unrivaled view of the Ionian Sea and the smoking silhouette of Mount Etna, Grand Hotel Timeo is often referred to as an "Italian grande dame." Its history is as evocative as its architecture. What began in 1850 as a modest guesthouse has, over the course of nearly two centuries, evolved into one of the most luxurious and culturally significant hotels in Italy. Its inclusion in the Readers’ Choice Awards is a testament to its ability to balance a storied past with the evolving demands of contemporary luxury.
The hotel’s enduring appeal lies in its unique position within Taormina, a town that has served as a magnet for artists, writers, and aristocrats for generations. As the first hotel to open in the city, the Timeo effectively established Taormina as a must-visit destination on the Grand Tour. Today, that legacy is maintained through a meticulous commitment to service and an aesthetic that honors its 19th-century roots while embracing modern refinements.
The most significant of these recent refinements is the opening of the brand-new Dior Spa. This collaboration between Belmond and the legendary French fashion house represents a fusion of high fashion and holistic wellness. The spa’s design is a tribute to both Sicilian craftsmanship and Dior’s refined elegance, featuring stunning mosaic floors that catch the Mediterranean light. Beyond its visual appeal, the facility offers a comprehensive suite of wellness amenities, including a state-of-the-art infrared sauna designed to provide deep-tissue relaxation and detoxification.
The treatment menu at the Dior Spa is extensive, incorporating the house’s signature products into therapies that range from the traditional to the avant-garde. Guests can choose from sculpting facials designed to rejuvenate the skin after a day in the Sicilian sun or opt for specialized Ayurvedic therapies that focus on internal balance and energy flow. These treatments are crafted to provide a sensory experience that mirrors the tranquility of the surrounding landscape.
The hotel’s atmosphere is deeply informed by its history as a sanctuary for the elite. The guest list of the Grand Hotel Timeo reads like a "who’s who" of 20th-century glamour, with icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor having sought refuge within its walls. This sense of cinematic history is palpable in the hotel’s breezy gardens, where guests often take late-afternoon walks among the orange trees. The gardens offer a fragrant, shaded retreat from the heat of the day, providing a space where one can dress in a manner befitting the property’s long lineage of fabulous visitors.
