Sicily Travel Raised to 5-Star Standards

The real attraction of Grand Hotel Timeo now is the Orient-Express aesthetic that has been translated through a sophisticated lobby that's not only historical but also design-worthy, with herringbone hardwood floors, pristine white plaster walls and upgraded furnishings that befit its history of hosting actresses from Sophia Loren to Elizabeth Taylor. Rooms feature ornate Italian furnishings with dramatic drapes that conceal floor-to-ceiling French doors opening to lavish balconies framed by Mediterranean views rivaled by few European hotels. The drama of the location cannot be overstated.

The hotel refurbished its in-house gourmet restaurant with a menu of Sicilian-inspired cuisine but in the same dining room and terrace as before. A large pool deck has been upgraded with its own poolside bar and sun loungers stretched out along a rectangular pool deck overlooking a formal garden and 180-degree views of the sea. Those looking to get even closer to the water are offered day use of the private beach at Villa Sant'Andrea, Orient-Express's new sister property located directly on the beach in Taormina Mare.

Villa Sant'Andrea is located three miles from Grand Hotel Timeo. Traditionally a haunt of dodgy 3-star hotel properties and chic beach clubs, Mazzaro Bay is home to this opulent property, which received an overhaul. It now boasts Europe's only Orient-Express property located on a sand beach. The hotel sprawls along one of Taormina Mare's most-beloved beaches, a rambling hotel with a fortress-like facade and a playful restaurant called Oliviero. The hotel features sun-lounger service by real-life bronzed and sculpted Italians.

Inside, Villa Sant'Andrea has a more relaxed vibe than its larger mountaintop sibling. The hotel feels like the private home of a rich Italian aunt who asks guests to cover up with a Pucci camisole or Etro sarong when walking through the ornate lobby with its parquet wood floors and exaggerated picture windows facing the Grotta Azzurra, an off-shore island with hidden caves. Guests choose among 63 rooms and suites decorated in a more traditional Sicilian mix of floral curtains and brightly colored furnishings.