Messina Shore Special Tour of Taormina and Castelmola plus Panoramic Lunch

Wonderful day!

Well done! Do this instead of booking a tour through the cruise ship. Cruise tours do not go to Castelmola! Lunch at Castelmola, overlooking Mt Edna was amazing! Driver was simply wonderful! The van goes where buses can’t go. Stops at vistas for pictured are done with the van, where tour buses can’t go! Great trip!

via Tripadvisor

Don’t hesitate, book this tour!

We had the best day with Mario and his friend Joseph. We were a large group of 6 adults and 6 kids and Mario met us right outside the cruise port where we headed into his two Mercedes vans. We took a pretty 40 minute drive to Taormina where he let us wonder around for two hours - we got some Connolis and did a little shopping in the cute town. Then we headed up the hill to Castelmola (gorgeous drive) where we had an amazing lunch. The appetizers, pizza and pastas were all amazing and topped off by dessert almond wine and limoncello shots. They offered us dessert but we were too full! They let us walk around castelmola a little and then we headed back to the ship. A great tour and both Mario and his friend were funny and knowledgeable about the area. They spoke English and gave us time to take photos at good spots. What a perfect day!

via Viator

Didn’t turn up for tour

Cancelled without advising me - just didn’t turn up on the day. Left to try and organise something by ourself while standing on the pier after waiting for our tour

Response from the operator: Dear guest, the tour was cancelled bacause you made a reservation at 10.11 am june 11 and the ship (Celebrity Beyond) docked at 7 am, so the office cancelled it inmediatly (at 11 am) and inmediatly refunded and I saw the refund has been done and you get back your money. As it was a shared tour, meeting time was 8.30 am and everybody was punctual, so we left. At 10.15 you started to call complaining that nobody was at the pier, yes, nobody was anymore there but the taxi, simply bacause all the operators left with guests and the pier was empty. If you book a shared tour, you should respect the others guests that were all at the meeting place in time. Why didin't you take a private tour? Maybe because it's more expencive I argue, but you selected the tour not we. We are very disappointed to receive such revenge review because are offensive of our reputation and professionalism. Best regards

via Viator

Started out great ended up very confused by guide

We started out very well on this adventure. We were to be picked up at 10, with a mix up. One it was a private tour and we ended up having two others join us (who were simply amazing and very enjoyable). They paid for a tour that was canceled. We weren’t credited for our private tour or even told. We later found we had a voice mail telling us we needed to start at 8:30, but nothing was ever said so who knows. We got to the small town of Tamorina, which was beautiful. No guide just on our own. Picked us up 2 hours later, which was great-took us to our free lunch. No details were given of how long, how to order, etc. the restaurant folks were incredible. We get in the car to go back to port (by the way no panoramic view), and the driver/guide was incredibly irritated-gave no reason as to why-drive back was scary-reckless and didn’t take us back to port. Dropped us at clock tower, says it was quicker to walk and plenty of shopping. Nothing was opened. I will be asking for an adjustment on this tour. We tipped him with no thank you and he squealed his wheels when he left/. So bizarre!

Response from the operator: Dear Guest, thanks for the time you have dedicated to describe your day, but we have to uderline some not true point : 1) this is a shared tour for max 10 persons and it is CLEARLY indicated on the tour description; 2) This is not a guided tour, as we give to our guest a detailed map and plenty of time to comfortbly visit the pedestrian area of the beautiful Taormina and all the operators do the same 2) No restrictions on the menu, as many oerators do and our guest are left free to take anything they wish from the menu and all our guest appreciate it, maybe you are accostumed with large group tour with fixed menu, without any choice and it was for you unusual and strange, even if we saw from the bill that your order was not limited to one course 3) on the way back, we drive along the amazing ionian cost, with stunning views of the Strait of Messina and the Peloritani Mountains and all our guests really enjoy and take many pictures of it. This is one of the most panoramic road of Sicily, so I am surprised you describe as no panoramic view 4) the driver asked you about the drop off place and some decided to visit the shopping area and the driver informed them that shops were going to open shortly (it was 3.45 pm and shops open at 4 pm), some of the group decide instead to enjoy the cathedral square (150 yards from the pier) even if the driver told you that he was available to leave you at the pier. 5) the cathedral square has the road made by big lava stone and the wheels screech simply turning the steering wheel, the driver were infact parking there for a while, to talk with a collegue, who ended like him his service Summarizing you say that "Taormina was beautiful", Castelmola "great-took place for your free lunch", "the restaurant folks were incredible", and this is for us the most important thing. All the best for you and your family

via Viator

Castelmola, Taormina and an engagement!

Mario picked us up in his air conditioned van. He drove with confidence through many winding roads. He showed us all of the beautiful sights as we drove. Lunch was at Gallo Cedrone, a lovely family restaurant with amazing views. We ate and drank and had a lovely time. After lunch we walked around the corner to amazing views of the sea and Mt Etna. Here my daughter’s boyfriend got down on one knee and asked her to marry him! It was the perfect setting! Following all the excitement, we wandered through Castelmola and then Mario drove us to Taormina. He gave us very cold bottles of water and said he would be back in 2 hours. It was the perfect amount of time to explore. He stopped at some beautiful sights on the way back to our cruise ship and showed us the Astronomical clock in messina just in time to watch it move. Mario shared his WiFi and was a great guide!

via Tripadvisor