Hotel Kalura Cefalù Sicily Review

If you are planning a vacation on Sicily, consider spending a few days in the northern, costal town of Cefalu. But book early. Because while there are not many hotels IN Cefalu, many are already full for June 2019 – Yes, next year.  When I say, ‘hotel’, I mean hotel. Not a condo, nor an apartment, which you will find plenty of. I mean a traditional hotel with full-on services. One excellent hotel in Cefalu I recommend is Hotel Kalura Cefalu. This is one premium 4* hotel that you will be glad you booked. 

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I had just finished a lengthy, relaxing stay on the Aeolian Islands where I booked a self-catered apartment and I was looking for a more luxurious hotel in Cefalu during the few remaining nights I was in Sicily.

It needed to have that chilled, beachfront vibe going and I wanted to stay away from the main beach in Cefalu. Hotel Kalura Cefalu Sicily did not disappoint, and ironically, I booked in June and just a few days before arrival. For a great article about visiting Cefalu with kids, Kasey has one here. 

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Review of Hotel Kalura Cefalù, Sicily

First Impressions of Hotel Kalura Cefalu

The first thing you notice when you arrive is how lush the surroundings are. Hotel Kalura is among mature trees and well-manicured hedges and plants. It feels very calm and serene. When I first looked at the hotel from the outside, I was not that impressed. You find the main entrance, but from that side, you don’t see the sea. There was a long path leading away from the main door and I would have to explore what was beyond after check in.

Parking and arrival at Hotel Kalura

The hotel has ample free parking for those with cars. I took a city bus a short distance from the Cefalu train station directly to the hotel. Hotel Kalura also offers transfer services for a fee from Palermo, Catania and Trapani if you are flying into one of those airports.

Check-in at Hotel Kalura Cefalu

The reception desk and lobby areas were a different story and quite a surprise. For as bland as the exterior looked, the lobby was something else. There is a variety of really unique, colorful art all over the walls. It kind of had a feel like the owner had traveled a lot and was displaying all his souvenirs on the walls. It was very tastefully done, but so diverse it definitely kept you looking around. The lobby area is very spacious and a nice place to just sit and read or observe. There is a gift store in the lobby with wines and other local items.

Check-in was quick with 2 staff members attending guests. I had already paid for my stay online so I simply provided my passport, put a credit card on file for extras, and signed the check-in form. They explained the layout of the hotel, the time for breakfast and dinner, and I was off to my room in about 10 minutes.

Accommodation at Hotel Kalura

There are just over 80 rooms at Hotel Kalura and many have sea views. I had a very modern, double room with a terrace that overlooked the garden areas. It was nice to have a bit of green in front of me, which meant that no one was looking in my room. The mattress was firm, which I loved. The bathroom was ultra modern with an overhead shower, decent soap and amenities, and plush towels. The room was spacious, very clean and modern. There were two extra chairs, a small table and plenty of plugs for my phone and what-not. I was quite surprised because you never know if you get 4*s when you book 4*s or an exaggerated 3*. This was on the mark. They have a variety of singles and doubles with or without sea view, family rooms, studios and apartments.

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Breakfast and Dining Rooms

For a hotel with just over 80 rooms, you won’t be tripping over other guests in the dining room. They have nearly 3000 ft of dining space. It’s like everyone in the hotel can eat at the same time. They have an indoor dining room that spills out onto their lovely spacious, seaview terrace. This is the area with the ‘wow factor.’ The dining room is great for breakfast and lunch because that’s the side the sun is on, and the terrace heats up quickly.

Breakfast is a buffet split into a number of stations. This is great because you are not standing in line with others to grab breakfast. There were plenty of hot and cold items to choose from. You will not go hungry here. A couple mornings I woke up earlier than breakfast started, but they had coffee, croissants and fruit ready for the early risers. Very accommodating.

Dinners feel very elegant here. The evenings were humid, and many were dining inside in the air conditioning. But dining on the open-air terrace was a real pleasure. That sea view of La Caldura Bay is just magnificent. Staff are well-dressed and well-trained and the restaurant offered lots of reasonably-priced, tasty Sicilian specialties. You can request 1/2 board with your booking, which means breakfast and dinner included, but I went al a carte.

I did feel a bit strange dining alone because all the other tables were either couples or families. Thankfully, the waiters kept me company with a bit of chat as they were doing their service. It’s definitely a lovely place for a romantic dinner as the sun goes down. Twice a week they have a piano player which added nicely to the atmosphere.

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Sports Facilities at Hotel Kalura

You will find plenty to keep you entertained at Hotel Kalura Cefalu in the sports department. They have an 82-ft swimming pool to use if swimming in the sea is not your thing. Otherwise, head down seaside and grab one of the free lounge chairs and umbrellas where you can take a dip as you wish. There’s also a sandy beach area next to it, if you prefer to walk into the water versus jumping straight in.

If you are interested in scuba diving, Sicilia Divers has a center right on the property offering training courses and dive trips to some local spots. There’s also table tennis, basketball, or maybe you’d like to take a beginner’s yoga class. They offer a lot to do.

This hotel is set in the mountainous, ‘Madonie’ area, and within view of the city’s famous mountain, called the Rocca. This can be explored by foot, by bike or driving. You can also arrange to visit the Aeolian islands which are only 1.5 hrs away.

One afternoon, the staff were preparing an aperitif pool side. Nice for afternoon glass of champagne, wine or Aperol-spritz. Otherwise, grab something from the pool bar.

Going to Cefalu town and beyond.

There is a city bus just by the street entrance of the hotel that will take you into Cefalu town in about 10 minutes. Otherwise you can walk it in about 25 minutes. To be honest, I was really happy to just chill here and would have enjoyed a few more days. Hotel Kalura Cefalu Sicily is located at Via Vincenzo Cavallaro 13, Cefalù Italia. Enjoy!

The main photo at the top is © Hotel Kalura Cefalu Sicily

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