Absolutely would not recommend. Still currently staying in Domina Zagarella (as of 12/09), will update review if necessary. Booked through TUI. Let’s start with the positives. Hotel is clean, bright and has a lovely view from the main pool area. Peppe, boat captain for the boat trips, is wonderful and very knowledgeable. That’s about it. One of the most reoccurring negative reviews I have seen is that of the ‘D Club’, and the segregation that it entails. After trawling through Domina Zagarella and TUI’s website, I couldn’t find any information really detailing what it’s about. Sun-beds at the bottom pool for the ‘normal customers’ are minimal, located in one ***** along the side of the pool where the sun reaches the least (almost completely shaded by 3pm). I can understand, to an extent, that D Club members have a share in the hotel and that they are entitled to some bonuses, but the difference in treatment the ‘normal customers’ get compared to D Club is astonishing. The food in buffet restaurant is bang average at best, little to no variety each day / night. Definitely doesn’t reflect ‘authentic Sicilian cuisine’ as detailed on the website. No information provided on either website or upon check-in about any of the other restaurants or if they are included in price you pay. Also a very limited description, if any, about the food that is displayed - very much a guessing game. The pharmacy would not refund an un-opened bottle of Suncream, purchased on the same day as attempted return. Reason being ‘an invoice has already been made’. Offered to exchange for items in the store for the value of €24 (suncream was €25.11), which was begrudgingly accepted. The TUI website claims a ‘fantastic location’. False, absolutely nothing around the hotel for about 25 minutes walk. Very secluded. The view is great and that’s about the best thing about the location. I enquired about scuba diving about 8 times, only to be passed from place to place, told to come back at certain times in the day for it to be closed every time. To put this into perspective, the scuba diving shed is located right at the bottom of the resort so you’d have to climb 100 stairs each way to get to it (not a short / easy walk if you have mobility issues). I’d left my phone number when there was finally someone in the hut, to be told at 9pm that night ‘sorry the instructor is not available’. I’d attempted to book a dive for 7 days of my 10 day stay. Safe to say they would not be receiving my €95 for the cost of the dive. Most of the staff are decent, but they are let down massively by the evening pool bar staff. Members of my party were laughed at, on multiple occasions, when trying to order a cocktail. The staff spoke to each other blatantly in front of me, a paying customer, seemingly mocking my order. One staff member in particular, a young man with dark hair and tattoos on his neck aged roughly 25-35, seemed to show absolutely no interest in customer care or satisfaction
74 Reviews