A spa hotel in Sicily that promises a dream escape
Recently faced with the impending arrival of our first child, my partner and I decided that a weekend away was just the thing to prepare us for parenthood. Craving a touch of the exotic – and, if I’m honest, feeling somewhat inspired by the glamorous locations in the latest series of The White Lotus – we set our sights on Sicily.
Nearing the end of my second trimester, I was looking for a getaway that emphasised relaxation and the newly opened Adler Resort and Spa was the perfect choice for our last hurrah pre-baby.
We arrived late one evening at Palermo airport, our flight somewhat delayed by strikes in France, and were grateful to be met by a pre-arranged driver from the hotel. This is because the Adler is a 90-minute drive from Palermo (and more than two hours from the other main airport in Catania), perched on the southwestern coast of the island and located adjacent to an area of parkland known as the Torre Salsa Nature Reserve. It felt like a bit of a trek to get there, but this semi-remoteness is a big part of what makes it so special.
The spacious bedrooms at Adler Resort and Spa in Sicily. (Photo: Supplied)
The property is enormous and sprawls across several tiered levels of a rolling landscaped hillside, all facing out to the Mediterranean with stunning views of the lush green park and ocean. The hotel rooms are, rather democratically, all designed with identical layout – and equally gorgeous, with luxuriously spacious interiors, elegant furniture and private terraces with water views.
On the night of our arrival our transport delays meant we were too late for dinner in the restaurant, so we were delighted to find the staff had thoughtfully prepared a tray of substantial nibbles for us to enjoy in our room. It was a lovely touch and one we came to realise was typical of the Adler, where the staff members couldn’t seem to do enough to make their guests feel at home.
Perhaps it’s something to do with being a family-run business, but it’s one of those places where every person we met, from cleaning staff through to therapists in the spa and servers in the restaurant, was genuinely warm and friendly. They all appear to love the work they do and are keen to make sure you love it too.
It was lovely to feel so welcome and we quickly settled into our room. But I wasn’t keen to get too comfortable, as the best part about staying at the Adler is getting out of your room and taking part in the activities.
The hotel offers a full daily schedule for guests with offerings such as yoga sessions and fitness classes (including a fun and pregnancy-friendly aqua gym class), plus scheduled hikes and e-bike tours in the surrounding parklands. For an additional fee, we also had the option of booking into activities such as a cooking class, local gin tasting and a guided tour of the closest archaeological attraction, the stunning Valley of the Temples.
All activities can be booked on the hotel app, accessible via a QR code, and this is also the best way to book in treatments at the hotel’s subterranean spa. We quickly realised that it’s worth taking time soon after arrival to peruse the schedule and book in our chosen activities, so we could then kick back and enjoy going with the flow.
One of the elements giving structure to our days were meals in the hotel restaurant, which were served at set times, starting with a lavish buffet at breakfast and then going on to a la carte menus at lunch and dinner. All meals were served in the same space but, for variety on days when the weather was fine, we were also able to eat lunch at the open air osteria.
Healthy lunches at the Adler. (Photo: Alex Lalak)
Although the vibe felt a touch cafeteria-style in the restaurant, the quality of the food is excellent and just as fresh and healthy as you would expect in a spa resort, with plenty of salads, freshly grilled seafood and platters of cut fruit including incredible oranges grown in the adjoining nature reserve. All the food is made from locally sourced ingredients, as much as possible, making them particularly delicious. There were also some more indulgent options on the menu including pizzas, pastas and homemade cakes (this is Italy, after all).
Between meals, we found plenty to do aside from the scheduled activities. Wandering the landscaped gardens, swimming in the vast indoor/outdoor heated saltwater infinity pool and relaxing with a book on the plush lounge chairs in the relaxation zone were all high on the list. For a slightly more intensive experience, there is a thalasso (salt water) hot tub and a sauna for detoxing.
One afternoon we ventured down to the beach, which is directly accessible from the hotel down a hillside path that takes around 45 minutes to walk (or there’s a golf cart with a driver ready and waiting throughout the day to zip you down and back if you don’t feel like exerting yourself). Although the water was still too chilly for us to take a dip, it would be the perfect place to pass an afternoon during the summer months.
Soaking up the morning sunshine at the Adler. (Photo: Alex Lalak)
Of course, you can’t visit a spa hotel and miss out on the treatments and I chose a couple of much needed indulgences from the extensive menu of options, including their signature Essences of Sicily massage (with small modifications for pregnancy). They also offer a wide range of Ayurvedic treatments, beauty services and fitness sessions, as well as specialised options for men and for kids (should the whole family wish to get in on the action).
On our last night we stopped by the ‘Sunset Bar’ for a drink before heading downstairs to the restaurant for a dinner of freshly grilled prawns. Gazing out to the golden Mediterranean with a (non-alcoholic) cocktail in hand, a fire pit crackling away beside us and live music from a duo of acoustic songbirds playing in the background, I felt exactly what I had hoped to gain from this little getaway: pure and total relaxation.
Visit the website for the Adler Sicilia here.
