After a week at a villa near the local beach, we just spent 2 unexpected extra nights at the Hotel Groticelli (due to cancelled flights home) and we all agreed it's a great place to stay, with amazing views, warm and helpful staff (receptionist helpfully speaks English), plenty to choose from at breakfast, and easy to access. The air-conditioned rooms have spacious terraces in front, and there is a pool (goes to 1.9m deep) for relaxing in, with outdoor showers etc.
It's only 40min-drive along the gorgeous coast to/from Palermo airport. The wonderful little village of Scopello is a few mins away. It's busy at night as people come to dine (and dress to be seen) at lovely restaurants such as the Nettuno. The hotel is also a few mins from a couple of excellent supermarkets - one of which is very upmarket with a great range of produce - a pharmacy, a great pizzeria, and a bar-restaurant for coffees and granita, etc.
5mins from the hotel are several popular beaches (stony, not sand) such as Cala Mazzo di Sciacca, accurately described on Google as a 'Rocky inlet with clear waters popular for swimming & snorkelling, beach chair rentals & a snack bar', and Tonnara di Scopello. The waters on this coast are crystal clear in the morning and we saw lots of interesting fish. Parking is easy. We also recommend dinner at La Cialoma which is close by.
The Hotel is an easy base from which to visit all the extraordinary places, national parks and tourist spots in the region, or to scuba dive (F