We arrived at the hotel around 20:00 on Saturday night after long journey. Then found out the reception and the door into the hotel were closed. We rang the number on the notice on the door, panicking. The first word I heard was "I don't speak English". After felt-like hours of panic with many phone calls and confused conversations, at last, the person on the other end of the line decided to send a member of the staff when I asked for refund as we couldn't find a card key into the room. The reception is open 8:00-12:00 and 16:00-20:00 on weekdays and only in the morning on weekends, and unfortunately we don't speak Italian and they only speak very basic English.
Our "room" (it had 1 spacious double bed room, small single room, a big terrace, bathroom and small kitchen with cooker and fridge!) was clean, but heating wasn't working. I imagine if you stay there during the summer intending to cater yourself, that place must be fantastic, however, our timing wasn't good.
Even though breakfast was included, you must think that you won't get one, as what prepared on the table were: 2 jags of juice, water, bags of dried bread, jam and butter. There was coffee machine next to it, so my husband and I had a couple of (plastic) cups of coffee as the space for breakfast was freezing and nothing wasn't appetizing.
Our experience was awful, but if you speak Italian and intending to stay in Messina for a while during summer, I guess that wouldn't be as bad.
But why is it 4 star hotel??