Lots of previous reviews so I won’t repeat them where they coincide with our own experience (location; hard to find etc etc). When we stayed in October 2010 the place was pretty much empty except for a coachload from Studiosus in Germany. The hotel gave us the option of pretty much any room on the top floor of the main building. The rooms on the seafront turned out to be rather small although they have balconies. We took a room facing onto the splendid courtyard. These rooms are very large and quite well appointed in the Sicilian taste. We were very comfortable and had a great time. Breakfast arrangements were a bit flakey on the morning the Studiosus people left (not enough staff) but the place redeemed itself the following morning.

The real problem was the unspeakable stench the night we arrived and to a lesser extent the next night. We couldn’t decide if this was from sewerage being pumped into the otherwise beautiful bay or maybe from rotting seaweed. Whatever, the town of Bonaglia needs to sort this. I shall be writing to the Azienda touristica in Trapani to say so!

We had already been warned about this place by other reviews, and alas - it was true.

First of all: the place is hard to find: the signs stop at a certain moment, and although the hotel is truly GIGANTIC, there are NO signs on or near it!!!

When calling the hotel for assistance, I got a non-English speaking receptionist, who just put me on hold and never returned. When phoned again, we got an English speaking colleague, who refused to believe that the hotel was difficult to find: at that moment we were staring right at it, and still NO sign or name! Later he joked about it, but did not take our comment seriously.

Next: the air-conditioning in the room, for us always one of the most important aspects, was really bad. Reception claimed this was due to a power failure after a thunder storm, but that should not last 2 days! Again, we got the feeling we were not being taken too seriously.

Great location, fantastic pool, OK restaurant, but that is not enough to recommend this place.

We enjoyed a fab week at this hotel 2 years ago when it was under management of the NH Hotel group and what a difference that has made to this hotel. It has disimproved totally and is a shadow of its former self. My previous review was glowing http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowUserReviews-g194757-d289437-r18376060-FH_Tonnara_Di_Bonagia_Resort-Erice_Sicily.html but I am afraid I had to write this to address what is patently not applicable now to this resort. Firstly, on arrival we bounded down to the reception - still signposted as such - only to discover an ghost area with empty desk. Eventually we were directed by a guest to the porters cabin at the entrance gate to the hotel. Reception was friendly enough. We had booked a 2 bed / 2 bath apartment in the timeshare area at a cost 33% higher than we had paid for similar accommodation 2 years ago. There was no second bathroom and the second bedroom was a joke, a tiny cell with a small high up window and a wardrobe just about squeezed in beside the bunk beds. No fan in this tiny room. The main bedroom had a fan. Our seaview was a glimpse over a slipway which was the service area complete with the noise from the related bottle disposal and linen delivery for the hotel. We really were in the duff end of the hotel for over €200 a night b/b. We spent about 30 minutes explaining at reception why this was not acceptable. We were offered a better room for the following day but we would have to move out a day early. Moving rooms twice during a 5 night stay was unacceptable but we couldn't unpack our stuff yet as it was another day and around 3 visits to reception before the manager eventually met us and discounted the room by 20% due to the lack of 2nd bathroom. Knowing the area and our short length of stay, we gritted out teeth and took it rather than move hotel. Had i known at that stage that there would be no chambermaid service of the apartment and no change of bedlinen or towels during our stay, i may not even have accepted that. Previously, the chambermaids tidied in the morning and again early evening, refreshing towels and toiletries and providing a fab service. Not this time. Even our children, who were dying to revisit this hotel, were hugely disappointed and felt that it had completely deteriorated. The lifeguard presence in the pool had gone down from a team to one sole survivor who didn't seem to have the same joie de vivre that he had previously - excellent as he is at his job. the animation team were friendly but concentrated on getting mum involved in activities rather than getting the english speaking kids involved. The water in the pool was tepid and must have been heated as well as heating up naturally as the day went on with the heat of the sun. It was actually unpleasant. Where previously there was a constant supply of fresh towels everytime you went to the pool, this time you got one towel each on arrival and that was your lot. Good from an eco point of view but another service missing that was there previously. Snorkelling from the pontoon was excellent. Breakfast had been moved from a lovely courtyard area with a view of the old tuna boats to the inner courtyard with no view. Breakfast was on the poor end. Nescafe Nespresso coffee is a disappointment in Italy, a good display of fruit, yoghurt, ok pastry, terrible scrambled egg and bacon type product. Any frills that existed when we were there last were long gone. We didn't eat at the hotel nor did we have anything to drink. The prices were exorbitant in the restaurant and we could not imagine that quality would be even fair. The receptionists were friendly, those who spoke English were helpful. However, with the exception of 1 girl, I felt that the reception staff were amateurish. The manager, once we had agreed on the discount, snubbed us quite obviously for the rest of his stay. The location which is charming and is good for this part of Sicily as there is alot within easy distance was spoiled this time by a STINK of what we would hope was seaweed which was being dredged up from the harbour during our stay. The smell permeated everywhere and was particularly bad in the small second bedroom. It was extremely off-putting as it smelled very close to sewage. They say never go back but we will sadly never return.

I really don't know what to write about this place - a lot of the negative reviews on here are definitely deserved. It's caught between being a fairly cheesy Italian family resort, and wanting to be a high-end boutique style place.

First is the price - it's priced like a 5* resort (which it certainly is not). We managed to bargain down from €230 a night to €150. I'd probably be giving this a 1* review were it not for that. Nothing about this hotel is worth that kind of money.
We had lunch one day that was hideously expensive too. €27 for a bowl of fruit and two sandwiches. Ouch. There's not

Second, the staff - the friendly bloke at reception was quite helpful. The rest of the staff, well they make you feel like you're interrupting them when you ask them something. Not very helpful, and strangely unfriendly. They're all fairly young so you get the feeling it's some kind of 18-30 hol for them and they'd rather be doing something else.

Third, the location - yes it's on the coast, but be aware that the local town is completely dead. There is very little to do (not even a nice beach) and you'll be wishing the hotel offered more than just a cheesy karaoke on Saturday night (which it did. Went on until 1am). Apparently it used to be a fishery - and you can tell. There's an awful fishy smell hanging over the whole place.

Fourth, the rooms. As has been mentioned, pretty average decor. The bathrooms are in need of a makeover too - rusty fittings and not enough lights. Pretty dingy. Only 3 channels worked on the TV too. We had asked for a double room, but were given a twin. When we called up to ask, we were told the hotel was full and they would change the mattress next day. This didn't happen and after another two calls to reception, the cleaners stretched a double sheet over the two single mattresses, and gave us a double size duvet. Not really what you're expecting for €230 a night. Not a word of apology either.

Lastly, is how the hotel markets itself. There's nothing high-end or luxurious about this place. It's more of a family destination - there were lots of children running about the place. As such, the hotel is geared to this kind of crowd, rather than being a relaxing get away.

There is a nice pool, and if you're happy spending that kind of money to sit around a pool you'll think it's a good deal. I would give it a wide berth, however.