"Advertised as being ‘close to the harbour’ we were initially dismayed on arriving to find ‘harbour’ meant ferry port. The hotel is on a busy dual carriageway alongside the port but we soon grew to appreciate the fascinating comings and goings from our 6th floor room, 611, and were pleased we’d chosen one ‘with a harbour view and balcony’. The patio door glazing was good enough to keep out most of the noise and we were never woken by it, whilst the aircon was also good as was lighting in the room. We stayed 29 Sept – 4 Oct ’26 and it was hot; with an average maximum of 26C. Our room wasn’t large but was adequate and very clean, with a comfy bed that faced the patio door, bedside table each, reading light, safe and small fridge that contained 2 small bottles of water; one still and one sparkling. A desk and chair were behind the bed, next to a full length mirror and there were two ‘bench’ seats on which items could be stored. There was no wardrobe but a clothes rail above one bench, beside the bathroom sufficed. The hospitality tray above the fridge had a good sized electric kettle, to our relief, along with complimentary tea sachets, coffee (no decaff) and one UHT milk pod. Polystyrene cups were provided which were too hot to hold when containing hot drinks so we borrowed china cups from the dining room. I left a note (in Italian) asking the cleaning staff for more UHT milk which was then provided each day when the room was serviced. The bathroom was very clean & had a large walk in shower with detachable shower head and 3 water speeds, chosen by holding down a button on the head. Shower gel/shampoo was provided in a wall container and there was plenty of hot water and towels. Liquid soap was by the sink along with freebies we didn’t need such as shower caps and shoe shine. There was a bidet and wall mounted hairdryer and adequate lighting. A blue night-light would have been a good touch but there was a strange frosted glass window to the bedroom which meant using the night-light flooded the bedroom with blue light too. Mystifyingly the flick of a switch below the hairdryer turned the frosted glass into clear glass! We thought this a total waste of money, which would have been better spent providing towel rails for bath towels and two hooks on the back of the door! We couldn’t find any TV stations for English speakers and you can’t log into your Netflix account but I imagine that could only be a problem in bad weather when you can’t sit on a balcony with a beer & enjoy the view.
Two chairs were provided on the balcony and we spent happy time there watching the beautiful sun rises and the daily car ferries and 3 cruise ships being skilfully docked. Car ferries arrived with the dawn and left around 9.30pm. A new terminal is being built and it was also interesting to watch the workmen arrive at dawn on the 3 weekdays of our stay and see their daily progress! Alas, we got some insect bites on the balcony.
The dining room was on the top, 7th floor. This meant we heard chairs being scraped on the floor above us at 10pm and 6.30am but it wasn’t a big problem. The view of the area behind the hotel from the window by the 2 efficient lifts was one of mostly low rise dilapidated old housing with pantiles and washing on balconies between us and the mountains. The hotel is gradually being decorated and upgraded – our 6th floor corridor walls were waiting to be painted and there’s a sign explaining this in the hotel (see photos).
The dining room is light and goes the length of much of the hotel with a couple of windows to the rear in an area with tables and leather Chesterfield settees while a balcony runs its length giving views over the bay and port. There’s a small bar at one end with Messina and Peroni(?) beer on tap, a large coffee machine, wine and spirits. Food was good and plentiful. We had a half board deal. Breakfast was my favourite with a wide choice of fruit, 3 cereals, ham, cheese, hard boiled eggs, pastries, scrambled eggs, streaky bacon, fried tomatoes and tiny frankfurter-like sausages, toast, baguette, salad things, 3 fruit juices and one coffee machine behind which long queues formed. Another coffee machine is much needed. In the evening there’s a choice of 4 hot dishes which always included 2 pasta ones, a huge salad and veg bar, pizza on 2 evenings and grapes and one other dessert such as pastries, cannoli or similar. Dinner is served 7.30 – 10pm which is a bit late for the British like us. Breakfast is advertised as being 7am – 10am but on the one morning when we wanted an early breakfast because our excursion left the city centre at 8.30am it was in full flow when we arrived at 7am! Two staff were particularly helpful to us; Jennifer and Antonio. On two evenings when a very large group was staying they reserved a table for us and ensured we didn’t feel ignored. The hotel website advertises music in the dining room – happily it was a quiet selection of suitable for the age of the majority of guests which I guess was 55+. One evening I was delighted to hear a song from my favourite musical: Hamilton!
There is a ‘snack stand’ open from 5pm – 12.30am by the dining room bar and a 24 hour drinks and snacks bar in Reception.
The staff at reception were mostly helpful and willing to find out further information from Sicilian Excursions about the 6 excursions that an A4 sheet says can be booked via the hotel. The one we most liked wasn’t running and we booked another online ourselves after studying the tour company website. We were disappointed at the lack of tourist information in Reception, since most hotels we stay in do have a stand of brochures, especially for the hop on hop off buses and public transport. However, the little Palermo map (sponsored by the Sapori Perduti restaurant) in Reception is excellent, & free. It’s a 15 minute walk to the hop on hop off bus stop no. 1. It was too hot to walk all over the city and there is much to explore. You can buy a 2-day ticket on the yellow bus (we discovered too late!) This was a short break in a hotel that gave good value-for-money and we recommend it."
