The ‘double room with sea-view’ was at the back of the hotel, facing the old docks (now not in use) and a rather handsome but derelict building alongside the town police station. It was a view of the sea. Although on the map it looks as if there should be other buildings hiding the view, nothing else was built up between the hotel and the sea – the hotel is one block deep, with a (one-way) road going past the police station behind it, then the derelict building, then the open view along the docks. When we looked out of our balcony, we could see the old tramlines right below us – but they are not in use, a wall has been built just beyond them, around the back of the hotel, so they are in its ‘back yard’ so to speak and it all feels very safe. Another reviewer mentioned it was in an ‘industrial area’ - it is not actually an ‘industrial’ area at all. It is simply a ‘working’ area of town, not a tourist area – with small mechanics’ workshops and car repair workshops… a fresh, wet fish wholesaler(no smell), and shops selling gym equipment and such like. These are the ground floor areas of residential blocks of flats. It is in a side road (one-way) off a main square with plants and fountains…and a petrol station…, and to one side of the main Corso Umberto that leads to the bridge to Ortigia, the island and historic quarter. So Via Tripoli is quieter than a main road as regards traffic. Every morning we were awakened by the sweet smell of baking, as the baker is just two doors along. There is a little restaurant a few more doors away, and across the other side of the square there are a couple of cafés and fruit and vegetable shops etc.
The main roads (each is one way for motor traffic) lead to Ortigia island. A few times, we walked to Ortigia away from the road and along the open dock area with open views of sea. Any traffic, including the occasional bus kept (generally !) to the double white lines marked as ‘roadway’ on the asphalt. In a couple of years, when they have built the deep water marina and ferry terminal in the old docks area behind the hotel – it will be just in the right position for discerning tourists !
It is not far on foot to the bus terminal and the railway station, and to one of the main shopping streets in ‘modern’ Siracusa – Corso Gelone, with big stores, supermarkets and shops such as Benetton. Likewise, it is about ten minutes walk in the opposite direction to Ortigia, the marina, and the old town – again with a main road Corso Matteotti on which are shops rivalling the stores in Corso Gelone – another Benetton etc. and leading up to the Fountain of Artemis and Piazza Archimede.
The hotel is very pretty and recently redecorated. There are mezzanine lounges which only cover half the floor area above the reception and breakfast room and are well lit from the glass doors and windows at the front of the hotel – giving it an airy feel. In fact, behind the two little lounges are the first floor hotel rooms – so it is not a mezzanine floor at all – just cut back with a sort of ‘balcony’ forming part of the little lounges, over the lower public rooms. There is a marble staircase that takes you from the basement breakfast room up to the second floor, and also from reception up. The hotel is constructed with a basement breakfast room (half the ceiling of which is the above cut back first floor – lots of light and air from glass panels and unused glass front doors in that front wall), ground floor reception, first floor little lounges and hotel rooms, 2nd floor hotel rooms, 3rd floor hotel rooms) The lift and the marble staircase go up to the 2nd floor, and the rooms on the 3rd floor are accessed via a carpeted, wide, wooden staircase (similar to those in homes in the UK). The hotel felt very ‘safe’ - the front door/reception area was always attended – the front door was locked when it wasn’t, and at night. There was always a male receptionist at night. The girls on duty during the day also served breakfast.
Our room was airy with a balcony, a wide double bed a side table, a dressingtable with small tv on it and fridge in the little cabinet, another small cabinet, a double wardrobe, two bedside tables and a stand for a suitcase.
It had a nice bathroom with a small, high window – shower, bidet, toilet and washbasin. A minor problem: the shower is one of those glass cubicles where two little doors slide from a corner – so it’s a bit of a squeeze to get in for the larger, tubbier person –and you end up washing yourself with your head sticking out of the corner to avoid banging against the glass panels when you bend down, which also applies if you are a taller person ! Slim and under six foot tall people will find it’s o.k. with the panels shut. The air-conditioning is ‘independent’ so we could have it on in late October when the temperature was 75 degrees F. but the locals think it’s winter and walk around in insulated ‘puffa’ jackets and winter coats ! There is a mini-fridge so you can keep snacks cool and your medicines etc. The staff are very friendly and helpful and offered to freeze the ‘freezer packs’ I kept in my bag to keep my tablets cool as we travel around during the day.
Breakfast was a buffet – and, when the girls were present, we were offered different sorts of coffee (espresso, cappuccino, ‘americano’, etc. prepared on the spot - although you may need to ask the girls for it). There’s usually a vacuum flask-jug of ‘filter’ coffee on the buffet table, another of hot milk and another of hot water - and boxes of tea-bags including green tea and fruit teas. There was always: fruit, yoghurt, a tray of pastries, hard boiled eggs, slices of cheese, tiny triangles of foil wrapped processed cream cheese, slices of ham, jams, marmalade, squares of biscuit ‘toast’ in cellophane wraps, three or four assorted large cakes (you cut your own slices, and one morning there were also tiny doughnuts) and bread rolls on offer. The bread rolls were so delicious that you had to be down early to get them – otherwise the early risers would have eaten them all and you would be offered – with a rueful smile from the reception girls :- ‘pan carré’ i.e. commercially mass-produced wrapped sliced loaf !
Our only complaint: the towels and bedlinen were not changed as frequently as we would have liked. We were only staying a week, however, in hot weather, I may be fastidious, but I would like bedlinen changed at least twice a week. As for the towels, maybe that was our fault – we don’t like leaving them on the floor – which I believe is the usual way hotel staff ‘understand’ that you wish to have fresh, clean towels. I feel that they should be changed regularly, regardless – not just folded up again when left on the rail or hook. But, when asked to change linen, the staff acted immediately, and were courteous about it.
Internet was in the entrance area by reception, and could be used free for the first five or ten minutes ( I forget how long) – then it would ‘switch off’ and you would have to pay for more – but we never needed to – if you’re on holiday, you don’t need to spend longer – just check e-mails. After checking out, we left our luggage at reception – and we were invited to sit in the lounge areas to wait for our taxi and use the ground floor ‘bathroom’. The staff were all very kind, courteous and friendly – and made our stay a pleasant one.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
