I stayed 3 nights, but paid for 4 nights…read more The low rating is purely for the lack of honesty from one of the owners. Such a bullshitter, in my opinion. I paid for extra nights stay in advance, but on the same day I paid, I decided to go to Catania. So I asked if I could get a refund. One employee asked the person in charge and refused. Then I asked her myself and her response was their cancellation policy is "3 days before arrival." I was like hmm...and walked away. I later searched the website and my initial reservation email. NOTHING! I asked 2 employees and neither are aware of a written policy. So who is lying? Probably should have fought, but instead I'll leave a low rating. Their loss. ROOM & SHOWER: Stayed in the 6-bed female dorm for 2 nights and 4-bed mixed dorm for 1 night. You are provided a key for your locker. Comes with 2 shelves. The 6-bed female dorm is spacious. It faces the road and it's VERY noisy. The mixed dorm is smaller. There is a window, but not as noisy. All rooms are unlocked. Therefore, anyone can enter the room. Strange if you ask me. None of my items, however, went missing. 2 showers and 2 toilets in the women's bathroom and men's bathrooms. Cleaned once a day. Your bedsheets are placed in the lockers. RECEPTION/STAFF: 24/7 reception. They all speak English, including the owners. They aren't the best hostel staff I've met (in Italy), but besides that bitch, her brother and the rest are cool. Santo (co-owner) cooked a plate of spaghetti alla carbonara. It was very good! Pretty cool and talented guy. Would be cool if he could serve breakfast and/or dinner for a fee. It could make the hostel more inviting. KITCHEN: No cooking oil was available. There are some basic spices. The basic things are available, such as a microwave, salt, plates, cooking pans and pots, cups, silverware. No dishwasher. COMMON AREAS: There are books, board games, and a TV in the same area where breakfast is served. There is seating in the kitchen and a patio to chill or smoke. There is also a small area next to the reception/small bar. Several Congo drums and a piano to play. You might spot someone playing the piano. This hostel isn't 100% set up for social interaction. The potential is there. You just have to initiate or join an existing conversation, which tends to be better at night. BREAKFAST: Breakfast options are cheap-quality as usual. Never tried it. Juice, cereal, milk, coffee, and croissants (for a fee). I heard the juice was terrible. THE SURROUNDINGS: I felt safe. Latest time I was in the area was 1 am. You'll find shops, restaurants, bakery, grocery store, and other retail shops within a 5 minute walking distance. MISCELLANEOUS INFO: No elevator. No dryer, but there is a washer. Cost is 4 euros. You can dry your things across the kitchen, which is an open outdoor space. 5 minute walk to the airport shuttle pickup spot as well as several other bus stops. They have free laptops available for use and I used one, but it wasn't any faster than using my phone. The Wi-fi speed isn't the fastest (Wi-fi speeds in Italy isn't fast in general). Palermo Centrale Station is a 30-minute walk and a 10-minute ride by bus. You can rent a beach towel for 1 euro. If I was given a refund for the night I did not stay OR if the co-owner was honest about why she refused to give me a refund, then this rating would be 3 stars.

From the owner: "A casa di amici" è l'ostello della gioventù di Palermo, situato in pieno centro a 300 mt dal…read moreTeatro Politeama e dalla fermata del bus da/a aeroporto palermo - Trapani (Birgi) In una palazzina indipendente del XIX sec offre al primo piano posti letto in dormitorio misto, femminile e maschile, una camera quadrupla ed una doppia con bagni in comune, al secondo piano cinque camere con con bagno ed una junior suite dotata di tv, tutte le camere sono climatizzate e con copertura wifi. A disposizione degli ospiti c´è una cucina ben equipaggiata e una simpatica area relax con tv satellitare, un bar aperto dalla colazione alla notte che da su una comoda terrazza dotata di BBQ nonché una sala per lo yoga e la meditazione aperta 24h. Siamo nella parte Liberty della città, dove è bello passeggiare tra alberi e boutique, tra ristoranti e locali notturni, è possibile raggiungere facilmente i luoghi piu´ suggestivi della città.

It's very cosy hostel, with very friendly atmosphere. I love the interior, specially kitchen! It's…read moregood place to stay when you visiting Palermo. Owners are very helpful and you can see that they put lot of effort to make tis place special. Lots of things which are inside are handmade, you can also buy some nice jewellery. They are serving breakfast of your chose and they can cook you dinner if you ask.

Safe? Check Clean? Check…read moreBed? Check (we are not so needy) Private bathroom? Check Besides the really small shower, this place was great for the price. We have learned that we don't need a room for anything but to sleep, shower & hold our bags. As long as it is safe & clean, we want the cheapest place. The location is fantastic, situated near the main theaters in town & central to all the night life, but not too close to hear the noise. For us, this was just fine, all we needed. It was closer to a hostel private room with private bath than it was to a hotel as far as look & feel, but it was ran like a hotel. If you are simplistic, this is a great hotel for a great price. We only slept & showered here. Central to most of the sights, in a business building. There is a safe in the room & breakfast is brought to your room at the requested time but is very simplistic (Italian)...a crescant, toast with jam & beverage of choice. If you are a high maintenance person, this is not for you. If you are just looking for a place to sleep, the bed was fine & the shower was small but hot (yay). Simple is good & you'll be happy with the extra €€ in your pocket!

This isn't just a 'favourite place'. Atelier Sul Mare is now my favourite place in the whole world…read more I can't stress enough how stunning and perfect this hotel is. If I could, I would pack up my bags right now and live here. I actually found out about it after a conversation on Qype too :-) I've never been one to stay in a hotel while I'm on a holiday. Give me a hostel, a cheap b&b and i'm happy - after all I'm not planning on spending much time there so I only really need a bed and a cup of coffee! Atelier Sul Mare is different. Oh so different. Roughly translated at the 'art hotel by the sea' you're treated to a stunning array of rooms. 25 years ago, 15 artists were asked to create hotel rooms with a difference. This is the result. It's so difficult to explain the experience. You honestly don't know what to expect when you get there. One room had a shower like a carwash. There was a room with a bed like a birds nest, one was like a fairy tale tower! When we saw that one on the website images, it looked scary, but when we saw it in real life, it was stunning - shame it wasn't free when we wanted to stay there. All of the art rooms have sea views - and these are stunning. You get a tour of the rooms each day - by moving each evening you get to experience different rooms - a clever way of the hotel keeping the rooms free, and a really great twist. it is worth moving your stuff over. All of the rooms have air con, but you won't find a TV or mini bar. That's really not the point of the hotel - if theses are on your list of must haves and you aren't willing to overlook them, them you're kinda missing the point of the hotel. The rest of the hotel is beautiful. Really stunning. there's an art gallery for goodness sake! How many hotels have one of those?! There's a great restaurant (which I've written about serperately). It's not cheap, but the food is great. There's a bar next door too. Nice enough, but they'll serve you your drink by the beach so there's not much point staying the bar! You also get use of a perfect little private beach with the bluest sea in the whole world. (My boyfriend taught me to swim in that sea, so I promise it's warm!) Don't expect any tourists around you. You're right next to a teeny town - this hotel is perfect for escapism. All this for EUR85 per person a night in September for an art room. I think standard rooms are about EUR65 and while they're stunning, I think if you're going to splash out, stay in an art room. I might just book a flight back there right now. It's the most perfect place in the world. I have such a special place in my heart for this hotel. I don't think I could ever stay in a Radisson again. Perfect. Awesome.

I had heard a lot of good things about The Art Hotel in…read moreSicily and last week when I finally got to see it and stay there I realized that what I had heard about the hotel was an understatement. In reality this place is even more wonderful that what people say about it. Being the only Art Museum Hotel in the world it provides you an experience that no other place ever can. I was given a guided tour of the hotel's art rooms and it was a great experience. The hotel is very near to the beach and the guests get free access o the fully equipped beach. The Art Hotel in Sicily is a place that I would highly recommend to everyone.