Trolling through the accommodation possibilities for Palermo, the Hotel Vecchio Borgo stood out as a potentially decent resting place, all the more so due to their offer of paying up front to secure a €54 bed and breakfast rate – deal!
My parents arrived in Sicily before us, so checked in before picking us up from the airport. The secure car parking turned out to be rather complicated, with the garage being 20 minutes away and one of the staff would drive and park it and you needed to give notice of when you wanted your car back. Too complicated, especially when it was my parents own car, not a hire car and it’s a large car. When the staff saw it, they conceded to letting Dad park right outside the hotel, in the chained area and in clear view of the reception staff.
That sorted, onto the rooms.
The corner bedroom
As per the website, the rooms were rather elaborate however clean and pleasant. Our room was a bit more spacious than my parents’ room but it did the job. Staff were efficient and friendly. There is double glazing in the rooms, which is needed as our room over-looked a small piazza where the locals liked to hang out in the evening.
The surprise came in the morning, when we went down for breakfast. What a breakfast! There was a selection of cereals, fresh fruit, hams and cheese, rolls, bread for toasting, yoghurt, cakes and tarts, brioches and fruit juice. You placed your order for the type of coffee you desired, as you do in Italy.
All in all, this was a pleasant hotel, well situated for walking around Palermo sites and near shopping areas as well as very reasonably priced. Unfortunately, it’s opposite shared rubbish bins, and this being Sicily, the rubbish mounts considerably and looks rather unattractive, leaving the street feeling neglected and a tad rough, but it was fine. Continue straight up the street and in the next block you find nice apartments and good shopping!
Hotel Vecchio Borgo, Via Quintino Sella, Palermo
