Hotels in Palermo, Sicily
 

Is anyone familiar with the Garibaldi, on Via Emerico Amari opposite the Garibaldi Theater? We'll be in Palermo at the end of a 2 week trip, spending 3 nights. This place is rated #3 by TripAdvisor and the rate is very good -- under US$200/night for a Triple, parking included. However, it appears to be about a km or .75 miles off of Via Vittorio Emanuele, which seems to be the main drag for sites to see, according to the guidebooks. Alternatively, we are thinking of another high ranker, Hotel Portia Felice, which is off Vittorio Emanuele, but near the waterfront. We don't mind walking, but have no idea about the safety of the city streets on weekday evenings. It sounds like the area around the theater would probably be populated, but we're unsure of the walk from there to Vittorio Emanuele, and could use advice from someone who knows the city, including other good hotels that might be in better areas. Thanks very much.

The former is a better location to me.

Is it closer to the sites, or a safer neighborhood, do you think?

We stayed in a very nice pensione on Via Butera, opposite to Porta Felice.
It is close to Piazza Marina, the see and the old part of the city. It is a nice walk and not a long walk till Vittorio Emanuele .
Like you, we were affraid about safety in Palermo. I can assure you that we have the most pleasant surprise to find a very safe city. Day or night, we had never a problem there.

If you stay at Porta Felice, please enter to visit Palazzo Mirto. It is a short visit (1 hour) and you will see a beautiful palace.
From Piazza Marina you can take the touristic hop on / hop off bus.

Safer !

Just to be sure I understand -- you're saying the area in the north, around Hotel Garabaldi, is the one that's safer in the evening -- right?

Topping to catch someone's attention again. I'd like to be sure the area between the Garibaldi and Vittorio Emanuele is safe to walk at night -- though I suspect taxis for a couple of miles shouldn't be too expensive. I read somewhere that the popular evening "stroll" is actually in the modern city, but I can't figure out if it's near the Garibaldi. Thanks.

I can highly recommend the Ambasciatori Hotel in Palermo, conveniently located not far from the train station and the Quattro Canti. And well within your budget. It's a small almost boutique hotel with great views of the city, especially from the large terrace, where breakfast is served and drinks in the evening.

Mimar, did you have any trouble with the parking at Ambasciatori? The TripAdvisor reviews give the place a rather mixed review. It is quite a bit cheaper. Is the neighborhood safe to walk around in the evening? Thanks.

I have stayed at the Ambasciatori and walked around in the evening as a woman alone.

I can't speak to the parking, but I would suggest you rethink driving in Palermo. The customary advice is to park at the airport, leaving nothing of value in the car, and to take the Prestia & Comande bus into town. Its final stop is five minutes on foot from the Ambasciatori.

Thanks, Zerlina. We won't be doing much driving in Palermo -- just arriving the first evening with our rental car, and the rental office will probably already be closed. Our thinking is that we would need to park that night, and then return the car the next morning, after a quick drive out to Monreale. However, you raise a good point -- maybe we should see if the airport office of the rental car company is open later, and, if so, drop off the car the first night at the airport and take the bus into town so we don't have the hassle of the car at all in the city.

I think you'd regret trying to drive to Monreale. Take the bus from Piazza Indipendenza.

The airport is an hour from the city.
I agree, bus to Monreale.

Click on my name for my trip report from 2005.

The neighborhood around the Ambasciatori seemed safe. I don't know about the parking. We picked up a car at the airport upon leaving Palermo. I would agree with not driving in Palermo and not driving to Monreale. We also took the bus. (And had a nice lunch there at the Taverna del Pavone.)

The airport car rental offices should be open long hours if not 24/7. You can take an airport bus into the city to the train station, which is within walking distance of the Ambasciatori if you don't have too much luggage.

I was surprised to see the more negative reviews of the Ambasciatori at TripAdvisor. When we booked, they were all positive. Most seem concerned about noise. But anybody who expects quiet and tranquillity in the middle of Palermo is ill-informed.

This is all very helpful, thanks. I think we'll probably try to ditch the car at the airport the evening we arrive in Palermo, take the bus into town, and take a boos out to Monreale the next morning instead of driving.

Ed,
We returned a car to the Palermo airport very early in the AM-we just left the keys in a box provided for such an occasion. The bus from the airport to Palermo and from Palermo to Monreale are very easy to navigate.

Thanks. Do you recall where to catch the bus to Monreale? Do most buses leave from the train station area?

Another hotel option near Politeama: The Grand Hotel Wagner has been running internet rates around 125€/night for two in a double.

Thanks. I just looked at the Wagner -- and they have no Triples available for when we'll be there. Too bad, looks like a nice place, too.

For Monreale there is the bus 389 from Piazza Independenza next to the Palatine Chapel