Bastiò Private Suites

We were delighted to discover this welcoming, refined boutique hotel, just a few minutes' walk from the sights of the old town. It lived up to the excellent reviews we read before booking. I was puzzled by a recent negative review about there being no staff, since we found staff present and attentive to our needs. A boutique hotel has a different feel from a big chain. Instead of the busy, impersonal atmosphere of a large commercial hotel, we found a personal touch from people invested in the city's history and the historic building that became our home for a short stay. Our room was spacious and comfortable, and we slept excellently thanks to the beds, bedding, pillows, and blackout shades. I also loved the large jetted tub, a lovely way to unwind before dinner at one of the highly rated restaurants nearby. Maybe it comes down to expectations: Bastio Suites exceeded ours, and we highly recommend this charming hotel.

The room felt like an oasis in the middle of the desert. I honestly didn't want to leave it. Celso (the manager) was extremely helpful with parking, restaurant suggestions, and all our general questions, and every staff member we met was great. The restaurant is very good too. With a car, the location is ideal for exploring Catania and eastern Sicily, including Taoromina, Siracusa, Noto, and more. I'd definitely stay again.

The room was lovely, spacious, and well furnished, and the history of the place is fascinating. We were told it sits inside Charles V’s old Spanish fortress, whose thick walls were meant to hold back the sea, armies, and even the lava that devastated Catania in the late 1600s. But during our stay there was dust and construction noise, though our room was far enough away to escape most of it. What was harder to deal with was finding anyone when we needed help. After a warm welcome from a young man with excellent English, the hotel seemed empty: no one upstairs, downstairs, or at reception. We only saw someone again when it was time to pay. A hotel advertised as luxury should be there for guests who need directions, recommendations, or just a person to speak to. The fortress walls are impressive, but they can’t make up for service that’s nowhere to be found.

We left after just two nights, even though we had booked eight. We understood being charged for the remaining six, but gave up more than 3,000 Euro in prepaid costs because we found the place so bad. This is the first time I’ve left a poor review for a five-star hotel, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for that standard. Our room looked beautiful, but there wasn’t enough space for our two carry-ons and two small backpacks. The so-called terrace was a glassed-in room within our room, with a cloudy outside window and a small vent at the top. Cars, trains, and people walking by were very loud through that vent. The fruit left for us was bruised and rotten, and the breakfast placemats were dirty. There was no concierge. The desk was supposedly staffed during the day, but we never found anyone there except at check-in and check-out. We came across the hotel patio by accident while searching for help. At check-in we were shown to the room but got no explanation of the multi-function spa tub or shower.