Miramare

The whole hotel was old and unclean. The bathroom smelled terrible, like urine. At breakfast, the cut fruit was covered in tiny flies, and the bread and cheese holders were very dirty. One night cost €164, which was far too much for what they offered. I don’t recommend it.

The staff were genuinely friendly. They smiled, wished me a good evening, and welcomed a group of men in work clothes who looked like construction workers. By ten, the group was drinking beer and smoking beneath my window, chatting about their day. For a moment, I felt like part of the crew. The room made me think, “Alright, so this is it.” There was a soft blue tube light, grey walls, blue curtains, and tired wooden furniture that looked untouched by a design update for ages. I took one look at the bathroom and decided against it. Even with the door shut, I couldn’t stop thinking that people outside could see in through the vent at the bottom. Each time a plane went by, the room trembled and the water in my glass rippled. Outside were a gas station, a highway, and a streetlight that kept flickering every few seconds. It was hard to imagine falling asleep. When the planes finally stopped, the silence felt icy, though the air conditioner kept humming in Arctic mode. I pulled the paper-thin sheet up to my chin, but it didn’t help. Even the fluorescent light seemed warmer. I stared at the ceiling and thought: this hotel isn’t old, it just forgot how to live.

The rooms are spacious, though the bathrooms feel a bit tight. We spent a long weekend here. Restaurant hours didn’t quite match what was published: on the first night, I was told they were closed just after 21:00, despite being listed as open until 21:30. I’d use the place again if I’m back in Catania.

The smell of melted plastic in the room was nasty, and I couldn’t bear it. The air conditioner was filthy, and there were large stray dogs at the entrance. The hotel isn’t close to the airport, so a taxi costs around 25 euros. The beach nearby was full of rubbish, including roof tiles and tires. We had paid in advance, so we lost that money and escaped after perhaps two hours. Staying even one night would have been a nightmare. It was a bad choice, and I strongly don’t recommend it.