Cortile Umberto I

We enjoyed the varied breakfast, the pleasant staff, and the nice rooms. The owner or manager who hosted us spoke English very well, which isn’t that common in Italy. Cefalù ended up being one of my favourite places on the island, and I wish we’d booked more time there. I’d choose it over the west coast now, which felt less atmospheric. Thank you for your hospitality.

We liked relaxing on the cute balcony, and the breakfast was both tasty and thoughtfully put together. The mattress was comfortable for our two-night stay. It’s a lovely B&B close to shops and restaurants. One thing to know if stairs are difficult for you: there are quite a few to climb, though a lift mechanism can bring them down to street level when you leave.

We checked in, then left about three hours later because the place didn’t feel safe, comfortable, or private to us. We found another place nearby and had a great stay there. This was a frustrating experience, especially since the host, Fabrizio, marked us as a no-show even though we had arrived and checked in. The travel website told us that wasn’t standard practice and disagreed with the host’s response. He also refused to refund any of our reservation. I travel widely and leave practical reviews, so I’d suggest looking at other options in the area. Parking wasn’t included. It was public street parking about 0.5 km up the road, and not convenient. The photos gave us the impression that the property was the whole building, but it turned out to be a small group of rooms on the top floor, with no elevator. There was no staff on site, and we would have been sharing an apartment area and refrigerator with other guests. The location description also gave us the wrong impression: there was no beach view, and getting to a beach meant a walk. We were told some areas were friendly and others weren’t, and anyone planning a beach day should expect to rent umbrellas and chairs. The general area didn’t feel particularly friendly either.

The shower was very small, though that seems common in Italy. Our room was also basic and right beside the breakfast room and little kitchen, so it wasn’t great for light sleepers like us. Breakfast preparations begin at 7am. We know that can happen in B&Bs in older buildings, but it’s useful to know beforehand. Even so, we had a nice stay, Fabrizio was attentive, and the location was perfect. We’d recommend Cortile Umberto in Cefalu.