BB Le Chiavi

The location works well because Erice is small and you can walk everywhere. But parking is paid across the city, at 2€/h from 8:00-24:00. The advertised free parking nearby turned out to be an open patch in a field almost outside town, about 1 km from the B&B. Getting there meant a 10-minute walk and stairs. It didn't feel safe to leave the car there, and hauling luggage upstairs was inconvenient, so we paid to park in town instead. Our room was in the basement, with no or very little mobile signal. Hot water came from a boiler, so after one person showered, the next had to wait 20-30 minutes for it to heat again. Breakfast included meant a voucher for one cappuccino or juice, a sweet pastry, and water at one of three cafes. We didn't expect a big Italian breakfast, but this was the worst one we had in Sicily, or at least below expectations.

The position is excellent for visiting Erice. We had booked the owner's other property, but it was full, so this one was offered instead. The room was so cold we wore heavy jackets until bedtime. The heat pump seemed old and couldn't keep up, even though the rooms looked meant for summer stays. A kettle would have been a welcome, inexpensive extra. Parking was also a real hassle: the route to the nearby lot took about 10 minutes through a pine forest, and the pedestrian exit barrier was jammed. We ended up climbing the fence and throwing our bags over. At €120, that just wasn't acceptable.

The room is lovely and the location is great, and the staff were very helpful. But for three of us over two nights, breakfast amounted to a coffee machine with four pods, two croissants, and two pieces of toast. The bars open late, so for a place that's meant to be a B&B, there really wasn't anything to eat in the morning.

Just a few steps from Porta Trapani, the gateway into Erice, this is a very central spot. The room and bathroom are spacious and well equipped, and the rooftop terrace has a nice charm. There's also a convenient parking lot for guests.