Hotel Mirage

An inexpensive place to stay, though the beds could be more comfortable. Don Angelo, the owner, is a lovely old-school Siciliano.

The old guy working there was rude from the start. He assumed I wanted a room and turned me away instead of greeting me or asking whether I had a reservation. When I said I did have one, he tried to charge me twice, even though I’d already paid online. Then I didn’t get the free breakfast included with my night’s stay. Terrible customer service. Don’t bother staying here, it’s not worth the money or the rudeness.

The Mirage is in a great spot, with the bus station, train station, and tram stop all across the road, making it easy to get around the city. I was pleased with the service and would stay again. The staff were friendly and professional, and the rooms are good value. I stayed for a month in a spacious double room, though the shower room was small, which is reflected in the price. I believe the double rooms all have different layouts. One drawback is that guests don’t have 24-hour access. Once the staff on duty know everyone has returned for the night, they go to sleep and can’t be contacted to let anyone back in. After you’re back for the evening, you can’t go out again. It wasn’t a major issue for me, since there isn’t much to do at that time of night in Messina.

The central station is just 1min from the hotel, so it could work if you’re travelling and need somewhere for one night. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it for your health or happiness. It wasn’t a friendly place, and there wasn’t much welcoming about the area either. Reception couldn’t speak English. For 35 € per/night, I got a bad room with a private bathroom separated by a curtain, plus a poor breakfast. Cars and trains made noise all night.