Hotel Il Gelso Bianco

A relaxed, elegant atmosphere, with vineyards around the property and views of Mount Etna. Il Gelso Bianco is a lovely place just outside Catania for a leisurely lunch or romantic dinner. The Sicilian food tastes fresh and authentic, and the wine selection goes beautifully with the dishes.

For an airport hotel, the basics are good: clean rooms, free parking, and a location close to the Airport. But I went hungry tonight. The restaurant had nothing vegetarian except a three cheese antipasto. It’s 2023, and elsewhere on the island they’ll at least make a caprese salad, sandwich, or simple pasta. Not here. The whole experience felt contemptuous of customers. The front desk ignored me, then told me to come back in 10 minutes for my passport. When I returned after 20, they only then started a task that takes two minutes in other hotels and took 10 minutes here. In the restaurant, the waiter seemed to consider me an inconvenience. There were no documents in the room explaining the amenities. The safe was tiny and locked, with no instructions for using it. I’ve stayed here before, but that time I basically just came in, slept, and left. I won’t be back.

The staff made a real effort to look after us, especially with my dietary needs. They cooked meals I could eat, and I felt very well cared for. Our room was clean and spacious, with a large window and excellent ventilation. The TV and Wi-Fi worked perfectly. We enjoyed the lobby and comfortable dining room. We had our own car, so I can’t comment on the courier services. I’d love to return in better weather to use the tennis court and pool, and see the cat family living by the pool. They were welcoming too. The hotel clearly cares about its guests, and I’d recommend it.

The rooms are dated, but they were perfectly adequate, and the shower was excellent. Breakfast was decent. I ate dinner at the hotel on three of my four nights, though it was hit and miss, and the buffet looked okay but didn’t change much from day to day. Staff spoke very little English, so have Google Translate ready if you don’t speak much Italian. It’s a budget hotel about 12 km outside Catania, and an Uber into town costs around €30 each way. I stayed four nights for work. It’s fine for an overnight stop, but I wouldn’t choose it for more than one night.