Exclusive Dependance

The fans helped during the very hot weather in Palermo, but if you’re sensitive to heat they may not be enough, and you might need another solution or somewhere else to stay. The hostel worked well for our visit overall. My main concern was the bathroom layout: the toilet can’t be used while someone’s showering because they’re in the same room. There are three showers, though one is harder to spot, so ask the staff where it is. Keep an eye on the check-in and check-out times. I hope they’ve fixed the vending machine, which gave me a small electric shock during my stay.

For a stay focused on location and fun, this hostel gets 5/5. It’s right among the bars, restaurants, food and activities, with the art museum on the next block. The ferry is about a 30-minute straight walk, though GPS adds unnecessary turns. A bus from a few blocks away, around four minutes on foot, goes back along the main street. The marina and ferry bus are a few streets away, and there’s a newer area by the marina for eating. The centre and street food are under a 30-minute walk, and nothing is more than a 40-minute walk. You step outside and you’re already on your way. The central spot also means street noise, and the other guests left the balcony doors open. I barely slept, though closing them might have made it too hot. If sleep is your priority, this isn’t the place; for location and fun, it’s 5/5. My hostel experience was 5/5. The family-run place felt clean and relaxed. The mother seemed honest, and her son liked joking around. I respect a family working together. The bathrooms have been renovated and were clean. I used the ones at the front: the one on the left has space, and the one on the right has a bidet. The bedroom bathroom was fine too, and there were plenty of sinks and bathrooms. There’s no stove. I liked the privacy curtain on each bed, the comfortable mattress, and the storage: three shelves, including one that locks with a key they provide. Most beds had their own fan, shelf and outlets, though I think one person didn’t have an outlet by their bed. There are outlets in the living room and about three balconies. You can leave luggage before or after your stay for free, securely, and still use the facilities, just not the bedroom. Some hostels charge for storage and every little thing. Cleaning was happening all day, every day. I even saw the owner sweating as he mopped the cobblestones outside. The smoking was the hard part for me. If someone smokes on a balcony with the door open, it drifts back inside, and I got so tired of it I felt like ripping my nose off. There’s a vending machine inside.

I don’t normally leave reviews, but my stay here was the worst I’ve had. I’d been in Palermo for six days in an Airbnb and thought I was leaving that night, then realized I needed one more night. I booked this place quickly on Booking.com because I’d only get there late, after spending the day in Cefalù. At check-in, the woman said I owed €4 in city tax, which I thought I’d already paid through Booking, and €10 for arriving late. The site clearly said the late check-in fee was €5. When I showed her politely, she started yelling, pushed me, and spoke aggressively in Italian. People nearby looked shocked and disappointed by how she acted. Another woman came out, apologized, and said she’d call the son to sort it out. When Yuri arrived, he was drinking and smoking and acted rudely and carelessly. He didn’t listen or try to help. He told me, “Pay the money or get out.” When I tried to explain that Booking listed €5, he cut me off and said, “You can’t stay here anymore.” He also used racial slurs. I felt completely violated and called the police because I’d been physically assaulted. They came, but told me that in Sicily the law unfortunately favors women, so they couldn’t do anything even though I’d been pushed. I was left outside at night trying to find somewhere else to stay. It was an unsafe, unacceptable nightmare. I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through it. Save yourself the stress and don’t book here.

My first solo hostel trip, and I’m glad I ended up here. It was the best experience. They give you a towel, and there’s just a small key deposit.