Hostel Agata

Breakfast came with lots of options at a sidewalk cafe on the main street. Sitting there and watching the horse taxis go by really gave us a feel for Palermo. The room was quiet and clean, right in the city center. Everything was fine, and we had no problems during our four nights.

The location was super convenient, and breakfast each morning was great. My friends and I had a great time at Hostel Agata. The host was welcoming and nice, and our room was spacious and clean, with three beds and a private bathroom. I’d definitely recommend it. I left my AirPods behind, and the host has been very helpful while I try to get them shipped home.

They were unreliable about every agreement we made. Although we had reserved everything three months ahead, there were no free rooms. Even after that mistake, they demanded full payment and offered no discount. The two bus drivers were put in a tiny, windowless room like a broom closet, with two small beds. Our reserved four-bed room had been changed to a six-bed room, leaving our fellow travelers unable even to open their suitcases. The whole hostel smelled bad. After we arrived, they split our group between two other buildings. Those buildings belonged to their relatives, who hadn’t booked in advance, and there wasn’t a room for them there either.

The hostel was old, dirty, and uncomfortable, with no real service. They said breakfast was included, but I never got any. The receptionist kept my ID and didn’t return it. I only noticed after I was already 300 km from Palermo. When I politely asked her to mail it to my next hostel, she angrily refused, saying she didn’t want trouble if the mail service messed up delivery. But a day later, I asked a friend still in Palermo to collect it and send it to me. The receptionist handed it over without asking who my friend was or whether I knew her. What a joke. Worst hostel I’ve ever stayed in, and a huge waste of money.