Hostel Ostello Bello Palermo

This place has a fun, almost club-like feel, and the kitchen is fantastic. You can prepare the healthy food they provide yourself, and there’s plenty of space. Julia, Andrea, Juan and the rest of the crew really try to help. In my 50 years of travelling around the world, this is the best hostel I’ve seen. It’s youthful and feels rejuvenating, almost therapeutic. I’d definitely come back with my kids. We did yoga up top, with an amazing view, and they have earplugs available, which every hostel should have. The location and atmosphere are generous, and it feels like a great place to meet people. A couple of things could be better. The shared beds don’t have curtains, and I missed having that privacy, especially on a lower bunk. I’d rather sleep up top so I don’t feel watched while resting. I also think they’d be better off hiring staff instead of relying on volunteers, who didn’t seem very happy. Under the beds wasn’t cleaned: when I pulled out the drawer to pack, it was full of dust. It didn’t bother my allergies, but I wanted to mention it. I’d give it a 9.5 out of 10. Skip the psychologist and go to Ostello Hostel....ooooommmmmm... shivamyogadublin @ Instagram

The pool was refreshing, the staff were great, and most of the facilities worked well for me. The breakfast was the letdown: it costs too much for what you get and isn’t as good as they suggest. In Italy I expected fresh vegetables and more variety. The eggs were dry and tasteless, bread options were limited, and there were only two or three kinds of fruit, including green bananas. You can find a much better breakfast elsewhere for that price. Nights can be noisy, though that’s city life. I had a great time at Ostello Bello - Palermo and would happily recommend it and stay again.

Most of what I wanted to see was a 15-30 minute walk away, and the train station was about 25 minutes on foot, so the location worked really well. The rooms were clean, with good separation for keeping your things together and safe. This was my first hostel stay, and Ostello Bello Palermo made it a great one. The staff were friendly and ready to help at any hour, and they greeted me warmly. There’s a free welcome drink, plus daily pasta nights where buying pasta gets you a complimentary drink, drinking games, and DJ events. I met lots of locals at one of those. If you’d rather keep things quiet, there are pretty private terraces and lounges around the property. I’d absolutely recommend it.

The best part of my trip in Italy so far. The hostel is kept in great condition and has a really sociable atmosphere. The staff and volunteers were always glad to lend a hand. Diana, Lorenzo, Juan, Callum and the woman at reception were all stars. I’ll definitely be back soon. Alla prossima!