Residenza D'Aragona-NEW

The room was large and clean, and the location was awesome. Breakfast was decent but could've had more variety. I slept on the extra third bed, which was far too short for me, though reasonably comfortable.

The breakfast was a letdown, with only a small selection. Still, we enjoyed our two nights. Our room was very spacious, and David at the front desk, along with the rest of the staff, was friendly and helpful.

The street is very narrow and there aren't many different restaurants nearby, which is the main drawback. The staff were friendly, and the rooms were oversized and clean, with comfy beds and free Wi-Fi. There's a lift, a computer guests can use, and a breakfast room with gluten-free options.

Residenza d'Aragona was spotless, with a comfortable shared seating area by reception, a lift to every floor, luggage storage on checkout day, reliable Wi-Fi, and air conditioning that worked perfectly. Reception and housekeeping were extremely accommodating. I didn't try the breakfast. The entrance has two car spaces for limo and taxi pickups, drop-offs, and CPO team vehicles. Security felt thorough: reception is staffed from 7am to 11pm, with a locked inner door on a buzzer. Overnight, two locked doors secure the property, and guests use keys issued on arrival. My room door felt like a bank vault, and I heard no noise from other rooms or the street. It's a handy base for Palermo's Arab-Norman sights. The Cathedral(s), Norman Palace, Opera, docks, and shopping district are all an easy walk away. Plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants, tobacconists, and grocery shops are within a couple hundred metres. A taxi from Palermo airport costs 65-85EUR, depending on things like time, luggage, and whether the driver has the meter on the fiddle. The ride takes 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic. For Mondello Beach, which is beautiful, reception can arrange a taxi for EUR25-EUR35, or you can take bus 603. Some sites seem confused about the bus, but the ride is about 45 minutes. By taxi, Mondello takes around 20 minutes. Arrange a pickup with the driver or get the number of a taxi firm, since hailing a cab there is difficult. There's a taxi rank, though I never saw a taxi at it. If Palermo FC have a home game, expect trouble getting back into the city by the usual route after 6pm for evening matches, as roads on the Palermo-Mondello route close near the stadium. The Mondello taxi rank is opposite the bus terminus, which has frequent services around the area and into the city. The rank and bus terminus are also across the road from the private beach area. Entry costs about 14EUR for two beds and an umbrella, instead of using the public beach. You get a card reader for entry and a 2EUR refund when it's returned. These beaches close at 7pm and have showers, changing rooms, toilets, bars, and snack bars, with access to the clear water Mondello is famous for. For good coffee, fresh orange juice, snacks, pasta, and salads, try Bar Da Dominik on the square around the corner, about a five-minute walk. La Duchessa is best for huge Sicilian salads and pizzas, as in the photos below. Smokers should know the tobacconists close at 10pm. Without an Italian National ID Card, the machine may keep your money and issue a receipt, then make you wait a long time for a refund at a shop. Enjoy!