CinqueSuites Ortigia

The strong smell inside was the biggest problem. It reminded us of a wet dog and wasn't coming from outside. We aired the apartment, but it kept returning. We wondered if a previous guest had brought in a wet dog, since it had rained, and the smell had sunk into the carpet, but reading other complaints now makes me think it could be an ongoing, serious issue. Our room deodorizer helped a little without fixing it. Without that, we might have gone somewhere else to sleep. CinqueSuites removed a used diaper we found on the balcony while airing the place, but didn't address the odor. They apologized once and said maintenance would come the next day, then didn't respond when I explained we'd only be staying one night. The bathroom also needs attention. Though the building looks like it was renovated fairly recently, the fixtures and toilet seat were scratched and cracked, and the caulk was rotting and peeling away. The workmanship looked like it had been done as cheaply as possible. The main room furniture was fine, though an apartment for three people could use three chairs. The street was looked after, but there was a constant cat feces smell, which seems hard for any one place to do much about when there are cats all over Ortigia. Getting settled was frustrating too. Check-in was at a hotel outside Ortigia, where they registered us for ZTL loading and unloading, but we had to pay 15€ to park at Parcheggio Talete, 850m away on foot. Nobody advised us how to get close to the building, even though the street is inaccessible at certain times. When we tried to unload nearby, someone shouted at us in Italian, apparently because we briefly stopped in front of his restaurant. With the smell gone and a few things repaired or replaced, this could be a great base for exploring Ortigia. As it is, I can't recommend it. If you book anyway, bring deodorizer.

The website doesn't give a fair picture of the place. Check-in happens at another hotel in Siracusa, then a golf cart takes two people and their luggage to the apartment. We stayed in apt 4. The living-room chairs were awful, just bare metal with no padding, and the lights were coated in dust and grease, as if nobody had cleaned them. Our bathroom kept smelling like a sewer even after we filled the pea traps, though the maid service was kind. The rooftop deck was the biggest letdown: dirty, with all the plants dead, and it looked as if nobody had been there in a year. The breakfast bar shown looked abandoned. The "spa" is only for the suite it is part of.

My girlfriend brought me here for my birthday, and there were balloons and decorations waiting in the room along with a bottle of red wine, all complimentary. The hot tub was amazing, too. Our room was clean, modern, and spacious, with AC, heating, and WiFi. The staff were cheerful and really friendly, always ready to help with a smile. The location is handy for exploring beautiful Ortigia. I'd highly recommend staying here.

We missed having a view, but the service was excellent. You can get valet service with an hour's notice. Our room was spacious, and the included breakfast came to the room, delicious and beautifully presented. It's a modern hotel tucked into a tiny alley.