Hotel Archimede Ortigia

Our quadruple room was roomy and comfortable, and the hotel is conveniently close to both the train station and the airport bus terminal. The staff were welcoming, but their limited English made communication difficult. I also found it strange that they said they couldn’t clean our room because we’d taken the keys with us. Other hotels seem to have spare keys for housekeeping. On top of that, staff smoking by the entrance meant cigarette smoke drifted indoors.

Giuseppe helped us with everything we needed, and we’re very grateful to him. The Archimede Hotel was clean and beautiful, with all the basics for a comfortable stay, and we were welcomed warmly. It’s just a three-minute walk from the bus stop, with restaurants and other places to eat nearby. The price felt excellent for what we got.

The location is handy, just a short walk from the railway and long-distance bus stations. My room was fine, with a comfortable bed and a bathroom in reasonable shape. This is an old-style property; check-in was OK and they quickly took my passport details for registration. I’d prepaid for the room, so the €2 city tax had to be paid in cash. I left too early for breakfast, which would have cost extra. The WiFi code displayed at reception didn’t work, so I couldn’t get online. The body wash and shampoo came in sachets that were hard to tear open; a dispenser would be better. Given what I paid, I didn’t think it was great value.

This was the worst of the four hotels and B&Bs we stayed at on our trip. The place is run down and clearly needs structural work. I woke to a horrible smell coming from the bathroom, apparently from the sewer or septic tank. It was vile. The bathroom extractor fan was incredibly loud, like a Boeing 747 that needed repairs. I would not book this hotel.