Trapani In Appartamenti

The location was the one good thing. We booked through Booking.com and learned the hard way that a reservation and a booking may be different, so read the fine print. I'm sure the room we got wasn't the one we'd asked for as a couple. It had three beds, a kitchen, and a bathroom, but no proper living area, not even a small couch or chair. We ended up dragging an uncomfortable plastic kitchen chair over to watch TV. The setup felt very odd. The bed was uncomfortable and we sank into it, while the pillows were extremely flat. The toiletries also didn't match the pictures. The pictured products were different from what came in the unmarked plastic pouches.

The advertised private beach isn't real, and there was no free shuttle either. We booked after seeing the positive reviews and room photos, but be careful about what you choose. For a standard double booking, they put us in a makeshift space in the reception lobby, separated by plasterboard walls. It didn't feel like a proper room, and we could hear everything, even the receptionist typing. There was one tiny window facing the sidewalk that couldn't be opened, so we needed the lights on even in the middle of the day despite the Sicilian sun. We complained that this wasn't what the listing showed. The receptionist said they use that room for stays of only one or two nights. We asked to move to a regular room, and she said our €70 standard double rate only covered that, and we'd have to pay extra for one of their apartments. We handed over another €30 in cash, got no receipt, and were moved to the rooms shown online. Those rooms are nice, but they're just a bedroom with the kitchen opposite the bed, not really apartments. We found actual apartments closer to the city center that were nicer and even cheaper.

Simona took care of everything brilliantly, sending the instructions on WhatsApp and checking us in herself. She also shared recommendations for places to eat and things to see, all in excellent English. The location is central, about two minutes from a supermarket and a five-minute walk to the port or old town. There's a spacious rooftop with seating and sunshine. We had an excellent experience.

The check-in time was clearly listed as after 5pm, but that's still very late. We arrived to find our apartment with a small terrace was on the ground floor. The only window was tiny and barred, making the place feel like a cell, and it smelled like a basement. The manager messaged that we were lucky because the room was ready at 4:40pm. The much-mentioned terrace was dusty and messy, and I wouldn't use it. When we asked about a boat trip, she suggested what sounded like a bus-style boat and said it would be half empty, but it was packed. She kindly offered us a shower after we returned, but when we asked the cleaner for towels, she said that wasn't possible. We left disappointed, with wet clothes. The hostess acts very nice and welcoming, but I found it hypocritical. Stay away from this place.