Hotel Gresi, Catania

Advantages: Very comfortable beds
Disadvantages: Location, Poor room service

...I wondered where the taxi was taking me on my way from the airport to the hotel. The area seemed to get worse as we went on and I was really surprised when I saw the hotel. The entrance on the website looks very impressive, the reality is very different( see photo). The location of the hotel wasn’t what I expected, and it seemed to be very run down and seedy, definitely not a tourist area. There were large open rubbish bins in the street, sometimes overflowing and surrounded by rubbish. Filthy pavements, when you could walk on them and they weren’t being used for parked cars. There were a few supermarkets, a bakery and a take away pizza place, but hardly any cafes nearby. There was traffic noise during the morning and evening rush hours. There was a 10-15 minute walk to what I would term the normal tourist areas with shops, cafes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: near city centre
Disadvantages: very dangerous area

...Catania is a rough city in Sicily and the Liberty Hotel is in a bad area of the city. I tried to stay there but was carjacked right outside the Liberty Hotel!!! A man blocked the road while his team of thieves opened my car doors and stole our bags. Because of this incident, I drove off and didn't stay at the hotel that night. My girlfriend was terrified. When I told the hotel about this incident, they would not refund my money for that night. The manager said it was not his fault that I was robbed and that I should have stopped at the hotel to "discuss what happened" even though the hotel was a few feet from where I was robbed!!! That is the craziest thing I have ever heard. Pathetic how bad their customer service is. Please do not stay at the Liberty Hotel. I don't like supporting people that profit on other's misfortunes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: good place
Disadvantages: petty crime

...Catania is the second major city in Sicily after Palermo. There is a common say, that it is easier to do business in catania than Palermo. Although in my experience the 2 cities are very similar under this respect, I would not necessarily disagree with this statement. An interesting place to visit is Castello di Ursino, (Ursino castle). Located in Piazza Federico di Svevia, at the end of Via Auteri between Via Plebiscito and Via Garibaldi, it used to be a coastal fortress. Later, vulcanic eruptions expanded the coastline, and if you go there, you can deem by yourself the extent of this expansion! Another place worth visiting is the cathedral (Duomo), which goes back to 1090. A word of caution for tourists, there are not too many restaurants in the centre of the town. If you have the time, try and go to Taormina... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful