San Paolo Palace

Frommer's Review

Built in 1990, this modern 14-story hotel offers serious competition to the Astoria Palace. Like the Astoria, San Paolo calls itself a "palace" hotel, which is hardly evocative of what it is: a large, sprawling-though-welcoming high-rise. In fact, if you're returning from a trattoria with too much vino under your belt, you might confuse the two properties. One guest told us she'd stayed in a similar hotel along the west coast of Africa, which means San Paolo could be anywhere.

Overlooking the sea, between Capo Zafferano and Mount Pellegrino, the hotel is not without its charms, among them a roof-garden restaurant with a spectacular view. The government gives San Paolo three stars instead of the four reserved for the Astoria, which means its rooms are slightly cheaper, yet you get basically the same deal. Guest rooms open onto the most famous gulf in Sicily and are extremely comfortable, though not particularly stylish. There's a wide choice of different bed arrangements, from king-size to cozy "matrimonial." Located a few minutes' ride from the town center, the hotel is a favorite of business clients and, like the Astoria, attracts conventions, which are hardly ideal times to stay here. As for maintenance, management rightly concedes that "so far we manage with a face-lift, a tuck here and there," not the major corrective surgery of a total renovation.

Facilities:
2 restaurants; bar; outdoor rooftop pool (seasonal); fitness center; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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