Le Terrazze di Chiara

The location was good for all the places I wanted to visit. The apartment was spacious for one person. There were 2 private outside areas I could use - one off the bedroom is particularly lovely and private. There was a really good array of cooking oils, some condiments, biscuits, jams, crisps, sweets and cakes. There was also some milk in the fridge. The shower was a good size. There is a recycling point across the road which I used to dispose of the paper, cardboard, bottles, cartons etc. Also several large bins to dispose of other bagged rubbish so it didn't clutter up the kitchen or cause any unpleasant smells. Palermo Centrale Station is about an 8 minute walk away from where I got a train to and from the airport (which was about a 50 minute journey) and also a train to Cefula (pronounced SHEFF U LAH). It cost me about 15 euros return and was well worth the money. Cefula is stunning. Also walked to the station and caught a 109 bus to Piazza Indipendenza from where I got a 389 bus to Monreale which cost me about 5 euros return. Monreale is stunning - very hilly so not for the unfit. I also visited Count Frederico Palace - Museum - which was about a 15 minutes leisurely walk away from the apartment.

The apartment is 64 steps up on the top floor - the 3rd floor. The hand rails did not give me confidence going up and down the stairs because I suffer from acrophobia and the decorative railings allowed me to see all the way down the spital staircase to the bottom. The air conditioning in the bedroom wasn't very effective and as it was a very hot August I struggled to sleep. I didn't use the balcony with the small round glass table and yellow chairs as it faces onto the street which was busy and noisy. I worked out that if water started coming from the air conditioning unit in the kitchen I had to empty the big plastic overflow bottle out on the small balcony. I threw the water down the toilet. There was no kettle for tea or coffee so I either boiled milk and water in a small pan or used the microwave.

Praktycznie centrum, wszędzie blisko.

Veldig fint og ryddig

The apartment is situated close to the old town and major attractions, such as the Norman Palace and the Cathedral. It is easy to get to from the main bus/rail station and to get to places by foot or public transport. The shower was good and the bed comfortable. The kitchen was reasonably well equipped. The terraces were pleasant, with a choice of sun and shade at different times of the day, but the weather wasn't good enough to sit out.

The hot water in the kitchen was not connected (because of an earlier leak, apparently). We were left to find out about this ourselves. We suggested the provision of a washing up bowl to fetch hot water from the batchroom but had no response. We had to use saucepans to get hot water to wash up. Provision of a toaster, corkscrew and bottle opener would be important additions. Communication wasn't smooth. I asked several times about being able to leave a case at the apartment if we arrived before check-in and didn't really get a straight reply. (In the event, delays at passport control meant we weren't early.)