A grand hotel

This was a very good hotel, the room was good, the breakfast excellant and the staff were very helpful. It's in a good area close to restaurants. The interior of the hotel was good too - its not 4 star but you don't pay 4 star prices.

Disappointing location in city

We stayed 2 nights both at the beginning and at the end of our fly-drive holiday, having pre-booked on the internet. Parking was available at 15 euros per day, for which we were grateful. However, we had been led to believe that the hotel was central and whilst there were shops nearby the main sights in the old city were simply too far to walk (we took the bus).

The hotel is in the throes of renovation and our rooms were a bit on the shabby side. Only lukewarm water was available on both stays and the bath took ages to fill. On our first visit we ate our evening meals in the restaurant but found these only mediocre, food not very hot and poor value. On our second stay we ate out ! (luckily good restaurants nearby)If we visited Palermo again we would try the Central Palace, which seems far better placed.

Hated it -- avoid the third floor

This hotel has some terrible rooms and is very badly managed. I stayed here on a tour of Sicily, so I didn't expect the Ritz-Carlton. I was given the key to room 302. There was a line for the elevator, so I took the steps up, only to discover the staircase ended at the second floor. I had to take the elevator up to the third floor. I opened the door to the room to discover a dark cave that might as well have been underground. The ceiling sloped down to about four feet and there was only ONE tiny window, which was in the ceiling and covered by a dark shade that I could not move. I went downstairs immediately and asked to change to another room. They said certainly, but it would take an hour, but in the meantime I was welcome to use the room. I was very hot and tired from touring all day, so I went back up and lay across the foot of the bed to try to nap for an hour without disturbing anything. After an hour I went downstairs. They said oh, another half hour. I waited in the lobby for half an hour. They said oh, the computer is still down. They told me to go ahead and shower in 302, which I did. I then went out for a walk. Almost four hours after we had checked in, I returned to get my new room. The computer was now up but surprise, I could not change my room, but oh, I shouldn't worry because I could change it the next morning. As this was the first time on the tour that we stayed for more than one night, I had been looking forward to being able to unpack and reorganize. I went immediately to look for another hotel, and damn the expense, but there was nothing else available at 8 pm. I will NEVER stay here again. If you choose to stay here, whatever you do, do NOT accept a room on the third floor unless you are a troll and like living underground.

Not a bad choice

My friend and I stayed here in early May 2005. I would agree with the previous reviewer that the hotel is not quite up to four star standard.

The hotel is located in the modern area of Palermo, close to the main shopping disctrict. There are also a number of bars and restaurants close by. To see the sights (and there are not that many) you need to walk into the old town which is approximately half an hours walk from the hotel.

Our room was spacious and clean, although the bathroom floor was a little grubby. We found all the staff to be very pleasant and helpful. The breakfast buffet included a wide variety of food and we did not experience any problems when asking for the juices and water to be replenished.

The best way the get there is to take a bus from the airport, they leave every half hour and cost 5 euros. Get off at the first stop (Piazza Politeama) and walk along Viale della Libertá. After approximately 200 m you'll see the hotel on your left.

Interesting furniture and building

My husband & I spent out wedding anniversary w/e at this hitel. Have to say it is okay but not 4 star as it claims. Decent sized rooms & bathrooms but our room & bathroom was dirty i.e dusty and hairs in the bath.

The breakfast was a standard 3 star but once they ran out of something they didn't refill the buffet ! I asked for orange juice and was told there wasn't any left when I came for breakfast an hour before it closed.

The woman at reception was very unhelpful - she didn't speak any english and she just looked at us as if we mad. Also the walls were paper thin so you could hear your neighbours. To be honest it wasn't worth the money we paid for it.

Loved it!

We went with trepidation after having read previous reviews but we were delighted with the hotel. Our room was luxurious to say the least and the breakfasts outstanding very morning. We ate dinner twice in the hotel restaurant and the food was delicious, service was also excellent. Our only complaint was the music they played in the restaurant. Pan pipes repeatedly! Would certainly stay there again.

Great Breakfast

My husband and myself stayed there from Feb. 13 - 16th. The hotel was old fashioned looking, not a very good view from the window, but they are refurbishing so hopefully things will change

There was no a/c but we did not need it, the breakfast buffet was 5 star but other than that not a superior 4 star that I had thought it would be. The entrance was on the road with a lot of traffic.

Could do worse, but could have done better.

Beware of ants!!!

I ve stayed in this hotel for one night only...but it was enough.Hotel is very dirty outside. Description of the hotel gives misleading information about its location - in fact it is miles away from Teatro Massimo and town centre.Despite hotel was virtually empty I was given the worst room - small, dark, noisy and (can you believe it in the 4* hotel?!) without bath. When I complained, the receptionist VERY reluctantly gave me another room which was not much better but at least had a bath.Restaurant's staff... I still waiting for milk I ve ordered with my morning coffee.The bathroom was dark, gloomy and filled with cheap plastic. Shower was broken but the best surprise I got in the morning - the sink was full of ants. You could expect something like that in the backpakers hovel in the middle of Bolivia but here... in "one of the grandiest hotels in Palermo".Verdict: avoid by all means. And...many thanks to **** who got nice commission for booking it.

Ok, if you don't want a window or ac

I was there the first part of June in 2003. The hotel was once lovely but that was a long time ago. The air conditioning doesn't work, my original room had no window, it hasn't been painted or updated in 30 years. It has great possibilities but they are as yet unrealized.

Old fashioned elegance

Hotel Excelsior Place is a throwback to a different era when opulence reigned. Our room was elegant, capacious and airy. There was a small living room off the bedroom which created a homely feel. The hotel is friendly and is reasonably located in one of the richer areas of Palermo. (take buses 101, 102 and 104 to the main sites). Breakfast is standard.A classy, old-fashioned, joint.