Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa

“Wonderful building, mixed experience”

We had a mixed experience at Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa, Via Dei Cartari 18, Palermo as you will see below. The hotel entrance is very hard to find if arriving in a hire car. We followed the satnav directions and approached from the east (to avoid the pedestrianized area nearby) and, upon arriving at… more

We had a mixed experience at Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa, Via Dei Cartari 18, Palermo as you will see below. The hotel entrance is very hard to find if arriving in a hire car. We followed the satnav directions and approached from the east (to avoid the pedestrianized area nearby) and, upon arriving at the small square adjacent the hotel restaurant called reception to guide us to the main entrance. They kept saying turn right around the hotel which took us back into the Palermo one-way system. What they should have done is tell us to turn left as the main entrance is 100 yards down the left hand alleyway. At this point our hire car broke down. Two excellent staff members helped push the vehicle into a parking spot outside the hotel only to then be reprimanded by their manager for neglecting their other duties. It seems the hotel is run with a very old-school management style. We had accidentally booked a single room which for us was too small but they were immediately able to find an alternative and while it was a specialist disabled room it met our needs precisely and we appreciated the prompt rectifying of our own mistake. After all the drama we didn’t fancy dinner so had drinks at the bar. Some beer, wine and weak long island ice teas later we felt better until we got the bill - 180 euros! The hotel itself is beautiful being a structure built around a central courtyard which has subsequently been converted into a seating area (it’s a shame they allow smoking here as it would be perfect otherwise) which also has a retractable roof awning which kept the area warm during our visit in September. Our room was spacious with all necessary amenities, furnishings, wifi, room safe, etc. The bathroom was very large as would be expected for a wheelchair-accessible room. Housekeeping was excellent. The breakfast was wonderful. Both hot and cold options were available - eggs, meats, cheeses, pastries and cereals, juices, tea and coffee - a great way to set ourselves up for a day of sight-seeing.

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“Historic building with a good location”

The location near the old town of Palermo is perfect for walking around the city. It is a renovated stock market building. The rooms were very spacious but the layout was not typical for a hotel room. One plus was the double sink in the bathroom but the shower was in the tub which required a huge s… more

The location near the old town of Palermo is perfect for walking around the city. It is a renovated stock market building. The rooms were very spacious but the layout was not typical for a hotel room. One plus was the double sink in the bathroom but the shower was in the tub which required a huge step up. It would have been difficult for anyone with mobility issues to access. The breakfast room is a beautiful area with high ceilings and wood decor. Service was good.

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“Great location, beautiful public rooms, but bedroom overpriced and dated.”

The location of the hotel is very central and the public rooms are quite attractive, especially the breakfast rooms. Moreover, the staff is gracious and helpful. Consistent with some other reviews, our one bedroom suite was dated, a little drab, and certainly not worth the $800 per night charged.