Aretusa Vacanze B&B

“Absolutely fabulous!”

I have just got back from a four day trip for a friends 60th birthday - there were 9 ladies. Stefani and his family were wonderful, helpful and attentive hosts. Lovely little hotel in a fabulous location. I’ll be going back in the autumn for definite!

“Lovely accommodation and hosts”

Lovely accommodation in a great location! Breakfast on the terrace was so good, with fresh orange juice and homemade jams, Stefano and his family are fantastic hosts!! Rooms are clean with modern bathrooms. Will definitely be back one day 🥰

“Great location”

This family run B&B is ideally located in one of the narrow winding streets in Ortygia close to the Fountain of Arethusa. Our room was very large with an amazing ceiling. The furnishing reflects its older style, and one small down side is limited space near the bed to leave items for the night. ... more

This family run B&B is ideally located in one of the narrow winding streets in Ortygia close to the Fountain of Arethusa. Our room was very large with an amazing ceiling. The furnishing reflects its older style, and one small down side is limited space near the bed to leave items for the night. The bathroom was modern with an excellent shower. Breakfast was served on the roof top terrace with a nice variety of items to order from. The staff were very friendly and helpful and booked us an excellent driver to take us to our next destination as the trains are not currently operating in the area.

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“Family-run, excellent quality”

We thoroughly enjoyed Aretusa Vacanze and the care provided to us by Stefano and his lovely family. Amazingly, there were three generations catering to the needs of their guests – from the moment we arrived, by those at the front desk which was managed the whole day, to the amazing breakfast upst... more

We thoroughly enjoyed Aretusa Vacanze and the care provided to us by Stefano and his lovely family. Amazingly, there were three generations catering to the needs of their guests – from the moment we arrived, by those at the front desk which was managed the whole day, to the amazing breakfast upstairs served collectively, to housekeeping, and to everything in between. Unlike so many other places we have visited, Aretusa Vacanze was a true family endeavor of love and pride. The property was ideally located in a busy commercial area of Ortigia but out of the reach of most passersby. We slept well! Our room on the third floor was enormous, spotlessly clean, with frescoes on the ceiling. It was definitely aged (the sliding door to the bathroom was too noisy to use at night) but had the character you would expect. Ortigia is 1000s of years old! Our room had a kitchenette which, for a two-night stay, wasn’t necessary, but others might value it as a possible respite from restaurant dining. Breakfast was ordered the night before which, at first, seemed odd. However, nobody cared how much we ordered and of what. Fortunately we ate everything we consumed – multiple croissants (fresh and crispy) both plain and pistachio crusted; fresh scrambled eggs (too runny for my taste) and bacon; ham and prosciutto; cereal; yogurt; fresh squeezed orange juice (which was actually red!); multiple cappuccinos; and bread topped with Stefano’s specialty collection of homemade jams. Amazing. What an assortment and what quality!! The family prefers that guests sit down immediately and be served. As a result, there tends to be multiple individuals running in all directions fulfilling the requests of multiple guests. We wonder if it might have been easier on everyone to provide an open table for buffet serving. Either way, it was fun receiving all the attention! Breakfast was served in a communal area on the roof which allowed for an incredible view of the ocean. It was also available for our use after hours. I took advantage of it one afternoon to relax with a good book. Stefano counseled us on a few occasions where to eat. He was keen on avoiding the tourist traps and dining with the locals. Once he managed to squeeze us into an otherwise full restaurant using his inside connections. He also arranged for a driver to pick us up at the Catania airport at a cost far lower than those advertised on-line. Two suggestions on making this place even better. First, the king bed was actually two twins tied together. Unfortunately, we could feel the rope underneath the sheet. A simple mattress cover would address this easily. Second, the hotel front door was kept locked for security reasons, but there was no button to open it from the inside in the event of an emergency. As a result, we needed a key to get out. We wondered if there shouldn’t be a key left in the lock on the inside at all times, because the thought of running downstairs during a fire and not being able to open the door was disturbing. Other than that, Cherry Wonderdog believed Aretusa Vacanze B&B earned a strong five stars – two paws up on the coveted Cherry Wonderdog scale, for our visit. It was our favorite hotel on our trip to Sicily!

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