Hotel Des Etrangers et Miramare - Siracusa

Average rating:  5.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in May 2008

Despite your reservation confirmation to us saying check in time was 2pm, they insisted it was 3, and room still was not ready at 3. Also room was under their rooftop restaurant, with so much noise from chairs moving we had to change rooms. Alot of delays/wasted time in a one night stay. Check in people smiled but were arrogant.

Guest name: CD, USA

Average rating:  6.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in May 2008

No parking available at hotel. Also not in area since hotel is located at car free zone for non-habitants. Also no (valet) parking service by hotel. Hotel has lovely location / see view. However, cleaning activities outside hotel start as early as 7 AM combined with a lot of noise.

Guest name: PV, Netherlands

Average rating:  3.8

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in May 2008

unfortunately, the personnel is not up at all to the hotel itself, the service is less than poor

Guest name: Marianne Trastulli, France

Average rating:  2.6

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in May 2008

unfriendly and expensive

Guest name: JZ, Netherlands

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Apr 2008

We cannot speak highly enough of Des Etrangers et Miramare. The location was perfect in beautiful Ortygia Island. We were expecting a great hotel by the description but were literally gob-smacked at how decadent it was. The level of accommodation was high by anyone's standards - there was also a passageway in the room which lead to a small "sitting room", which lead to a Romeo and Juliet style balcony, overlooking the sea - there was also another balcony from the bedroom, also overlooking the sea. The furnishings were gorgeous, elegant period-style -everything was rich and opulent-looking. We also dined the 2 nights in the restaurant on the top floor, which had fantastic views. The food and service were 5-star but not unwelcoming. There was even a stool provided for each lady at the table to accommodate her handbag! As for the included breakfasts, in the same dining room, they included everything you could possibly want, and of the highest quality. This one is well worth the price and Ortygia Island, Siracusa, is, in our opinion, the best place in Sicily.

Guest name: GS, Australia

Average rating:  8.2

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

This hotel complex is beautiful and the service was very good. The only difficulty was parking, and they helped us sort that out. We loved the island, and the views from the rooftop bar/restaurant were fabulous. We'd love to go again.

Guest name: PD, USA

Average rating:  4.1

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Dec 2007

Although this is listed as a 5 star hotel, it rated much closer to a 3 star. Hotel restaurant on top floor was very overpriced - 18Euros for a bowl of pumkin soup. Waiters, if present,were overly pretentious and at buffet breakfast there were always empty plates where food should be available. The room had old bedding, somewhat worn furniture, paint drips on cold tile/marble floors & no slippers. Some bathroom facilities were not working properly. Public areas were unfriendly & uninviting. No available parking- we had to park car on the street ourselves bearinging a parking pass for which we had to make a deposit of 100 Eros in cash - refunded when we turned in the pass on our departure.

Guest name: Lynne Chalmers, Qatar

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Nov 2007

Just outside the hotel is a very small park area by the water and every sunset, thousands upon thousands of birds come to roost doing a ballet! Breakfast excellent.

Guest name: Howard Rose, USA

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Nov 2007

My wife and I visited off-season. Hotel staff were most welcoming and helpful. Room and bath were spacious and very well-appointed. Off-season rates (which included free parking, a wonderful breakfast, balcony and excellent sea view) were very reasonable for such an outstanding property. We loved the hotel and Ortygia Island. We will definitely return some day.

Guest name: SS, USA

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Very good hotel in a very pleasant place and a wonderful view from the rooms. My wife and I appreciate very much our stay in this hotel and especially the brekfast on the top of the hotel with a gorgeous view. We recommand a stay ythere to visit Ortigia, and it was eazsy to park the car near by

Guest name: Jean Pierre CAPPOEN, France

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2007

Absolutely first class in every way.

Guest name: John Scott Jordan, USA

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Aug 2007

nice people

Guest name: Angela Reggiani, Italy

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

The hotel itself was lovely and the location was perfect, close to the Duomo and all of the historic sites of Ortigia. Our only complaint was regarding the parking of our car. Parking is limited there and that is ok but the hotel was not helpful at all explaining the system to us. The public parking is a 10 minute walk away and is limited to 12 hours at a time. Since you do not really use your car in Ortigia you have to keep walking back to feed the meter.... only with coins. A hotel of this calibre should have arranged a better system for their clients.

Guest name: EH, Canada

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

Excellent hotel in excellent location. Very helpful staff. Confusion reigned finding the place because we went by the address written on the Venere confirmation (Passeggio Adorno)and which is on all Hotel correspondence, not the address on the Venere map (Passeggio Aretusa). It would be helpful if the Hotel changed their address to Passeggio Aretusa (which is the address on the wall of the hotel!). The hotel is right adjacent to S. Rocco Square. Disappointing that wellness and fitness centres were not operational.

Guest name: AS, Netherlands

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2007

The breakfast was amazing. Le petit déjeuner était super.

Guest name: GB, France

Average rating:  6.7

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Aug 2007

Good hotel in the best place of Siracussa. It has a problem, the rooms are very noisy because they have music in the street until 4a.m. (two disco bars outside in the same street) so you are in the room as you were in the street. Breakfast place fantastic.

Guest name: Pablo De La Pedraja, Spain

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Jul 2007

Great hotel which we have already recommended to several friends

Guest name: Connie Enghus Theisen, Denmark

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Group

stayed in Apr 2007

Parking facilities should be provided

Guest name: FERNANDO PONASSO, Italy

Average rating:  6.7

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Apr 2007

Indoor pool and spa were closed, although no mention of this was made prior to our visit. This was a huge disappointment for our kids. The hotel staff had no record of our having upgraded our rooms through Venere, but they were able to accommodate our requests after a short afternoon wait. Our toilet "exploded" soaking everything in the bathroom and the ceiling above the shower had a terrible leak....not things one expects at a hotel of this caliber. The rooftop dining room and sitting room is a fantastic "plus".

Guest name: MT, USA

Average rating:  9.9

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Apr 2007

Excellent hotel. We spent 3 nights of our honey-moon at this hotel, and we just loved it. This was the best hotel we stayed at in Sicily, and we stayed at 7 different Hotels all over Sicily. The hotel is just fantastic, elegant, welcoming. Staff was great with us, they sent flowers and sweets to our room, everything was perfect. We cannot wait to go back. Rooms are just fantastic, ours had real antiques as furniture! The bathroom was great, excellent. OK, yes, parking is NOT just next door, but you can first leave your bags outside the hotel, and then go and park your car at Piazza Marina and walk; no big deal. We really recommend you: DO stay at this hotel. You will love it as well. The breakfast buffet is served on a terrace with magnificent views of Siracuse.

Guest name: Ricardo Sanchez Serrano, Mexico

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Apr 2007

VISITING MY PARENTS,ONE LONG WEEKEND EVERY YEAR you, can not match the beauty of being on the boardwalk,until the wee hours of the morning, the hotel MIRAMAR,it's located, in the most beautiful section of the old city, the original, the ancient SIRACUSA,part GREEK,part ROMAN. Your room is right above the pier, you can smell the fresh ocean breeze.And if you wonder,about the adress;PASSEGGIO ARETUSA; The area just below the hotel,it's closed to traffic,except local residents,therefore it is a paradise for walkers of every age,it is safe, even at 1;30 am,i am looking forward to go back.THANKS, VENERE.COM

Guest name: Salvatore Romano, USA

Average rating:  5.8

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Nov 2006

22ºc en la habitación en noviembre. No hay climatizador individual en la habitación que nos dieron. Parece ser que se han unido dos antiguos hoteles: "Des etrangers" y "Miramare". A nosotros nos dieron una habitación en el segundo, pero parece que son mejores las del primero. Nos tuvieron que subir un calefactor eléctrico porque no estaban dispuestos a encender la calefacción hasta diciembre, pero lo peor es que, hasta que protestamos, ¡estaban con el aire acondicionado de frío!

Guest name: SC, Spain

Average rating:  8.1

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Nov 2006

A beautiful location with view of the bay and harbour. Although the bathroom went rather wet everytime we took a shower, we had a good stay there. The staf knew of the problem and checked in everytime we went out: cleaned the bathroom and gave us new towels. The view from the diningroom was astonishing.

Guest name: JB, Netherlands

Average rating:  0.0

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Oct 2006

Arrivés sur place nous avons renoncé à séjourner dans cet établissement.

Guest name: Stephan Bernauer, Switzerland

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2006

Great location! Excellent view, excellent breakfast, excellent services...! Could have passed more time here and sure will come again. To me it's the best place to stay in Siracusa. Just 5 min walking distance from Dome and center of Ortygia.

Guest name: Cordula Haede, Germany

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2006

Hotel Des Etrangers et Miramare is a truly lovely hotel in a superb location of Siracusa. We found the room itself very comfortable and the hotel very pretty. The bel epoque decor was lovely and was carried throughout the hotel. We particularly enjoyed the sea view from the top-floor restaurant where a sumptuous breakfast was also served. We also had a sea view from our room at tree-top level. What a charming way to see the beautiful and historic city of Siracusa!

Guest name: SC, USA

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: mothe & mature daughter

stayed in Oct 2006

The location of the hotel was superb. Since we travelled by lent-a-car, and we are both female, I wish we could have a nearer parking area. The view from a room window was so beautiful and the sun-set was a lovely picture. It was pity that there was leeking from bath tub drainage. But we still enjoyed the stay in this hotel.

Guest name: Yoshiko Suzuki, Japan

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Sep 2006

This is a grand hotel at the best location. We enjoyed it thoroughly.

Guest name: Hellmut Fritzsche, USA

Average rating:  7.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Sep 2006

To park our car in Ortigia (restricted parking area for residents) the first day we asked the concierge for getting the residents distinctive. He informs us that only Fridays Saturdays and Sundays was necessary to put it. Next morning we found the fine on the car (35 €). We notice this event at the reception desk, the lady, who was very friendly, made a photocopy of it and gave us the residents distinctive. She promise us to request, as soon as possible, the cancellation of the fine. We'll see what happens

Guest name: BH, Spain

Average rating:  7.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2006

sympa facile à trouver/ informations succintes concernant la ville du personnel à la réception

Guest name: AR, France

Average rating:  7.8

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Apr 2006

The hotel has a marvelous location in the best area of Ortigia. You have a great view over the bay and a spectacular sunset. Book a room with sea view!! The roof garden has a gorgeous view over the bay and the sea, but the restaurant is not very special. The rooms are o.k., but not on a 5 star level. It is a good 4 star hotel and the quality price ratio is good. Some comments said that the rooms were very noisy. That is right. The noise comes from other rooms and not from outside. But this is the case in almost all old Italian hotels. So get up early ;-)

Guest name: Christoph Schneider, Germany