Ortea Palace Hotel, Sicily, Autograph Collection

“Wow! If you’re looking for a hotel in Siracusa, this is the one to choose. We arrived quite early in the day, but Concetta and her team were there and happy to begin creating an amazing experience. Concetta, Anna and Angelo took amazing care of us from the second we walked in the door to the second we left. Welcome drinks, nightly treats, and an amazing room or just the beginning of it. The property was a breathtaking converted post office with beautiful marble and full of light. The room was a two story palace with floor to ceiling curtains and a wonderful soaking tub. Our room was always stocked with still and sparking water and treats were delivered to our room each evening. I have stayed at dozens of hotels across the world but Ortea Palace was the one that made me feel most valued as a guest. I found myself wondering why I was being treated so well and then noticed that they offered the same amazing service to each of their guests. While on a boat tour, the guide even pointed out the hotel and noted it as the most exclusive place on the island. He quoted a price much higher than normal rate and said that it was where the most important people stayed. Our experience was that the hotel was actually quite affordable, especially if you have Marriott Bon Voy points. If you can, I highly encourage you to choose this beautiful space. You won’t regret it.”

“Beautiful five star hotel on the waterfront in Ortigia. This hotel was the post office in Mussolini's time, but has now been restored to a purpose never initially envisaged, and beautifully so. Our room was a king duplex suite with beautiful sea views. Set on two levels with a downstairs lounge, it felt wonderfully decadent. Staff here are impeccably turned out and incredibly polite and helpful. Breakfast is a buffet with additional a la carte items to order. The selection is good and well presented. Lovely coffee and fabulous cannoli, naughty but it is a holiday in Sicily! The hotel is well located and very quiet at night allowing a great night's sleep There is a hotel restaurant, although currently the top floor is being refurbished, so it is located on the ground floor. There are plenty of choices nearby, so we haven't yet tried it. The spa is clean and nicely equipped. Great to unwind after a day pounding the streets. Very impressed with the quality, service and consistency of staff who are welcoming and polite. Will definitely be back.”

“On a recent 2 week stay in Sicily we adventured to Siracusa/Ortigia for a day trip on a catamaran and decided to stay overnight to explore. Ortea Palace being a Marriott property seemed like a no brainer for booking. I used points for one room and cash for another. Upon check-in my status was acknowledged and the rooms were upgraded. Unfortunately, this meant the room we initially reserved with 2 sleeping quarters was replaced with one king size bed. My 70yo aunt is afraid of heights and was unable to make it up the glass staircase to sleep in the bed so instead she stayed awkwardly on the sofa downstairs that was not the pull out we initially reserved. (In the hotels defense neither she nor my cousin mentioned it until after we checked out. But I'm noting it in the event you need to know to check this small detail before settling in.) At check-in there was another guest complaining to the front desk about the temperature in her room and how despite the drapes being pulled all day after maintenance had reset her room it was still not cooling. Staff offered to send maintenance to look at it again for her. We all heard it but didn't think much of it. I finished check-in and we were offered a welcome drink of granité in the bar area before going up to the rooms. Rooms were clean with 2 bathrooms and had wonderful views. We showered and left to explore the city and have dinner. We returned shortly before the bar closed just in time for last call. We sat and enjoyed a last glass of wine before retiring for the evening. This is where the stay could improve. Both rooms were unable to adjust the thermostat. When we called the front desk they adamantly asserted that 22° was sufficient despite us wanting to adjust it 2° cooler. They made a sham attempt to send up a maintenance man to reset the breakers, this did nothing. The temperature continued to increase as the night went. The next morning we found out it was the same situation in the other room. This stay would have been perfect had we just been able to adjust the temperature to a comfortable sleeping temperature, because as they may have forgotten hot air rises. Be advised the hotel is in a ZTL if you come over the new bridge. There is a way around it to pull right up to the hotel for drop off and valet by taking the old 2 way traffic bridge instead.”

“This was a beautiful hotel. In general, the staff were lovely and helpful both in the restaurant and reception. The food was delicious, we had dinner on one evening. It was expensive, however, it was top quality. The rooms were clean, comfortable and spacious, with a fully functioning bathroom containing a rain shower. No noise, easy sleeping and well rested.”

“Everything about the Ortea Palace Hotel is absolutely 5 star world class and extraordinary...location, architecture, service, restaurant, room service, bar and spa. I was particularly struck by the tremendous warmth, knowledge and helpfulness of the concierge service, the overall excellent service.... and by the Michelin level artistry of the chef and his kitchen. Salvatore and his staff are at the top of the culinary ladder, yet the cuisine remains true to its fresh local Sicilian roots. If you don't see it on the menu, talk to the staff or the chef, they will create it for you. As to the structure itself: It is a beautiful Art Nouveau building that was turned from the local post office into a modern sleek marble and glass boutique hotel situated directly on the harbor. If you're looking for a huge resort with four restaurants, and two swimming pools, this is not the place for you. But if you are looking for incredible service and food with huge two story rooms, fabulous service and exquisite food in the heart of the most beautiful and picturesque (not completely overrun by thousands of tourists) island town in Sicily, you have found your home.”