Marina Holiday Resort & Spa

The Marina Holiday is a quiet, compact hotel overlooking the Balestrate Marina and the Gulf of Castellammare. Outside, the buildings are rather plain and can be difficult to find on first attempt. The hotel is set apart from its neighbors, and visitors must cross rarely utilized train tracks to reach the entrance. The nondescript exteriors can throw some travelers off, but once inside, the property is vibrant and whimsical. The lobby has an almost "Alice in Wonderland" vibe, with blue glass chandeliers, gold-painted chairs, and bright, oversized furniture, including incredibly tall red chairs and blue couches with large curling armrests.

A buffet breakfast is served on a rather plain patio overlooking the pool and garden. The pool is quite small and within splashing distance of breakfast eaters, indicating a scene that’s more appropriate for couples and adults than raucous children. The hotel's on-site restaurant, Da Clà, is inviting, decorated with embroidered tablecloths and candlelit lanterns, overlooking the still blue waters of the marina.

The Marina Holiday is located in Balestrate, about a 25-minute drive from Palermo Airport. Balestrate itself is fairly subdued but there are other coastal towns guest can venture to, including Terrasini, Alcamo, or Castellammare, ranging from 20 to 50 minutes away. Restaurants and shops can also be found only a few minutes away. The Marina Holiday's elevator descends right to the Balestrate Marina, from which it’s a quick walk to a public beach.

There are several room options at the Marina Holiday, and all are sizable and clean. The Classic Double Room is plain with thin brown bedding and curtains. An intricately framed mirror and rose petal cabinet pulls are efforts at making the room more fun, but they do little for the overall effect. With each upgrade -- from Classic, to Comfort, to Superio,r to suite options -- more is added to the aesthetic: In the Comfort room, more space is offered along with gold-trimmed mirrors and chairs. A Superior unit, which may only have a partial sea view, comes with a four-poster bed, and a suite has an in-room hot tub. Across the board, bathrooms are plain and generally poorly lit, but clean. All rooms come with satellite flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning.

Advertising the Marina Holiday as a “Resort & Spa” is a bit of a stretch. This is not to say that the hotel is not relaxing or accommodating to its guests; it's just missing that all-encompassing nature typical of most resorts. The outdoor pool, by the breakfast area, is often overcrowded. And unlike other resorts, there's little in the way of entertainment. In addition to Da Clà restaurant, the property has a spacious party/dining area, but it goes unused unless booked for an event. The bar is uninteresting, though completely functional for a 24-room hotel.

The Marina Holiday does have a small, beautiful spa with warm red lighting, multicolored tiling, and a mosaic of sea life -- ideal for couples. Massages and beauty treatments are offered, and there's a hot tub and sauna on hand as well.