Viale Kennedy, Località La Playa, Catania, Italy | (937) 315-4602
Beautiful white-sand beach with sunbeds is just across the road
Five-minute drive from Catania's airport and 13 minutes into town
Contemporary, streamlined rooms with flat-screen TVs and minibars
Large, well-maintained pool surrounded by palm trees and loungers
Free Italian-style continental breakfast
Excellent Mediterranean restaurant with a conservatory-style dining room
Great facilities for hosting business meetings and conferences
Special mid-afternoon check-out time on "Lazy Sundays"
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property
Free parking both on- and off-site
Location outside of town can be inconvenient for sightseeing
Not all rooms come with tea- and coffee-making facilities
Not a lot to do in the immediate area
NH Catania Parco Degli Aragonesi is a mid-range business property conveniently close to the airport and across the street from a beach. The 124 rooms, like the rest of the property, are modern and streamlined, though a bit on the impersonal side. True to the company, the hotel caters to business as well as leisure travelers, featuring seven meeting rooms, a gorgeous pool, and beach with loungers. Additionally, an excellent Mediterranean restaurant is on-site, and all rates include a free Italian-style continental breakfast. Vacationers might find the logistics of getting into town for sightseeing and dining challenging (and expensive), and there's not a lot to do in the immediate area. For a location in Catania proper, NH loyalists might want to check out the NH Catania Centro, though it lacks a pool.
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Scene
Like most NH hotels, the Catania location caters to both business and leisure travelers.
Set back from a busy main road by a set of gates and palm tree-lined drive, the NH Catania Hotel's low-set expanse looks at first more similar to a conference center than a holiday hotel. After all, NH Hotels cater toward both business and leisure travelers, and this property is no different. Inside, the interior is crisp and modern, albeit certainly corporate-leaning, with soft grays, blue carpeting interrupting swaths of spotless white tile, and pops of red-orange giving an otherwise cold space a boost of energy and warmth. The clientele is primarily business guests, though couples also appreciate the quiet vibe, pretty pool area, and convenient access to the beach and airport.
Location
Located close to the airport, though carless guests might find sightseeing logistically difficult.
Located on Sicily's eastern, beachy coast, the property is a quick five-minute drive from Catania Airport and a 13-minute drive from Catania's town center. Although it's definitely convenient for getting in and out of town, some guests complain about unreliable bus schedules to and from town, where most of the restaurants and sightseeing destinations are, as well as pricey taxis. Given its location out of town and closer to the airport, it's a bit more well-situated for those doing business in Catania or staying at the hotel for a conference than for sightseers.
Rooms
The chain property's 124 rooms are contemporary, if generic.
The hotel's 124 rooms are contemporary and streamlined with layered warm tones of crisp white, beige, chestnut, and olive-golden hues. However lovely, though, the rooms' decor can't quite escape a chain-hotel vibe. Each room has a furnished semi-private balcony, though it's the Superior Rooms where some come with a sea view. There are two room types: Both are the same (relatively small) size, but Superior Rooms offer the key perk of a sea view, plus robes, slippers, more toiletries, and tea- and coffee-making facilities bathtubs. Bathrooms are modern, compact spaces with decent amounts of counter space, shower/tub combos, and bidets. They're supplied with NH-brand toiletries and full-size hairdryers. All rooms have a flat-screen TV with Sky and international channels, as well as a digital safe, minibar, and free Wi-Fi.
Features
The hotel's pool and white-sand private beach are standouts.
There are a decent amount of business and leisure facilities for guests here. The large pool is genuinely lovely: It's set among palm trees on a well-maintained lawn and surrounded by loungers and umbrellas. There's also a beautiful, private white-sand beach across the street with sun loungers and shaded seating pavilions available for guests to use. A well-maintained, but tiny gym is on-site with a couple pieces of equipment and free weights.
The restaurant, Pietro d'Aragona, has a beautiful dining room reminiscent of an old conservatory, with an arched atrium-style roof and walls of glass windows looking out to the gardens (there's also a terrace for al fresco dining). The menu specializes in regional and Mediterranean dishes, with a wine list showcasing Italian varietals. This is also where the free breakfast is served, consisting of an Italian take on a continental spread. A moody bar with dark club-style seating has a menu of (pricey) drinks, as well as sandwiches, salads, and pasta until late.
One perk at the NH is its "Lazy Sunday" check-out time, which was 3 p.m. during our visit. For those taking the bonus hours to catch up on the computer, Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Seven meeting rooms are available to hold 280 people, and the conference area opens onto a patio for receptions and parties. Parking is available on- and off-site for free.
