Mia Cara/Archi Rossi Hostel

Description:

• The only way you'll pay less than at the Mia Cara is at the Noto family's hostel on the ground floor. At the hotel you'll find double-paned windows, spacious no-frills rooms, renovated plumbing (no shower curtains), and attractive iron headboards. Now if they'd only up the wattage of the light fixtures. The rooms overlooking the small garden out back are more tranquil than those on the street side.

  Angela, the English-speaking daughter, can be reached at the number below or at tel. 055-290-804 for information on the downstairs Archi Rossi Hostel (www.hostelarchirossi.com), where units sleep four to six, without bathroom for 19€ ($25) per person, and with bathroom for 17€ to 19€ ($22-$25) depending on how many beds in the room (there are also private, bathroom-less singles in the hostel for 29€/$38 including breakfast, and family rooms sleeping three to five for 24€/$31 each including breakfast). The hotel is closed 11am to 2:30pm, with a 1am curfew. Both the hotel and the hostel have their own TV room and public phone. They are planning a renovation that will double the size of both hotel and hostel, and may turn the hotel into a moderate property, but just when this will happen is anybody's guess.

• © Frommer's 2012