Delfino Beach Hotel

The Delfino's lobby is situated in a large building, and guest rooms are housed in three smaller detached buildings. There's a large, circular courtyard in front of the entrance, which creates a sense of grandeur. The front lobby is spacious, with high ceilings, red marble floors, and yellow walls. The decor is a bit of a mishmash, with Persian rugs and luxurious velvet chairs in the center, and shabby old sofas, antique furniture, and a flat-screen TV in the corners. The hotel grounds are covered in gardens filled with bright flowers and palm trees, but appear neglected and have overgrown grass and dirt patches. Many of the guests are families on a beach vacation.

This Sicilian hotel is situated next to the beach, a seven-minute drive to Cantine Florio -- where the area's famous local wines are produced -- and a 13-minute drive from the small town of Marsala and an 80-minute drive to the Palermo Airport. There's not much within walking distance, but guests with a car will find plenty to do in the area.

• 10-minute drive to Marsala Porta Garibaldi
• 12-minute drive to Capo Boeo
• 12-minute drive to Museo Archeologico di Baglio Anselmi
• 16-minute drive to Cantina Pellegrino
• 27-minute drive to St. Vitus on the Sea (San Vito a Mare)
• 49-minute drive to Palazzo Senatorio
• Two-and-a-half-hour drive to Piazza della Repubblica

The rooms are located either in the main building or in one of the three detached buildings and are simple, with minimal decor and outdated furniture. All rooms include a desk, a mini-fridge, a small wall-mounted flat-screen or tube TV, an armoire, and a safe. Wrought-iron headboards add a much needed touch of elegance. Fabric slipcovers over desk chairs look fussy. Some rooms have balconies with views of the other guest room buildings, as well as couches, and kitchenettes (but no ovens). Bathrooms are basic and have a bidet and either a shower/tub combo or just a small walk-in shower. 

Guests have direct access to a beautiful, yet crowded sandy beach. The hotel provides lounge chairs and large tiki-style umbrellas. There are two large pools, a tennis court, a playground, and a small theater. The Delfino also has three meeting rooms and a large banquet hall for corporate groups. Along with a couple of bars, the hotel offers a beachfront restaurant that serves lunch and dinner and a second restaurant in the main building that's only open at night. During the high season, the hotel operates regular organized excursions to nearby attractions, for a fee. Although there's no Wi-Fi in rooms, it is free and available in common areas.