I am currently a guest staying here at La Gancia Residence Hotel in Trapani, Sicily. I am here because of the recommendation from Rick Steves. There seems to be an issue with the lack of proper plumbing practice here. I have sewer gas coming up from my bathroom sink. There does not seem to be a proper trap as is mandatory at least in normal plumbing practices. At first I thought it was the water that smelled but upon further looking into it is the lack of a trap in the bathroom sink. The kitchen sink does have one. You just have to put your nose close to the bathroom sink drain and you know. The trap could be behind the wall but still there is an oder and I clearly hear the flushing from the drain
When a toilet is flushed on the floor above me I can hear the gurgling in the bathroom sink drain clear as day. And that is not good.
Yesterday I spoke to the front desk and he said it was because of heavy wind. Well, that is not true. Nothing done. This morning, at breakfast, I spoke with the hotel manager and I explained what I was experiencing and that he should look into. No response at days end here today from him. I showed him pictures and I told him maybe it's just a cleaning issue but my guess is it's more than that.
For those of you who don't know, sewer gas can cause many side effects and it's not good.
I keep my bathroom door closed at night. After for nights here I will depart tomorrow.
I will post if this issue is addressed before I leave tomorrow but just a heads up if you're thinking of staying here in the future.
Webmaster, if you're reading this you should inquire with hotel as Rick recommends this hotel in the Sicily book.
Chaio, Mark
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3819 posts
Sorry for your disappointment, plumbing quality is highly variable the world over. I'd also suggest you send specific feedback to the guidebook department, they have a form for that: https://www.ricksteves.com/forms/guidebook-feedback-form
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
2224 posts
Put the stopper in and fill the sink with water.
Posted by
OP
SW Fla
7 posts
There is a Best of Sicily group here now. I spoke with the team lead on this issue as they pretty much use this hotel for their trips and have more clout then I only being here for four days.
Anyway, don't stay i
n room 205. Maybe the problem was limited to my room? I think I will start to pack a small roll of duct tape as well. The actual sink stopper is fixed in position so one can not fill the sink as was suggested. Thanks.
Posted by
new york
1337 posts
I spent four nights at RESIDENCIA LA GANCIA in 2024; we loved it!! I did not know it was as RS pick...
I am not doubting you in the least, but maybe it's a new problem, or a problem only in your room.
I looked at a few review sites, and did find this, on Oyster; the next sentence is from that site:
Some guests have remarked that plumbing can give rise to odors in the bathroom, but that covering the drain can remedy the situation*
I hope you enjoyed Trapani....it's such a great city with some of the best restaurants we've tried on the island..
I'd be curious as to which category of room you booked..
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3819 posts
I think I will start to pack a small roll of duct tape as well. The
actual sink stopper is fixed in position so one can not fill the sink
as was suggested.
FWIW, a ziplock bag partially filled with water makes a decent temporary stopper for this type of situation.
Posted by
OP
SW Fla
7 posts
I booked a Superior Studio with sea view.
I've done my share of European travel over the years. However, in this case with sewer gas involved I made a piont to say something to management. It was frustrating that nothing was done. I probably would have moved rooms if asked after I questioned after two nights but I just kept the bath door closed. As you say maybe it's just in room 205. I doubt many people realize there is no trap under the sink. Maybe Italians use a different system but in my case it was not working and as I had said prior the kithen sink did have one. Frankly, if no one was in the room above me you wouldn't hear the toilet flushing in the sink drain. However their plumbing is arranged in the building it was only the room above me.
The other suggestion of filing a zip lock bag with water, great idea and I did not think of that. I always travel with ziplock bags as a lot of times I can't find them to purchase.
Thank you, Mark