Villa Carolea

A quiet little gem, clean and safe for young children, with secure parking. The host was very helpful. The one drawback is that you have to drive at least 30 minutes to find a restaurant.

The villa is a lovely spot to get away from the daily grind and enjoy nature. From there, beautiful Catania, Mount Etna, Acicastello, Acitrezza, and timeless Taormina are all within easy reach. The owner is friendly and helpful, ready to listen to what you need and suggest places to see or eat. Highly recommended!

The place itself is nice, but the owner made our stay difficult. He wouldn't let us barbecue in the large space, even though I said we'd clean up carefully, while he was allowed to grill in the evening. It was 40°C all day, and because I have two small children who suffer in the heat, I left the air conditioning on in our room. While I was away, the owner came in and kept switching it off. Absurd. In the evening we wanted to relax outside in the garden, but he kept all the lights off. It was pitch black, and we had to use our phone flashlights just to see one another. The pool was dirty, yellow in the corners, and cold all day, so the kids couldn't get in. At breakfast, he served unpackaged cured meats that had been in the fridge for 2-3 days, as well as opened bottles of fruit juice and milk that had been there for 2-3 days. Who knows who had used them?

A car is essential here, though we could park it securely. The place feels like a paradise between Mount Etna and the sea. The family running it was friendly and discreet, and guests could use a well-stocked kitchen. We wished we could have stayed a few more days.