Villa Dafne

The countryside setting was peaceful, and we enjoyed the agricultural feel and wonderful views. Our room was spacious, with a double bed and two singles, and in good condition. But the service let us down. Breakfast had very little to choose from, with no fruit or yoghurt, and the staff weren't much help. At dinner we ordered two veal rib eyes, waited an hour, and got meat that was dry and tough. We also had no kettle or cups in the room. Finding the place was difficult at first, since it's reached by nature trails. The surroundings were lovely, but we were very disappointed by the service.

The owner’s enthusiasm for the dairy farm and his work was a real highlight, and the cleaning staff and waitresses were warm and helpful. We also loved the villa’s romantic, remote setting in Sicily. Still, we had to ask for basic information, such as portion sizes and whether breakfast included eggs. Getting around nearby was hard with a baby. Stray dogs on the lanes made walking or cycling feel unsafe, and with the pool closed, we chose to leave early. The departure arrangement was especially upsetting. After 24 hours, we asked the receptionist about leaving early and getting a refund for the remaining five days. She said she needed to check with her boss. When we followed up, we were told, “Yes, of course,” and offered cash or card for the refund. We relied on that and immediately paid for another place. But on departure day, the desk said there had been a language misunderstanding and claimed they thought we were asking how to pay our current bill. They waived the laundry and meal charges, but still charged us for all five room nights. We knew the original booking was non-refundable, but only booked somewhere else because staff had explicitly confirmed the refund. That inconsistency left us with a very sour taste. There was also a room problem at check-in. Before booking, we had written confirmation of a wide single mattress so our infant could safely share the bed. Instead, we were offered two joined singles or a mezzanine. They did replace the mattress the next day, but it was disappointing that our confirmed need had been overlooked.

Those Sicilian hills and countryside views around Villa Dafne were hard to get enough of. We stayed a week and, though we skipped most activities to explore the island, we were thrilled with the villa itself. The staff were genuinely pleasant, and the atmosphere was lovely. Dinner was the standout. We had planned to eat out while sightseeing, but after an impromptu meal on our first night, we returned to dine there several more times. Breakfast was good too. Our room was spotless and well kept, with a comfortable bed and a small balcony for relaxing outside in the evenings. We also looked forward to the stray cats each morning and evening. Some seemed a bit unwell, as strays often do, but they appeared to have food, water, and a safe place.

We found the Sicilian dishes especially memorable, and the generous breakfast with excellent cappuccinos was a great start to the day. The pool was clean and inviting after exploring, and service throughout our stay felt warm and attentive. Agriturismo Villa Dafne has a breathtaking setting, with views that make you stop and look. Our room was spotless and comfortable, with the Italian countryside feel we wanted. We'd absolutely recommend it for an authentic, memorable stay in Sicily.