Villa degli Ulivi

We had a lovely stay, with very nice rooms and outdoor spaces. The hosts were incredibly sweet and cooperative, and even let us sample local food. I'd recommend a visit to anyone.

The beach was closed, and there was no complimentary cake despite the listing advertising one. The photos on Airbnb were misleading. After dark, the place felt bleak, with just a small shared kitchen under harsh white lights. Our rooms had no TV or air conditioning; the only unit was in the corridor and seemed nowhere near enough for the whole property in summer. We came in mid-March and the rooms were badly suited to cold weather. It got so cold at night that we asked for another heater, but the damp building made the heating ineffective. The bedding stayed so cold it felt wet. After two nights, all of us were ill and still recovering from severe coughing. There were three of us, but the hot water ran out after the first shower. On our first night, the carbon monoxide alarm went off because Carmela had not replaced its batteries before we arrived. I spent half the night trying to silence it and asking for help, without success. Carmela was rude and uncooperative throughout, and she doesn't speak English. Once we'd been there two nights and had fallen ill in the freezing rooms, I contacted Airbnb to cut our stay short. She wouldn't allow even a slightly later checkout and insisted on 10:00, despite it being the off-season and apparently having no replacement guests. Other hosts in Sicily had offered flexible checkout times and were genuinely willing to help. Carmela's obstructive attitude was especially upsetting with my parents, who are over 75. Her conduct was unacceptable. Sicily has been lovely on our previous visits, so this was by far our worst stay on the island.

We keep coming back for our summer holiday, and this will be our fourth year. My wife, daughter, and I always have a great time here. The residence is lovely, set among olive trees and close to Avola's beaches, and the pool is a real highlight. It's a relaxing choice for couples or families. Carmela is so helpful and makes you feel at home, and the place is very clean. Thanks, and see you next time!

The owner made sure we had everything we needed, and I felt really looked after. We spent two weeks in this lovely place. It was tidy, very clean, and clearly well cared for. I'd love to come back, and I highly recommend it.