Villa Del Borgo

***Update to my 2024 review*** After I posted my review, the landlords immediately told me to take it down. When we got home, we asked an Italian lawyer to write to them. They never replied, apparently choosing to ignore the letter. We eventually let it go to avoid more hassle, especially since it was our honeymoon. I wouldn't rent from these landlords again. They act like crooks, which is a shame given how beautiful the place is.

The views over the sea and mountains are stunning and deserve a special mention. The grounds have grown more overgrown than they appear in the owners' photos. Inside, the main bedroom has a safe, the TV includes all the latest streaming apps, the Napoleon grill is top of the line and worked perfectly, and the kitchen had enough equipment. We spent 11 days at Villa del Borgo in early April and felt very comfortable. Eliana and Davide let us into the house before the usual check-in time. They'd stocked the basics, including coffee pods, toilet paper, hand soap, bin bags, dish soap, and dishwasher tablets, along with Sicilian biscuits, white wine, Prosecco, and Coke. When the coffee machine broke a few days in, they promptly replaced it with Daniela's own. They checked in from time to time, and WhatsApp made it easy to communicate. Since no one was due to rent the house right after us, we were also able to check out a little later. We felt well looked after by the hosts. We recommend Villa del Borgo, and Sicily.

We booked the villa for five nights, the first part of our three-week honeymoon in Sicily. The house matched the pictures and description: clean, nicely located, and private. It had nearly everything, but no safe. On our second evening, we drove to Scopello for dinner and someone broke in while we were away, taking the valuables we'd left there. The amount was in the mid four figures. We contacted Scopello Case Vacance, who sent us a link to a police station in Castellammare. We reported the theft, and the officers came to the villa to inspect it. They quickly found that the fence beside the bedroom had been cut, along with signs of forced entry at what I'd call the front door. We notified the landlords right away, but they showed no interest. We asked them to put us in touch with the owner so we could make a claim through his insurance. They said his privacy had to be protected and that there was no insurance. The fence still hadn't been repaired when we left. For someone with several villas in the area, all under the same owner, I find it hard to believe there would be no insurance. When something like this happens, the guests should be helped and someone should take care of the situation. That didn't happen. I wouldn't recommend booking here, because if you have a problem, you won't get help.

The view is the highlight: green mountain slopes behind the cottage and a beautiful sea panorama out front, framed by palms, olive trees, flowers, and cacti. It was spectacular. I loved looking out while cleaning fish or shrimp. The villa is modern, clean, comfortable, and stocked with quality amenities. The large jacuzzi was lots of fun, and the veranda and loungers made for well-planned places to relax. Staff communication was excellent. We got the information we needed at the start, and they dealt with any requests or issues quickly. We originally booked four nights and added two more, only stopping there because the cottage was already booked. I was sorry to reach our last night, and our family had a wonderful stay. We'll be back, thank you! I recommend checking the booking sites too, where the place has a 90-98% rating. Its current rating seems completely unfair, apparently lowered by two reviews from a guest who had a bad experience. There are a few downsides. The pool is cold in the first half of May, and it can get quite windy. Walking about 400 meters to the nearby shop and restaurant is fine, but farther along the narrow road feels dangerous because there's no shoulder and some drivers go far too fast. Those are things the owners and managers can't control. I worked in business security in Poland for 25 years. In my view, the owners learned from what happened and have secured the villas very professionally. There's an alarm, safes, and cameras recording the gate and the full fence around the property. The pool, sun loungers, and jacuzzi areas aren't watched, so you can bathe naked if you want. Safety is clearly a top priority. I take my hat off to the people who created this place.