Ferrini Home Grotte Bianche 150

We had a lovely, roomy apartment with great equipment and a balcony large enough to enjoy the view of Mt Etna. It's a very convenient location and a really nice space all around. There are clearly several apartments in the complex, but ours was lovely. I'd definitely recommend it.

The listing gave me the impression I was booking a beautiful apartment, but what we got was a small room with a very poorly equipped kitchen. There was no kitchen knife, just cutlery and a tiny 15 by 10 cm cutting board. The place was poorly renovated, and the bathroom sink was attached with some kind of silicone adhesive and felt very unstable. The balcony was hard to use because the AC equipment took up so much room. It wasn't cleaned well either. The floor was sandy, and there were stains on the bed and walls. The hot water lasted about five minutes, and although there was a washing machine, nowhere to dry or hang clothes. Noise came through from the other room, including talking, walking, cooking, and even moving a chair, so sleeping was difficult. At check-in, the staff member pressured me to sign a contract on the iPad without explaining it, saying only, "yeah yeah I'll send per email". Check and document every corner of the flat before signing, because they charged me hundreds of dollars for damage I didn't cause. If you don't record any issues and send them right away, they may charge you. While cooking, the fuse kept cutting the power, which was really annoying.

The bed was comfortable, and the location was okay, near the market and the main strip of bars and restaurants. Beyond that, our stay wasn't a good experience. The water smelled like sewage, so even after a shower we felt dirty. The apartment was poorly equipped: of all the listed appliances, maybe only three or four were actually there. There was no microwave, cutting board, or kitchen knife, which made cooking difficult. There was mold in the bathroom too. The AC leaked because the pipes were broken and had holes, so we couldn't leave it running overnight without flooding the balcony. The washing machine didn't get the clothes clean or rinse them properly, and a pool of water collected under them when we tried to hang them. Housekeeping missed our apartment, then the housekeeper rudely said she wouldn't clean it, even though we'd agreed on specific dates with the manager. We asked management for more towels and toilet paper, but they read the message and ignored it. Several hidden fees were also presented for payment when we arrived, though they should have been disclosed in the booking confirmation. Honestly, I'd pay a bit more for a better place somewhere else.

The air conditioning was the one major problem. During our visit there was a three-day heat wave, and the unit didn't work at all. The apartment became unbearably hot at night, we couldn't sleep, and had to find somewhere else to sleep. That was especially disappointing given how good the rest of the place was. They replied very quickly to WhatsApp messages during working hours. In cooler weather, it might be worth considering if the AC issue is fixed. Ferrini Home Residence 80 was spotless, from the floors and furniture to the other surfaces, and the sofa and bed were both comfortable and good quality. The linens were nice, and the bed gave us a restful night before the AC trouble. The bathroom was clean and well kept, with modern fixtures, a clean toilet, and a strong, steady flow of hot water. The windows and door insulated well, keeping street sounds out and the apartment peaceful. It was also well equipped for a longer stay: washing machine and iron, plus a moka pot, pod coffee maker, kettle, microwave, and induction stove with pots and pans, all working well.