Palazzo Maria

You're mostly paying for the location, about €130 a night. It's right on the main Piazza, beside the cathedral in the heart of Cefalù, with dozens of restaurants within walking distance and the nearest beach about five minutes away. The rooms are very spacious, with a full kitchen and crockery, which is handy since there's no restaurant for guests. The staff were friendly but seemed untrained or inexperienced. I'd describe the place as serviced apartments more than a hotel. It's hidden and overpriced. We tried driving to the door, which I wouldn't recommend: the streets are narrow and crowded with tourists. Parking was a 10-minute walk away and cost €20 a day.

The apartment was just a five-minute walk from the beach, and a panoramic terrace made a lovely addition. It was clean, spacious, air-conditioned, and had a lift. The location is right on the main square by the Duomo in Cefalu's old town. Since the area is pedestrian-only, you can reserve a space in a secure car park about ten minutes away on foot, or take a taxi.

We loved the spot, with its beautiful old buildings, and the owners were so kind and friendly. Our apartment was large, but on the fourth floor with no lift, which was quite a workout. Getting there takes some planning: don't drive into the historic area or you'll get a fine. Park by the small port and take a cab to the piazza, just a few minutes away. The beach is a five-minute walk, and chair and umbrella rentals for our family of four cost 40 euros a day. There are also lots of great restaurants overlooking the sea. A memorable place.

The rooftop terrace was huge, and most days we had it to ourselves. Our king Rodger apartment was very spacious and clean, with two balconies looking out onto piazza del Duomo. We found the room comfortable for our stay, and it could easily fit a family of four. The shower was hot and powerful, but its folding doors let water spread across the tiled floor, so cleaning up afterward felt like mopping a pool. We also had to call for fresh towels halfway through the week, and there was no dustpan and brush when we needed to clean up crumbs. You can't drive into the centre of Cefalù. Walking in took us about ten minutes, so anyone who has trouble walking may need a taxi or another place to stay. Parking at the train station was a reasonable €6 a day. Later in the week we may have been able to park for free on the far side of the marina near Al Forno. Still, it's a wonderful place to stay.