B&B Alfio Tomaselli

Pina was very nice and tried to help us with suggestions for the area. The breakfast she prepared was lovely and charming. The B&B was comfortable and clean, especially for larger families, with several beds in each room. There’s also a terrace where you could eat if you picked something up at the supermarket.

The host was very friendly and helpful, even though she doesn’t speak English, and I strongly recommend the place. The rooms are cosy, it’s a cool location near Etna, and breakfast was good.

This was a terrible stay, and our second time at this small place calling itself a B&B. When we arrived, instead of seeming glad we’d chosen her place again, the owner raised her voice to tell us not to smoke in the room. Given the layout, there’s no designated smoking area. At 9:30 this morning she knocked on our door and shouted that breakfast was ready, it was 9:45, and we needed to leave the room soon, without considering that it was Sunday and we might still be asleep. Shouting from across the room is rude and unethical. Breakfast was a disaster, just two so-called croissants that were empty inside. When I went into the kitchen this morning, she shouted at me again for using the coffee machine badly and leaving coffee grounds on the table. There are no instructions on the machine, so how could she expect us to know how to use it? Shouting at guests is unacceptable. She needs customer care training to understand that patience is part of hospitality, otherwise this job isn’t for her.

Mrs Pina made our stay feel like a taste of real Sicilian life, especially with her delicious homemade local dishes. The owners were so kind and welcoming. B&B Tomaselli is in Nicolosi, the Etna Gate, just a five-minute walk from the town center, and a great base for visiting Etna and the surrounding area. It works well whether you're planning to trek or cycle toward the summit of Etna crater, listed here as 3340mls.