Valguarnera Studio Apartaments

Everything was excellent for me.

The apartment’s in a good location, but the basics were disappointing. The bed base was broken, the shower drain was blocked and the water swung between hot and cold, and the bathroom sink was clogged. The pillows were the flattest in Sicily, so we rolled up blankets to use instead, but still woke with back pain. The place smelled like a wet ashtray, and there were no no-smoking signs. The owner asked us to leave €4.00 per person per night in cash on the table before leaving, without a receipt. We did as asked, but after requesting the tourist tax receipt THREE TIMES, we still heard nothing. That left us suspecting the cash might be kept by the owner. I’d advise visitors to pay the tourist tax by bank transfer or card unless they’re given a receipt.

The apartment is spacious and looks great, and the location is excellent. But sleeping was a real problem. We were there on a Thursday, and music from the cafés below and traffic outside kept us awake until about 4 AM. The check-in details were also poorly communicated before we arrived, which added to the frustration.

The place was clean and spacious, and being near the city center meant we had all the amenities close by. Still, the bars and restaurants below were noisy until 4:00 a.m., then the municipal workers came at 5:00 a.m. to empty the bins and clean the street. We didn’t get much sleep. It might suit younger people looking to have fun. Also, we weren’t told before arrival that it’s in a ZTL zone.