Agriturismo Zinedi

The breakfast was well prepared and delicious, and they make very good wine, jams, and preserves. Matteo and his mother run the agriturismo. Matteo is a genius at suggesting places to visit and eat, and his recommendations are excellent. The rooms need updating, which I think Matteo has in mind. The property is quiet despite being right beside the airport runway, where one plane arrives and leaves each day. Pantelleria is very barren, partly because it rarely rains. Zinedi's gardens are barren too, but you can still see the famous Pantelleria gardens. They need tidying and updating, and I think that's what Matteo wants to do.

It's a quiet place despite the nearby airport. The simple, familiar feel is what has always drawn me back every two years. The prices are low compared with other agriturismos, and the increases were needed to cover costs. If you're not too picky, give it a try for a healthy dip into simplicity. Ornella, Matteo, and Roberto are kind and very hospitable.

The pool was gorgeous, but it was so poorly maintained that it was unusable, and he wouldn't let us take a dip. At night the building was completely dark when we returned, and we had to use our phone flashlights. On arrival, he wouldn't even let us into the room before asking for full payment for three people for the entire week, despite us having already sent a deposit. I hate to say it, but I was not satisfied at all. We spent a week at a beautiful property that was badly kept. Breakfast and dinner were included, but I never ate breakfast. It was only toast, jam, cereal, two juices, and coffee. Dinner was served at 8:00 PM, so we couldn't watch the sunset. We skipped the last two dinners, even though we'd paid, because of that. Roberto, the chef, was a great guy, though, and I have nothing to complain about with him. The three courses, an appetizer, first course, and second course, were rushed through in 45 minutes because they were in a hurry to close. By 9:00 PM, you'd already digested your meal! If you happened not to like something, there were no alternatives. Drinks weren't included, and we had to pay for them that evening in cash, since transactions weren't accepted. The room cleaning was below zero, though Nunzia, the cleaner, was very kind and sweet. Sheets and towels weren't changed unless you paid extra. The car we rented from them had bald tires and left us stranded five times, including at night. He also wanted the rental paid in cash because he doesn't like transactions. What a disappointment!

The property has potential, but it is badly maintained and, in some ways, neglected. The pool was dirty and poorly kept. I stayed for a week, and without meeting the wonderful people I did on the island, I might have hated it. On arrival, I was asked to pay for my stay immediately, before I could even see the room. I asked whether horseback riding was possible and was told categorically no, which turned out not to be true, so I did go riding. The room was dirty and dusty, and the bathroom flooded the first time we flushed. The air conditioning was awful. After cleaning it myself, I discovered there was no remote. When I asked for one, I was told it would cost 10 euros a day. Towels were changed only once a week, and sheets never, unless you paid extra. We were left a price list for the products the owner sells, but then he charged an extra 5 euros for wine with dinner, even though dinner and breakfast were included. He insisted on immediate payment and wouldn't open an account, so we had to pay cash right away. The POS terminal magically didn't work. Breakfast started at 8:30, so if you had an excursion, you missed it. Dinner was at 8:00 PM, with no flexibility for an aperitif or sunset, and it was a fixed menu with no alternatives. We ate out on the last two nights despite having paid for dinner. If you have to feel anxious on vacation, you might as well stay home. Breakfast was toast, jam, yogurt, and four thermoses of coffee, juice, milk, hot water, and cereal. Not a croissant or any fruit, just four biscuits on the table, usually quite soft. And no one ever wanted a savory breakfast! The car they rented us stranded us on the first day because of a battery clamp, and we had to squeeze it ourselves several times during the stay when it left us stuck on the road. I don't usually write negative reviews, but this place, or rather its management, really deserves one. There's too much to say, so I'll stick to the main points. What a nightmare. Absolutely avoid.