We arrived at this Air BnB after staying in three others in the weeks leading up. It was as described in every way. Having just left an amazing but very urban location in Siracusa - we found the rural setting very charming. The bedroom windows open on to an olive orchard... from time to time we spied people on horseback passing by as we sat on the terrace.

The entire complex is a sort of farmstead (or was) which is clearly being carefully renovated for this new use. The owners have made what I can only assume are significant investments in the infrastructure (water service, electrical) and I would assume they will continue to make improvements to the parts of the building not yet in use.

Unlike an apartment - here you are sharing the premises with other travelers. Which was nice. There is the communal courtyard while the unit itself is very private. Would be a great location for a large group wanting to all be together but also have their own spaces.

The unit itself felt as if we were the first visitors (which is always nice). Clean and well cared for. It was insanely spacious. We loved the roof terrace and used it many mornings and evenings - coffee, cocktails, conversations and sketching.

If you have traveled a lot you may appreciate the following. The shower. It was incredible. Water pressure and space unlike anything we have had access to in a month of travel. It was a joy.

The kitchen is not large but was equipped with everything we needed and more.

The overall feel of the place was great. Rural but not isolated. Traditional architecture but contemporary furnishings. Rustic in some ways but refined in the ways that mattered.

Finally was the location. We thought it was really ideal. Balestrate is quite humble. We went to the grocery there. Got coffee and pastry one morning. Dinner one night. Gas. But from our exploration it was nothing remarkable. That said - 12 minutes farther away is Castellemare Del Golfo which is very charming and has quite a bit to offer both in scenery and dining. The house is also ideally located for visits to Palermo, Erice, San Vito de Capo, Segesta and Scopello - all of which we did in a five night stay.

Life hack. For our trip to Palmermo we drove to the airport (west side which is where you'll be approaching from) and parked. Then we took a bus into the center of the city. It was insanely easy and nice to let someone else deal with the traffic.

Best dining options we found were in Castellemare Del Golfo. Both on and off the beaten path. Between tips from our host and Trip Advsior we found lots of good choices.

We would have skipped San Vito di Capo if we had it to do again.

All in all a great stay and would highly recommend this apartment.