Ester's guesthouse, in the stunning grounds of her own villa, was delightful. It was beautifully decorated, private though still not far from Ester's home, well-equipped for all our cooking needs, and a stone's throw from a generously-sized swimming pool, which we had all to ourselves most of the week. The hillside pool was surrounded by orange and olive trees, with views of Etna one side and the sea in the distance. The gardens between the pool and guesthouse were blooming with colourful flowers. The weather was all heat and blue skies during our July visit - perfect for swimming and relaxing on the sun-loungers.
Ester was quick to communicate detailed information about the guesthouse and arranged for her daughter to collect us by car from the nearby train station. As we didn't have a car, Ester and her daughter (and daughter's partner!) generously gave us lifts to and from the lovely town of Acireale (10-15 mins), as well as the coastal villages of Acitrezza and Acicastello. There is a large supermarket within walking distance, but Ester also took us to buy fresh vegetables from a nearby allotment - delicious!
Our hosts really went the extra mile to make our stay smooth and memorable. For example, Ester specialises in aquatherapies to pregnant women, and as I am four months' pregnant, she offered me the treatment free of charge - it was divine!
The only very minor drawback was that we found the beds a little hard - but that may be a personal preference. Plus the guesthouse wouldn't suit someone with an aversion to slightly over-enthusiastic dogs! And it would be easier for those with a car rental to get to further-away places independently - though Ester and family made every effort to take us around (and local taxis are easy to find online and pretty cheap!)
Overall, it was an absolutely gorgeous setting, a warm welcome, and we would more than recommend for a relaxing experience of Sicily!