Valentina & Steve's home is the perfect Airbnb. The property is stunning and the location is terrific for exploring the area. Everything about the house oozes countryside charm, and the house is well-outfitted with everything you need to relax and enjoy southeast Sicily.
Valentina and I communicated frequently ahead of our arrival from the moment I first inquired about booking. When we arrived, Valentina and Steve welcomed us with open arms and a wonderful apertivo spread -- such a lovely way to kick off our stay after a long day of driving in Sicily.
Valentina and Steve were so warm and helpful with everything during our stay. They gave us so many great recommendations to help structure our days of touring and beach time. And they made fabulous breakfasts tailored to us that we woke up excited for every day.
To be honest, after we booked we had a tiny bit of anxiety about how it would be staying in and sharing someone else's home. That anxiety, as it turned out, was totally unfounded. Valentina & Steve were very fun and happy to hang out and chat about our days, give advice, etc etc, but they were also very intentional about giving us plenty of space to enjoy the house as we wanted (for example, helping us clear off the back terrace and create a quiet private space for yoga). And they were absolutely chill about us coming and going as we pleased.
There is also a delightful family of animals at the property that you will quickly fall in love with, a dog and several cute cats. At the same time, the house was incredibly clean and, despite being in the country, relatively insect-free.
Valentina also came through for me and my partner in two very big ways. First, she helped me execute -- and photograph -- my marriage proposal to my partner, which was an amazing success! Second, the day we left the property we had some unfortunate car trouble, getting 3 flat tires on a poorly-maintained road that Google Maps lead us to on the way to Agrigento. It was a very scary situation, particularly because we had very limited cell reception and don't speak Italian. But once we were able to get Valentina on the phone she sprang into action, helping translate & negotiate for us with the tow truck driver and find a taxi to our next destination; without her efforts we would not have been able to continue with our trip as quickly as we did. She didn't have to do any of that, but that's just the kind of big-hearted person she is. While your trip might not take as dramatic a turn as ours did, traveling in Sicily can definitely be an adventure - and having a host like Valentina who you can turn to and rely on will make your time there go much more smoothly.
Perhaps our only regret about our stay was that we didn't spend even more time staying put and enjoying the property itself. It's tough because there's SO MUCH to do in the area and most of the major places we wanted to visit are about a 30-40 min drive; that means it's just not practical to pop in and out during the day. The house was the perfect home base for all that exploring if that is your plan! (By the way, the town itself, Palazzolo Acreide, was a delightful fun surprise.) But when we go back, we are going to relish spending a little more time sitting still, enjoying the pool and the house and grounds and the opportunity to unplug from the hustle and bustle of life.
In sum, don't hesitate a moment longer about booking your Sicily stay with Valentina & Steve!