It general we are very happy about staying in Anna-Maria's apartment. If you have a car, the location is perfect. The beach (not rocks as you find in many places in Sicily, bit a proper beach) is a 2-minute walk away, and Etna is just behind you, and you can see it from the back terrace. However, without a car (and we were without) the location is pretty good as well, although you will have to walk a lot — to the railway station, to the shops, to most restaurants. We rented bikes in Riposto, and really enjoyed getting around by bikes. There's a 12-km flat road alond the coast between the estuary of the Alcantara to Torre Archirafi (even with some stretches of proper cycling lanes), but we cycled as far as Isola Bella to the North, and Aci Castello to the South.
The flat in reality felt much cosier than it seemed in the in the pictures. It's not brand-new, but clean and functional. Anna-Maria is a great host, very helpful and easy-going, and can always give you some good advice about Sicily.