Cons: aircon doesn't work perfectly. On 16 degrees celsius it cannot cool the rooms, so nights are hot.
There is no wifi.
The water heater makes strange loud noises. At night it disturbs your sleep. The outdoor bath was not accessible, but there was a hose to wash of sand after a visit on the beach.
Pros: fantastic area. The beach is beautiful with soft sand, crystal water and exotic cliffs and palms. Perfect for snorkeling, kids and all day recreation. Only 3 minutes walk away. At Paradiso del Mare camping (in between the apartment and the beach)you can buy great Sicilian snacks for lunch, drinks, wine, beer and pizza int the evening and fresh baked croissants and bread for breakfast. The owner Paolo and the rest of the staff are extremely kind. Paolo speaks English very well and will provide all the information you need.
You live right amongst the locals. Allesandro's parents live in the the flat below. They are kind and loving and speaks no English what so ever. His mother plays cards with her friends on the neighbor balcony, Italian kids run around. It's a great atmosphere. In the morning various "tuc-tuc's" horns in the street selling fresh bread, fruit and vegetables.
We did the mandatory trips to Noto, Vendicari and Cava Grande but almost regret it, as a day in wonderful Gallina exceeds all of it.
Avola offers plenty of shopping opportunities and restaurants. The center is 8 minutes away. Supermarkets 4 minutes away. We ordered takeaway from Fuori Binario and they have an awesome pizza menu, fast and kind serving. At Avola center you can buy all the Cannolis and ice cream you can wish for at high quality and far pricing.
Conclusion: as you can see, pros exceeds the cons by far. A great place to stay for relaxing Caribbean style vacation. We spent a week, and could have stayed for one more. Thanks to Sicily, Allesandro, and his parents. We will be back!