After staying at Simona's apartment, I can definitely say I would like to go back! The building that the apartment is in is multi-unit with 3 floors so it is similar to a condominium complex. The location is just north of Taormina and Letojanni so it's away from the crowds yet still easy to get to. You will definitely need a car as Taormina is on top of a hill accessed by a very curvy road. The beach is great and almost private as the public access is quite a distance away. By far our favorite spot was the roof terrace with a huge view. Seeing the hills behind, the ocean in front, and the lights of Taormina at night were excellent. The train is not a bother and is run electrically so you only hear it for short times. Finally, we would definitely recommend one of the excursions offered by Alessandro - who also was great at getting us checked in. He offers a guided tour of Mt. Etna or a day of sailing on their boat. We wanted to do both but only had time for one and we chose Mt. Etna. Being a geologist, Alessandro was very knowledgeable and knows the trails well. The difference from where the "regular" tour groups go and where he took us was immense. For a place off the beaten path and away from the crowds, I highly recommend a stay at Simona's...