We stayed at Guiseppe's place over New Year and had an absolutely wonderful time. The place is even nicer - and larger - than it looks on the photos, and everything - from the furniture to the equipment, towels, bed, bedding, plates, cups & pots and air conditioning - seemed brand new. The internet worked perfectly, as did the air conditioning/ heating; water was hot and plentiful and the area felt save and friendly.

Guiseppe and his family made us very, very welcome and provided everything including soap, towels, spices, and even some food & drinks. He was always just a phone call away and we felt very well looked after.

The location is excellent, a few meters to the sea, and with a perfect view of Mt Etna from a beautiful roof terrace. You will probably need a car to go exploring from there, as there's only a few places to reach on foot. A tourist bus line seems to pass regularly near the house, which we never took. Good news for those with a car: there's even a garage to rent.

We thought the spot ideal to explore the east coast as its in the middle between Messina and Siracusa. We heard good things about Acireale (beautiful, vibrant, but not too big or touristy) and really liked it. The centre is a short drive away, though. The motorway passes a few km away from the house, so it's easy to get to all the major cities from there.

So: full-hearted recommendation - we're considering going again and have already told some friends about the place.