Casa Helios | House in Carrozziere, Sicily

Positive: The host was exceptionally helpful, always available and very proactive. When we arrived, there was an issue that was completely beyond his control. Nevertheless, he arranged and paid for food and drinks of our choice to be delivered to us. He also accepted an Amazon parcel on our behalf and kept it safe until we could collect it. Such an attentive and dedicated host clearly deserves 10 out of 10. The accommodation offers a good level of privacy and is equipped with all the essentials. There is a bakery and a pharmacy nearby, and Syracuse is within easy reach. We particularly appreciated the two air-conditioning units, which made our stay much more comfortable during the Sicilian summer.

Negative: Before booking, we did not fully realise that there was another apartment directly above ours. During our stay, the guests upstairs could be heard very clearly every day until around 11 p.m., particularly through heavy footsteps and the frequent moving of furniture or other objects. Travelling with a two-year-old and expecting a quiet house, we found this quite exhausting. The host did his best to address the issue, but understandably had limited influence over the behaviour of the other guests. There is also room for improvement regarding comfort. Only one low pillow was available, while all the others were far too high for us. I therefore had to buy my own pillow in order to sleep comfortably. The provided towels were also not particularly absorbent. In addition, the basic quality of the pots and pans made cooking more difficult than necessary. Due to the warm climate, ants can appear very quickly if food, used dishes or crumbs are left out. Stray cats also occasionally rested on our terrace. According to the host, some guests feed them, so they keep returning. This may be pleasant for animal lovers, but it could be relevant for guests with a cat allergy.

Positive: The house was amazing, nicely decorated, a lot of space both inside and outside with 2 big patios. The host was great at communicating and checking in with us to make sure everything was as expected. He was flexible and had planned a really nice welcome package for us as well. 10/10

Negative: Everything was great

Positive: The host left lots of useful goods for the day we arrived; from pasta, to sauces, cakes and cookies. Very very useful if you need to cook something on the spot after a more or less long travel. The jacuzzi was great for those afternoons at home with the kid. We could enjoy it without the stress of having to go to the beach. Plus, there are two sun beds to relax after it. We were also able to make a BBQ, which is always a nice to have! The house has plenty of space for the kid to run around and for us to relax. All in all it was a great stay! We also liked that every window has anti mosquito net, so insects were not an issue, even though even outside we didn't encounter many of them. Finally, the hosts were super responsive and very kind. They even accommodated an early check in, and found an high chair for the kid. You can see they really care about their property and their clients. Very beautiful people.

Negative: I think it was nearly perfect, If I really have to say something, I would propose a thinner pillow. I could have asked for it, but didn't want to bother the great hosts, so my bad.