Nice house, shame about the weather!
Review Submitted: October 6, 2009
Date of Stay: September 2009
We've just returned from a week here. There is plenty of room in the house and the furniture is comfortable. Everything we needed was supplied (kitchen equipment, linens etc). It was very clean but there were a lot of trip hazards in the way of rugs, and various ornaments and nick-nacks around the place giving it a slightly fussy feel. My 4-year-old loved the grapes and peaches growing in the garden. There are a lot of steps (2 flights) up to the front door so it isn't really suitable for those with mobility difficulties. Views to Etna and the sea on a clear day are tremendous - and so are the thunderstorms! The house is in a cul-de-sac but the exit to the main road is extremely dangerous with no visibility in either direction. A mirror across the road helps only a little. There was a bad road accident at that spot during our stay. While the location looks convenient on the map, the reality of the narrow winding roads and the Sicilian way of driving means that it takes longer to reach your destination than you might expect. Having said that, 40 minutes drive will take you to innumerable walking spots on the volcano, or to the cable car station to the summit. About an hour to Taormina and Catania airport. Pisano itself isn't much of a place (and despite the proximity, the nature of the road means it is not possible to walk there). Zafferana (20 mins drive) is a nice place to while away a couple of hours. Nearest sandy beach is north of Taormina just below the autostrada exit. I personally wouldn't return to this particular house, but it gives an ideal and comfortable base for anyone interested in mountain activities in particular.
Owner's Response: I’m sorry when travelers make a wrong choice and then complaint about things that have nothing to do with the house. First of all, I provided everything needed to make their stay comfortable, I also added a cot for their baby as required but I cannot change weather conditions. When choosing the month of September/October for your holiday you must consider the possibility of thunderstorms. In autumn there can be beautiful sunny days with high temperatures but also rain and thunderstorms. There are some steps up to the house but as indicated in the advertisement, the place is not recommended for wheelchairs, anyway these travelers had no mobility difficulties.
The roads in the surroundings are well paved and large enough for transit, this means that places to visit can be reached without particular difficulties.
The accident mentioned was caused by the bad weather conditions that obscured visibility of the mirror and not by the nature of the road. The distances indicated by this traveler are not accurate (6 minutes drive to Zafferana and not 20), nearest beaches are Acitrezza and Fondachello (12 and 25 minutes drive). 25/30 minutes drive to the Etna volcano and cable car station, 40 minutes drive to the airport and Taormina.
I always try to be helpful for people staying in my house and I am always available to give information and recommend the best itineraries but bad weather cannot be attributed to the owner, for me it’s really important that my guests are satisfied.
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