A dream vacation, the lovely Laura Marie Villa sits on a spectacular stretch of rocky coastline just east of Palermo. There is easy access to the water nearby, either a walk to a rocky outcrop which is great for snorkelling or a short drive to sandy beaches. The view from the large terrace is fabulous and there are plenty of chairs, deck chairs and sunloungers to enjoy it from, all surrounded by a well tended tropical, terraced garden. There is also a barbecue and outdoor kitchen area. Inside there is a comfortable open plan lounge/dining area with small, well stocked kitchen, along with 3 bedrooms. We are a family of 5, all children now grown, and we fitted the villa perfectly. Each bedroom has a ceiling fan to help stay cool in the hot summer months, which we really needed in early July, as the weather was hot and humid. The property has a driveway on a slope with a parking area that is big enough to use as a turning circle. Our large rental car needed to do a 7 point turn in the space, so probably best to book a smaller size car if possible. Antonio and Debbie look after the villa exceedingly well, with a friendly personal service and plenty of information and advice if needed. Although it was hard to leave the lovely terrace each day, we managed to visit many interesting places. Very close by is the ancient archaeological site of Solunta, well worth visiting and has great views of the region. We took the train into Palermo, which was also easy from Bagheria, and a short walk then to the main sites of interest. Driving in Sicily can be startling around the towns and cities at busy times....reminding us of Mariokart!! Be prepared for cars overtaking on both sides and free for all busy junctions! However, outside the city, the autostrada routes were an easy drive. We were able to visit Segesta and Ericae in one day and also Cefalu is an easy day trip. In nearby Castelldaccia we found a scuba diving company and 2 of our party enjoyed a half day scuba trip with them, while the rest of us relaxed at the nearby lido!
Overall, we had a wonderful holiday made very memorable by the spectacular location of this very special villa. Thank you Antonio and Debbie.