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Review submitted by Yianni from London (Submitted: 3 Oct 2011)
The town was very pretty and quiet. make sure you know what time the shops close though. If you come from a big town expect everything to be closed for a siesta.
The view was really noce and the setting was very peacefull. Giuseppe went the extra mlie every time he had to to make sure that everything would be ok and in order.
After our stay we will use it as a benchmark to judge other holiday places that we will be visiting....
Review submitted by Mike from Manchester (Submitted: 2 Sep 2011)
Villa Mara is in an idyllilic village overlooking the sea with wonderful uninterrupted views.
Access understandably affected by narrow streets but is very much part of living in a Scicillian village.
Throughout our stay we were very well looked after by Guiseppe who patiently dealt with any of our queries and welcomed us with a fridge well stocked with food for our first day.
Villa itself is well equipped.
Review submitted by Jonas from Stockholm, Sweden (Submitted: 11 Aug 2011)
We had the most relaxing, thrilling and genuine vacation experience imaginable. The house, its pool and its beautiful setting is a paradise in itself and Giuseppe took care of us in a wonderful and most hospitable way. Sant Ambroggios inhabitants welcomed us in every way and we felt very much as part of the village life for a week. We would return tomorrow if we could!
Review submitted by Jenny from Kirkby Lonsdale (Submitted: 17 Jun 2011)
Fantastic holiday, everyone we dealt with were very accomodating - buying a baby bath and travel cot for us. Giuseppe provided a very welcome fridge full of essentials including wine - perfect as we were concerned about getting things on a sunday afternoon.
The self contained air conditioned lounge downstairs meant whoever was looking after the baby could still see everyone in the pool.
NB if you are a nervous driver or have limited mobility this probably isnt the place for you - a small car would be a bonus unless you are happy to walk down the steep road from the village - it didnt bother us - our rented people carrier would not fit in parking place. A great place cant wait to go back when children are much older. (Wouldnt be very safe for young mobile children!)
Review submitted by Anne from oxford (Submitted: 12 Sep 2010)
This is a beautiful and well equipped house with a stunning view. The local agent Guiseppe is wonderful and will stop at nothing to be of help. He makes sure there is a welcoming bowl of fruit, wine and other goodies in the fridge and comes every day early i the morning to clean the outside pool area. It would be helpful to have a folder in the houde regarding the local area-transport, sites of interest, restaurants etc but this is a small criticism
Review submitted by Gill & Simon from Boston (Submitted: 19 Jun 2010)
The property is in a beautiful spot overlooking the sea and a garden that tumbles down a steep hillside. It is in a quiet corner of a small village. You can occasionally hear the neighbours, but for us it was not intrusive. This was an outstanding holiday experience.
The kitchen opens on to a spacious terrace with a large table and sun umbrellas. It was a fabulous place to prepare and enjoy breakfast. The pool, which doesn’t see much of the sun, is chilly but we used it every day and enjoyed drying out on the lower terrace with its dramatic views.
The layout of the house is slightly odd. The pool room is not directly accessible from the rest of the house – you have to go down an outside staircase (not a problem of course in good weather), but it’s very pleasant once you are there.
One of the bedrooms leads directly off the kitchen and the half bathroom in the third bedroom is tiny and not for the tall. On the whole, the bedrooms are the least satisfactory part of the property.
St Ambrogio is about 20 minutes drive from Cefalu, up some winding, narrow roads (fold in your wing mirrors!). Parking can be a challenge. The parking space at the house is at the top of a very steep approach road with a treacherous bend. You will probably find yourself parking elsewhere and walking back to the property, negotiating a stiff climb the following day.
Perhaps the best part of it all was the way we were looked after throughout the time we were there. Giuseppe, who lives around the corner, has the job of caring for the property and is incredibly friendly and helpful – he was always available to help and was a great source of information on where to go and what to do. His warmth and friendliness added much to an enjoyable stay.
Review submitted by Peter from Uxbridge (Submitted: 3 Nov 2009)
On the plus side - the manager, Giuseppe, who lives nearby, is a charming host. On our arrival on Saturday evening he was extremely welcoming and had stocked the villa with food and drink. Not having to go shopping immediately made a real difference to us.
The villa itself is clean and pleasant, and the patios have a stunning outlook over the sea. However, it is not clear from the website that the lounge is only accessible via outside stairs - we were travelling with small children, so we couldnt really use it after their bedtime. At the price charged, the furnishings were adequate rather than impressive, for example no TV (not that we particularly minded). The pool is in the shade all afternoon.
SantAmbrogio is tiny. There is one pizzeria and a couple of tiny shops, where you can get a coke or a coffee but not much else. Cefalu is an easy 10minute drive away.
PS if youre hiring a car - make it a small one, the access to the villa is very steep and narrow!
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 24 May 2009)
We had a wonderful time at Villa Mara. It is a lovely, clean and well-furnished property in a beautiful location. However what made the holiday special for us was Joe’s helpful and friendly assistance. He couldn’t do enough to help and made us feel very welcome.
Petra S - April 2009
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 24 May 2009)
Have used many agents before – your help and flexibility prior too, during and at the end of the holiday was outstanding and made the whole experience hassle free. 5 out of 5.
Ian M - September 2008