I wish VRBO would let me give more than 5 stars! Where do I start…
First, the property itself is absolutely beautiful. The pictures online were wonderful, but it’s even more stunning in person. We really enjoyed sitting out on the terrace in the mornings and evenings (incredible mountain, ocean, and city views all in one spot!), cooking and doing laundry in the fully equipped kitchen, and enjoying the peaceful tranquility of the property (lemon groves, etc).
Second, the location is fantastic - it was less than a 45 minute drive from the Palermo airport, and then we were perfectly situated for all of the day trips we took from Santa Flavia. We went west to Trapani, east to Messina, and everywhere in between on the northern coastline of Sicily (Palermo, Cefalu, etc). Next time I come back to Sicily, I would love to stay here again and take day trips to see central and southern Sicily.
Lastly, the host (Mario) is wonderful!! He had excellent communication from start to finish, and he kindly accommodated us when our flight got in a couple hours early on the first day. He met us nearby so he could show us the way to the property, did a wonderful job of showing us all the details of the house, and then made sure we had his number in case we needed anything throughout our stay. We had a last minute change to the number of guests in our party, and he was very understanding/accommodating with that too - he helped make sure we had enough bedding, towels, etc for everyone. Mario also had fantastic recommendations for everything from grocery stores, to restaurants, to activities. He helped us find some great spots and local foods that we wouldn’t have thought of on our own! Mario, if you are reading this - we miss the granitas already :)
In conclusion - if you are looking for a place to stay in the Palermo area, you should definitely stay here :)