Casa Piccolo Paradiso
Casa Piccolo Paradiso is a wonderful home away from home, located on the Italian island of Sicily, and is run by Sam Stanley & Laurence Hicks. The couple decided to escape the hustle and bustle of London in May 2017, choosing instead a new life in Sicily where they set up home together at Casa Piccolo Paradiso.
Sam is an ex-professional rugby player where, at the peak of his playing career, he played for England 7’s and Saracens. After a 30-year successful career in the travel industry holding a number of senior roles for major tour operators, Laurence decided to switch the focus of his travel career towards LGBT friendly travel together with a major escorted touring technology project.
Together, Sam and Laurence have created the most beautiful Homestay concept in the heart of the quintessential Sicilian hamlet of Santo Stefano. Their key and overriding philosophy ispromoting and encouraging inclusiveness so everyone is extended a warm, friendly and courteous welcome in their home.
Laurence has excellent local knowledge of the local area, and Sicily in general, and is happy to point guests in the right direction. Sam is a qualified Personal Trainer and offers one-to-one sessions at the local sports complex, Olos, which is run by Laurence & Sam.
One thing you can be sure of is a warm and friendly welcome from Laurence (whose mother was Sicilian) and Sam, who together have built the most beautiful house in the heart of a quintessential Sicilian hamlet perched over the seaside town of Gioiosa Marea. From the moment you arrive until the moment you leave, you will be looked after like family and every assistance will be given to make your homestay experience at Casa Piccolo Paradiso a memorable one!
Accommodation is provided on a bed and breakfast basis, and homestay guests will receive a reinforced continental breakfast. Homestay guests are free to make tea, coffee, etc. as they wish in the kitchen.
On request, Laurence and Sam can include homestay guests in their evening meal arrangements at an additional cost. These arrangements are normally informal and organized on an ad-hoc basis once guests know what is on the menu for each particular evening. They also have an arrangement with a local (adopted) mama, who will attend Casa Piccolo Paradiso and cook a traditional Sicilian dinner on one evening (subject to her availability). There is also a private family home Sicilian Dining Experience available in the adjacent village San Leonardo.
All bed linen and towels are provided, and all homestay bedrooms have ventilators and bottled water provided.
When you stay at Casa Piccolo Paradiso, you will be embraced intoLaurence and Sam’s home and the aim is to make you feel like visiting family rather than just guests.
If you are going to Sicily, this is where you should stay! Sam and Laurence insist on it!
