Hayden

We will be in Taormina for 5 days. Is it feasible to see 1 aolian island in this time frame for a day trip? I didn't know if they marketed that sort of trip there or not. Thanks for the info. PS How easy is it to get to the Parc Argonest hotel near the airport from Taormina??

Patrick

The islands are worth a major visit by themselves. Our five days there was all too short. But I do know that I've seen signs in Taormina (by travel agencies) touting day trips to Lipari and maybe other islands as well. I think a package would be the best way to do a day trip there, as it involves a variety of transportation connections.

Steve_James

Hayden - As Patrick says, several Taormina travel agencies offer day-trips - usually to Lipari & Vulcano.
The going rate seems to be about € 50-55.

Here are some links:

http://www.teocleviaggi.it/public/escursioni.asp

http://www.faridatravel.com/uk/trans...escursioni.htm

http://www.tao.it/tritoneviaggi/eng/excursions.htm

http://www.itistours.it/operativo/pr...escursioni.htm


Here's one from Messina:

http://www.eoliantourist.com/liparivulcano.htm

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Grinisa

We did a daytrip from Taormina to Lipari a couple of years ago, but we had our own car. Drove to Milazzo, paid 10 Euros to a garage to keep the car for the day, and took a hydrofoil (about 15 Euros per person) to Lipari. Returned by hydrofoil around 6 pm. It was a great day and just enough time to see the island and make us want to return for a longer visit. Be sure to try the gelato at Bar Subba.

isabel

I'll be in Taormina for 3 nights in a few weeks. I hadn't planned on going to the Aolian Islands but now this thread has got me thinking.

Steve - do you recommend any of those companies or another? I went to all their sites and they seem very similair. Have you taken any of them?

Grinisa - your idea sounds even better. We will also have a car. Was it fairly easy to drive to Milazzo and find the garage, the hydrofoil, etc? Did you have to make reservations in advance? Any other tips?

Thanks

Patrick

I don't mean to be the "SPELLING POLICE" and I was ignoring Hayden's original post as a possible typo, but before it spreads further --
it's Aeolian, named for Aeolus, the custodian of the four winds, who used to "live" there. You'll see neat tiles and things with his face blowing wind.

Grinisa

Isabel, the drive to Milazzo is very easy, all autostrada until the Milazzo exit and then follow the signs for the centro/port. As you near the city, you will see many signs directing you to the port and ferry/hydrofoil docks. When you get to the dock area, there are many parking lots and garages along street by the harbor and on the side streets leading to it. The ticket offices for the hydrofoil are across the street from the dock. I believe there are two lines, at least there were a couple of years ago. SNAV and someone else. Prices are the same for the fast ferry.

isabel

Patrick, I know you mean well, but sometimes people do just type fast and make typos, or don't have the time to look up how to spell something. I knew that spelling looked wrong when I typed it, but since I wasn't sure I just went with the original poster.

Why don't you tell us more about your experience on the islands.

Patrick

Isabel, the only reason I mentioned the spelling is that YOU had already picked up the incorrect spelling and were repeating it. I thought since you were now interested in going, it would be nice that I let you know the original spelling was incorrect! My post was not for the benefit of Hayden, but rather for YOU! I assumed that you were copying the incorrect spelling that was started in the original post because you assumed it was correct (and wouldn't that have been a logical assumption for you as well as for me to make?) It seems fair and kind to correct it before everyone starts assuming that was the correct spelling as you yourself have admitted to doing!

I could wax poetic for hours on my experiences in Lipari and the other Aeloian islands. In fact I already have. You will get a lot more of that by doing a search here, as I really don't feel like typing pages and pages that I've already done here.

But I'd be happy to re-answer any specific quesions.

Sunshinesue

Patrick,
My husband and I and another couple will be sailing (bareboat)in the Aeolians the middle of July. We are trying to decide which islands to visit. Right now it looks like Lipari, Stromboli, and Vulcano, but nothing is carved in stone. It hasn't been easy to find first hand information. I would love to read anything you have written on the Aeolian Islands but I am having a hard time locating your report. What is the approximate date of your report? Thanks.

Eloise

Since Patrick is evidently unwilling to search for his own trip report, here it is:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34369605

Patrick

Huh, Eloise? I didn't know I was asked to search for it, other than the request by Sunshinesue which was only posted a half hour ago. Should I now apologize for leaving my computer to go out to dinner? I'm not trying to be difficult here, I'm just trying to figure out what this is all about.

Actually I've done a number of posts about Lipari and the Aeolian islands. I would think depending on which area a person is searching for -- hotels, restaurants, transportation, day trips, whatever, that would make a difference what he/she searches to find. Since there have been no specific questions asked that I think my reports would cover, I can't imagine the point of my bringing up my original trip report.
Since it has now been done, I hope someone finds it useful.

Sunshinesue, my favorite island was clearly Lipari where we stayed. I enjoyed the day trips by boats to the other islands. Vulcano left me the least impressed, partly because of the smell, but mainly because there just didn't seem to be much there.

Eloise

Patrick, I hope you had a long and pleasant dinner.

My reference was to your statement earlier this afternoon:

>> I could wax poetic for hours on my experiences in Lipari and the other Aeloian islands. In fact I already have. You will get a lot more of that by doing a search here... <<

Patrick

OK, and I'll stand by that last statement. You WILL get a lot more about Lipari by doing a search here.

Steve_James

Isabel - I went independantly from Milazzo - so no personal experience with those agencies.

If you have a car you could do the same, as Grinisa says - and save money.

Steve

isabel

I have a question on the hydrofoil versus the ferry. Fist of all, I can find a schedule for the hydrofoil (from Milazzo to Lipari and back) but not one for the ferry (at least not for July). The ferry schedule for June has only two a day each way. Does that sound right. I would have thougt there would be more. Anyone know of any websites with those schedules (I googled it and got only one site and it said valid through June 30, which does me no good as I'll be there in July).

Also, what is the difference in time it takes for hydrofoil versus ferry. One thing I read said "one hour" but I'm unclear if that was the ferry or the hydrofoil. I'd rather take the ferry.

And last question, does anyone know if the tour excursions use the ferry or the hydrofoil?

Steve_James

Isable - I think there are 2 or 3 companies operating from Milazzo.

Ustica Lines seems to have hydrofoils/ catamarans on that route:

http://www.usticalines.it/rotte.php

Siremar seems to have ferries and hydrofoils:

http://www.siremar.it/html/home/mainframeset.htm

Hope this helps ...

Steve

P.S. I'd be 99% sure the tour excursions would use the hydrofoil.

isabel

Thanks Steve. The ustica site was very helpful, I got times and prices. The hydrofoils seems to be every couple of hours and take one hour. The other site though I could only find routes from Sicily to the mainland (Napels, etc), not to the islands. When I googled it I found one site that did have ferry schedules but only through June 30,(only 2 per day) and it didn't say how long the trip was. Since I've found several posts here where people mention taking the ferry it seems like it should be a viable option. Got any other websites up your sleve?