Itinerary Change (Stay in Palermo whole time) Any opinion?
Feb 16th, 2006, 05:44 AM
#1
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Itinerary Change (Stay in Palermo whole time) Any opinion?
We are leaning towards stying in Palermo the entire 6 day we are in Sicily.
WE were originally going to stay in siracusa, but with the 3.5 hr bus ride, finding and checking into another hotel, this will take too much time.
However, we STILL really want to visit Tarmouna and Siracusa. Is it possible to do a 1 day excursion from Palermo
WE were originally going to stay in siracusa, but with the 3.5 hr bus ride, finding and checking into another hotel, this will take too much time.
However, we STILL really want to visit Tarmouna and Siracusa. Is it possible to do a 1 day excursion from Palermo
Feb 16th, 2006, 07:20 AM
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No, it's not that easy to get to the East coast of Sicily for just a day trip from Palermo, sorry.
Are you willing to rent a car? If so, you can see a lot from Palermo. You can even go down to Agrigento for the day, or go west to Erice.
I've been to Sicily twice, for about a week each time. Both times we had a car and it makes it much easier to get around. One trip focused on the west coast, the other on the east coast.
Are you willing to rent a car? If so, you can see a lot from Palermo. You can even go down to Agrigento for the day, or go west to Erice.
I've been to Sicily twice, for about a week each time. Both times we had a car and it makes it much easier to get around. One trip focused on the west coast, the other on the east coast.
Feb 16th, 2006, 09:03 AM
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You might find day tours to Taormina and Siracusa here:
http://www.compagniasicilianaturismo.it
But it really doesn't make much sense: Instead of moving once from Palermo to the east side of Sicily, you are going back and forth between the two four times, twice on each day tour, losing far more time.
http://www.compagniasicilianaturismo.it
But it really doesn't make much sense: Instead of moving once from Palermo to the east side of Sicily, you are going back and forth between the two four times, twice on each day tour, losing far more time.
Feb 16th, 2006, 10:28 AM
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Why not do three days in Palermo and three in Siracusa or Taormina? There is much to see all over the island, but a day trip from one coast to the other is wasteful, and you really wouldn't get to see much of anything. in either place. And both Siracusa and Taormina are worth several days. Six days in Sicily are little enough as it is. You can cram a lot into the Palermo area in three days, then head east.
I've spent close to three months in Sicily in four visits and still haven't seen everything.
I've spent close to three months in Sicily in four visits and still haven't seen everything.
Feb 17th, 2006, 02:49 PM
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Thanks everyone for their answers.
We want to stay in one location because we don't have much time. Yes, we have 6 nighs, but only 5 full days
-1st day is an arrival day at 6PM
-7th day is a 8am departure day.
The bus ride to Palermo is 3.5 hours, but packing up (2 hours) getting to the bus 1/2 early, finding the hotel, checking in - total time to swtich takes 5+ hours.
We lose half a day
If we take a day trip, we can leave at early, like 7am, sleep on the bus, get there by 10:30am, and begin sight seeing, without lugging all our belongings, finding the hotel, checking in.
It's just from our experience that switching hotels usually takes up half a day.
We have neve been to Sicily but have our guidebooks, and it seem like there is enough day trips from Palermo to make it a nice week trip.
Also, it will be rainy when we are there, which makes Siracusa/Taormina maybe not as enjoyable?
We want to stay in one location because we don't have much time. Yes, we have 6 nighs, but only 5 full days
-1st day is an arrival day at 6PM
-7th day is a 8am departure day.
The bus ride to Palermo is 3.5 hours, but packing up (2 hours) getting to the bus 1/2 early, finding the hotel, checking in - total time to swtich takes 5+ hours.
We lose half a day
If we take a day trip, we can leave at early, like 7am, sleep on the bus, get there by 10:30am, and begin sight seeing, without lugging all our belongings, finding the hotel, checking in.
It's just from our experience that switching hotels usually takes up half a day.
We have neve been to Sicily but have our guidebooks, and it seem like there is enough day trips from Palermo to make it a nice week trip.
Also, it will be rainy when we are there, which makes Siracusa/Taormina maybe not as enjoyable?
Feb 18th, 2006, 06:02 AM
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Kitty,
I don't mean to be rude, but you asked the question, everyone advised you against it, you nevertheless seem determined to do it, and now you want people's opinions, which you've already received.
If it's what you're set on doing then by all means, do it, but, as everyone has told you, it's not the ideal way to go.
BTW, why would you want to sleep on the bus and ignore the scenery? Do you think there's nothing to see in between the two coasts? Getting there is half the fun. And if you took the train, it would be along the northern coast, a beautiful scenic ride. So the time you spend traveling will not be wasted. And it shouldn't take you two hours to pack, you don't need to be at the bus a half hour before departure, and how can you possibly know it will be raining when you are there?
JMO, but you asked -- more than once.
I don't mean to be rude, but you asked the question, everyone advised you against it, you nevertheless seem determined to do it, and now you want people's opinions, which you've already received.
If it's what you're set on doing then by all means, do it, but, as everyone has told you, it's not the ideal way to go.
BTW, why would you want to sleep on the bus and ignore the scenery? Do you think there's nothing to see in between the two coasts? Getting there is half the fun. And if you took the train, it would be along the northern coast, a beautiful scenic ride. So the time you spend traveling will not be wasted. And it shouldn't take you two hours to pack, you don't need to be at the bus a half hour before departure, and how can you possibly know it will be raining when you are there?
JMO, but you asked -- more than once.
Feb 18th, 2006, 11:20 AM
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What I find rude are posters who are not helpful.
I'm trying to make a decision on my itinerary and use past Fodorites to help. I said I was "leaning" on staying in Palermo - I have not decided yet. This is our FIRST trip to Sicily and deciding where to go is very hard with only 6 days. It's a tough choice to make for everyone - that's why I like to get many people's opinion. I don't think this deserves an attack.
Here are answers to your points
- You may be a speedy packer, but for us, it takes us at least 2 hours to pack all our belongings, doublecheck the rooms, and check out of the hotels.
- If I'm going to get on a bus at 7am in the morning, no matter how hard I try to stay awake, I will DEFINITELY fall asleep riding it - that's just how I am
- Why do you seem surprise that I know it is raining? A simple check on www.weather.com gives me weather forecast, and says it is raining all the days.
- Yes, we will typically arrive 30 minutes early to places. I'm not sure how you travel, but we are always allow extra time, since we do not like to miss boats, trains or buses that we pay for. I ALWAYS allot extra time, which yes, makes me early for places, but also saved us when unexpected things happen. A million things can occur: you can get lost, the metro is late, the cab driver brings us to the wrong place, there is traffic, etc. Since we are in a new city, I'd rather leave earlier, and be an 1 hour earlier than allow the EXACT amount of time, and miss our reservations.
I'm trying to make a decision on my itinerary and use past Fodorites to help. I said I was "leaning" on staying in Palermo - I have not decided yet. This is our FIRST trip to Sicily and deciding where to go is very hard with only 6 days. It's a tough choice to make for everyone - that's why I like to get many people's opinion. I don't think this deserves an attack.
Here are answers to your points
- You may be a speedy packer, but for us, it takes us at least 2 hours to pack all our belongings, doublecheck the rooms, and check out of the hotels.
- If I'm going to get on a bus at 7am in the morning, no matter how hard I try to stay awake, I will DEFINITELY fall asleep riding it - that's just how I am
- Why do you seem surprise that I know it is raining? A simple check on www.weather.com gives me weather forecast, and says it is raining all the days.
- Yes, we will typically arrive 30 minutes early to places. I'm not sure how you travel, but we are always allow extra time, since we do not like to miss boats, trains or buses that we pay for. I ALWAYS allot extra time, which yes, makes me early for places, but also saved us when unexpected things happen. A million things can occur: you can get lost, the metro is late, the cab driver brings us to the wrong place, there is traffic, etc. Since we are in a new city, I'd rather leave earlier, and be an 1 hour earlier than allow the EXACT amount of time, and miss our reservations.
Feb 18th, 2006, 11:59 AM
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Hi Kitty-
We also like a slower pace and did the reverse trip. Stayed in Siracusa for 6 days because Palermo was too far. It was the right call for us and your call will ultimately be the right one for you. How lovely to have so many wonderful places to visit.
We also like a slower pace and did the reverse trip. Stayed in Siracusa for 6 days because Palermo was too far. It was the right call for us and your call will ultimately be the right one for you. How lovely to have so many wonderful places to visit.
Feb 18th, 2006, 01:03 PM
#12
I stayed for a week in Siracusa and a week in Cefalu'. I liked Siracusa and there was plenty to see using it as a base. We were there in October, and on evey trip north, Etna was covered in Cloud, so we did not get to see it.
Saying that, Taormina is spectacularly beautiful. The beautiful photographs from the Greek Theatre really do not do the view justice (Even though Etna was hiding when we were there).
I only visited Palermo for a day (Although we drove through several times). You could certainly base yourself there for a week, and then take day trip out to places like Cefalu, Monreale, Segeste etc.
Saying that, Taormina is spectacularly beautiful. The beautiful photographs from the Greek Theatre really do not do the view justice (Even though Etna was hiding when we were there).
I only visited Palermo for a day (Although we drove through several times). You could certainly base yourself there for a week, and then take day trip out to places like Cefalu, Monreale, Segeste etc.
Feb 19th, 2006, 05:56 AM
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Kitty-Are you willing to rent a car? You could, while staying in Palermo, just for a day or two. That would give you the flexability to do some longish day trips. You certainly would not need it for the full six days, but I think the increased cost (over the bus) would be well worth it.
Feb 19th, 2006, 11:22 AM
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Hi Kitty,
I have been to beautiful Sicily twice and can not imagine staying 6 nights in Palermo. While it is a very interesting city it was my least favorite stop in Sicily on both trips....quite dirty and very busy. Driving in Sicily is easy and you can see a lot in 5 days. My itinerary was 2 nights Taormina, 1 night Syracusa, 1 night Agrigento, and 2 nights Palermo. Both times I was in Taormina it rained and it was still a lovely town...one of my favorite stops. The rain in some ways forced us to see more of the architecture as while we were hiding under the building eaves you tend to look up, down and all around. The wrought iron and brick work in the towns cobbles is amazing. We have several photos on our walls at home of that trip to Taormina...memories we cherish. A suggestion would be to spend the first two nights in Palermo and base yourself in Syracusa for 3 nights...see the old quarter of Ortegia, and do two side trips...one to Agrigento and another to Taormina spending the last night in Palermo if you are leaving from there. The ruins are facinating and well worth the effort.
I have been to beautiful Sicily twice and can not imagine staying 6 nights in Palermo. While it is a very interesting city it was my least favorite stop in Sicily on both trips....quite dirty and very busy. Driving in Sicily is easy and you can see a lot in 5 days. My itinerary was 2 nights Taormina, 1 night Syracusa, 1 night Agrigento, and 2 nights Palermo. Both times I was in Taormina it rained and it was still a lovely town...one of my favorite stops. The rain in some ways forced us to see more of the architecture as while we were hiding under the building eaves you tend to look up, down and all around. The wrought iron and brick work in the towns cobbles is amazing. We have several photos on our walls at home of that trip to Taormina...memories we cherish. A suggestion would be to spend the first two nights in Palermo and base yourself in Syracusa for 3 nights...see the old quarter of Ortegia, and do two side trips...one to Agrigento and another to Taormina spending the last night in Palermo if you are leaving from there. The ruins are facinating and well worth the effort.
