Robbietravels

Help please. I've read several guide books, read many trip reports on this forum and looked at photos posted here and still can't decide between these destinations for late next May . I favor Crete, Mykanos, Santorini and Rhodes because it looks greener with many lovely beaches and I like the descriptions of the quaint towns and small villages (I enjoy portrait photography).
DH thinks Sicily because he prefers Italian food and wine (actually so do I) and thinks it may be more upscale without being more touristy. We both like beaches and a slow pace. We'll rent a car. Which islands are easier on drivers (in terms of signage, traffic, parking)?
Both locates have wonderful archeological sites. We enjoy touring sites that are outstanding examples of a style, period or civilization but are even more interested in interactions with the local people and being in places of outstanding physical beauty. We're in our 60's and like to stay at small boutique hotels with lots of character.
So please weigh in our domestic debate, Sicily or Greek Isles?

waring

You could feasibly argue that Sicily is a Greek island (historically).

I prefer Greek food over Italian, so there!

waring

Except moussaka, which is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.

RandyK

Why not compromise and do both trips? Seriously, draw one trip out of the hat and begin to plan the second one before you leave on the first outing.

We're off to Sicily in two weeks, but did all of Greece that you mention plus more a couple of years ago!

Hana

Both destinations sound absolutely spectacular and I love the way you travel! I can't address Sicily (on my list!) but here are few thoughts on Greece and Italy. We just returned from two weeks in Greece - staying on both Santorini and Crete. We've been to Italy four times since 2003 and keep going back for more!

For beaches, I would recommend Crete over Santorini. Crete has a vast number of beaches - we were based in Chania and the beaches were sandy - just gorgeous. (Falassarna in particular is just spectacular) Santorini does not have sandy beaches - we stayed in Oia and went swimming off the rocks at the bay of Ammoudi every day. There are black and red sand/pebble beaches but we did not venture there preferring to stay close to Oia. Although Oia is very picturesque, I preferred Chania with its turkish and venetian influences - seemed to have more character.

I didn't find driving in Greece any more difficult than driving in Italy. The one challenge I had in Greece is driving in the cities - navigating is tough when trying to read small signs in greek characters (not always translated to english).

My husband and I love Italy - so much of our trips are centred around history,art, food and wine. Greece offers the same but after arriving home, DH and I both agreed that Italy comes ahead of Greece - just slightly! Here's why:
We love wine(especially red) and Italy has so much to offer in that regard. The food in both Greece and Italy is fantastic however, after two weeks in Greece I was ready for a change. I have never felt that way in Italy - pizza, pasta, seafood, stews, grilled meat, cheeses - there seems to be a larger variety available for consumption. We too love interacting with as many people as possible on our trips. I wasn't able to pick up much beyond hello, thank you, please, and sorry on our trip to Greece. I have taken an introductory course of Italian and am able to converse a little beyond the cursory greetings. As a result, my husband and I have had some basic conversations with locals - always a wonderful experience.

I don't think you can go wrong with either choice! We are soooo glad we went to Greece - it was spectacular in so many ways and the people were lovely. We do wish to go back and see more someday but in the interim, Italy is calling us again (hopefully in 2008)!

travel_buzzing

Was in Sicily for two weeks last summer and it gets my vote. The most amazing atmosphere, food and people, high in the bush and mountain in a village about three miles from corleone, hotel called Antica Stazione. Arrived at night and drove from Palermo, beautiful mayhem of a city, up the mountains in the dark. there's a town on the way called marino, set on the mountainside with a huge neon blue glowing cross on a rocky peak above the town.
woke up the first morning to see that the hotel was perched at the foot of a mountain range.
Sicily has a lot of living energy, the fruit falls from the tree, tastes to make your mouth water, the fields make waves around the rocky mountains and the beaches are clear blue.

Robbietravels

Thanks for the input so far. Since info on Sicily is more sparse than info on Greek Islands on this forum, I have some questions for travel_buzzing. Have you posted a trip report somewhere in cyberspace (didn't find yours on this forum). If not, can you share .... your favorite villages, hotels, beaches and beauty spots in Sicily?
RandyK I like your marriage counselor approach, good idea. Hana your driving and beach info helps. And Waring and I are agreed about Italian food.

travel_buzzing

sorry robbie i hadnt the tech skills to do it last year and you may not believe this but, i went without a camera. i was in palermo, ficuzza and corleone and beaches, names of restaurants are a blur, i was being whisked about by my hosts and talked to in sicilian-italian for most of the trip.

Robbietravels

Maybe I should find out the names of your hosts?

TravMimi

Can't miss a chance to vote for Sicily. I simply love it. It's far more diverse than Greece. There seems to be something in Sicily for everyone. If you decide on Sicily, don't miss the Aeolian Island. Palermo is a fantastic city. I miss Sicily now, in fact I start missing it as I watch it disappear from the back of the ferry.

CrazyAboutSJ

I adore Italy, but Greece is my favorite place in the world. To me the Greeks are even warmer and welcoming than the Italians and that says a lot. The Greeks on the islands speak at least some English. In Athens not so much, but I love Athens too. We rented a car in both Santorini and Myconos and had no problems navigating. The people are so willing to help you if you get a little lost. Myconos does have some pretty beaches, but the best are reached by boat or a car ride and hike. It has been years since I have been to either but i will be back in both next week so maybe I can give you more info when I return.

baemel

GREECE!! BEST time to go. Unforgetable and less expensive ; )

baemel

as for hotels ...

Naxos (great inland touring via your own car, super cheeses, quaint town to walk through, super private beautiful beaches)
www.villa-marandi-naxos.com/
warm, very helpful staff, excellent breakfast, huge rooms w/perks

Santorini (most amazing view ever)
www.sunrocks.gr
undescribeable...just go

rkkwan

I vote for Sicily. It's not that large, but so variable. You have ancient Greek stuff, you have Norman stuff, you have Spanish/Moorish stuff, you have Italian stuff. And to me it feels less touristy.

dutyfree

Sicily in a heartbeat-the way Italy was before the tourists invaded it!

travel_buzzing

Robbie: haha maybe i should stop procrastinating and write an email. If I get around to it before next may I will find out the name of a lovely restaurant in Palermo where I ate Pulpetta di Sarde and it was amazing. The hotel in Ficuzza had amazing food, they pride in using all-local produce from the area. first time I tried pasta with pistaccio, or real italian food for that matter.

toni

We have been to both Greece and Sicily, I love both, but my vote would go to Greece. Now here's why. You can hop easily between islands and they all have a different ambience, very different scenery and it is very easy to get off the beaten track, by car or perhaps sailing for the day on a charter yacht. We were often the only people on a beach, and this was in late June. Oh, I'm even jealous whilst writing this. We found driving to be easy, people friendly and Greek food very diversified, everthing from pasta to seafood. Lots of gorgeous, quite inexpensive places to stay. However, Sicily is special. The most friendly people in Italy, stunning scenery, great sweets and gelato and not very touristy once you get out of the main towns. Driving is easy except parking in upscale towns like Taormina. In my opinion, the beaches are much better in Greek Islands. My husband loves the Greeks (and he is of Sicilian descent). We are in our 50's, love the beaches, chilling out, as well as a little nightlife thrown in. Good luck but you won't go wrong with either choice.

lenore29

Hi, would like to know if it is a good idea to visit either of the places in December?