PenelopeMarie

Not going this year, but in the next few years. We thought Sicily would be a great place to go and we could combine it with Rome, my husband needs to see Rome. We want to travel cheaply but comfortably. We want to stay in Rome for a few days and Sicily for a few days. Actually we were thinking of 2 and 1/2 or 3 weeks. What else could we add that was in the same vicinity to enhance our trip. 3 places are the most we like to see in this time frame.
Any ideas? No hostels or backpacking.

Michael

You might want to read my trip report on Sicily, just skip the medical section; click on my name to find it.

To get from Rome to Sicily, a low-cost airline might be the best way to go.

http://www.flylc.com/directall-en.asp

bon_voyage

Second the recommendation to fly from Rome to Sicily. I loved Sicily and had a growing list of places I'd want to see on a return trip after our two weeks there. Here's the link to my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ecial-trip.cfm

valtor

I think that the flight is the best option. Our flight was Rome - Palermo.

I do not understand your question " We want to stay in Rome for a few days and Sicily for a few days. Actually we were thinking of 2 and 1/2 or 3 weeks. What else could we add that was in the same vicinity to enhance our trip.3 places are the most we like to see in this time frame. "

You can not consider Sicily ONE place to visit.
Sicily is a very big island. To visit it you need at least 2 - 3 places to stay in. We spent there 2 and 1/2 weeks. We stayed in Palermo, Taormina and Ortigya and made a lot of day trips.

After 2 1/2 weeks in Sicily, we went to Malta (flight Catania - Malta).

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Here's a thought: if Sicily were a country, by area it would be about #150 of 236 - a few places above Israel.

We've once taken the train down, but only started from Naples, and it's quite a long day....

We flew on the way back, but of course you see nothing that way - so it depends on your priorities?

Lots of photos, mostly Rome and southwards, here:
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde

Peter

andreadee

Our travel agent wanted to charge us 1800 for our our family of 5 to travel by plane from Rome to Palermo. My family in italy told me about EasyJet. It was wonderful. We paid 38 dollars per person to fly there. Perfect form of transportation. Safe, clean and easy to use. We highly recommend Easyjet for the money it cannot be beat. I was worried that we would be flapping our wings. lol. It is unbelievable. We sat next to one of the Easyjet pilots who was on his day off. He told us that if we book 6 months in advance we could even fly that route for $18. Crazy!!! We didn't book that early but still $38 ...we couldn't get a decent lunch in Rome for that! While in Palermo enjoy the food. If you like local fare that is wonderful...no english speaking at all...try zia pinas

annhig

A nice trip 3 week combining Rome and Sicily would be to fly into Rome, and then immediately to Sicily, spend 10 days there, then get the boat/train to Naples, spend a few days there/on the amalfi, and then end in Rome.

or in off season, get the boat as above, then hire a car and drive back up through the south of Italy, stopping where the mood takes you, ending again in Rome as above.

bobthenavigator

Fly---both Palermo and Catania have flghts to Rome.
Here is my report from 2005---we took 15 days.


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

thursdaysd

Either fly or take the night ferry from Naples - the train ride is very long and gets boring. You could easily spend all that time just on Sicily - here's another TR to give you some ideas:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ing-sicily.cfm

A_Brit_In_Ischia

No great surprise that I'd agree with annhig's suggestion, but Naples and the region surrounding it - Campania - do have quite a variety of things to see and do....

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

Might be a shame to streak straight past - or overhead?

Peter