We will be in Sicily the beginning of Nov.
5 nights at Hotel Timeo in Taormina
2 nights Grand Hotel in Siracusa
1 night Villa Athena in Agrigento
5 nights Hotel Villa Igiea in Palermo
We will have a car. I have done research, but if anyone knows of any place that is a "most" or restaurant, or shopping etc. Please let me know.
Thanks

I hate to be lazy and just point you to my trip report, but I am lazy today!!!

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34412340

Sounds pretty perfect to me. I believe your towns and number of days are indentical to what we did, except we only did 4 nights in Palermo.

We also stayed at Grand Hotel and at Villa Athena. Probably too cold in November to eat on their terrace under the stars with the temples lighted against the sky -- one of my greatest memories ever.

The Hotel Timeo is fabulous! I never wanted to leave. Try to get a room on the second floor, you walk up right by the lobby desk. They have the most incredible view. I couldn't believe a view could be better than Le Sirenuse, but I decided the Timeo view was the best. We had a large terrace, our room was right next to the big suite and we had a bigger terrace than some of the other rooms (don't have the room number.) Try not to stay in the new building if you are into views and Italy. The rooms are very nice, like an American hotel, have internet connections, but don't have the charm of the original building. We moved after the first night. Our room was smaller, but charming, with the best view and terrace ever! Villa Athena, room 204 or 5 I think, had a fabulous view, had been recommended by Patrick I think. Hotel was not very nice, had awful food, (don't eat there,) horrible little bath, but clean. If you are just going to see the temples, stay there. I wrote a trip report last year called, Luxury Hotel Report, or something like that and may have more information about the Timeo.

Thanks for your info. I also heard not to stay in the new building at Timeo. We will ask for rooms on the second floor.
Villa Athena, we are going there only to see the Temples. Can you suggest a place for dinner?
Thanks

Wow, what an experience, Wandering Texan. Maybe we were overcome by the incredible view and atmosphere, but we thought the food at Villa Athena was excellent. I do recall that the room and bath weren't anything to write home about, but then the place really wasn't very expensive either and seemed a good value -- fantastic value actually, counting the location.

Patrick,
Thanks for your info on your trip.
Seems like you do a lot of traveling. Are you in the travel business?
I have heard many mixed reviews about the food at the Villa Athena.

No. Not in the travel business, but if I got paid to travel, I'd be a very rich man. Just an addiction, and since retiring (or at least 90% so), I do a whole lot of it, and often for long periods of time -- also to escape the heat of Florida for the whole summer.