I just signed up for a Sicily tour, starting April 21 and ending May 2. I'm planning on spending another 10 days or so in Sicily, and 7-10 days visiting Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Would you do the tour and extra time in Sicily first, visiting the Amalfi Coast in the middle of May, or the Amalfi Coast before the tour, in April?

It looks like cheap flights to Sicily don't start until May, will I have trouble finding accommodation that's open in April? I'm trying to avoid hot temperatures and crowds. Thanks.

You will find plenty of places to stay...if they are closed in winter they will open at Easter. I think I would go in April but you can't go wrong with either! If you want to swim or go to the beach, then May is obviously better. Remember that April 25 is a holiday, as is May 1.

Both Sicily and the Amalfi areas wake up after their winter slow season by the first of April. I think you'll find everything open. (Pompeii was HOT the day I was there in late March.)

Hi, thursdaysd -

I went in May, and was very glad I did - the wildflowers in Sicily were in full bloom then, as were gardens in Sicily and the Amalfi Coast. Unbelievably beautiful! Would you consider visiting both after your tour?

Thanks for the heads-up on the holidays - I suppose that's the tour organizers' problem... Or I could switch to the May 5 to May 16 tour, in which case I'd definitely do the Amalfi Coast first.

I'm not much of a beach person, and from the photos it looks like the Amalfi Coast is more about scenery than beaches, so I was thinking of spending beach time in Sicily (I'm also considering time on one of the Aeolian islands).

I'm really looking for temperatures warm enough for short sleeves, but not too hot for hiking - maybe high 70s low 80s.

If you are not a beach person (me, neither) I would recommend April. We've been to parts of Sicily/Amalfi Coast in May and have found it to be too hot (which is fine if you love heat!).

Either way, April or May would both be fantastic. I think the important thing is that you are missing July and August.

I loved May in Sicily---the wildflowers are to die for.

On 2nd thought, a picture is worth---- !
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3828

I would do the Amalfi Coast in May - after Sicily. We've been there twice in late May, the hotel pool was open (and warm enough to be in use) and everything is open, flowers in bloom and great weather - but before the mass of tourists.

Great pix, Bob, thanks for the link. Now I'm even happier to be going to Sicily! The wildflowers in Greece in April were good, these look even better.

It was plenty warm enough for me in Greece in early May '06, which is why I'm thinking of finishing this trip by mid May, I just can't decide whether Sicily or the coast is likely to be warmer. Since I'll probably be flying round-trip into either Naples or Rome, the logistics are the same either way.

I would also do Sicily first and then the Amalfi Coast. We've been there in May and enjoyed it very much.

Great slide show, Bob!

Thanks - your pix brought back lots of memories

Steve