I'm planning to spend 2 nights in Cefalu & <BR>would like a hotel recommendation that is <BR>walking distance from train station & the <BR>old town. Is Cefalu a good spot for day trip <BR>to Palermo? How long by car to Taormina? <BR> <BR>Any recommendation for moderate hotel in <BR>Agrigento that is convenient to Valley of the <BR>Temples? <BR> tom hall

In September of 1999 we stayed at the Hotel Mederteranio which is diagnonally across the street from the train station. The room was very clean and attractive and there was a breakfast buffet which was quite delightful. Cost was about $70 US$. Cefalu is not a very large town and is easily walkable. The year prior we stayed at the Riva del Sol which is right on the beach. It was more costly as it also included breakfast and dinner. It was a great place to stay, but we like to try different places to eat and felt confined to eating at the hotel. There are a lot of good resteraunts in Cefalu. The town is quite pretty - it has a Moorish feel to it. <BR> <BR>Cefalu is one hour, by train, to Palermo. We did all our traveling by train (buses, boats, etc.) To travel by train to Taormina from Cefalu you need to take a two hour train ride to Messina, change trains and take another hour ride south to Giardini/Naxos (which is at the foot of Taormina). Do not take trains that say Direct because it is anything but direct and stops at every little town on the way. <BR> <BR>Hope you enjoy your stay. - Millie

Valley of the Temples is a bus ride away from the town of Agrigento no matter where you stay. As far as hotels go, there's a tourist office a short walk away from the train station, and they are incredibly helpful. Depending on when you arrive, you should be able to find a hotel without reservations.

Villa Athena is right next to the Valley of the Temples. We walked from there, and it is a wonderful small hotel with a great restaurant. On the other hand, you'd need to take a taxi to the hotel from town. I'm never sure what someone means by "moderate". It is not cheap, but not expensive either, so I guess you'd call that moderate.

Another vote for the Mediteranneo in Cefalu. It's a hop, skip and jump away from the train station (although not at all noisy), and about ten minutes walk from the beach, and a little more than that to the old town. The Hotel is new and modern - so a bit soulless - but the staff were very nice, the breakfast buffet was excellent, and the rooms were clean, comfortable and with air conditioning. Cefalu is a good base for a day trip to Palermo, but we found the train timetable a bit unreliable - but it didn't matter because we were in no rush, and no one else seemed to mind. It's a lovely train journey too - all along the coast - very picturesque. There are some great restaurants in Cefalu - try the ones in the old town (where they filmed part of Cinema Paradiso) with balconies overlooking the sea. The seafood and the gelato is highly recommended!