Dayle

Hi kja,

Good to know that you have had positive experiences with Europcar. It helps to put the negative reviews into proper perspective. I feel fortunate that I've never had a rental car problem, but it could always happen....

I didn't have any difficulty driving around solo with a GPS and detailed paper maps, which I only used to double-check. Only Piazza Armerina gave me problems trying to get to Villa Romana. I went round and round several times before I finally discovered that one sign I missed! The infamous 180 degree turn. Where are those Jetsons air cars when you need them anyway?

allyboy

Two hotels/B & B down ( Villa Schuler and Casa Talia) and now working on Ortygia. For those of you who have information on Palazzo del Sale or Giuggiulena Villa I would appreciate it. I have read that the walk from Giuggiulena to the center is 15 - 20 minutes which usually translates for us about a mile. Is this accurate?

Also interested in hotel/B & B suggestions in Trapani and Palermo.

Looks like the best car rental option for me will either be to rent a car at the Catania airport after leaving Taormina or pick up the car in Siracusa . In either case I will take a bus either to just the airport or to Siracusa.

Leely2

I stayed at Palazzo del Sale. It was elegantly furnished, low-key, non-flashy in a central location. It is a very old building and thus the room sizes vary; I was traveling with friends and my room seemed more spacious, though it was darker. There was only one other couple staying during our visit (off season in late March). Their room was spacious and light. I didn't see any rooms on the top floor as no one was staying up there. Excellent breakfast. Don't know about A/C as it was so early in spring during our trip.

Mimar

We took the train between Siracusa and Taormina/Giardini Naxos. It was a newish, comfortable train.

You probably won't need the car until you leave Siracusa. On Ortigia a car would be a nuisance: the parking, the narrow streets. The island is mostly pedestrian. IIRC there's a (free?) shuttle between the train station and Ortigia.

allyboy

Now that I have planned our eastern part of Sicily ( 3 days in Taormina, 3 days in Ortygia ( booked Palazzo del Sale and thank you to Leely2) and 2 days in Modica, I am now working on refining the remainder of the trip.

I plan to leave Modica and drive to Agrigento. Since I am not planning to stay in the area overnight how concerned should I be leaving our car with our luggage in the parking lot?

Here's my problem? Where should I stay overnight after visiting Agrigento and before going to Trapani for 2 nights? Would you suggest my staying near Selinunte so I can visit there early the next morning? Wouldn't I have the same issue regarding the car and luggage? Should I just bypass visiting Selinunte after seeing Agrigento? So confused!!!!!

Can anyone suggest a place to stay in Trapani? Palermo?

Thanks again and again...

kja

"Where should I stay overnight after visiting Agrigento and before going to Trapani" -- Agrigento.

Dayle

Allyboy,

I really enjoyed Selinute. It's quite different from the Agrigento site, much bigger and right at the sea but with fewer standing temples. Not crowded feeling due to the size of the site. I stayed at La Foresteria Planeta Estate in the Menfi countryside, a short drive from Selinute.

For the Trapani area, I stayed IN Erice at Erice Pietre Antiche apartments which I would recommend HIGHLY. You can find them on booking.com There are only 4 apts however, so book early.

Buon viaggio!

allyboy

Decisions, decisions, decisions!!!

Decided not to spend two days in Trapani and instead reserved two days at Villa Sogno in Selinunte. The plan is to drive Modica to Agrigento ( take all necessary safety precautions) and park in lot. After the visit drive to Villa Sogno in Selinunte and relax for the rest of the day.
The next morning visit Selinunte ruins and take a leisurely drive up the coast for the afternoon.

Questions:

1. Should I add 1 more day to Villa Sogno and use it to day trip to Segesta and Erice?

2. Should I spend 1 night in Trapani and visit Segesta on the way and Erice in the evening?

3. Should I drop off my car in Trapani or Palermo airport? Either way I will be taking either a train or bus into Palermo?

Lots of shoulds! Almost there...

Dayle

Hi again allyboy,
1. No, no sense in backtracking when you are ending in Palermo.
2. Yes, except Erice is not really an evening destination. It's nice to wander in the evening if you are staying there, but if not, a big draw are the views from the ruined fortezza and the opposite end of the town at the ancient church. I was there in mid-April, not peak season, and the shops and galleries closed rather early. Perhaps ask others who have visited in summer if the shops are open later then. Maybe stay there overnight? I loved it.
3. If you drop you car at the airport, you could visit Scopello and Lo Zingaro on the way - after strolling around Erice for the morning.....

allyboy

Has anyone have any experience/ comments about I Colori del Vento ( B & B) in Trapani and Hotel Principe di Villafranca in Palermo?

bobthenavigator

We stayed in the latter and loved it.

allyboy

All the hotels/ B & B's, car rental, private transport, airline reservations are now booked!!

Here is my final itinerary and now I will begin the process of mapping out restaurants, specific sights, day trips. Thanks to everyone who has helped shape this trip!



Sept. 12 Leave JFK for Rome



Sept 13. Arrive Rome. Fly into Catania. Transport to Taormina ( arranged through Villa Schuler)



Sept. 14 Taormina . Villa Schuler


Sept. 15 Taormina. Villa Schuler




Sept. 16 Rent car. Drive to Ortygia Palazzo del Sale


Sept. 17 Ortygia Palazzo del Sale * Possible day trip to Noto

Sept. 18 Ortygia Palazzo del Sale




Sept. 19 Modica. Casa Talia. Visit either Ragusa or Noto on way to Modica



Sept. 20 Modica Casa Talia. ( Day trip to Caltagirone and Villa Roma Casale )

Sept. 21. Selinunte Drive to Agrigento ( early). Drive Agrigento to Villa Sogno in Selinunte


Sept. 22 Selinunte Villa Sogno. Visit ruins earlier in day. Spending some time driving up coast.
Sept. 23 Trapani. I Colori del Vento B & B Visit Segesta on way to Trapani and spend afternoon in Erice


Sept. 24-26 Palermo. Hotel Principe di Villafranca. Will visit Monreale, train to Cefalu. Drop off car at airport.



Sept. 27. Head for home

dwdvagamundo

Looks good, although don't know whether you'll be able to see much of Agrigento.

The changes I would make--and they are somewhat substantial--would be to take the train to Siracusa and pick the car up there, then drop it at the airport when you arrive from Trapani, You don't need or want a car in Siracusa or Palermo, and driving and parking in Ortygia are nitemares. Looks like your B & B doesn't have parking.

allyboy

dwdagamundo: thanks for your input! We will visit the ruins in Agrigento after leaving Modica and stay as late as we need and then drive to Villa Sogno in Selinunte.

Regarding the car rental: I have gone back and forth on this issue many times and decided to pick up the car when we are leaving Taormina. I have been assured that I will be able to find parking either in a parking lot or relatively close to our hotel in Ortygia. I do realize that I may not need the car there, however, we may take a day trip to Noto. I also looked into dropping my car off in Trapani rather than the Palermo airport. Based on my rental out of Taormina ( via Autoeurope), it didn't appear that I was able to drop it off in Trapani, If I can do this I will or just drive Trapani to Palermo airport and drop it off there before our 3 day stay.

kja

"We will visit the ruins in Agrigento after leaving Modica and stay as late as we need and then drive to Villa Sogno in Selinunte."

Just an FYI: A visit to the Valley of the Temples can take 6 or 7 hours, although of course that depends on your preferences. The temples close around 7. Sunset will be about 7 when you are there. I personally would not want to drive in Sicily on unfamiliar roads after sunset. Maybe others had different experiences.

"I have been assured that I will be able to find parking either in a parking lot or relatively close to our hotel in Ortygia. I do realize that I may not need the car there, however, we may take a day trip to Noto."

In case it matters, Noto is easily visited by bus from Ortygia.

Dayle

Hi allyboy,

My only question is why stay in Trapani when you won't have time to spend there? It looks like you plan to visit the Selinute site on the morning of the 22. For the afternoon you plan to drive up the coast, visit Segesta AND visit Erice, then stay in Trapani on the night of the 23? I don't think you will be able to do all of this, or maybe I don't understand you plan.

Segesta might best be visited on the way to the Palermo airport to drop your car.

allyboy

Thanks Dayle. The morning of the 22 is for Selinunte. l will not be going to Segesta and Trapani/ Erice until the 23rd. I was just looking to see if there was anything else I could plan if I visit Selinunte earlier in the day on the 22nd and thought perhaps a little drive up towards the coast. I could also do as you suggest and visit Segesta on the way to the Palermo airport or I can also not visit Segesta at all.

dwdvagamundo

Visit Segesta for sure. It's one of the most scenic Greek temple sites I've seen, and I've seen a lot of them. Should be a very peaceful place if you get an early start from Trapani. It's an easy drive to Palermo Airport from there.

allyboy

Here's an update on our trip:

Just booked through Legendary Sicily tours an all day visit to Mt. Etna and Alcantara.

Also decided on day tripping to Caltagirone and Villa Roma from Ortygia rather than Modica. We will be in Ortygia for 3 days and I would rather have some more time in Modica and Ragusa.

Driving from Villa Sogno ( Selinunte) to Trapani via the coastal route and hope to visit Segesta on our way to the Palermo airport the following day.

Dayle

Allyboy,

Your trip is sounding wonderful. I wish I was there now! Definitely do not miss Villa Romana. It was the greatest highlight of my entire trip. Just amazing and no words or pictures can do it justice.

Two places I wanted to visit and didn't have time: Eraclea Minoa and Scala dei Turchi. These would be enroute from Agrigento to Selinute if you have time.