RealtorRose

Hi touringlady,

Thanks for your response and making my day. Your trip does sound much like the one we are planning. We are flying out of Catania as well and will probably stay overnight there before we leave for home. So much to see, so little time. Will you have a car? I think we collectively have decided not to move every other day and try to stay put for several days in strategic places allowing us day trips. We will have a car, which will give us the freedom to explore and enjoy Sicily at the pace we want. Enjoy your trip. By the way, where are you from? Have you booked your airline tickets yet.
We live just outside of Philadelphia. Not sure when is the best time to book our airline flights.

nkluedke

Keep an eye out on flights. We were watching, watching, watching, wondering when to bite, and then all of the sudden one day, it was cut in half!! $1200 to $600!! The next day it was back up. It wouldn't have stopped us from going, but it was definitely nice to have the extra money.

RealtorRose

Still need suggestions on where to stay in Palermo in the historic section.

Also, need recommendations for where to stay on the West Coast so we can take day trips to Marsala, Selinunte, Segesta, Trapani and Erice.

Michael

The Hotel Joli.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7624349637005/

RealtorRose

nkluedke...do you remember how far in advance did you found that flight? Since we are traveling in the low season I am wondering if it would be prudent to wait until the end of the summer to book.

touringlady

Hi Realtor Rose - I don't know if I did the right thing, but I booked my flight yesterday or myself and my husband through U.S.Air and the cost was $1200 per person for September flight. Hope I didn't book too soon, but since all my hotels are now booked, I didn't want to take chances on not getting the flight I want.

carolyn

My daughter and I are going in May. We booked Louisville-Rome-Louisville and then Rome-Palermo via Easy Jet and Catania-Rome on Wind Jet for a total of just at $900. We were also getting $1,200 for a ticket when we started looking at airfare.

RealtorRose

Thanks Michael, Hotel Joli looks really nice.

Touringlady, We have been following the airfares and the best so far has been $1200. Don't second guess yourself. It all depends on your stress level. If it would make you very anxious to ride out the fares, then booking early is the way to go. What I'm hoping is that the end of Sept. starts the low season and there are a number of ways to get to Palermo...
Milan, Rome, London, etc. so hopefully we will be able to snag a lower airfare. Where are you leaving from?

Carolyn, nice to hear that you found a cheaper flight.

nkluedke

We booked in 9/2008 for a flight in 6/2009. $766 for ORD-PMO and FCO-ORD. Hard to believe when I looked back at that!

RealtorRose

Well I'm pleased to report that I have finally refined out trip and selected the base places we will stay to explore Sicily.
3 nights Palermo
3 nights in Scopello
2 nights Aragona
3 nights Siracusa
3 nights Santa Venerina
2 nights Catania where we will fly home

This will allow us the flexibility to see many of the treasures of Sicily while at the same time relax and unwind if we want to. We can go at a pace that is comfortable for us.

Can't wait for our trip and hope we can snag a great airfare.

Michael

Why three nights in Scopello? It is barely an hour out of Palermo. In this case, Trapani would be better. For relaxing and unwinding, I can recommend the Hotel of the Pines in Erice.

Unless Catania has a special appeal, I would think that it is as easy to get to the airport from Santa Venerina, or just one night in Catania. It's only 30 km. between the two towns.

RealtorRose

Michael...someone suggested Scopello because it is near the autostrada for our day trips, which will include Selinunte. Yes, you're right, we are now leaving from Santa Venerina or perhaps just stay overnight near the airport depending on the time of our flight home. I will check out Hotel of the Pines though.

Any thoughts on places to stay in Palermo...trying to keep our budget to $200/night or less.

bon_voyage

The Grand Hotel Wagner is showing an internet rate for September 1, 2011 of €59.50 per person per night for a double room, www.grandhotelwagner.it/uk/history-hotels.html.

RealtorRose

Thanks bon_voyage.

RealtorRose

How about a nice place to stay overnight in Lipari. We're seniors so walking up a hill to our hotel would not suit us. Since we will only be staying overnight on Lipari, perhaps something near the town.

helen251

I just did this trip in September 2010. We stayed in Palermo for 3 nights and took the train the Cefalu. the train is really easy but make sure to know when to get off. We missed the stop, but that's another story. Palermo is great! As two female senior citizens were walked everywhere day or night and felt comfortable. . I picked up the car when we were leaving Palermo. I suggest you get the smallest car you will be comfortable in. You cannot imagine the width of the streets you will be driving down. From Palermo we stopped at Segusta (special) on the way to Erice. You don't need on in the city. We stayed in the center at the "four corners". Great location. There is a bus to Monreale - very short ride. Don't miss the Palatine. We stayed at an agrotourisma outside of Eric. Check to see if the mosaics at Villa Romana are open. When I was there they were restoring them and only a small part was open for a few hours in the afternoon. We used Syracuse and a stop for Noto, Ragusa and Etna and Taormina. Leave yourself time to get lost. Take the A19 or A29 whenever you can. They are excellent roads and the easiest to find your way. The other roads are really slow and not that pretty and very slow.

It's a great trip.
Helen 251

RealtorRose

Hi Helen, the beginning of your trip is exactly how I planned our trip. We will be staying in Palermo 3 nights, taking the train to Cefalu and bus to Monreale. Won't pick up our car until we leave Palermo. Unfortunately there will be 4 of us so a real small car won't work. By the way, what was special about Segesta? My friend that is planning our daily tours didn't think the stop was worth it. Thanks for the advise about the roads. What agency did you rent your car from?

Michael

Segesta is worthwhile because of its setting:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7624349637005/

It's worth a stop on the way to Erice or Selinunte.