Hello- <BR>I am going to Sicily in less than 2 weeks and need hotel advice. I will be making a road trip from Palermo to Catania, including Agrigiento, Syracusa, Taormina and other towns along the way. My price range is no more than $80 per room (for 2). Any advice, please? <BR>-Julia

Hi Julia, last May I spent for days in Siracusa. We stayed at an agritouristo outside of Siracusa that we loved! It is definitely more convenient to stay here if you have a car. If not, I know there was a bus stop very close to the agritouristo. The name is Il Limoneto. Do a search because I know they have a website. You can email them at [email protected] I think the cost per night was about $60. The room that we stayed in was fairly new and spotless with the best shower. The room also had a table and refrigerator. The rooms overlook the lemon and olive trees and really give you a feel for country life in Sicily. The agritouristo also offers dinner for their guests. The food was traditional Siracusa food (my family comes from Siracusa). Driving to Siracusa took about 10 minutes which is pretty easy except for the fact that Sicilians are insane drivers. If you would like anymore information about Siracusa feel free to email me. We're planning another trip to Siracusa this spring and we will be visiting the same towns as you. <BR> <BR>P.S. There's an Italian movie out right now called Malena. The movie was filmed in Siracusa and Noto. The cinematography is beautiful!

Thank you for advice. I will definitely check out this limoneto. I also need hotel advice for the other locations I mentioned. Anybody out there have more tips for me?

Taormina is expensive to stay in - perhaps less so at this time of year- but Naxos, at the bottom of the hill (on the beach), isn't.

Around New Year's, we stayed at the Pensione Svizzera in Taormina; cost about $80, including breakfast. If you do a search on Google, Altavista, etc., you can find their web site. It was perfectly located and very charming.

Julia <BR>Be careful with Villa Svizzera in Taormina. Maybe it depends on a room but our room on the ground floor which is actually below a street level was so dark, depressing, with towels that use to be white many years ago and with the door that you could open from the outside without a key. We stayed there for only one night. Thank God! <BR>

Thank you for all your advice. I am still trying to choose a place in Palermo and Agrigento and Taormina in the $70-90 range. Any specific hotel advice?

Dear Julia, <BR>you don't need a place in Taormina if you're staying in Siracusa.It takes only one hour 15mins drive to get to Taormina from Siracusa. And from siracusa you can drive to many interesting places and small villages,typically sicilian and really very nice. Sicily is larger than you can imagine. Take your time and don't be in a hurry. Have a look at www.emmeti.it/Limoneto . <BR>If you're lucky you can find a room there! <BR>Dora