Is that the Quality Hotel President Palermo? Because if so it has some pretty bad reviews on tripadvisor. Why do you want to stay there? The area round the port isn't that nice. Did you look at the B&B I recommended? (http://www.bed-and-breakfast.palermo...g/booking.aspx - 75E for a double).

Don't you have a guide book for Sicily yet? Because if so it should have a map that will let you figure out where a hotel is in relation to the train station - but in any case the buses are good.

I am surprised about the reviews. It is a 4 star hotel and only had 3 rooms available for when we are there. I went ahead and made reservations at the B&B you recommended, and I see it is more in the central part of town--even though we will need to take a bus there. We have never stayed in a B&B before so this will be a new experience for us. I just hope they have tour buses out of Palermo to Mt. Etna and the Greek theater because we really want to see them. Thanks for the info.

You know, I'm now really confused about your itinerary. Maybe you should post your day-by-day. If you're in Palermo you're on the other side of the island from Mt. Etna and Taormina and I wouldn't expect there to be day trips from Palermo. Didn't zeppole suggest starting at one side and finishing on the other? Sicily is a big island - it's 255 km from Palermo to Taormina - around 160 miles.

Thursdays, I made reservations for the B&B you recommended, and when I received their notice, I cancelled my other reservations. This a.m. they told me that they are booked during 3 of the days I had made reservations for. I asked them if we could stay for the 1st 2 nights, then we will need to find another place. Zeppole suggested I not rent a car, but go to Palermo and do my touring from there. Actually, this is a new experience for me--trying to do everything on line. But I had hoped it would save money. We were going to spend 4-5 nights in Sicily, but now I wonder if it is worth the long trip, and I know my cousin will not agree to fly.I really appreciate all of the wonderful ideas.

Sorry you had problems with the B&B! BTW, just because a hotel says it's a 4-star doesn't mean it's any good. In Europe it may just mean it has certain facilities, like an elevator or a dining room. Do NOT choose a place just based on the number of stars.

You don't need a car to get from one side of Sicily to the other - start on one side, spend 2-3 nights, take the train or a bus to the other. If your cousin won't fly, take the ferry one way to Sicily and the train the other.

Of course, you could always go to Trapani and/or Erice from Palermo for a couple of nights.

Learned another "new" thing. I thought you could choose a hotel by the "stars". Thanks. I really wish I could just "wing it" instead of spending so much time worrying about it. I have been told that October is a very popular month in Italy, and that we need to make reservations early. I even tried to do the train over the internet, but I cannot find out the cost first. I really think we will do without the rail pass and just get tickets for the segments we will be using the train (it is now narrowed down to two days).

" I even tried to do the train over the internet, but I cannot find out the cost first" ???

Go to trenitalia.it. Click on English. Enter Roma and Palermo and your date. Select the train, then select your accommodation. For example, for the direct night train from Rome to Palermo the Amica fare for a a bunk in a two-bunk compartment is 76.20E, for one in a four-bunk couchette it is 57E. If you don't mind sitting all night it goes down to 41.30E - not worth the discomfort in my mind. For a description of couchettes, etc., see seat61.com/Italy.htm.

Just for giggles, I checked raileurope.com for the same train and date. They will only sell you first class tickets, restricted for $186 (126E) and flex for $258 (175E)!!!

I went to trenitalia.it, and even registered on the site. Got all the way up to the departure time at 8 pm. I think it is 8:15 p.m. to be exact, but they would not tell me the fee. I think we will just get our tickets when we arrive in Rome. Now, you know why the AAA agent told me it would be cheaper to get a rail pass, but you are much wiser. We will not get rail passes. We will just get our tickets when we get there. Actually, it gives us more freedom that way. You have been super great with your ideas, and I sure love the way you travel!

mhyde1 - you need to click on "buy" in order to get price info - don't worry, they can't charge you for anything at that point! Then you select your accommodation type and you should get a price in the small greyed out boxes - hard to see and easy to miss.

I am just going to wait until we get to Rome in the morning to get tickets for that night. I have been told that October is a very busy month in Italy so I hope we will be able to get on the train.

In that case you won't get the Amica discount (20%) - I think it's a min. of 24 hours ahead. You also may get on the train, but not get a couchette or sleeper.

Thursdays, I think you were the one who mentioned the fact that you have to change trains going from Naples to Rome. I have asked my AAA agent about it, but he has not replied. But then, he didn't know that the train divides up going to Palermo with the back of the train going down the east coast. I learned that from a Fudorite!

No, I was the one who said you DIDN'T need to change in Naples. Have you looked at the schedules on bahn.de and trenitalia.it? What is your TA actually doing for you?

My ta is really only answering questions that I asked. It was much easier last time to just have AAA make all of the arrangements, but I am learning so much from Fodorites that I am trying to do it on my own. Yes, I found out about the train being direct from Naples to Rome--2 hour trip. I was able to get the B&B you recommended in Palermo for one night. Thank goodness. It has also been a big relief to not make train reservations with a rail pass--frees up our schedule.

So sorry I have been away from the thread for awhile. I was having headaches and a nausea for several days, and I couldn't understand why. Found out that my blood pressure which is usually 120s over 60s had gone up to 179 over 78. This was the first time it has ever happened. I have been told I am not drinking enough water so I am trying to do better. It finally got back down to normal yesterday. I cannot believe that I am getting that upset over this trip. To have our airline tickets rewritten would cost $150 each so we are committed to flying in and out of Rome. I was able to get reservations at the B&B you recommended Thursdays in Palermo. So I think we will stay in Palermo, Naples and back to Rome. Take day trips out of Naples. I am going to try and make train reservations right now.

O.K. zeppo, you live in Italy--maybe you can answer this one. I have been told that the ferry does not run from Catania after Sept. 9th or something like that. We had hoped to take the ferry back to Salerno or Naples. Will that be possible. Thanks. Margaret

Margaret - so sorry to hear about your health problem! And that you're stressing out. Try to think that so long as you make your flight to Rome, and then the flight home from Rome, everything else will work itself out.

I don't know about the Catania - Salerno ferry, but the Catania - Naples ferry is still running in October - see booking.tttlines.it.

Thanks, Thursdays, I feel as if I know you! I have tried the Grimaldi and Terrenia Ferries. Now, I will check the one you recommended. Thanks.

Margaret - I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip - when do you leave?