GAC, I read and really enjoyed your lovely review of the Hotel Carasco. It sounds lovely. At 100 euro for a single,it's a bit out of my price range. I'm hoping to find something quiet and clean for around 50-75, in my fantasies with a seaview & balcony too! Prefer walking distance to town, tho shuttle would be fine too.<BR><BR>Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

There are only three hotels in Lipari town with rooms having direct sea views: 1) Carasco, 2) Giardino sul Mare, and 3) Rocce Azzurre. They are lined up almost back-to-back south of Marina Corta (Carasco being the one furthest from the hydrofoils). Each hotel has its own web site with tariffs. You will note that prices double during August, but are quite reasonable during the shoulder seasons. Check to see whether Rocce Azzurre is within your price range for the period you have selected. If not, there are a couple of properties (without views) which do fall into your price range: Hotel Poseidon in a very clean alleyway 150 yards from Marina Lunga (deep water port for car ferries), and the affittacamere (inn with furnished rooms) Enzo il Negro, 20 yards from Marina Corta (hydrofoil port). Once again, prices fall dramatically after the middle of September. I can give you much more information about the immediate surroundings of these two properties.

GAC, Hi! Thanks so much for the great information! Rocco Azzurre is 60 euro for the time frame I will be there, which includes an 8 euro single supplement. Do you happen to know anything more about it: rooms, staff, walking distance to town...?<BR><BR>You've really got me thinking about the Carasco, though. It does have a pool, which is a huge plus for me. If I'm only staying a couple of nights, I just may splurge! I just have a feeling I'm going to want to spend a week exploring that area.<BR><BR>You seem to be extremely knowledgable about the area; I've so enjoyed reading your posts. Any other stories or info re: the Aeolian Islands, and/or Sicily would be great! Thanks again!<BR>

Hello again! I just did a 'Lipari' search, instead of 'Lipari Hotels', and this time discovered your post in great detail about the Rocco Azzurre, answering my questions about that property. Maybe since they're the same owners I could use Carasco's pool?? Perhaps I'll jot them an email.....

I don't believe that the Carasco and the Rocce Azzurre have the same owners today (although I'm sure the owners know each other very well)! I never visited the Rocce Azzurre, only walked by the property several times (it is merely 200 yards north of the Carasco, separated by the small Porto delle Genti). The Carasco is without question the better property! Single rooms at the Carasco face the mountain side, but they will upgrade you (at no additional charge) to a seaview room if the vacancy rate is high. The best tourist guide to Lipari available in English is the one published by the British-based Rough Guide series. The generous single volume on SICILY (blue paperback cover, revised for 2002) has an entire chapter devoted to the Aeolian Islands, and the largest portion of the chapter is dedicated to the Island of Lipari. I highly recommend this publication, as well as Cadogan's Guide to Sicily (also British), and the Lonely Planet Guide to Sicily. There is also a publication on nature walks on Sicily.