Planning a ten day trip to Sicily in June,need some suggestions on where to go once in Sicily and how to get there,should I rent a car? Also need to find out what are the best guide books on Sicily,Rough Guide,etc etc? <BR>Not Crazy about Alitalia, is there a better airline that can get me there from NYC, that isn't to circuitous? Thanks in advance.

Hi Jim, <BR>some suggestions for you: <BR>fly Northwest from JFK to Rome; connections run about an hour later via alitalia to Sicily (Catania). <BR>Drive to Taormina & stay in taormina. Tons of great hotels (upscale as well as mid grade...) <BR>From Taormina...day trips to Siracusa,the Aeolian islands (via ferry from Messina or Milazzo). These islands are several, ie: lipari (touristy and the other end of the scale Vulcano , hike the volcanic trails). <BR> <BR>Spisone (walking north of Taormina) for wider beaches; Giardini-Naxos, just below Taormina, beaches, restaurants; Mt. Etna hiking/exploring the volcanic mountain, several itineraries (easy ones) are available;Mazzaro via cable car from Taormina)... beaches. <BR> <BR>If you want to move sleeping quarters during your stay, go west, visit Palermo & nearby toens...lots of ruins/history/museums/artifact. <BR>Great olive oil, limoncello, and specialty fish dishes. <BR>Have fun!

Thanks for the help.

Hi, <BR>I just got back from my trip to sicily, and I wish I was going back it was fantastic. <BR>We used rough guide sicily alot ,also of course did heaps of net research before we left. <BR>Cant help with the flights I came from Australia <BR>but once in Sicily I think a mixture of car and train would be best. Flights are mostly to Catania, but I would catch a train to Taormina it is lovely and stay there no need for a car,and take some day trips via the bus companies it is around 60/90,000 for a day trip to ETna or Piazza Armerina Then I would take a car and drive to Agrigento (Only 300 k but it took all day by bus!!)to look at the ruins, visit little towns etc and travel along the coast via trapani skip Palermo visit Cefalu and then, drop the car in Messina and take the ferry or hydrofoil to Lipari/stromboli, lovely beaches,scenery and restaurants.Next trip I'm skipping the northern cities and stay ing down south, <BR>have fun

Alternates on flying Alitalia in Italy is www.europebyair.com <BR>