Should I visit Rome or Palermo first?
 

I'm going to Rome on 9/2/2004. I will be in Italy until 9/9. My plan is to see Rome and Palermo, Sicily while I'm there. I am trying to decide if I should spend time in Rome first, then go to Palermo. Or if I should go to Palermo shortly after I arrive (perhaps the day after I arrive) and then go back to Rome. I've been looking at Volare for flights to Palermo and it doesn't look like they have many that fly out on the weekends. Because of that- I was thinking I could go to Palermo the day after I arrive and then go back to Rome and stay my remaining days. Does anyone have any thoughts on the order in which I should see the cities? Also, does anyone have any other suggestions for flights to Sicily from Rome? This is not my first time in Europe, but it is my first time in Italy.

I don't have any opinion on which to do first, but if you are traveling a long way to get to Rome, you will be tired, and moving on the next day won't help adjust. In fact, I think you'll end up losing a bit of vacation time on the road (or at the airport and in the air) and checking in and out of hotels right after you arrive.

Check out http://www.meridiana.it/en/index.html

but they also seem to have limited flights on weekends. Your main tickets are to go in/out of Rome? Maybe you could book into Rome and out of Palermo. If you are going in/out of Rome I agree with going to Palermo first, I would say go on the day you arrive in Rome, 9/2.

Thanks, Surfergirl. I was kind of thinking that myself. I don't want to we so worn out that the trip isn't enjoyable. I may go ahead and see the things I want in Rome and once rested (I'm really trying not to plan TOO many things on this trip- just picking a couple things and enjoying them) I can attempt to go to Palermo. By the way, I do have a long trip- going from Chicago to Rome, a total of about 14 hours including connection in Zurich.

AP6380, I'll check out the Meridiana website, too. I tried it in the past and had some trouble with it, but it may have just been a temporary thing. Thanks for the input!

Koozie - Try also Air One, Windjet and Alitalia.

www.flyairone.it
www.volawindjet.it
www.alitalia.it

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Thanks, Steve! I'll give it a shot if still needed. I did decide to go ahead and visit Palermo right after arriving and then end my trip in Rome. I found a roundtrip ticket on volareweb for $81 USD total (this includes taxes) that leaves Rome on Thursday and comes back on Sunday afternoon. If volare doesn't work out, I'll try the others. Many thanks to you!