Yah - Il Ciak in Trastevere was great. Now I have to go back to Rome to try their Veal chop I guess.

Your report was just wonderful, and helpful as we plan our April trip. Do you know how many miles you drove for the Sicily portion of your trip?

We never thought about miles (and it was all metric anyway). We thought about time. How long to get somewhere, how long to stay, will we arrive when everything is closed mid afternoon?. etc.

There are posters far better than me that know the answers down to the exact metric inch but I was just thinking about he next salumeria and bottle of wine. The day we went from Palermo to Marinelle de selinunte via Monreale, Segesta, Erice and Marsala gives a good idea of how close things really are.

I always find it interesting to know how many miles I put on the rental car when I return it. I just wondered if you recalled your total.

I sort of have it figured out how long it is supposed to take us to get from place to place, but do expect that we will get lost more than a few times.

On a previous post, I asked if anyone had trouble contacting Hotel Alceste. I have written to them three times at three different addresses and have not heard from them. Their web site indicates that they are not yet accepting reservations for April. I find that strange, especially since Colleverde is already filled. Do you recall how you contacted them?

I will look for my receipt to see my Kilometers

I contacted Hotel Aceste by e-mail. Maybe they are closed in December?

This is the email I used for my reservation:
[email protected]

it worked as of July 19th as that is when they wrote me back.

Thanks for sending me the address you used for the hotel. I just emailed them again. Their site says they are opened year round so I don't think they are closed.

Please don't go through any extra effort to check the mileage as it is not important. As I said, I was just wondering about it.

Thanks for the report. I was in Sicily in October and enjoy reading other's adventures.

thanks from me too. My father was born in Syracusa.

Still haven't heard from Hotel Alceste. I'll wait until January and then try calling them. I have all my other hotels booked. Any other ideas for a hotel in Selinunte?

have you tried calling direct? Their counter staff speakes english
call
39-092-446184. It's abot 9 hours

Gil - you mentioned on your site to rent a guide in Malta for a day or two if you don't have unlimited time. Do you know about any good, inexpensive guides?

I was one of the many people on this board travelling around Sicily last summer. Your report and pics brought back nice memories

tramcl

I did not bring any research with me re guides as my wife and I split duties: she had Malta and I had Italy. But when we got there it became apparanent we should get a guide and I just asked the hotel. I have no idea on price ranges.

we paid 60LM for 1/2 day and 90 LM for full day. You can probably negotiate directly as we paid the hotel so I am sure they added something.

as I mentioned though, our 1/2 day became 7 1/2 hours and our full day became 11 1/2 hours. Contact out guide, Vince and ask him what kind of price you can negotiate directly. remember you are paying for a car, driver and guide all in one so that is part of the cost. He was a licensed guide though. we really liked him and it was one to one. if you have a larger group the cost is less per person but we just had anice private car, him and the 2 of us.

This is a terrific report! Makes me want to go to Sicily (more)! Thanks for sharing it, and your excellent photos!

I created a new website called
Firsthand Travel Story , where you can post your trip reports.

http://www.firsthandtravelstory.com

Thanks for the report & pictures. They were very informative! My family & I will be visiting Malta & Messina, Sicily in August.