ebishop

We are two parents with an adult son arriving Catania on 12/18/07 and departing Catania 12/30/07 (have tickets).

I have been going round and round trying to figure out the best itinerary. We'd like to see some of the following: Palermo, Cefalu, Taormina, Syracusa (Ortigia), Agrigento, Noto, etc. (?), but I can't figure how to order the itinerary.

We'd like to rely on trains for at least some of our travel, though renting a car is not out of the question. Also, cooler (rainier?) weather might play a part as would booking over Christmas (someone told us that Taormina would be the best place to stay over the holiday...).

We like to spend at least 3 days at a place, maybe using day trips to a nearby site, in order to get a better feel for a place.

Any suggestions would be appreciated--itinerary, hotels, restaurants, trains/rental car.

Thank you very much!

goobie

Dear ebishop. we are travelling to taormina from 9/15 - 9/19/2007 and staying at the hotel isabella in corso umberto because our travel agent sd it was centrally located and reasonable. maybe you can start here and then plan trips from this place. i have been reading on bestofsicily.com and we are only in sicily for 4 days before going to rome and amalfi coast area.
are you using a travel agent for help with itinerary, we did and of no cost to us and she is located in pennsylvania.

meganinitalia

It is a lot to accomplish in 12 days time! First and foremost, if you are flying into Catania, start close by. My usggested itinerary is as follows:

Taormina
Syracusa
Noto (but stay in Modica at Casa Talia or Regusa!)
Agrigento
Trapani
Palermo

Because it is winter (and yes the weather will be wild but not exactly warm), you may want to eliminate Cefalu this time around. It is a lovely place, but I think the other mentioned desintations will be great for this time of year.

Also, Hotel Isabela is centrally located but just OK, not great. Better bet is Hotel Taodomus, a new B&B on the corso.

ebishop

I've simplified our itinerary and wonder how it sounds to all. (Each stop includes day trips.)

Arrive Catania, 12/18, transfer to Siracusa for 4 nights.

Bus to Palermo, 12/22, stay 4 or 5 nights.

Bus or train to Taormina, 12/26 or 12/27, stay 3 or 4 nights.

Transfer to Catania airport, 12/30.

Questions: Would it be possible to take a bus or train from Palermo to Taormina on Dec. 26, which is Saint Stefano Day? I read it was a national holiday and most shops and offices are closed. I wonder if there is regular bus or train service to Taormina. (By the way, which is better--bus or train.)

Thanks again!

Zerlina

It looks good to me.

Palermo to Taormina is not a good connection by bus, which is unfortunate because the buses go up into Taormina while the train only goes to Giardini below. You can take the bus if you want to, but it will take considerably longer than by train.

There will be train (and bus) service on December 26, but it will probably operate on a Sunday rather than a more frequent weekday schedule.

kja

Hi, ebishop -
Your new plan looks good to me, too - enjoy!