Sicily soon and starting to panic
 

Going to Sicily the end of Oct. to celebrate a 40th birthday. there are 6 of us, all adults. we arrive in Rome, and then what? I have traveled in Europe a dozen times, never worried about a real plan cause i always travel out of season; but this trying to get to Sicily thing is starting to scare the heck out of me because I have never been there and don't have a plan. We have about 8 days to get there, see it, and return to Rome.
I had hoped, and heard, we could do Sicily rather inexpensively out of season. now i see that most 3star hotels are well over a hundred bucks a night. last time i was in and around Tuscany and Venice, we found fabulous accommodations for sometimes as little as $60 a night. I mean, really nice!
then there is the car problem, with 6 people. 2 cars would be really bad, i think.
so, my first question, is how do we get from the Rome airport to Sicily having the most fun and least headaches, without spending a million dollars?
Should I start my panic attack now???
cj

Hold on...help is coming. Although, it is a Saturday night, and people do go out.

Sorry, I can't help you, but try to keep this post up at the top where people can see it.

cjszytel,
My trip report may help you http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34811101

also check http://www.whichbudget.com./ for airfares.

Henry

Hate to be a downer but since you are leaving in 4 weeks-don't you have any ideas where you want to travel in Sicily? Since you will probably be flying from Rome to Catania or Palermo -you better get your airfare in the next week (ie. 21 days out?) for a cheaper fare. Big rental cars are usually hard to get for accomodating 6 people so I would get going on obtaining your rental car too.I have found in Sicily that "off season" is more like January and February for cheaper rates on hotels. Don't forget that November 1st is a holiday so adjust for that there. Let us know where you want to travel there and what are your interests and perhaps we can help you?

If the flights are too expensive, there's always the night train from Roma Termini to Palermo - 20:22-08:10. I haven't used it, but I think the carriages are actually loaded onto the ferry, which should be fun to watch.

Look a the whichbudget.com and www.skyscanner.net sites to look for flights from Rome to either Palermo or Catania. Skyscanner is showing fares on Windjet at around $70 each way.

Then decide how you want to travel - it may be cheaper to pick a base, hire a villa for the week and do daytrips.
I stayed in Cefalú for a week (Lovely town) and daytripped to Agrigento, Selinunte, Segeste, and Monreale by car and Palermo by train.

I rented a small apartment for 360 euros for the week in October last year from the homelidays website (www.homelidays.com).

I found Sicily quite reasonable in terms of eating out. I hope you manage to organise everything - I found Sicily a wonderful destination, and certainly intend to return.

Another alternative to flying from rome would be to hire a car there, drive to Naples, and take the overnight ferry to Sicily. There is an informative discussion of Sicily ferries at http://slowtalk.com/eve/forums/a/tpc...2901060501>

With 6 people traveling, do you think we need 2 cars to see Sicily the best way?

And- is it possible to drive around without reservations, staying at small hotels or b&bs that are less than $100 per couple a night?
We are thinking that we should take a one way flight from the airport in Rome right to Catania and start the Sicily thing. Comments, please?
cj

You will love Sicily.
We are going back in Nov.From 1st to 16th.
There are 5 adults.
We are arriving in Rome staying 2 days, then Naples 2 days.
From Naples we will take the overnight ferry to Palermo. Arrive there at 7 A.M.
After seeing Sicily (by train), we will leave out of Catania for an over night on the train. Arriving in Rome at 9 A.M..One more day and night in Rome and then home from Rome.

We love traveling at night for it saves our daylight hours (which are shorter in Nov.) to do our sight seeing.

This might work for you as well.

Happy travels.
Del