I hope this posts to the Italy board -- sorry to confuse anyone reviewing Europe Board too. We are three couples traveling to Southern Italy/Sicily in late September. We are looking for suggestions and itinerary help. We are planning to arrive in Rome on 9/13 -- spend 3 days there and then go to the Amalfi Coast. Stay there for 5 - 7 days and then to Sicily for 7 days ... HELP ... <BR> <BR>Please give your suggestions on places to STAY and places to SEE and places to EAT. <BR> <BR>Thank you all. I promise to put together a travel report when we return. This is a first trip for all of us. 2 of the individuals were born there but immigrated when very young. Thanks. <BR> <BR>LCDR Lee

Suggest Palermo with side trip to Cefalu or Mondello(beach); Erice; Agrigento; Enna, Siracusa, and Taormina.

Actually, I just returned from this same trip. We had never been before and our best friends parents were born there so we went looking for their heritage. In Palermo we stayed at The Jolly Hotel, it was not expensive, nice, and on the beach !! We rented a car but I would not suggest that as driving in Palmero is impossible and if your going to tour Sicily the roads are pretty bad (unless on their freeways) and directions are none. Actually for the best results I would suggest you hire a driver. I do know of one and if you would like I will find his name and how to get in touch with him. <BR> <BR>We had a great time !!!! <BR> <BR>Around the corner from The Jolly Hotel is a park where weddings are always going on. You can just join in a real Italian wedding.

i lived in naples for three years and thought it was one of the most interesting cities in europe.wonderfull antiquities and great food.pompei and herculaneum are a must.pozzuoli has great seafood market and greek and roman ruins.then there are the islands of capri and ischia.really,too much to see and do.and of course the greatest treasure of all are the neapolitans!!!

Lee, Go to my favorite web site at www.initaly.com and navigate to their readers reports. You will find my article named" Navigating with Bob&Ed in southern Italy" It will help for parts of your trip but not all of Sicily. You will have a great time.

Thank you ALL for your input. We are anxiously planning. If you think of anything else, e-mail me !!! <BR> <BR>Lee

We honeymooned in Sicily last September. We spent our first couple of days in Capotaormina, just outside Taormina - <BR>http://www.taormina-ol.it/capotao/eng/frmst_e.htm <BR>- which was very nice - but a bit far from the town. It has a great dining room with a fabulous view of Mt. Etna - lovely breakfasts as well. Our room also had an enormous balcony with a fantastic seaview. <BR> <BR>Taormina is just delightful with some great shops and restaurants. The nearest beach is at Naxos - a short bus ride away, or you could take the cable-car to another beach that I forget the name of. We also spent a couple of days in Lipari - one of the Aeolian Islands (don't miss a trip to Stromboli), and Cefalu - a seaside resort which is a good base for exploring Palermo. <BR> <BR>Of the bigger cities we visited Palermo and Catania - both of which are well worth seeing (Catania is very lively at night). In Lipari we stayed in the Poseidon Hotel - <BR>http://www.emmeti.it/Welcome/Sicilia.../index.uk.html <BR>- which was fine except for the surly staff. <BR>In Cefalu we stayed in the Mediterraneo - a bit soulless, but spotless and the staff were very friendly. <BR> <BR>Mail again if you want any more info.

We were in Sicily for 10 days last two weeks of March. We spent 5days in Taormina at Villa Ducale and 4 days in Siracua at Villa Politi. Both were great. Both cities good base for trips to Mt. Etna, and other inland trips. I have heard driving in Palermo is bad, so we flew into Catania and rented car. The previous poster re driving may have had a bad experience in Palermo, but our experience elsewhere was just the opposite. <BR> <BR>There are a few interstate type roads which are comparable to ours. The secondary roads are two lane (the drivers take a third in the middle if they want to pass) but otherwise not unlike our two lane highways. The next level of road is well paved but moutainous and therefore more challenging. There were always stone walls or guardrails so I never felt fearful of driving off a cliff. When we drove from Siracusa inland about 60 miles on winding mountainous roads, it took about 3.5 hours, but there was little traffic. As for signage, I found it to be amazingly complete and repetitive - no problem - and I speak only polite Italian. Driving is the best way to see Sicily. It was like driving in Boston - only more so - every one does whatever they want - in city driving - but other drivers are aware of this trait and compensate. <BR> <BR>I would like to go back and see Palermo area, and northern and western coasts. Food is fabulous. People very friendly, much more English spoken than I expected.

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