I am starting to get really excited for my trip next week to Sicily for 18 days. Anyone else leaving for Sicily next week? I just wanted to thank everyone who responded to my questions, you were a great help. But I am still a little nervous about taking the train to Taormina. I mean I am not booking in advance and hope that the seats do not sell out...others have said they won't and I just hope we don't have any problems.

Where are you going to Taormina from?

The busses are often a better alternative. They are fast, comfortable and air-conditioned, and I've never been on one that was more than one-quarter full. (Do avoid the AST busses; they are for local transport and are often crowded.)

You can enter your point of departure (partenza) and destination (arrivo) in the search engine at

www.interbus.it

Interbus does not list all lines. If you are looking for something from Palermo, go to

http://www.orariautobus.it/content/category/21/2/

From Palermo, I think one of the SAIS companies does Taormina.

Thanks, but I do prefer train travel as I tend to get very car/bus sick and just prefer the train in general. We are leaving from a town close to Termini Imerese...we want to take the train to Messina and then hop on a bus (since it is easier than changing from another train to a bus) to Toarmina. The problem with buying tickets in advance is, I am not sure how early the trains run from Roccapalumba to Termini...so it all depends on how early we can leave. Can anyone tell me: If I buy a train ticket from Trenitalia online, can i only use that ticket for a specific hour of the day or do I have the option to use it any time until it gets validated????????

The first train from Roccapalumba to Termini Imerese is at 6:48 a.m. and takes 30 minutes.

Have you not learned how to use www.trenitalia.com?

There is certainly no reason to buy a ticket online. You will presumably pass through Termini Imerese on your way to Roccapalumba. Buy your ticket from Roccapalumba to Messina then, since Roccapalumba may not have a ticket office. There is an ICPlus at 7:54 from Termini Imerese to Messina. I believe ICPlus train tickets include seat reservations. If they don't and you're really worried, buy a seat reservation separately.

Okay, I went ahead and bought my ticket online from trenitalia - ticketless with the ICPlus Train from Termini to Messina. We just need to leave Rocccapalumba as early as the first(6:48) or second (7:10)train of the day...but it's better to leave early and get to Toarmina early (by 12:35 with bus from Messina)... I bought it online because I loved the idea of have ticketless ticket, just printing the email and bringing that on the train with me. Thanks you for your advise, it has been helpful!

samia17 - have a great trip! I am going to Sicilia end of August and am really looking forward to it! Re: trains, I am doing the long-haul and taking a train down from Napoli all the way to Siracusa (and with my child!) I am certain you can manage a train to Taormina without having to have purchased your tickets in advance. Either way, I am sure it will work out for you. Buon viaggio!

Thanks Huitres! Hope you have a great trip too!