Travel Experts Wanted: Should I Do a 12 day trip April 08 to Turkey or Sicily?
 

Travel Experts. Please help me to decide the pros or cons of going to either Turkey or Sicily next April...I have a lot of questions and would greatly appreciate your ideas, suggestions, and opinions. What attracts me to both is cuisine, culture, antiquity, and natural beauty of both countries that I have seen from photos- and reading great travel reviews of both.

This trip would be for approximately 12-13 days with husband and 17 year old daughter (and maybe her boyfriend) the last two weeks of April '08. We like to travel independently and would prefer more of a "slow travel" mode - but also want to see a few sites without being exhausted. We love exploring antiquity, great food, history (& Jewish history when possible), cities, art, fashion, shopping,hiking and nature. We also want to have warm weather and maybe hit a beach.

Which country would have better weather conditions? I've read that the end of April could be quite rainy in Turkey?

Turkey questions:
For Turkey we would be interested going to Istanbul for a few days then Cappodocia and Izmir and Ephesus.
How many days would you recommend in each place?
Where should we base ourselves in Cappodocia?
How much does it generally cost to fly between Istanbul and Cappodocia- and Izmir and Istanbul?
What is it like to drive from Cappodocia to Izmir?
Anyone have recommendations for family suite hotels or apartments in each of the locations mentioned?
How about the Empress Zoe hotel in Istanbul?
What is the exchange rate like in Turkey? Will I get more bang for my buck?

As for Sicily...
What would be a good itinerary for this amount of time?
We'd love to see Palermo and some small towns and coastal sites. We would rent a car after visiting Palermo. Is there a way to do two more locations as a base and then venture off to different locals from each base?
Would love itinerary, rural agricultural acoomodation suggestions that would be family friendly, and beach area suggestions near Taormina.
I have heard that Sicily is more expensive than the "mainland" of Italy...is this so?
Can this trip be done "economically" ?
Thank you for your help.

I did an elderhostel sailboat cruise around Sicily a few years back and I have to say I was astounded that more Americans have not discovered Sicily. It's gorgeous and there is much to see.

I cannot comment on Turkey because I have never been there.

I adore Sicily. I guess I'm selfish, but I'm glad it's still "undiscovered". If I had to pick Turkey or Sicily, I would pick Sicily. I don't know where else so much diversity is packed into such a small area.

TravMimi...can you recommend some of your favorite places in Italy? Locations, accomodations, sights?
Thanks

TravMimi...I meant "sicily" (not Italy)...

risab - Instead of a post, I would have to write a book on my favorite places. I spend about a month in Sicily every year and have for years and still haven't seen everything. Some parts I love so much I can't force myself to not repeat them. Get a really good guide/travel book just about Sicily. It seems no matter what a person likes, they will find it in Sicily. History, nature, art, FOOD!, mountains, volcanoes, tropics, get the picture?
The island is small, about 150miles by 90 miles and driving the roads is easy. Unlike most of Italy where train vs car, train wins. In Sicily having a car is great. Train from Messina-Palermo or Messina-Siracusa, otherwise car. I LOVE the Aeolian Islands and island hopping. I have an apartment on Lipari. Volcanoes!! full day Etna trek. Palermo is my favorite city in Italy. The Duomo on Ortygia Island in Siracusa - Fish and food market. Driving up Enna to see all of Sicily. Noto, Sciacca, the best Greek temples in the world (numerous places).More hilltowns than I can count. The Bronze Age necropolis of Pantalica from 1200BC. Do a Google image search of some of these places. I knew I would ramble on. I never post how gorgeous Sicily is unless someone shows an interest first. Probably because it's so perfect. I don't want it to become another Rome-Florence-Venice tourist thing. Giardini-Naxos and Taormina have become just that. Stay on the other side of Taormina in Letojanni shhhhhhhhh. It would be easier for me to post places I don't like there. If I think of some I will post them.

Turkey's on our list of places to go, but I just returned yesterday from a 12-day trip with my husband to Sicily and will be posting a brief trip report as soon as I can. The trip was wonderful, and spring is a spectacular time to visit. We were continually amazed at the small amount of other tourists we encountered. Even in many of the most spectacular places--the Greek temples and amphitheaters, the mosaics at Piazza Armerina, Ortygia, etc.--NOBODY was there! Jaw-dropping beauty, all to ourselves. It was awesome.

I am looking forward to reading your trip report!

Sicily sounds wonderful. TravelMimi I am going to start now and get a book on Sicily (and maybe Turkey, too).

As I've indicated I'd like to do this trip next April but also wondered what the weather would be like in Sicily in February. We just spent a week this past Feb. in Rome and we lucked out with mild weather. Sicily February???

Dec-Jan-Feb are the low season in Sicily. By low I mean REALLY LOW. Many hotels, restaurant and transportation routes aren't even in operation. The average day time temp is in the low 50sF, but you can get warm gorgeous days or freezing snowy days. It could be a year of lots of rain. There will be fog, and very suddenly. Especially with the sudden changes in altitude. You can ski on Etna, that's fun. Almond trees are in bloom and there are lots of almond festivals. Best times are Mar-June and Sept - Nov.

okay...sounds like April is for Sicily.

I will be leaving for Sicily in less than 2 weeks. Just can't wait especially after reading these posts. My itinerary is Palermo (1 night); Sciacca (5 nights in an apartment); 1 night in Ragusa and 2 nights in Taormina then off to the Amalfi coast for 5 days. We will be there at Easter and I am just looking forward to getting lost and immersing myself in the culture, the sights, the views, and of course the food. Aprililacs, can't wait to read your trip report. Risab, based on my trip preparation, I think Sicily is a great choice most especially because it is a bit off the beaten path compared to other places in Italy. Travmimi, sure would like to get into your head to know what you'd recommend for a visit to Sicily over Easter staying in the the Agrigento, Sciacca area, not too far from Erice, Trapani, etc. I love small villages, mountains, seascapes. Thx for any suggestions!

lousuz, If you understand Italian, you might want to look at this Web site that lists Holy Week and Easter ceremonies throughout Sicily:

http://www.pasquainsicilia.it/

Be aware, though, that some of them had already become fairly commercialized even by the 1980s.

lousuz - Sounds like you have your basic itinerary down. Of course I don't know your travel style nor the route you are taking. Here are a few offerings, hope some fit in. Erice is beautiful. One can hit fog or clouds there any time of year. Driving up and down is like driving blind in a road rally!! Forza d'Agro is a pretty medieval village 1200'high on the coast just north of Taormina. 16th century castle ruins are wonderful. I don't know how you are getting to the Amalfi, but you might consider this. You can take the hydrofoil early morning from Milazzo to the Aolian Island. There is an overnight ferry that goes to Naples from the islands. You can island hop a bit and take this ferry to Naples. It leaves from Lipari Mon and Thurs at 5:20pm or Stromboli at 10PM. arrives Napoli 8am next morning, then you can make your way to Amalfi. Fun volcanoes, lovely villages, and you have a moving hotel so you don't waste sightseeing time traveling.

TravMimi, thx for the response. Am crossing to mainland from Messina with the car. I'm comfortable doing that even though it's a one-day (or nearly)trip. RKwan (trip reports/photos on Fodors) and I have been corresponding and based on his itinerary and photos I feel comforable. Thx so much for your feedback on Erice and Forza d'Agro. More wonderful homework to do before I leave...love it!

Zerlina, thank you for the Easter link. Don't undertand Italian too much but my dad does so I'll get him to translate for me.

That's a beautiful drive. Easy too. You'll see many old hilltowns along the way. Some are even abandoned "ghost" towns. Have a wonderful trip!

I would like to add a strong vote for Turkey. Wonderful, welcoming people, fantastic food, incredible antiquities - pre-Greek, Greek, Roman, Ottoman etc. Istanbul is a big, bustling city with much to see. Two days is not enough. For Cappodocia region, consider Urgup. The Esbelli Evi is charming and the host can arrange a guide or rental car and anything else you might need. They do not have apartments, but the hotel is carved right out of the rock and there are many connecting rooms. 3 full days would give you time to see the underground cities, the cave dwellings and World Heritage site, and Avanos (pottery and weaving). I would recommend that you stay outside of Izmir perhaps in a coastal town like Foca. The owners of the Focantique Hotel are retired tour guides and speak perfect english. Again, they will help with whatever you need. To the north is the Pergamum and to the southeast is Ephesus. Foca itself is a small fishing village. The local military camp covers the hills behind the town and this has limited development. There are many other interesting towns along the coast to the south of Foca as well. As to in-country transportation. You can check this summers rates at the Turkish Air website. There are regular flights between Istanbul and Kayseri (Cappodocia) and Istanbul and Izmir. The are a few flights (only on certain days) between Kayseri and Izmir. It is a long drive from Cappodocia to Izmir. If you like driving consider going north out of Izmir to see Troy and Gallipoli on your way back to Istanbul. Turkey is very reasonably priced as long as you don't stay in 5 star hotels in Istanbul or at the coastal resorts. There are a few downsides to consider: 1) there are not a great number of Jewish sites, 2)in Istanbul you will be accosted by aggressive carpet salesmen in the old city and you will need to be firm if you want them to go away. But overall, Turkey is magical and well worth visiting.

well...even though my post got a bit "hijacked" along the way (I've been guilty of this, too)- I appreciate everyone's advice.
Now "equitraveler" has given me a lot to think about on Turkey, too. Turkey attracts me because it seems very far away and exotic.

risab,

I really love Italy, and would love to get to Sicily , but this summer we're going to Turkey. Maybe because Turkey is at the crossroads of European and Asian culture, it has always seemed more intriguing and foreign to me. Or maybe I've just been taken in by all the guidebooks that boast about Turkey having more Greek ruins than Greece and more Roman archaeological sites than Italy.

Anyway, one thing I've noticed in planning our trip is that the Turkish travel agents and hotel owners are incredibly helpful and welcoming. More so than I've found in many other countries.

I will definitely post a trip report when we get back in early August. Enjoy your decision- what a wonderful choice you have between Sicily and Turkey!

Weadles: just wondered what your Turkey itinerary was and if you'd be willing to share some travel planning tips...travel agents and hotels?

Are you using travel agents to book inter-country travel and tours?

Appreciate any tips you could share!

I will say Turkey.......
3 days Istanbul, fly to Cappadocia ( ticket per person can vary between 50 to 100 Usd) 3 days Cappadocia, fly directly to Izmir for Ephesus. With younger children with you better to stay in Kusadasi. 2 Days is enough.
Tan you can fly back to Istanbul.
Driving from Cappadocia to Iznir will take a good 11 Hours if you do not break in between.

Turkey will amaze you so you need some more study and probably post your questions at Turkey forum where fellow travellers will give you opinions.
I am from Cappadocia - Turkey so foreigners can have different ideas...

Have fun whereever you choose,
Murat

risab,

I'd be happy to share our itinerary. We're also going to Greece and Paris, so the Turkey portion of our trip unfortunately is only about 12 days.

Anyway:

5 nights in Istanbul- Staying at The SEVEN HILLS HOTEL in Sultanahmet. This is a very small 4-star hotel with only 14 rooms. I did a lot of research online and was debating between this area and Beyoglu, but since we want to walk to many of the major historical sites, I thought we'd base in Sultanahmet. I have heard that there is hardly any nightlife, not many restaurants, and that you can be hounded by carpet sellers in the old town, but hey, we're from New York! We'll handle it! Also, I have thorougly enjoyed my e-mail correspondences with Bulent, the young manager of the hotel, who has been most helpful and will arrange an Istanbul tour guide for us for one or two days.

From Istanbul, we are flying on Turkish Air ( about 90E per person) to Izmir. I have made reservations through ANKER TRAVEL in Kusadisi ( ask for Ceyda, she was wonderful!) for a transfer and guide to Ephesus. After Ephesus, we will have the same driver take us to Kusadisi overnight, where we're staying at HOTEL KISMET.

The travel agency also arranged for our transfer the next day from Kusadisi to Bodrum.

In Bodrum, we're staying at a stone cottage close to the harbor and castle that is owned by the SU HOTEL. We will have full use of the hotel's facilities, pool, although the cottage comes with its own pool and tiny garden.
The cottage has 3 bedrooms ( daughter bringing two college friends!) is completely air conditioned, and runs about 220E night for five people. I thought that was very reasonable.

I found out about the SU HOTEL through an amazing website called TURKEYTRAVELPLANNER.com. I can't recommend this site enough. It has tons of information on all the major areas of Turkey, plus hotel, restaurant,historical sites, and guide suggestions.

We will be in Bodrum for five days. Then we're driving overnight to Marmaris, so that we can catch the ferry to Rhodes, Greece the following morning.

I forgot to mention that The SEVEN HILLS HOTEL apparently has a rooftop restaurant with an incredible view over much of the old town.

Anyway, hope this helps. Good luck with your decision. Either one sounds great!

In Marmaris, we're staying at the MARTI PERLA.

Weadles,
Thanks for your information. I have been researching on turkeytravelplanner's website, too. But, it is so helpful to have recommendations as a starting point - especially when we'd like to cover a few areas. We are thinking of a 12 day trip, too so your itinerary was perfect.

Just looking at this post from last year when I was deciding between Turkey or Sicily...

We decided to go to Turkey - especially after my husband became very enthralled with Turkish clarinet music (his instrument, too). We needed to do a more moderate trip so we are going to stay in Istanbul for 9 days at the Galata Residence Hotel (traveling with our teenage daughter). We need to have down time and we like "slow travel" and to be able to experience the place so we'll do sights and neighborhoods and music venues at a good pace along with one or two day trips - perhaps a Bosphorus cruise or day trip to one of the Prince's Island's and a day on the Asian side (Kadikoy and Moda).

We are very excited about this trip. Maybe we'll do another trip to other areas of Turkey at another time...and of course, we also want to get to Sicily.