I have been having trouble using the Meridiana website to make reservations between Rome and Sicily and the US phone numbers I have are inoperative. Has anyone had success using their website recently? Also, are there any recommendations for places or areas to stay near Mt. Etna to take a minibus trip to the top?

Priscilla,
I also had problems with the website recently trying to book the same for next year. Try expedia...we got a Meridiana ticket roundtrip from Rome to Catania this past October for a very low price...$159.00 for 2 including taxes and Expedia delivery.
You might also want to try calling the London desk (I tore the flight page out of the Meridiana magazine). The London number is 20.7.839222.
Good Luck! Lisa

Priscilla, the Meridiana site does not allow you to make reservations too far out in advance, so if you are trying to make them for next year, you may have to wait. But don't worry, even in the high season we were able to make reservation from Catania to Naples just a few weeks ahead.
As far as Mt. Etna is concerned, the area is so large that virtually anywhere along the coast from Catania to Taormina will give you easy access. We stayed in Giardini-Naxos and there were several day tours that would pick you up at your hotel. You can also combine a visit to Mt Etna with a tour of the Alcantara river gorge which nearby. The gorge is beautiful and you hike a long part of it.
Roger

I booked two flights with them this year. I also had problems using their website. I contacted them by email using this address:

[email protected]

I wrote to them in Italian explaining that I couldn't buy the ticket on line. (I bet that if you write in English they'll still respond quickly.) He wrote back and gave me a number in Italy to call to make the reservation. Unfortunately, I don't have the number anymore. When you call, you can ask to speak with an English speaking operator if you don't speak Italian. After you make the reservation, if you want to pay for the tickets right then and there, you'll need to ask them to transfer you to a different agent who will then take your credit card information. They'll send to you an email confirmation with a reservation code.

Or, lisabelina has a good idea in suggesting to call the London number to make the whole transaction easier.

Priscilla,

I answered your other, nearly identical post already... click this:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34458177

Or just click on your name to see all posts you made.

Hope this helps,
Andre