things to do in Sicily
Dec 18, 2013 | 12:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: Airline agnostic / Hyatt top tier(lifetime)
Posts: 663
things to do in Sicily
My wife has had the dream of going to Sicily for years.. So since we got incredible deals into MXP - I am going to take her to Sicily for a week or so..
Anyone have any experience with Sicily? - Trying to decide on Catania Side or Palermo Side - Places to stay, Things to do...
Anyways looking for whatever advice anyone has
Anyone have any experience with Sicily? - Trying to decide on Catania Side or Palermo Side - Places to stay, Things to do...
Anyways looking for whatever advice anyone has
Dec 18, 2013 | 1:27 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL - NYC - PSA/BLQ/MIL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,268
Just came back from a week there. We stayed in Taormina, Siracusa (side trip to Noto) and Palermo. Did not get to the southwest of the island.
What do you like to do? Assuming it's a winter/spring visit given MXP (AA?) deal.
What do you like to do? Assuming it's a winter/spring visit given MXP (AA?) deal.
Dec 18, 2013 | 2:42 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily(CTA)/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston(IAH)/Red Stick, La.(BTR)/airborne in-between
Programs: United Plat (1MM), AA ExecPlat, ITA/AZ Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG gold
Posts: 3,864
What do you like to do (museums, food, beach, ski etc)?
There is a lot here so you I'd like to know what you enjoy.
YOu can do both east and west in week without TOO much rush.
Ciao
There is a lot here so you I'd like to know what you enjoy.
YOu can do both east and west in week without TOO much rush.
Ciao
Dec 19, 2013 | 7:38 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
we were there for easter week 2013. not many people around. hotels and restaurants empty. rented a car. spent 3 days in catania. 3 days in syracyusa. 2 days in Agrigento, and 4 days in palermo. we had a gps, which we thought necessary. we had drivers from the hotels pick us up and drop us off at airports. get the car when you leave catania, and drop it off when you arrive in palermo.
the food is fabulous. the people wonderful.
the food is fabulous. the people wonderful.
Dec 19, 2013 | 10:08 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: Airline agnostic / Hyatt top tier(lifetime)
Posts: 663
sweet thanks for the advice.. where'd you guys stay in palermo / catania? March is a bit cold correct? We are looking forward to the food and people mostly.. any cool sights are a bonus
Dec 19, 2013 | 1:19 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL - NYC - PSA/BLQ/MIL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,268
+1 - I just posted some notes on it in the Hilton forum. Wife and I spent 4 days there earlier this month - found it to be an excellent base in Palermo.
It is at the end of the shopping part of via della Liberta as it transitions into a nice neighborhood. It is a nice area, convenient to shopping and not far from some of the older parts of town and some good restaurants. Can recommend Lo Scudiero for a classic, very good meal, Trattoria Alba for their Arancini and fantastic cannoli (they will deliver arancini by taxi). Piccolo Napoli is quite good as well (look at Anthony Bourdain's Sicily show for some info on it). We had a great conversation with two businessmen at the next table when we were there for lunch.
If you get to Siracusa, DEFINITELY GO TO Red Moon for the freshest seafood (look at the thread on Taormina / Etna as FlyingHoustonian and I discussed it there). As he lives there, I'd listen carefully to any of his recommendations.
Finally, as FlyingHoustonian and others have said, what do you like? Giving suggestions without a target puts us in the position of telling you what we like. And that can come across as a bit of a lecture. So, "help us help you" by sharing your likes/dislikes.
It is at the end of the shopping part of via della Liberta as it transitions into a nice neighborhood. It is a nice area, convenient to shopping and not far from some of the older parts of town and some good restaurants. Can recommend Lo Scudiero for a classic, very good meal, Trattoria Alba for their Arancini and fantastic cannoli (they will deliver arancini by taxi). Piccolo Napoli is quite good as well (look at Anthony Bourdain's Sicily show for some info on it). We had a great conversation with two businessmen at the next table when we were there for lunch.
If you get to Siracusa, DEFINITELY GO TO Red Moon for the freshest seafood (look at the thread on Taormina / Etna as FlyingHoustonian and I discussed it there). As he lives there, I'd listen carefully to any of his recommendations.
Finally, as FlyingHoustonian and others have said, what do you like? Giving suggestions without a target puts us in the position of telling you what we like. And that can come across as a bit of a lecture. So, "help us help you" by sharing your likes/dislikes.
Dec 21, 2013 | 8:27 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 977
Catania, Sicily
We were in Catania, Sicily, for a cruise stop. It was a very brief visit and we planned to go up to Mt Etna. However, she erupted the night before, and the guide said that we wouldn't be able to make it up to the top.
So unfortunately we had to skip Mt Etna. We did visit Taormina and stopped at several viewpoints to take pictures.
More pictures and details in my blog post, if you're interested.
http://guitar123foodandtravel.blogsp...-taormina.html
So unfortunately we had to skip Mt Etna. We did visit Taormina and stopped at several viewpoints to take pictures.
More pictures and details in my blog post, if you're interested.
http://guitar123foodandtravel.blogsp...-taormina.html
Dec 21, 2013 | 2:37 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SFO
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Posts: 663
Does the hilton in Palermo do breakfast for Gold/Diamonds ? We are petty excited for the food and shopping. Not hugely into museums nice to see cultural events..for me mostly food though
Dec 23, 2013 | 7:46 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
i dislike hiltons and hyatt and other such chains. i think they all remind me of chicago or detroit. they all look alike, and are supported by large conventions::
in catania, we stayed at il principe. a lovely hotel. centrally located. 105 euro per night for a suite.
in palermo, palazzo conte federico. this is a palace. centrally located. they rent guest appartments. was 130 euro/night. we had a 4-5 room appartment. cook own breakfast(food provided) this is probably the most fantastic place we have ever stayed, and we have been to probably 20 high end starwood properties.
in catania, we stayed at il principe. a lovely hotel. centrally located. 105 euro per night for a suite.
in palermo, palazzo conte federico. this is a palace. centrally located. they rent guest appartments. was 130 euro/night. we had a 4-5 room appartment. cook own breakfast(food provided) this is probably the most fantastic place we have ever stayed, and we have been to probably 20 high end starwood properties.
Dec 27, 2013 | 12:25 pm
#14
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
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Dec 27, 2013 | 5:13 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
we did one hertz way rental from catania airport to the dropoff in palermo. would not recommend driving in either city. the drive over the southern coast was a deight. must have a gps.