We are four adults who are signed up for Rick's October 6 Sicily tour and we would like to spend up to a week after the tour in a villa or apartment where we can relax, enjoy the surroundings and "live like a local". Our tour ends in Catania, but we were thinking of going back towards Palermo and finding someplace where we could be close to the ocean. We think that it might make more sense to stay near Palermo since we'll probably fly home from there. Our one drawback is that we really don't want to rent a car so we will be depending on public transportation while we are there. We have started to check our Airbnb and VRBO, but would appreciate any suggestions that forum readers could offer. One area that we were wondering about is Mondello.
Posted by
Washington DC
27207 posts
Have you checked return-flight options? Catania's airport is actually larger than Palermo's.
You may be right about the availability of nice beach options along the northern coast, though; I don't do beaches. For what it's worth (very little, I realize), a Sicilian I met in Monreale recommended the east coast town of Acireale to me. It's between Catania and Taormina. I didn't have time to go there, but the online photos look nice, and it's only 10-20 minutes from Catania by train. I have no idea what the nearby beaches are like, but proximity to Catania would make trips into the interior possible, as well as trips along the east coast.
Actually, I've just remembered that the Sicily tour no longer goes to Ragusa or any of the other Baroque villages down near Siracusa, so I'm going to make a serious recommendation that you look for something down that way. You can visit Ragusa, Noto, Modica and Scicli by train and/or bus (not all on the same day), and your tour stop in Siracusa may well leave you wanting more.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15598 posts
I loved Ortigia (Siracusa) and would have been happy spending more time there. Cefalu was charming for a day, but too touristy for a week. I was sorry I didn't get to the Aeolian Islands while I was in Sicily. I've heard they are worth a visit . . . maybe someone will chime in who's been there.
Posted by
Pittsburgh
54 posts
We are signed up for the September 27 tour. Our plans include staying an additional night in Catania and then renting a car and heading down to Ortygia for a 4-night stay and doing day trips to Ragusa, Noto, Caltigirone, and Modica. Ragusa and Modica used to be on the RS tour itinerary but haven't been for a couple of years, I believe. The cities on the southwest coast are Baroque wonders and are noted for their desserts (Caffe Sicilia in Noto), ceramics (Caltigirone) and chocolate (Modica), and if you are an Inspector Montalbano fan (TV series on RAI and BBC), the area around Ragusa is where the series is filmed. Since this area of Sicily is not as "touristy" as the other places on the RS itinerary, you might want to consider an AirB&B or VRBO in Ortygia or one of the other places I mentioned.
Posted by
Washington DC
27207 posts
Just so there's no confusion, the aforementioned Baroque towns and Caltagirone are not on the coast, though Noto (East) and Scicli (South) are rather close.
Distances are fairly short down in the southeastern corner of Sicily, but I think I remember some twisty, turny roads. I know I remember buses having a challenging time navigating through the narrow streets of a town or two where folks (in fine Italian fashion) had parked in no-parking zones.
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
Here is a site I refer to for info on Sicily
Posted by
Central Connecticut, USA
1103 posts
We were on the RS. Sicily tour in April 2016 when they still had the so-called off season itinerary. Ragusa and Ortigia were our favorite stops. The tour only spent one night in Catania, and it would have been nice to spend another day there.
Posted by
OP
Upstate NY
23 posts
This has been excellent advice and we are now researching the various towns that posters have mentioned. Just to clarify, we would like to be close to the ocean, but it doesn't have to be a beach. We were not planning on sunbathing or swimming. It looks like our biggest drawback is our reluctance to rent a car. One of us is a retired bus driver, but he really doesn't want to drive in Italy. We were hoping that we could find a nice town that we could train or bus to from Catania or Palermo. Ideally we'd like a place where we could walk to restaurants, attractions, and stores and maybe book a tour service if we wanted a day trip out of town. I had heard that Catania's airport was bigger than Palermo's and right now the area around Catania seems have a lot to offer. Acireale looks lovely.
Once again, thank you, everyone, for your ideas and please don't hesitate to offer more.
Posted by
11205 posts
Stay in Ortigia, the island connected to Siracusa. You can trains and buses from Siracusa to Catania to fly out. You can find a water view hotel or AirBnB.
Posted by
OP
Upstate NY
23 posts
Yes, we are very interested in Ortigia. Thank you posters! We wouldn't have thought of that. Currently looking at AirBnBs and VRBOs there.
Posted by
11205 posts
Look at WonderfulItaly.eu for rentals too.
Posted by
68 posts
We stayed in Cefalu and really enjoyed it although a week is probably too long. You could stay a few days in Cefalu and a few days in Palermo. I didn't really care for Catania that much although spending more time in Taormina could be very pleasant.