Sicily for two elderly women in June

From SFO not a lot of easy choices, unfortunately. The easiest way to Sicily is with Alitalia via Rome-Fiumicino (FCO). There are two main airports in Sicily: Catania (CTA) and Palermo (PMO). Alitalia is a member of Sky Team, which includes Delta, AirFrance-KLM, therefore you could go there with any of those airlines on a code share flight. These are the 3 top (easiest) choices from Walnut Creek. They are all Sky Team code share flights (Alitalia/AirFrance-KLM/Delta). Plus one more (via JFK or ATL), which I don't like particularly. In parentheses the aircraft operator: OPTION 1: SFO to Paris CDG (Air France) CDG to Rome FCO (Air France or Alitalia) FCO to CTA (or PMO) (Alitalia) OPTION 2: SFO to Amsterdam AMS (KLM) AMS to Rome FCO (KLM or Alitalia) FCO to CTA (or PMO) (Alitalia) OPTION 3: SFO to Los Angeles LAX (Delta Connection) LAX to Rome FCO (Alitalia) FCO to CTA (or PMO) (Alitalia) OPTION 4: SFO to New York JFK or Atlanta ATL (Delta) JFK (or ATL) to Rome FCO (Delta or Alitalia)
FCO to CTA (or PMO) (Alitalia) If I had to choose among the above, I would avoid via JFK or ATL. I always prefer to fly straight from California to Europe with no stops back East. Flying through the East Coast prolongs the trip and there are too many chances of delay and missed connections due to weather, especially in New York. I'd fly straight from SFO to either Paris or Amsterdam, or go through LAX and take the non stop flight from LAX to Rome with Alitalia. Via LAX or via AMS would be my top 2 choices. Paris CDG is huge and chaotic. I'll leave to others suggestions on what to visit in Sicily. Gotta go now.

Personally, I would choose Option 2 and use only Alitalia for the last leg from FCO to CTA.

Well I did a quick search on Kayak.com (I tested for January 2013) and the only options at a decent price (around $1,100 in January) is to fly from SFO to JFK or ATL, then from JFK (or ATL) to Rome FCO, and lastly from FCO to either CTA or PMO. The operator from SFO is always Delta of course, then from JFK or ATL is either Delta or Alitalia (depending on which option you choose). The last leg from FCO to CTA or PMO is only Alitalia. Any other option was way too expensive and it involved multiple unrelated airlines. But give it a try and see what you can find in the dates you want to go. Another option could be to fly to Rome (many options with lots of airlines there), stop in Rome for a night (both coming and going) and fly to Sicily and back from Rome using a Low Cost airline (EasyJet or Ryanair or Meridiana etc.). You'll probably save that way, however you may not be able to do everything in a day and you may need to spend a night in Rome after you arrive and before you come back to the US. When you use low cost airlines they don't transfer your baggage so you need to get your luggage and check it in again. For such a long trip it's risky to try to do the entire journey in one day. If you want to go straight from SFO to Sicily, with no nights spent in Rome, then Alitalia/Delta is the only option.

Mary Ann, I agree with the previous reply from David, that you might get some good ideas on places and sights to visit by having a look at the Itinerary for the RS 10-day Sicily tour. I took the tour in September, and it was fantastic! RS doesn't currently publish a Sicily Guide, however I suspect they may at least produce a Snapshot Guide eventually. In the meantime you might have a look at the Lonely Planet Sicily Guides. I believe the book is available both in print format as well as PDF copies which could be loaded onto your Laptop or iPad. They also have shorter Destination Guides available at a cost of $4.95 each. You could also have a look at the Rough Guides, Frommer's Sicily or others. You should be able to find a good selektion of Guidebooks at larger book stores in your area or at Amazon. Happy travels!

Not so easy, Easyjet!
The SFO>LHR>bus>LGW>PMO with Easyjet may work on the way to Sicily since there are over 3 hours from the arrival of the SFO flight at LHR and the departure of the Easyjet flight to PMO from LGW. But on the way back to the US it won't work unless they spend a night in London. The flight from Palermo arrives to London when all flights to San Francisco have already long departed. Considering the cost of spending the night in London and the additional time necessary for the transfers in London, the Alitalia option with two stops is not that bad. Also we are making the assumption that the flight to London will have no delays and they'll be able to catch the only Easyjet to PMO on time. At least Alitalia has multiple flights from AMS or CDG to FCO and multiple flights from FCO to Sicily. Therefore if the flight from the US is late they can probably still make it on the same day with later flights. Easyjet has only one flight from London to Palermo.

If deciding to fly Easyjet from London to Sicily I would definitely recommend sleeping in London on the way there and also (no choice there) on the way back. There is only one Easy Jet flight to Palermo. Departs London LGW at 1:55pm. The choices from SFO to London LHR are 4: 2 with British Airways: departing SFO at 4:20pm and at 7:45pm Virgin Atlantic: departing SFO at 4:25pm United: departing SFO at 5:05pm
They all arrive in the mid-morning, except for the last BA flight. I would choose that option over the Delta/Alitalia only if considerably cheaper. Sleeping in London for 2 nights will significantly add up to the cost of the trip and of course take time away from the Sicily visit, which, let's not forget, Mary Ann said is only 10 days.

I don't know how much stamina you have, but (being elderlyish myself) I think you will find these suggested several-part flight schedules too exhausting for a one-day trip to Sicily. My guess is that the combos suggested by another helpline respondent would have you traveling and staying awake for at least 24 hours. I stop overnight in London on my way to Paris from SFO. After the 10-hr flight, then getting thru passport control, etc. I'm tired and need a break from traveling. My suggestion is that you pause at a hotel overnight either near Victoria in London or near the Gatwick airport before flying on to Sicily. There would be less walking if you just go on to Gatwick from LHR. Maybe you can get a morning flight to Sicily. If there are any hitches in the SFO-LHR flight, you will have a cushion of time before your next flight. And you can begin to adjust to the time change. Once you arrive in Palermo or Catania, there is still a process for getting to town and to your hotel. It is good that you are going with carry-on only; however, Easyjet and some of the other smaller airlines have stricter carry-on policies than the international airlines. You may have to check your bags. And at Gatwick, you will be going through security again and waiting for your flight. Allow a couple of hours for this process. Gatwick hotels and lodges provide shuttle service to/from Gatwick. I stayed at Castle Lodge near Gatwick last year. From the lodge it is a short walk to the main street of a small town (Horley, I think). Most hotels have twin rooms. Be sure to specify "twin" when reserving. P.S. My airline is United. I find that their mid-day flights to LHR work best for me. The flight arrives about 7am when it's on-time.

Oh my! This is my first time trying this and I am astonished with the thoughtful, informative, kind and helpful advisements. You are most generous to take your time with me. Thank you, thank you from the depths of my heart. We will go from Sicily to Salerno to visit my grandfather's village for an extended weekend for the Festa di Animale. I will try to post a locally made, non-professional video of it. We are wondering if it is best to go by ferry, train or fly from Sicily to Salerno, if any of you have experience with this. Hence, we will leave from Naples to the USA (not from Sicily for the return flight). How wonderful to have such genuinely helpful travel friends!! Mary Ann

Thank You, thank you to my Traveler's Helpers. I am astonished with the many helpful, knowledgeable and considerate replys. You have been most gracious in sharing and even investigating options for us. We will be going from Sicily to Salerno for an extended weekend visit to my grandfather's village up a mountainside for the traditional Festa di Animale. Hence, we will return to the USA via Naples (not Sicily)Is there a recommendation of getting to Salerno from Sicily via ferry, train or regional plane?? Again, we are most appreciataive of your genuine helpfulness to us. Mary Ann

Flying is faster, less than one hour. You can fly from both PMO and CTA to Naples NAP with AirOne (Alitalia code share) or Meridiana (from CTA). By ferry you can go to Salerno proper from Messina. About 8 hours journey. Train is a little faster than the ferry, 5 to 6 hrs from Messina, up to 38.50 euro one way. From Naples to the US the Alitalia/Delta combination works (via Rome most likely) unless you opt for the London option we discussed above.

Mary Ann, you've been given lots of suggestons about how to get to Sicily. I'd like to make a few comments about what to do while you are there. Very likely you will fly in and out of Palermo. You won't need or want a car in that city. Use the bus to visit Monreale Cathedral and any other sites too far from your hotel to walk. After you've spent a few days in Palermo and generally adapted to the time zone change, then you could use a rental car to visit Segesta and possibly Erice, and end the day in Agrigento. I'd suggest other over night stays in Piazza Armerina, Siracusa, Taormina, and back to Palermo the night before your flight. Arrange your car rental before you leave the US. There is no "best" company, but you can easily compare prices online at the major US companies, plus European companies like Sixt, EuropeCar, etc. A detailed road map or GPS system is advisable. You might visit your local library or bookstore and peruse the guidebooks on Sicily to decide which book best meets your needs. You'll get lots of suggestions for hotels and b&b's in the books. Looking up different facilities' websites and reading about them on TripAdvisor.com will give you detailed information. One last comment: Sicily will be extremely hot and sunny in June. Wear a hat, use sunscreen, and carry lots of bottled water in the car. Hope this helps, and feel free to write if you've more questions.

Mary Ann: If you plan to go to Siracusa, have a look on line at this wonderful B&B in Ortigia/Siracusa. La Corte dei Angeli B&B. We stayed there some years ago and it is still getting stellar reviews on Trip Advisor.

I am also "elderlyish" and had my BEST EVER vaca in Sicily. Fatigue will be your biggest obstacle on your way over. Luckily, I live in Atlanta. My best advice is to go to ROME, since you are coming from S>F> and definitely overnight there and get your "legs under you." From Rome, you can take numerous airlines into either Palermo or Catania. We flew into Catania, and with your limited time, I'd suggest sticking to one side of the island Sicily is much bigger than you think, especially if you want to go back to the mainland for a visit to your Grandfather's home town for a few days before returning to the U.S. Roberto is a native Italian, and gives excellent advice. Again, 10 days on the ground is not a lot of time, considering the day you land will be pretty much taken up by jet lag and you need to factor that in. My advice: fly ito Rome, overight there, fly into Catania, see the sights,
rent a car (if you must!) and go North to Taormina, sleep for 3-5 nights, and from there see Mt. Etna and the surrounding countryside. Another note: Sicily is very mountainous! Lots of up and down walking, even within the cities. I had a great day'trip guide out of Taormina who took us on wonderful day trips! Private Message me for more info! Happy Travels!

We went to Messina and took the ferry across the strait, then the train up the coast to Salerno, about a 4-1/2 hour train trip.

The train connections between Naples and Salerno aren't bad; we did it last year en route to Paestum. If you're serious about the ferry, think about breaking it up by staying over on Lipari or one of the other islands, then taking the overnight ferry to Naples. It's something like 11 hours but you get to omit one night of lodging. (We investigated that option then decided to return to Messina and go north on the train for next summer.)