What are some hotel or b&b recommendations for Trapani?

There are so many other great areas nearby (Erice, Marsala, Scopello, etc.) that Trapani, with its hodge-podge congestion and general 'depressed' feel, just doesn't appeal that much...

Since cruise ships and cheap flights are now bringing more tourists to the city though, there has been an effort to spruce up the historical center a bit. It would be a good choice, if you rely only on public transportation, and this is your main decisive criteria. You may want to consult one of the cruise ships port schedules websites to see if any ships will be docking on the days that you are planning to be there.

Incidentally, if you want an idea of specific things to do and the logistics of getting around using Trapani as a base, then the Cruise Critic website tends to have good discussions about ports of call like Trapani (i.e. like arranging a day trip to Segesta or getting to Erice using public transportation).

If you are an amateur of North African cuisine - you can't do much better than in Trapani!

I liked Trapani, but I usually stay in Erice (not a great base for daytrips, it's at the top of a hill). But if you like coming "home" to a small city that doesn't have a lot of tourists spending the night, and you don't mind traveling by funivia or bus up and down to get in and out of the city, it's a great place to stay.

What areas/cities/towns are you thinking about seeing? There may be some other base that's easier for daytrips.

Thanks, Diane for that explanation and for your info on cruise ports. And thanks, Zoe, for your comments. I do generally prefer smaller towns to big cities (exception: Rome). So, Zoe, can you recommend a place in Erice? I will be circling the island and will probably base myself in Cefalu, Enna, Catania, Siracusa, Agrigento, Trapani/Erice, then back to Palermo. From Trapani I was thinking of daytrips to Selinute, Erice, and Segesta. No set plans yet, but I know what I'd like to do and see, so any suggestions are appreciated.

Hello ladies, hope it's OK to join this conversation about this corner of the world. I will fly into Palermo airport from the US mid-day on May 1, renting a car for just a couple of days, and spending my first two nights at the Erice Pietre Antiche apartments in Erice (great reviews and 65 euros per night). This will be my first time driving in Italy, and I must admit I am a little apprehensive about arriving tired and then driving up the hill to Erice. Any comments on that? I plan that on arrival day #1 or day #3 enroute to returning the car at Palermo airport, I will stop at the ruins at Segesta. In Palermo I will join up with the RS Sicily Tour which circles most of the rest of Sicily.
My real question now concerns my one full day based in Erice, my day #2. My ambitious plan, following early morning hours in Erice, is to drive south, perhaps going first as far as the ruins in Selinunte, then stopping at Mazara del Vallo and Marsala on the way back north to Erice, probably skipping Trapani. Given the distances and the roads, do you who know the area think this is a wise and realistic plan, or too much for one day? Are there certain not-to-miss stops at Mazara del Vallo or Marsala, either sites or meals?
Thanks for any guidance, Larry

Hello, We stayed in Trapani @ Residence La Gance. Beautiful property (converted convent I believe) on the waters edge. See great reviews on Booking.com. We had a car so can't comment on bus transportation. We enjoyed Erice too but very small. Our stay was at the end of May and we had mostly warm, sunny days and one rainstorm that cancelled our visit to Marsala. From Trapani we toured the salt pans (fascinating history and equipment) , drove up to Segesta (breathtaking), Castellmare de Golfo (fabulous beaches) where we enjoyed a Kite festival. We used the Lonely Planet guide and there was lots of info re: public transportation. There is a destination expert for Sicily named Vagabonda on Trip Advisor for more help with your questions. Enjoy Sicily, we want to return again.

In my opinion, it's too time-consuming to get back and forth to Erice on public transportation to use that as a base. We stayed in Trapani and made day trips to Erice, Segesta, and other spots. Look at Ai Lumi B&B in Trapani. We enjoyed both the lodging and their restaurant. There was a cruise ship in port while we were there and it caused us no problems.

Thank you all for your ideas and suggestions. I have also used Trip Advisor for info, but thanks for the reference. It always helps so much to hear first hand experiences. This will be my third trip to Italy, but my first to Sicily. My paternal grandparents emigrated from there, so I will probably include a day trip to their town of origin, Gioiosa Marea. Thanks again for the assistance.

Christine,

If you're headed up that way, to Gioiosa Marea, are you thinking of maybe including a ferry trip to Lipari for a night or two? No car needed for that! On Lipari, there's a great little museum and you can arrange for a late afternoon boat tour to see the Stromboli volcano in action.

I would highly recommend it!

I stayed recently at the Hotel San Giovanni, at the edge of town. My room had a great view of the valley below. I also liked the Edelweiss but haven't been there recently.