April 24 Sicily Tour

Barbara, we're not on that tour, but I wanted to say that if the tour stays at its usual hotel, the Ambasciatori, there's a wonderful rooftop terrace. It's a great place for a drink or a snack. The tour breakfasts are served there, as well. If you're planning to meet some tour people, that's a good place to get together

Thank you for the info. I’ll check it out. We are staying at the Eurostar central Palace hotel from Rick’s guidebook. When we were in Prague years ago we stayed at the Hastel Hotel, also from Rick’s book. One of his tour groups was staying there but I was new to the forum and felt awkward to just introduce myself. I won’t feel like that now.

I felt the same way a few years ago; we were in Sorrento, and staying at the same hotel as a RS group. I could never bring myself to approach the group members. Now I would. I think even then I would have, had we been in the breakfast room at the same time. However, my husband and I balked at the additional breakfast cost (for non tour members, even though Rick's book claimed his readers got the free breakfast) so we just ate in our room.

I remember seeing one of the couples that is on Rick’s DVD about what it’s like to be on one of his tours in Varenna at our hotel when we started our Best of Italy tour in 2016. They were eating breakfast and my husband pointed out that they were across the room. I decided to go up and say hello and how we recognized them. They had decided to come to Varenna on their own but were using Rick’s guidebook. Fellow travelers well met.

I’m so excited about this trip on so many levels! Hope someone from the tour posts what hotel they are staying at.

I’m on the March 6 Sicily tour. We are staying at the Ambasciatori while in Palermo.

Thank you. We will definitely pass by the hotel while we are there. I’ll check the itinerary.

Barb - we are planning to be in Palermo Apr. 22nd to start of our RS tour Apr. 26th. Our last international trip was 2019, so not only are we rusty, but there are lots of “new” things on this trip for us. Our trip details having us arriving really late into Rome on the 21st and then flying to Palermo on the 22nd. There are lots of places things could go upside down, so I hesitate to commit, but we are staying at the B&B Delle Vittorie and I will PM you our WhatsApp #. We’re so happy to be traveling again.

Sounds good

Hi Barbara, we are on the April 19 tour and are staying at the Ambasciatori for three nights (but the tour leaves there on April 21). Sounds like we will miss you, but have a great trip!

Linda

RSE tours negotiate with hotels to include the group's breakfast even if they normally don't offer it. Its to keep people together and on schedule for the mornings' activities.

If you look at the page for the Sicily tour here Palermo roof the photo with the two folks holding flowers is from the rooftop terrace at Ambasciatori Hotel. When we were arriving there, another RS tour was just about to leave, so they're pretty busy with overlapping RS tours.