How to Find Luxury Hotels in Sicily, Italy

Bask in the glorious sun of Sicily, Italy. This raw island in southern Italy has a long history that dates back nearly 3,000 years and has seen influences from the Phoenicians to the Greeks, Romans and Arabs before finally becoming its own Italian territory in 1947.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Valid passport.
• Computer with internet access.

Know Your Destination: Sicily, Italy

1. Tour Sicily, the largest island in the Meditteranean. Enjoy a savage landscape that produces fine olives, grapes and oranges, is home to active volcanoes and has some of the finest architecture in all of Europe.
2. Discover an Italian heritage with strong ties to the United States. Many of the millions of immigrants that came to US at the turn of the 20th century came from Sicily.

Plan Your Transportation in Sicily

3. Arrive by plane, train or boat in Sicily. Inter-European flights land in the main city of Palermo. Otherwise trains run from the mainland, and boats that can ferry cars leave from Naples, Genoa and Cagliari.
4. Rent a car for the easiest way to get around the island. Just be aware of confusing signs and roadside carjackers late at night on the less traveled roads.

Find Luxury Accommodations in Sicily

5. Delight in sea views from luxury accommodations in Sicily. The best are found in the major cities of Palermo, Messina and Siracusa. To book accommodations, contact the Regione Siciliana Dipartimento Turismo, Sport e Spettacolo at 011-39-(0) 91-7078201 or visit the Web site (see Resources below).
6. Tour the smaller towns and provinces and treat yourself to pensiones and houses for rent. Often these will be the best of luxury accommodations. Smaller hotels also exist, but may not be as posh.
7. Rent a houseboat. Sicily is an island after all, and there's no better way to see it than by going from port to port. Sea legs are required, of course, but a captain will be provided with most charter companies.

Enjoy the Best of Sicily

8. Hop on a boat to the Aeolian Islands, an archipelago just off the Sicilian mainland. The further islands are less developed and are true natural beauties. Crystal blue water awaits.
9. Visit Palermo, the main city of Sicily. The town is a hodge-podge of cultural influences. Some buildings can have a Roman entry, Arabesque windows and Norman archways all in one. Messina and Siracusa also show foreign influence, notably Greek.
10. Stand before Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe. It is still active.

Tips & Warnings

• If your preferred hotel is fully booked online, call the hotel directly; there may be some recent cancellations.
• Find shade whenever possible in the summer months. Sicily gets very hot.
• Prepare for any allergies to insect stings, bites or vegetation.
• Travel in pairs or groups. Sicily can be dangerous even for Italians.

Who Can Help: