Travel advice & practical information for travelogue:

'Historic Sicily'

Useful addresses

New York

Consulate General of Italy
690 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Tel.: +1 (212) 439-8600
Fax: +1 (212) 249-4945
E-mail: info.newyork@esteri.it

London

Italian Consulate General
38 Eaton Place
London SW1X 8AN
Tel.: +44 (0)20 7235 9371
Fax: +44 (0)20 7823 1609
E-mail: consolato.londra@esteri.it
Web: www.conslondra.esteri.it

Paris

Embassy of Italy
51 r Varenne
Paris 75007
Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 54 03 00

General Information

We didn't get victimezed by crime, unless you count the "little maffia" of cheating with change (tollbooths on highways) or selling tickets for more than the nominal price.

Climate and best time to travel

Sicily has 6 months with temperatures over 30 degrees centigrade. If you want to avoid the worst heat, don't go in July-August. Spring is charming because of the many flowers, but fall is pleasant, too, with temperatures around 25 degrees centigrade. By mid-October there is more chance of rain.

Renting a car

You need a car. Booking one in advance on line is always cheaper than renting one there. Don't forget to cover the deductibles. We saw someone who had to pay 800 euro because of a dent in their rented car.

The highways are excellent and the only part - as far as we know - where you have to pay toll is between Catania and Messina, the most touristic and mundain area in Sicily. Secundary roads are also in excellent condition.

Sicilians drive in a nerve-wrecking way: honking, ignoring traffic rules as well as lights, crossing continuous white lines, speeding (twice the speed limit!). Honking usually means they want to pass.

Toll is cheap and so is parking on guarded parkings, which you should do in cities.

Money

If you know in advance which places you're going to visit, you can find out online if and where there are ATM's where you can use your MasterCard and Cirrus or Visa to withdraw money.

Plan your trip to Italy online

Through online reservation systems like À la Carte Vacations you can book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars and holiday houses. You can build a fly-drive itinerary with maximum flexibility, book a flight plus a hotel hotel for a night or weekend. Without the limitations of package deals from travel organisations and most times for a much better price.