Sicily anyone?

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

Hi. Thinking about Sicily in July - anyone been and if so any tips/recommendations? It would be me, DH, DS 19 and DD16. We like pottering, sightseeing, beaches, pools, swimming, cocktails (me!) somewhere nice to go in the evening for food.

We're doing Taormina and Syracuse end of September. July would be too hot for me. It looks wonderful though - so many things to see.

Wow! What a very useful and well-written blog! I am going to that area at the end of May (first ever visit to Italy!) and this is invaluable. Thank you.

That was for @LondonMummer .

We did Taormina with teens. They loved visiting Etna (take warm clothes) and the bats and restaurants

Ah thanks so much. I always write up notes after a trip as I often get asked about the places we've been. It's such a wonderful part of the world. I'm sure you'll love it as much as we did. Those Baroque hill towns are magnificent

On BBC 1 9 o’clock Tuesdays there is a programme about Sicily. Gino de Campo? And Anton Burke? 🤣 From Strictly I don’t watch it so names not correct.
I did watch the programme it was quite informative, and funny.

The above poster @Beebumble2 just beat me to it...I was about to ask if anyone saw Gio & Anton's programme last night. I have not watched it yet but the trailers looked a great snapshot of the island.
It is lovely to read of everyone's positive experiences. Another one on the bucket list.

Yeah we watched that last night 😬 Unfortunately for us they're going around the right hand side of the island when we're doing the left 😂

There's also 'Amanda and Alan's Italian Job' on iPlayer which we enjoyed watching.

October half term was a fabulous time to visit

Amazing blog - this will be my next holiday. Have just booked 4 nights in the NW .. hope it’s half as good. Can I ask how you research your restaurant choices?

@Muppetshair Thank you. In the main I blog about Amsterdam at www.amsterdamwonderland.com but felt like I needed a way of recording our other trips especially as I do so much research.

Basically I read blog posts, TripAdvisor, reach out to local/expat bloggers if I can find any, ask on Facebook travel groups etc. basically I drive myself mad for months! Am currently doing the same for this Summer's holiday around Lago Maggiore and La Spezia/Liguria.

Thank you so much - I love the planning as well - I like to have 4 or 5 options for things to do in a day and restaurants to eat in so can just choose in the moment but understand that the best restaurants get booked up ahead. We were intending to go to Como and Magigorre but it’s a bank holiday weekend so thought it would be rammed hence west Sicily - but look forward to that another time.

Keep writing your blogs are inspiring

@Muppetshair thanks so much. That's really kind (I figure once I've done that level of research other people may as well benefit! After all I use similar resources for my own planning.)

Have a fabulous trip.

I love Liguria! We went last September and had a glorious time.

We've just booked to go to Sicily late August.
Actually quite worried now. We're taking our DD who is only 3 and worried about the heat.
She's very fair as well but doesn't burn that easily.
We've got an air conditioner private villa with pool and a car.

Hopefully it won't be too hot to move the whole week.

We went to Greece last year which hot but windy so took the edge off.

Have we made a mistake ??

We went to Sicily when DD was three in August. We did things like got up early, slept in the middle of the day and went back out late afternoon or early evening. Relaxed round the pool. Our villa was in the hills above Cefalu so there was always a breeze. We had a great time. It was mainly mid 30s from memory.

Interesting. Our villa is also in the hills above Cefalu! Perhaps the same one!
It looks like a fabulous villa to chill out at for most of the holiday to be fair, so I think we'll be ok. We'll probably do more stuff morning/late afternoon too.

Please spam me with your fabulous tips. We are staying in the hills above La Spezia so obv planning a touch of Cinque Terre as well as Portovenere, Lerici, Tellaro, Sarzana...

@Ionacat we were in Cefalù in August and although hot, we didn’t burn. Up early, and spent hottest part of day snoozing or chilling indoors.
Cefalù doesn’t sleep until late… many kids out late in pushchairs etc, so easy to make most of your day.
my top tip for Cefalù is find this Supermarket and try some of the amazing food if you’re staying in self catering, the deli counter do amazing sandwiches, salads etc.

Thanks Blanketunderstars we’re staying in Cefalu and will definitely find that supermarket.

We honeymooned in Sicily in august. I loved it. Can’t believe we’ve not been back. Do check out the new series with Clive Myrie (looks like he was there in winter though!)

I would like to visit

Ooh we were going to watch that. Will definitely do so before we go now :) Only 4.5 weeks to go!

Don't try to driving to any of the villages! Train is the way to go for Cinque Terre - you can buy a day/multi day pass to get on and off between La Spezia and Levanto. Beyond those you also need to get a normal ticket. Lerici was quite good for parking as I recall and you can get the boat to Porto Venere. The boat also goes from there up to the Cinque Terre (weather permitting) - we were there in September last year and all boats were cancelled due to the wind. Though it was perfectly nice on land. You can get ferry from Ste Margherita Ligure or Rapallo to Portofino. You can also get the bus from the former which is loads cheaper. The road is "interesting" Portofino is as expensive as you think it might be but gorgeous enough to be worth an aperol on the square and a walk up the hill/round the bay. Camogli was an unexpected favourite of ours. (also do by train)

All the Cinque Terre villages are now rammed during the day. Better to go early or in the evening when the tour groups and cruise passengers have left. Sunset from Vernazza is spectacular. Levanto and Monterrosso are good if you want the beach. We stayed in Sestri Levante last time we went - the Baia di Silenzio is gorgeous and we had dinner right on the beach, feet in the sand. Years ago I stayed in Fivizzano which is up in the hills. I must rack my brains as to where we went. Lovely converted watermill.

Ooh, lovely to read this post and replies. I'm off to Taormina in Sept and can't wait.

We were considering hiring a car, but have heard some horror stories. Is it necessary when staying in Taormina?

We'd like to do some travelling, plus a trip to Etna..