Even though I used our local travel agent for my trip, this Expedia.com link below is great for getting prices, flight times, etc.  They even have a car rental section for the major car rental agencies. . . . and a free map printout for driving directions for both U.S. and international destinations.  Best of all, if you'd like, you can book your flight and car rental right online.

GETTING THERE!

You can fly into Palermo or Catania (they don't have direct flights, you need to stopover in Milano or Roma first). Or you can take a ferry from Naples to Palermo or travel down the "heel" of Italy and cross over to the island at Messina. 

GETTING AROUND!

The following info is from my first trip, but from my 2nd trip experience, I learned you MUST have a credit card with you to rent a car!!

I rented a car right at the airport in Palermo, unfortunately, the autostrada takes you right into Palermo so you have to experience the city driving.  Palermo has got to have the craziest drivers on the planet!  On a two lane road, I counted FIVE lanes of cars.  Everyone drives WHERE they want to go, WHEN they want to.  Once you are away from the main tourist areas in Sicily, the best way to get around would be by car because it is so remote.  The main road from Palermo to Agrigento (S.S. 121) is comparable to the state highways in the U.S.  Some of the other roads are more winding and steep.  Beware of the little roads that go to through the villages.  Some of these roads are barely wide enough for a Fiat to get through.  There were a few roads that were so steep, we felt like we had to lean forward to keep the car from tumbling over backwards!!  I managed to get through the week without a scratch on the car (although I did have to bend back the door mirror one time while passing through a little tunnel!!

On my 2nd trip, I did take the train from Palermo's central station to both Agrigento and Cefalù.  The trains were reasonably priced and efficient, but don't go everywhere in Sicily, only to the main cities.

WHERE TO STAY!

I didn't want to stay in Palermo since I was traveling with just the kids on my first trip.   I wanted to stay out of the congestion of a big city.  For the 2nd trip, I pretty much had to stay in town. Hotels are few and far between once you get away from the tourist cities.  Just click on a bed below for more info on hotels in the area!

WHERE WE STAYED!

For my first trip, I stayed at the Hotel Villeroy, which was a little north of Cefalà Diana. It is listed as a 2 star hotel, but I would give it more than that.  The hotel was very nice and the staff was very friendly.  We didn't realize that breakfast was included in the price.  We never thought to ask! 

For my 2nd trip, I had reservations for the Hotel Villeroy, and had every intention of staying there, but due to circumstances beyond my control (read my Diary #2) we stayed here.  It was a great street for shopping, close to the train station and some of the main attractions of Palermo like the Cathedral.  They don't have a restaurant, but you are close to plenty of places to eat and you can get sweet rolls, cafè, or juice for a quick breakfast for a small extra charge.

A GOOD PLACE TO EAT

My cousin owns a pizzeria/ristorante called Le Pigne.  It is right off the main S.S. 121 road, at the  Cefalà Diana exit.  I recommend you try it!

The hotel ristorante was also very good and our meal only came to about $5.00 each.

I was also quite surprised to see a "mini-mall" right on S.S. 121 at Cefalà Diana.  They had a lot of little stores in there, including a grocery store if you want to pick up snacks and drinks!  I think there was also a bar in there to buy panini (sandwiches).

MY OWN PERSONAL WARNING!!

For the most part, I found everyone to be pretty honest.  I didn't have any problems until my last day there.  After checking out of the hotel (which I was happy to see the bill was even less than I had expected), we stopped at the next gas station to fill up the tank (It was the gas station at the Motel Collina, so I recommend NOT to stop there).  Anyway, we were watching them pump the gas to make sure they didn't cheat, well, sure enough, they DID cheat.  We watched him take a key and click up the meter on the pump a few times.  We ended up paying about $20 too much for the gas!  I was so MAD, but I couldn't think fast enough to figure out what to say to them, so rather than to cause a fuss my last few hours in Sicily, I just paid it.  There were two of them standing there and I figured arguing probably wouldn't accomplish much anyway, it was their word against mine!

I mentioned it above, but it's worth mentioning again  DON'T FORGET YOUR CREDIT CARD FOR A CAR RENTAL!!!

FINDING RELATIVES!

WHEN TO GO!

Well, I can only speak from my experience . . . the weather was very mild in November.  It was warm enough for spring jackets and sweaters during the day.  It was sunny most of the time.  In fact, even though they are supposed to get a lot of rain during this time, we only got caught in the rain twice.  We did have one windy rainy day, but it still was much warmer than Germany!   It was not very crowded at all because it is low season.  I would recommend going a few weeks earlier though.  It would have been nice if it was a little warmer and we could have enjoyed some of the beaches in Sicily.  

In March, it is much greener and prettier.  It was warmer than in November and was sunny the whole time we were there, but was still chilly enough in the morning and evening for a spring jacket and/or sweater.  It still wasn't very crowded and the beaches still were empty.    

BOOKS & CD's I USED!