Addaura Hotel Residence Congressi, Palermo

Advantages: Great view of the sea, great swimming pool
Disadvantages: Coach loads, not for younger segment

...Please don't let the title put you off! The hotel is actually very nice next to a stream on the beach front in a little town outside of agrigento. We flew in to Palermo Airport and drove down to the hotel on the other side of Sicily. Words of warning here. The map shows a motorway going next to Palermo (like a bypass). Don't take it unless you want to have a hear attack. The Sicilians drive cars like nutters and all of them had dents! and in Palermo you have free for all with mopeds and pedestrians on this alleged motorway... After getting through Palermo the road is more sedate through the hills and mountains of Sicily, you will travel through Mafia country but they always leave tourists alone (bad for their reputation...) Agrigento is another nightmare traffic wise with no lane markings, directions, traffic lights are "advisory... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful Culture and Scenery
Disadvantages: Mad Drivers in traffic choked streets!

...of getting about, but there are quite reasonable taxis, and buses to get around, and the cable car service between Taormina and the beach at Mazzaro is not to be missed. This cost us 2.60 euros return. We found a very good Trattoria "Al Giardino" just by our hotel in Via Bagnoli Croce, opposite the Public Gardens, which is well worth a visit also. On the downside of travelling here though, we found Air Italia's service very dissapointing indeed, especially when a group of our friends joining us were diverted the Palermo airport instead of Catania due to the baggage handlers goining on strike, subsequently causing them to drive from Palermo to Taormina - which they all described as a nightmare of a journey ! More direct flights also should be available, as we had to fly via Rome last time (never again). Next time we will be alot fussier about our... Read review

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Advantages: historicaly interesting, prety town, great views
Disadvantages: long train journet from Palermo

...Taormina is a very pretty town on the Eastern coast of Sicily. We took a very slow train journey from Palermo along the North coast, which took the best part of a day, having to change and wait in Messina. When you get to Taormina station you will find yourself at the bottom of the hill so you would need to hire a taxi or wait for a local bus to take you up to the town. The buses didn't seem too predictable but then we were arriving on a Sunday. All other information pointed to the weekday service being somewhat more reliable. However, when you get up into the town you will realise that the journey is well worth it. Taormina is a very pretty historic town. Visit the amphitheatre for fantastic views of Mount Etna. A walk up a steep path behind the town affords more spectacular vies of Etna and the coast The town can basically be navigated... Read review

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