Sicily at the end of May

[jenzo]

Hi all

Planning a trip to Sicily at the end of May.
I will be hiring a car, so driving around the island is not going to be an issue.

Would really value your input and thoughts, to the below:

1) Is end of May a good time to go in terms of going to the beaches and will it be hot enough?
2) Where is the best place to stay – in terms of access to the historic sights and the best beaches on the island?
3) Given point (2), where is best to land, Catania or Palermo?
4) Any other tips you have would really be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[The Tea Boy]

Can't help too much on the weather as we've only travelled in September, but we've landed at both Palermo and Trapani.

Beaches wise, we love San Vito London Capo (or Capo San Vito) great beach and where alot of scicillians go on holiday too.

But from that location its a good couple of hours drive to Edna and Catania.

Remeber that Sicily is the largest island in the med (I think).

Driving is fun, don't be surprised if your overtaken coming upto a blind bend! Also don't be surprised to drive around the corner to be confronted with the odd donkey and cart!
Driving over there is a bit mental, but wherever I go I try to blend in

Also avoid Palermo or Catania at rush hour, never have I driven somewhere so bloody mental!!


Sorry I can't help much more than that.

Matt

[INWB]

jenzo said:

Hi all

Planning a trip to Sicily at the end of May.
I will be hiring a car, so driving around the island is not going to be an issue.

Would really value your input and thoughts, to the below:

1) Is end of May a good time to go in terms of going to the beaches and will it be hot enough?
2) Where is the best place to stay – in terms of access to the historic sights and the best beaches on the island?
3) Given point (2), where is best to land, Catania or Palermo?
4) Any other tips you have would really be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

1) End of May will be lovely t shirt weather unless you like it proper hot (30plus) and the sea will be a bit chillier than at the end of the season
2) We stayed near Cefalu (but this is a decade ago) We chose it because the brit count was lower and the place we went to had hardly any around (about 6km away). It also had a great beach (with an abandoned factory at the end!)
3) We went to Palermo because the flight was cheaper and the roads around the island are great........

4) Saying that I made the fatal mistake of looking on a map and thinking it would be quicker and nicer to take the direct route from Cefalu to Etna. BIG mistake. The whole family were travel sick as I battled hours of switch back mountain roads. On the way back I went on the motorway.

Great place - want to return to Sicily which is unlike me.

[The Tea Boy]

INWB said:

4) Saying that I made the fatal mistake of looking on a map and thinking it would be quicker and nicer to take the direct route from Cefalu to Etna. BIG mistake. The whole family were travel sick as I battled hours of switch back mountain roads. On the way back I went on the motorway.

Indeed, I did exactly the same thing! Took far longer, more fun for me for a while but then got boring!
Wife wasn't feeling too well wehen we finally arrived lol

Matt

[jenzo]

Thanks for all the input here. Need to plan where we want to stay going forward. End of May seems to be a good time to go and not too too hot, yet warm enough to use the beaches etc.