| My SicilianTravel Advice |
| Telephones in Italy: Most telephones in Italy accept phone cards. They are sold in tobacco shops. International cards are sold as well. The person selling you the card will ask you which one you want, if they recognize you are a tourist. Remember to break off the corner tab before using a new card or it will not function. If you call home and get an answer machine, your card will only subtract the one or two minutes you used-no initial surcharge. We have found this to be the most economical way . |
| Italians post their menus and prices outside the door of their restaurants. Pizzerias or Tavola Calda have the best prices and usually great food. A pizzeria will have a full meal in the afternoon or evening but sometimes serve only pizza after 8 in the evening, when their "forno legno" is hot enough.. Check out the Chinese restaurants for a change of pace from Italian food. During our four trips to Italy we found very good Chinese food in Rome, Siena, and Palermo. The menus are usually in Italian and Chinese. The Oriental personnel may speak English in the larger cities, but after Chinese, their second language is Italian. |
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| Geneology: I have done a lot of my geneology research in Sicily. In the small towns we visited, the municipal office employees were very cooperative in helping me locate the family records I needed. Have approximate dates, or actual dates, if possible. Remember to research both birth and marriage records. The parish church has these records as well However, we found there is a very limited staff to help with records.. If you can't get to Italy you will find information at the many Family History Centers of the Church of Latter Day Saints. They have photographed church and municipal records throughout Italy. Research the Passenger Lists of Ellis Island on their web site. The actual passenger list will tell you the passengers's city of origin and destination in America, i.e., street/city. |
| Fun Italian links In Italy: Italian telephone directory: |
| My husband or I will be happy to answer any questions about our travel experiences in mainland Italy and Sicily. Email : [email protected] |
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| The Euro is in effect in Italy. The "Bancomats" are theATM machines in Italy. They can be found at the airports on your arrival. Ask a sales person at any airport shop where to find one. "Bancomats" can be found outside most banks throughout the country. You will NOT have to pay a conversion fee as you do at the money exchange places.. |
| In 1998, on our first visit to Sicily, we took the SNAV jet boat from Naples to Palermo. Service is available from May to October. There are flights available from the large cities on the Italian mainland to Palermo, Catania and Messina. In 2000 and 2002, we took a bus from the Palermo airport into the city and visited for a few days. We had reserved a car through Auto Europe. We picked up the car in downtown Palermo, avoiding the 15% surcharge at the airport. We toured Sicily and southern Italy for 10 days and returned the car in Sorrento-no drop off charge. Only good things to say about Auto Europe. Trains are good in Sicily. Buses are okay, except they run infrequently to the small towns. They are air conditioned, but may be warm on long trips even in September. When taking the SNAV jet boat allow extra time for the loading procedure. |
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