Places to leave the boat -Palermo

Sy-Revolution

Sy-Revolution

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Hi folks,
We have to go back to the UK for a wedding, end of May 1st week June. I was hoping to be in Greece by that time but flights from Palermo are much cheaper. I've also just had an email from a friend suggesting that the Aeolian islands must not be missed.

I'm flying back with my son, leaving Fi and the dog behind. They're going to want to be safely tied up in a marina or some such for the week that we're away. Is there anywhere cheap/free close to Palermo that would be suitable?

I'd heard on the grapevine that Alcamo marina in the Golfo Di Castellamare or somewhere thereabouts was finished but not officially open at the moment and was free, anyone know if that's so?

The alternative is Athens at twice the price air fares and arriving at Gatwick (yuk!) instead of Stansted (yay!). But then again I did want to be in /Greece by then......

Tell me I want to be in Sicily in May........ :)


Cheers,

C.
 
If you are still in Monastir you might want to try the 'Porto Turistico' at Marina di Ragusa on the Southern coast of Sicily. It's a new marina, very secure and, it being the off-season, the rates would not be too much. (Google their website for current rates). You would of course need to factor in the train / coach / self-drive car transport to Palermo in the North.
 
In 2007, we visited a good harbour / marina on the north coast at Cefalu. It's a taxi ride or longish walk to the station and there is a train along the north coast to Palermo every hour or two. It was very similar to Castellamare del Golfo, when we were there, in that there was water and electricity on the pontoons but not much else. Cefalu is a holiday resort with lots of hotels and restaurants which should be opening up for the season in May.

Another very small marina which is very close to Palermo airport is Terrasini where we spent one night in order for our son to join us from the airport. It was very small, but they were helpful and there was electricity and water on the pontoons.

Maybe other forumites will have more recent knowledge of these two harbours/marinas.
 
A bit out of date perhaps, but...

We had exactly the same dilemna in 2006 - Parent's Golden Wedding Party - and were very happy with our solution:

Having heard that Palermo had cheap flights but moderate and expensive/full marinas, we left the yacht in Riposto Marina at the east end of Sicilly - very reasonably priced and excellent service; when they knew that we'd be away for a week, the Marinieros moved our boat into a very secure and easily (for them) watchable berth so that they could keep an eye on things whilst we were away.

We then caught a morning train up to Messina and another across to Palermo - ridiculously cheap and a very scenic journey. We even had time to dump our bags at the railway station's Left Luggage Office and spend a few hours wandering around Palermo, before taking another train out to the airport and a Ryanair flight to (I think) Stansted.

On our return, we got a morning flight back and returned by train to the boat arriving in the early evening.

A fun trip and no stress about how the boat was faring.

Oh and listen to your friend; the Aeolian Islands are cracking! If you get the weather as we did, then just floating off the west coast of Stromboli (once at night, once during the day) whilst watching the volcano erupt will be one of the highlights of your cruise.
 
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I can give a third vote to Riposto. Lovely marina, great showers, handy cafe, friendly staff. Easy train & Taxi to Catania for an alternative airport.

Close to Etna and Taormina. Anchoring in the bay below Taormina is a delight. Handy as a starting point for the trip to Greece via S. Italy.

Dont use the marina franchise for car hire, taxis etc. - a complete rip off.
 
Hi Folks,

Thanks for the replies. Indeed Catania doesn't have any cheap flights to the UK. It's got to be Palermo for cheapos to Stanstead. Our flight is at 10:35am so we'll need to be close by to get there in time.

Looks do-able though....

Cheers

C.
 
We were in Palermo in July 2009, for 14 days and it didn't cost a penny.

We were told to moor alongside the old/disused AGIP fuel berth, which is between 2 concession marinas. We did and we didn't get charged. We talked to one of the concessions and agreed that if we could reach the electric hook up we could use it, same for water. (We have a very long electric cable for just this type of occasion!), total cost for electric and water - 1 case of beer for the lads; great stuff!

Great place, very safe, very friendly, loads of cheap food nearby. We had a great time there and would recommend to anybody.
 
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