Sicily .. cheap over wintering?

[Nostrodamus]

It would appear that one of the cheapest places to winter in the Med is Sicily.
I know a few stayed in Raggusa this year but we have also had an extremely cheap and competitive quote from Licata
Can anyone who has stayed in either let me know what they are like or if you have been to both which do you prefer and why?
Thanks

 

[sailaboutvic]

Ragusa..

Stay there last winter , very well run , clean , staff are great ,can't do enough for us . Only down side , lifting is quite costly and you can't live on board while out of the water or work out side unless is something like polishing .
Town is a lovely place open all winter .

 

[santelmo]

There is a good report on Licata on noonsite here
http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Italy/sicily-licata-good-new-marina

 

[ribrage]

Cyprus have got some special deals coming up

 

[dougg]

We berthed in Ragusa for the winter but went home for most of it.
Its well protected, well run by very helpful staff, clean and tidy.
The only down side, its a bloody long way to the toilet blocks, not too bad if you leave the dinghy in and use that, otherwise you need a bike, certainly from where we were berthed anyway. Also there was seldom any hot water in the showers although this may have been addressed by now.

If you need a lift out try Crotone half way across the bottom of the boot, very good service, cheap, clean and tidy little yard and you can live on the boat and carry out your own work.

 

[rivonia]

Cyprus have got some special deals coming up

Only in the North...TRNC at Karpaz Gate Marina

 

[ribrage]

Probably a good "cash"discount doubt they want cheques or cards right now !

 

[silver-fox]

I have spent time in three locations on Sicily Sciacca, Ragusa and Marzamemi. If you want to be part of a liveaboard community at low cost , over winter then of the three Ragusa is the place, it has already been described by others so I won't repeat earlier comments. Its big, its practical and its affordable.

Sciacca is a charming Sicilian town with a very low cost of living, a well stocked supermarket on the harbour front and some great low cost restuarants but when I was there last year there was one other Brit boat and a couple of French. Its safe all year round.
Marzamemi is remote from everywhere - even Sicilians aren't sure how to get there! Its charming but impractical without a car as the nearest food shopping is 3 miles away.

Cant recommend it over winter as despite its low cost there is a swell that comes into the harbour that I can only describe as spectacular.

Ryan Air and Easyjet fly into Palermo all year round. There are some cheap flights into Catania in season. There is a good bus service but be prepared to spend a few hours crossing the island from say Ragusa to Palermo.

Just west of Ragusa there is a new marina at Licata. I can't speak personally, but I have liveaboard friends who have overwintered there who are very price sensitive so I am guessing they are competing with Ragusa and I would check this option out.

In conclusion, I loved my time on Sicily, loved the Sicilians, (met some really lovely memorable people) loved the food but was almost driven to distraction whenever I needed any work done on the boat. Endless negotiations, work repeatedly late, often expensive. There is nothing in the Sicilian language with the implicit urgency of the Spanish "mañana" or the Arab Insha'Allah. You will hear time and again the word "bo" accompanied by a shrug of the shoulders - which seems to translate to "dunno"

That said well worth the visit.