I would not recomend Catania because it is a filthy town and the locals dislike English speakers and tourists. Once they find out that your primary language is English, they try to rip you off.
I loved Catania. I was there in January 2006. I planned to spend a night there. I found a fantastic place to stay and met so many people from all over the world that I left a week later.
There aren't a lot of sights in Catania, but in this case, this is a good thing. The lack of sights just means that you have more time to speak to locals, sample the local cuisine, buy fruit and cheese in the chaotic market, and sit and chill with a frappé in a café somewhere. This city is amazing, I liked it more every day I stayed.
Catania is a great place for a relaxing holiday. The people are very nice and helpful.
Taormina was amazing -- definitely go check it out and get a cheap massage on the beach.
It is just a wonderful place. I've been to Taormina at least eight times and I wish I could work and live there-- even for just a couple of months!
Catania is a great place and you can make day trips to Etna or Siracussa or Taormina if you like.
Catania … I visited in September, planning to stay a couple of nights seeing the city. The hostel and the city made me stay 5 days. The weather was fantastic (except the last day) and I spent most of my time down the beach.
Taormina's Odyssey in Taormina … Best hostel I've ever stayed at. Fun, laid back, no curfew or lockout, you can come and go as you please. Like staying at someone's house.
Agora Youth Hostel in Catania … The hostel is in European Standards. The building is not made of drywall and paint put up in less than two weeks... the hostel is in an authentic stone structure, wreaking of history, which may have musk and other odors. The people here are great. The nightlife if great. If you're looking for a new and clean place, pay for a five star hotel next time or better yet, stay out of Italy. Go to Germany where cleanliness is what drives the culture.
Il Castello Hostel in Noto … Quite a nice hostel with nice staff, a really good Italian breakfast, and an overwhelming building! It's worth staying there! :)
HI - Castroreale - Ostello delle Aquile Hostel in Castroreale Centro … The hostel was closed and so they provided an accomodation in a house: it was very clean even though not too cheap (and breakfast was not included). In the evening we had dinner at the restaurant of the hostel: we had fish at a very very small cost with an excellent service.
Villino Diana in Caltagirone … Really the rooms have bathrooms inside! All very nice!
Aretusa Vacanze in Syracuse … Lovely room with kitchenette. Friendly and helpful staff. Loved the "breakfast-in-bed"! You tick what you'd like the night before and they bring it to you on a tray to your room. Hostel situated in quaint street, quite central in Ortigia. Found a parking spot in a side street.
B&B DolceVita in Cefalù … A lovely place to stay. The terrace was particularly nice, overlooking the sea, and Franco, the owner, was pleasant and helpful. Central location within short distance to amenities.
B & B delle Palme in Trapani … Clean, friendly and spacious. Parking outside for the car. Reasonably easy to find. Nice breakfast -- more than your average Italian breakfast. We enjoyed our stay here.
Bed & Breakfast Lerux in Agrigento … One bathroom between three bedrooms, not convenient when you need the toilet urgently. Shower attachment was broken. Was tricky to find due to the one way system. Host does not live in the property, so we had to call him to ask him to come open for us. Able to find a parking spot outside the flat. Positives -- fan in the room, great map for free from the host, supermarket close by, host was very helpful and breakfast was very good (with a personal touch).
Casa Giuditta Apartments in Palermo … Good points: very secure front door, high ceilings, and a nice new clean bathroom.
Bad points: no clean sheets or towels (we stayed a week, and had to use the same linen). Breakfast is not included (even though it is called a "B&B"). It had no windows; and we were woken up at 7:30 every morning by the builders next door. The owners were not seen again after collecting the cash at the start of our stay.
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