Sicily August 2013
We flew to Palermo airport on the Northern coast of Sicily where we had arranged to collect a car for our journey onto the Acacia Resort near Cefalu. I had done some research into transfers or car hire as driving is very different in Italy or Sicily to the UK. My advice would be you need to be a confident driver to drive through Palermo, it's a very busy area and the traffic is non-stop and can be a little scary! The other option would be to book a transfer to your hotel and then arrange car hire. Driving in other areas of Sicily was much easier and there are such beautiful areas to see which you will miss if you don't hire a car.
We stayed at the Acacia Resort for 7 nights on a Half Board basis. The hotel comes very highly recommended and is extremely clean and the grounds very well looked after. The grounds were extensive with plenty of areas to walk, play football, volleyball etc. or sit by the wonderful lagoon style swimming pool surrounded by tropical plants. The children were well entertained by the swimming pool but also enjoyed the activities that run through parts of the day and evening by the entertainment team.
The restaurant was buffet style which I initially had reservations about but I can honestly say it was some of the best food I have eaten in a hotel, with different choices everyday being freshly prepared. Of an evening you could easily have 4-5 courses at dinner with the most amazing desserts!!
The beach is accessed through the hotel gardens where more sun loungers are available free of charge. The beach is pretty but quite stony so it's advisable to purchase proper beach shoes if you wish to swim in the sea. We didn't spend much time on the beach as the children loved the swimming pool.
The hotel didn't have a resort within walking distance so it's definitely worth hiring a car. The nearest resort is Campofelice di Roccella, it's about 3-4 Km away and has some nice shops and small restaurants. Cefalu is about 10 Km away. We visited Cefalu twice in the week we were there. It has a lovely sandy beach which stretches alongside the town, with cafes and restaurants all along the coastline. The beach does get busy in the peak months of July and August.
The historic town of Cefalu is built on a rocky headland with some high culture in the shape of a fine Norman Cathedral. Sicilian food and wonderful ice creams are in abundance, with beautiful shops available through the winding narrow streets of Cefalu.
I would like to return to Sicily to see the Southern coast which has some beautiful areas. Please do not hesitate to contact me for further information on resorts, properties or things to do in Sicily.