September 23 - October 1 — Sicily & the Aeolian Islands (all adults welcome)
Welcome to the lounge!
The Guest Lounge is a portal where we’ve gathered lots of helpful information for you as you plan your trip. It covers everything from the day-to-day tour itinerary, to arrival and departure information to insurance recommendations.
Of course, if you have any questions that still need to be addressed, email us at ciao@italianfix.com.
1. Status of Your Tour.
This tour is now CONFIRMED. You can start making concrete travel plans.
We’ll send more updates as we approach the trip, including collecting your arrival info.
2. Insurance. (This is extremely important.)
I) Mandatory Insurance Requirements:
Travel medical and emergency evacuation insurance is required to travel with us, with a minimum coverage of $200,000 USD covering all applicable dates of travel. You will be asked to submit proof of it before you travel. Travel medical insurance must cover personal injury, medical treatment, evacuation expenses, including helicopter rescue, air ambulance and repatriation. Recommended coverage amounts beyond our minimum coverage threshold is listed below.
II) Strongly Recommended Insurance:
Trip cancellation insurance, which covers expenses related to your inability to travel, is highly recommended. Trip cancellation insurance may be your only recourse to receiving reimbursement for non-refundable expenses should your trip be canceled, postponed, interrupted, or rescheduled for any reason, whether by TBM or by you. You are responsible for understanding the specifics of your travel insurance policy, including the fact that there are no exclusions limiting the coverage you need. If you have insurance coverage already, please check your insurance policy to see if it provides the coverage described above. It is your responsibility to verify your insurance policy details with your insurance provider to ensure TBM’s policy requirements are met and that your needs to be reimbursed for non-refundable expenses are met.
The baseline for coverage we recommend is:
Trip Cancellation — $10,000 (you should increase this amount if you are spending more than this amount for tours, flights etc.)
Trip Interruption – $12,000
Medical Evacuation – $1,000,000
Medical Protection – $50,000
You can use Square Mouth to browse policies if you’re American. If you’re from most other countries, browse options at World Nomads.
III) Potential buyers should exercise caution when considering insurance policies offered through websites that aggregate offerings from multiple companies. It is imperative to examine the reviews of individual insurance companies thoroughly. For instance, SquareMouth retails Tin Leg Insurance, which has garnered overwhelmingly negative feedback. Consequently, it is advisable to explore alternative insurance providers. In closing, do business with reputable companies. Be sure to read the reviews carefully before purchasing your travel insurance.
Some people are opting for Cancel For Any Reason insurance, which is a lot more expensive but has the most extensive coverage if this is what you desire. We will ask you for a copy of your insurance policy before you travel.
IV) Refer how to read insurance at this link.
3. Refund & Cancellation Schedule.
Our full Booking Terms & Conditions are at this link. You were emailed a PDF copy upon confirmation.
As a reference, your payment schedule for 2026 tours is as follows:
Once you have paid your $795 deposit, you have two weeks (14 days) to cancel your booking and receive a full cash refund.
After this two-week grace period has passed, the $795 deposit becomes non-refundable.
The remaining balance for your tour is due within two weeks (14 days) of your trip deposit. In some circumstances, such as promotional early booking periods, we may offer payment plans, allowing you to pay the balance in installments. The payment options available to you depend on which period you are booking in.
Regardless of which payment options are offered to you at the time of booking, all monies collected are non-refundable, except where a tour is canceled by us.
Our system is automated, and a receipt of payment is emailed to you when a payment is processed. If we cannot process a payment, we will notify you. Please review your receipt and contact ciao@italianfix.com if you have questions
4. Cancellation Process Initiated by Guest.
Please write to ciao@italianfix.com to initiate a cancellation, and we will provide an official cancellation letter you can use to submit to your insurance, if applicable.
5. Switching Tour Dates.
You can switch to another tour in our 2026 season up to 100 days or more before your tour start date at no additional charge (subject to availability). But never between 99-0 days before the tour.
6. Transfer Policy.
Subject to certain conditions, you may transfer your tour booking to another person 100 days or more before a tour. This is subject to availability and never between 99 and 0 days before a tour.
7. Arrival in Italy.
Some guests choose to fly into Italy a few days in advance and stay in other cities in Italy or directly in Palermo, Sicily.
If you’re flying in from a North American city, you’ll typically arrive in Italy the calendar day after the day of your departure.
To clarify, you must arrive in Italy no later than your tour start date — September 23rd.
On September 23rd, please be available for pickup at the Palermo Airport before 4 pm.
The group will meet in the hotel foyer before 6:00 pm on September 23rd to head out for a pre-dinner aperitivo and then on to our Welcome Dinner.
We recommend carving out an extra day or two in Palermo if you can fly into Italy earlier. We are only there for the first night, after which we continue to the Aeolian Islands because we wanted to make room on the tour for extended stays on Salina, in Ortigia, and in Taormina (you’ll be glad we did, trust us!). But Palermo is an incredibly dynamic and fascinating city, so if you can add a night or two there before the tour, we encourage it! We can also set you up with a guided tour of the city during your time before the tour.
8. Where should you stay if you arrive in Palermo early?
Reach out to us for a list.
9. Departure Day.
The last day of your tour is October 1st. This is check-out and travel day (unless you have arranged to stay in Taormina for longer).
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT DEPARTURE: We will be staying in Taormina, which does not have an airport.
This is how the day will go:
On the morning of October 1st, we will stay in Taormina. The final scheduled activity of the tour is breakfast at our Taormina hotel.
After check-out, we will drive from Taormina to Catania and arrive at Catania airport between 10 and 1 p.m. (times are an estimate in case of road construction). We’ll do a Catania airport and a Catania city transfer. We’ll take care of you.
If the flights you find from Catania leave only very early in the morning, consider staying one night in Catania at Hotel Una Catania and catching your flight the following day (October 2nd).
The time change from Italy to North America means you will arrive stateside the same day as you depart.
10. Airports.
You will need a multi-destination (open jaw) flight, which means a flight into one city and out of another city. For this tour, you will travel across Sicily.
ARRIVAL: Fly into Palermo International Airport (PMO – Palermo Punta Raisi)
DEPARTURE: Fly out of Catania International Airport (CTA – Catania Fontanarossa)
11. Included and Non-Included Transfers for Arrival and Departure Day.
Included: Day of arrival on September 23rd from Palermo airport to our Palermo hotel. On departure day, we provide Taormina hotel transfers to Catania airport (or city center).
Not Included: If you arrive days early, please get your hotel to arrange your driver service. Alternatively, if you are leaving after the departure date from Taormina, your transfers will incur additional fees.
12. Daily Itinerary (All itineraries are subject to change.)
DAY 1 – Wednesday, September 23
Our driver will collect you from Palermo airport and bring you to your hotel. You’ll be set to “vacation mode” the moment you’re in our car because we have all the details handled. The only thing you need to do is sink into the Dolce Zone — that special carefree state of mind that only Italian Fix clients get to experience. Tonight we’ll celebrate with drinks and dinner in buzzy Palermo. Sleep: Palermo
DAY 2 – Thursday, September 24
Today we’ll depart Palermo and head to the glorious Aeolian Islands — one of 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy. We’ll take the hydrofoil, and you’ll feel like you could be jetting off to a Greek Island, because it’s got a similar look. Our island hotel overlooks the smoking volcano of Stromboli. You’ll love the gorgeous pool among the lemon trees, the spa, and the hammam. We’ll dine at a restaurant headed by the youngest female Italian chef to win a Michelin star tonight. Sleep: Salina Island (Aeolian Islands)
DAY 3 – Friday, September 25
Lounge poolside with a book and a cappuccino. Or go to the spa and relax with a treatment. In the evening, we channel our inner Sicilian and hop aboard our boat for a sunset cruise. We’ll drop the anchor and soak up the Mediterranean vibes. You’re officially in the Dolce Zone, and it feels sooo good! Sleep: Salina Island (Aeolian Islands)
DAY 4 – Saturday, September 26
The most important decisions to make today are these: should I walk down to the beach or stay at the pool? And should I have just one granita, or three? You’ll have time to ponder these questions before an afternoon trip to visit the villages that dot this tiny island, then off to a local farm for a tour and tasting. See the location where a famous film, Il Postino, was shot. Sleep: Salina Island (Aeolian Islands)
DAY 5 – Sunday, September 27
We’re heading to Ortigia, the most ancient part of Siracusa. We’ll stay right inside the historical city center, where you’ll experience another one of Italy’s Unesco World Heritage Sites for two nights. Did we mention that on the way to Ortigia, we stop for a gorgeous wine tasting and lunch? Salute! Sleep: Ortigia (Siracusa)
DAY 6 – Monday, September 28
Today you’ll have a “choose your own adventure” day with some free time. Explore the markets and shops of one of Italy’s most beautiful towns — Dolce & Gabbana chose its main piazza for their Alta Moda fashion show. Our guide will host a historical walking tour of the most important monuments and landmarks in this city, ruled by everyone from the Byzantines, Bourbons, and Arabs to the Normans and Aragonese. Sleep: Ortigia (Siracusa)
DAY 7 – Tuesday, September 29
Depart from Ortigia/Siracusa and head to another coastal wonder. We’ll get you oriented with a walking tour of Taormina’s highlights — you won’t want to waste a moment getting to know the incredible location you’ll be living in for the next two nights. People come here for the ancient Greek theater, the mountains, and the sea. We’ll experience all of that. And the tiramisu. Sleep: Taormina
DAY 8 – Wednesday, September 30
This is our last day in Italy together, so let’s make it splendida. We’ll gather for a day trip down to the lower part of Taormina on the cable car — and explore the surrounding area with a private tour. At night, we’ll gather to clink glasses for a special celebratory meal at our fave Taormina restaurant so you can enjoy our own Ultima Cena with your Italian Fix famiglia. Sleep: Taormina
DAY 9 – Thursday, October 1
This is your departure and check-out day. We’ll bring you to Catania airport for your flight. Some guests decide to extend their stay, and we recommend Taormina for a few extra nights — trust us, you won’t want to leave! You can also view the calendar to see if you can combine this trip with another.
Punctuality: Please be punctual for meeting times set for the group by the guides
13. Book a Spa Experience
Looking to unwind? We can arrange a booking for you at Hotel Signum in Salina, the same hotel where we’ll be staying. Check it out here and simply email us at ciao@italianfix.com to book.
14. Luggage.
Please pack accordingly. Remember that you must be able to lift or roll your suitcase independently. We do have porters at hotels, but there are still instances where you will have to manage your luggage on your own.
This is an active trip with multiple hotel check-ins. The best combination for this tour is a backpack for carry-on luggage on your flight and one medium-sized (or large) checked luggage that is not full when you arrive, so you have room to take shopping home with you. We don’t recommend traveling with two large suitcases, as they’re challenging to manage. We do not have luggage restrictions, and you can bring what you like.
Some people prefer all carry-on luggage, so your backpack will count as a “purse.” This means that you’re very agile with just one small rolling luggage.
15. More Packing Tips.
Checking Luggage? Traveling with Airtags (for iPhone) or Tiles (for Android) in your checked luggage allows you to track your luggage location.
Carry one spare change of clothes in a carry-on, just in case checked luggage gets delayed.
Weather: It can be hot and cool all in the same week – the weather in September can be a mix. You can check the weather in “Palermo” and “Taormina” to see the averages on the two coasts.
Clothes: Bring a variety of clothes for all weather situations. Things to consider are:
A jacket (not too heavy) for cool or wet weather. Bring it in your carry-on luggage so you can wear it on your flight if it’s cold.
A long-sleeved shirt – you can layer this under a jacket for a day if it rains.
Comfortable clothes suitable for a travel day (for example, when traveling on our bus).
Clothes you could wear in the day that are practical for an afternoon of sightseeing. For example, a cotton or linen T-shirt and shorts or a dress.
Clothes you could wear at night — out to dinner. For example, pants and a top.
Something suitable for a boat, a beach, or a pool. (Plus, a hat that can get thrown in luggage.)
Shoes: The basics are:
Very practical pair of sneakers/runners. Your “daily drivers” for sightseeing.
Pair of sandals/open shoes. This secondary shoe could alternate with the above.
Maybe—depending on whether you want a third pair—something dressy (but not too dressy). Wear them to dinner, but be able to walk well in them on cobblestones.
Daily Bag/Purse
A lightweight purse or backpack—it’s essential that it has a zipper to close belongings inside. This is your “daily driver.” I like a crossbody purse but think of your preferences for a day of sightseeing.
We also like to bring another bag (it can be as simple as a cloth tote, as fancy as a large purse, or as utilitarian as a backpack). For example, packing a jacket and shopping you’ve bought.
16. FAQ’s.
Do you recommend we exchange currency in the airports or once we land?
For the best exchange rate, withdraw money from an Italian ATM. Some people like to arrive with €100 emergency cash (you can order this from your bank before you travel; be aware of lead time), but Italy uses contactless pay almost everywhere.
How much walking-around cash do you suggest for the week, and where can I exchange it? I might get some trinkets and gelato, but I won’t be doing a major shopping trip.
When you arrive in Italy, just take out cash at the airport ATM. A couple of hundred is a ballpark figure. You’ll also pay for a few meals on your own, but you can put those on a credit card.
17. Hotel Information
Palermo Hotel:
Via Riccardo Wagner, 2, 90139 Palermo PA, Italy
+39 091 336572
Salina Hotel:
V. Pastificio, 98050 Malfa ME, Italy
+39 090 984 4222
Ortigia Hotel:
Via Salomone, n. 21, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
+39 0931 181 5404
18. Important Travel Updates: ETIAS & EES is a new travel requirement in 2026.
As you prepare for your upcoming trip, please note two key EU border-control changes that will affect non-EU/Schengen nationals:
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is currently in effect
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is to come into effect in late 2026
Entry/Exit System (EES) – Launch date: April 10, 2026
On 12 October 2025, the EU began its phased rollout of the EES for non-EU nationals entering or exiting the Schengen Area. Link
EES officially became fully operational on 10 April 2026. This means the system is now live across participating European countries, although implementation at individual borders may still vary. Link
Under EES, third-country nationals traveling for short stays will have their travel document data, entry/exit dates, and, for their first crossing, biometric data (fingerprints and a facial image) registered electronically. Link
After the first registration, return crossings may only require a facial scan (depending on country/port) rather than a full fingerprint & photo each time. Reuters
No prior online application is needed for EES. It’s a border-control registration system, not a travel authorization. RAC
European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) – Expected launch: late 2026
The ETIAS rollout has been delayed. It is now expected to become operational in the last quarter of 2026, not in 2025.
As of now, no precise date has been announced, and no action is required of visa-exempt travelers.ETIAS will require travelers from visa-exempt countries to obtain online authorization before entering the Schengen Area. You cannot currently apply for an ETIAS. Link
What to expect when entering Europe:
Go directly to passport control
You may be directed to a kiosk
Provide: Passport, fingerprints, facial scan
The border officer will complete registration
Some airports are experiencing long wait times, while others are temporarily easing or adjusting implementation to reduce delays. You must leave extra time for this process.
19. Need support?
We’re always here for you! Email ciao@italianfix.com.