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Over
the years we have been asked many many questions. Just in
case you have a similar question or query, some of the most
common ones are listed here for you. If there is anything
else you would like to know that is not answered on these
pages - please Contact
Us.
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FAQ Index
What
is the weather like and which are the best months to visit?
The rainy season tends to hit Sicily between January and March.
By the middle of April, the temperature rises and people start
to visit the beach. May and June temperatures tend to be similar
to the good summers we have in SE England. July and
August are the hottest months and on some days, the warm winds
from Africa raise the temperature to above 40. September is
akin to June and the sea and skies stay warm until the middle
of October. With the cooler air, November and December are
good times to go hill walking in Sicily.
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Are
the villas accessible?
Villa Anna is accessible to wheelchair users and baby buggies.
In 2006 a wet-room style walk-in shower room replaced the old
bathroom and the entire ground floor and surfaced garden are
accessible to all. Villa May is not as accessible but can accommodate
most users. A baby cot can be arranged in advance by request.
Please contact
us with any special requests. |
How
do I find the villa?
Between May-October one of us will meet you at Trapani
Airport (or near the Marausa exit of the A29 Motorway if you
land at Palermo) to guide you to the villa. A mobile phone will
be of use to inform us of any flight delays so that we can ensure
you will be met. A comprehensive route map will always be provided
to assist your arrival. |
What
time are the keys available?
We are fairly flexible on this and with us only 2 minutes from
the villas, we will work around your arrival time. We can accommodate
most requests subject to booking availability. |
Is
there on-site help when we are there?
We are fluent Italian/English speakers and are a two minute
walk from the villas during the May-October period. At other
times, on-site assistance can be requested by phone and we will
try to be with you within 1 hour. |
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Questions
about Payment
When
do I need to pay for the property?
A deposit of 30% is required to book the villa, reimbursable
in part if the booking is cancelled more than 40 days prior
to the start of the rental period. The balance must be paid
in full either upon arrival (by agreement) or in installments
no later than 1 week prior to departure. |
How
do I pay for the property?
We accept both GB Sterling (£) and Euro (€) currencies
for Advance Payment. Customers anywhere in Europe can pay in
one of two ways 1 - Online by Credit or Debit Card via Paypal
Secure; or 2 - Via BACS/SWIFT IBAN bank transfer. If you prefer,
Cheques drawn on a UK (£) or European (€) Bank can
be used to pay deposits and balances in advance. However, anyone
paying the balance upon arrival must do so in Euro (€)
Currency. Currency Exchange rates used will be those extant
at the time of booking. |
Is
a breakages deposit payable?
A fee of €150 will usually be taken upon arrival as a safety
deposit against breakages and damage to the property and its
fittings. This will be refunded at departure once an accompanied
inspection has taken place. |
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Questions
about Car Hire, Driving & Eating Out
Is
car hire recommended?
Yes. Although our travel
page provides links to bus, coach and rail services, if you
intend to discover the island properly hiring a car is recommended.
We can provide bikes for use on local roads, used at your own
risk. |
I'm
worried about driving in Sicily, what advice have you got?
If you are used to driving in a big city you should be fine,
but it's all about having confidence. Expect people to pull
out in front of you in any urban area, and you wont go wrong.
Cut-up drivers react with hot air and hand gestures in typical
Italian style, but will rarely resort to verbal abuse or violence.
Check the travel
section for more details. |
How
much does it cost to eat out?
A meal for two can cost between €15-25 including wine depending
on where you go. The more touristy the place, the more you pay. |
I'm
vegetarian, will I be able to eat out in Sicily?
You'll be absolutely fine. Italian food is well known for its
use of vegetables and non meat ingredients and Sicily is no
exception. In the Trapani region you'll also find a variety
of cous-cous dishes, a remnant of the Arabic traders that passed
though centuries ago. Western Sicily is known for its many fish
and seafood dishes, but menus and staff are normally clear.
If in doubt just say 'vegeteriano'. |
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Questions
about Language, Culture & Currency
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What
language is spoken?
Italian is the national language and we've left a few
phrase books in the villas for you to use while there. If you
hear the Sicilian dialect (a combination of Arabic, French and
Italian) – just ask them to speak to you in Italian. |
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When
it's night time in Italy, it's Wednesday over here...?
No, no no. Sicily is on Central European Time (CET) which is
GMT +1 with similar seasonal adjustment dates as the rest of
Europe. Life in Sicily is laid back and despite their love for
horn honking and dislike of queues (they don’t queue),
they often snooze their afternoons away in the shade or in the
town squares playing cards or bocce (boules). In the summer
months the locals avoid the blistering heat by taking a siesta
between 13:00 and 16:00 - leaving beaches, towns and roads deserted.
Mad dogs and Englishmen as they say... |
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What
religions are represented in Western Sicily?
Catholicism is the national religion of Italy, and therefore,
Sicily. However, this part of Sicily lay on the trade route
between the Middle East, Africa and Europe and has a strong
arabic and Muslim influence in not only religion, but architecture
and cuisine too. |
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What
currency is used?
The Euro. The Lire is no longer accepted. Most major credit
cards are accepted. Cashpoints tend to work all week except
on Sunday when the international networks go offline. Try not
to use high denomination notes in smaller stores. |
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What
are the typical shop opening times?
Although opening hours vary from shop to shop, most stores close
between 13:00 (1pm) and 16:00 (4pm) daily and close again at
19:30 (7.30pm). In the summer many premises operate an ‘orario-unico’
(single period) and close for the day at 13:00 (1pm). Markets
start early and are gone by midday. Larger supermarkets in Trapani
close at 20:00 (8pm). Bars stay open later in the summer, often
till 02:00 (2am). Banks are normally open from 08:30 (8.30am)
until 13:00 (1pm) and again 14:45 (2.45 pm) till 15:45 (3.45pm)
weekdays. There is normally no weekend or public holiday opening.
You must pass through a security air-lock for most banks in
Italy. Cashpoints operate throughout the day, but international
networks are often disconnected for a few hours on a Sunday. |
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Any
unusual Insects or animals?
Ants have been in Sicily for millions of years and,
unlike its peoples who have been overthrown by every empire
that has invaded, the ants have survived. They are bigger than
UK garden ants, but just as harmless. Mosquitoes (Zanzare) can
be kept at bay with an outside curly-burner or a plug-in indoor
repellent. Snakes are small, rarely seen and tend to rush to
get away from humans. |
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Questions
about Telephoning, Electricity, Water, Recycling & Refuse
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Will
my mobile phone work?
Vodafone, Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) and Wind provide GSM services
across Sicily. If your phone is a GSM Mobile from another European
Country it should work fine. Triband cellular telephones from
outside the EU should also work. Contact your service provider
well in advance of your departure to enable International Roaming
or discuss your phone's compatibility and roaming charges. There
are some mountainous ranges along the coast where your signal
may peak and trough, but generally reception is good. |
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How
do I make a phone call?
The international dialing prefix in Italy is ‘00’
followed by the country code you are calling. Italy is ‘39’,
the UK is ‘44’ and the ROI is ‘353’.
You must drop the leading ‘0’ if you are calling
the UK from abroad: eg 020 8765 4321 becomes (00 44) 20 8765
4321. Bear in mind that if you ring an Italian number from a
UK mobile on Roam, the call is routed via the UK and you effectively
pay for two calls. Alternatively, payphones accept credit cards,
coins and phonecards from tobacconists. |
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What
voltage of electricity is used?
220v with 50/60Hz. UK appliances are normally okay to use as
these use 240v with 50/60Hz. However, we will not be held responsible
for damage caused to appliances with incompatible voltages and
you should check with your manufacturer before travelling. Localised
power outages tend to be quite rare, but do bear in mind that
Italy and therefore Sicily, imports most of its electricity
from France. |
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Is
the Villa tap water drinkable?
Yes. The water is a combination of mountain spring and de-salinated
purified sea water. Both villas are connected to the mains network
and have sealed underground drinking water reservoirs. However,
there are plenty of roadside taps, fountains, and mountain springs
around Sicily if you want to stop off and fill a bottle on your
travels. Please don't waste water in Sicily - it is a precious
commodity. |
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What
do I do with my refuse and recycling?
If you're shopping in the markets you probably won’t have
much waste, but if you do, remember that there are no kerbside
collections in Italy. Rubbish must be disposed of in the large
communal Eurobins alongside main roads. Full recycling facilities
exist for paper, glass, plastic and metal near the lighthouse
and beside main refuse points. The map we will provide will
show you where you can find these facilities. |
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Questions
about the Mafia
What
is the Mafia?
It's an underground criminal organisation whose origins date
back to 1865. The name Mafia derives from a word used by Arabic
settlers that described the islanders' dogged levels of self
esteem, honour and courage in the face of countless invasions
by most historical Empires. Misconceptions about the Mafia stem
from the otherwise excellent Godfather films which were set
in the past! The real life bloodshed
in the 1960s and 1980s was short lived and most of the survivors
were tried, sentenced and imprisoned during the famous Maxi
Trials of 1986-7. Aside from the occasional high-profile arrest,
the organisation has become elusive and invisible once more. |
Does
the Mafia pose a threat to tourists?
No. It's an underground criminal organisation and
like most similar groups, the 'Cosa Nostra' (meaning 'Our
Thing') operates on the fringes of society's spectrum. What
happens in the criminal ether of any nation is rarely visible
to residents, let alone tourists. The Mattanza's of the 1960s
and early 1980s stemmed from infighting between families seeking
to control the lucrative post-war building boom and latterly
the US drug trade. Both issues are a documented part of the
island's history now and its unlikely you will see anything
untoward during your stay. If you want to read more on the
subject you might like to read one of the books on the right.
Whilst tourists are safe, Sicilian shops and businesses still
get pressured into paying a 'Pizzo' to the local Mafia for
'protection'. In 2004 a new movement started called 'Addio
Pizzo' (Goodbye Pizzo) - which aims to end this
protection racketeering. Establishments that are part of the
movement display Addio Pizzo stickers so that customers know
that their money is not contributing to the Mafia.
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Sources
for further information...
| Where
can I find out more about Sicily?
Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and Michelin all produce decent
guidebooks detailling the delights and culture of Sicily. For
the bookworms amongst you, we recommend travelogues 'Midnight
in Sicily' by Peter Robb and 'On Persephone's Island' by Mary
Taylor Simeti. Those of you who prefer films, try Guiseppe Tornatore's
award winning 1989 'Cinema Paradiso', The Leopard, and Falcone.
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Our Books
& DVDs page suggests
a plethora of Sicilian guidebooks, cookery books, travel writing
and DVDs. Our Links
page contains links to local restaurants, language schools and
other local tourist attractions. Independent information about
Marausa and Trapani can be found on Trip
Advisor and WikiTravel. |
I
have an unusual request, need special assistance or help with booking.
Whatever your question, don't worry - just ask us and we will
try our best to accommodate your request and answer your enquiry honestly
and in full. Please use our contact
us page to choose the method of contact that suits you
best.
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