Classic Sicily, Etna & Taormina

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately two hours and 30 minutes and approximately 45 minutes on departure.

Please be aware that for departures in March and April, the swimming pool at this hotel may not yet be open, as hotels across Italy traditionally open their pools from May onwards in line with the warmer season. Similarly, air conditioning is not typically activated until May in Italian hotels, in accordance with local custom and regional regulations. During the spring months, daytime temperatures are generally mild and pleasant, though we recommend packing a light layer for cooler evenings. We hope this does not cause inconvenience and that you enjoy the wonderful spring atmosphere Italy has to offer at this time of year.

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Guests on half-board arrangements will be served a three-course evening meal, and can expect a first course of traditional pasta or soup, a main meat or fish course accompanied by one or two types of vegetable, and a simple dessert of fruit, cake or Italian ice cream. Breakfasts will usually consist of bread rolls, jam, cereal, ham, cheese, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Menus will vary from hotel to hotel, but choice will be more limited than in a normal restaurant. In some instances, individual guests who have booked with the hotel independently may be offered a different menu from those who are staying at the hotel as part of a package tour.

An authentic dining experience in Italy can often be a bit different to the Italian food that international tourists might be used to, but it’s one of the best ways to truly appreciate the finer cultural differences of this tourist hotspot. From simpler, but more frequent, courses to regional dishes, here are some points to note when dining in Italy.

The first major difference you’re likely to notice is that the dining experience as a whole is much longer; you’ll enjoy a much more social experience than the average dinner back home with multiple smaller courses spread across a longer period of time. While each meal will be prepared to order, you may notice that dishes are served cooler than you might be used to – Italian dishes are rarely served piping hot to preserve the more delicate flavours of each ingredient and to provide a more enjoyable dining experience. The final thing to bear in mind is that it may be tricky to find Italian classics in the same form as they are at home. For instance, while Spaghetti Carbonara is a staple in historic Rome – and made traditionally using egg yolks rather than cream – you’ll often find it replaced with a wild boar ragù in Tuscany.

You will ride to a higher altitude and experience uneven ground when visiting Mount Etna and warmer clothing - a cardigan or jacket - is recommended along with stronger shoes.

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel.

Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you arrive (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").

Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational at all EU borders on 10 April 2026.

EES is a digital border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay across the external borders of most European countries. It replaces passport stamping. When you go through passport control on arrival, as well as producing your passport for checking, you will have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. The system registers your entry and exit, and you will only need to complete this biometric registration on your first entry into Europe.

Please note: Irish passport holders or British Passport holders with an EU residency are currently excluded.

For those travelling via Eurostar, there is a dual British and French/Belgian border in operation at St Pancras International. Therefore the EES system will be in place at the station, you will not need to be checked again on arrival at the other side.

The latest information can be found at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees.

For further information please visit the ABTA website.

Following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, changes have been planned which affect the eligibility of citizens of the United Kingdom to have visa free travel to the EU. ETIAS travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the European Union and Schengen countries.

ETIAS is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026 (exact date to be confirmed). We recommend applying in good time once the system goes live. ETIAS is expected to cost €20 per person. If you are aged under 18 or over 70, the fee is waived. Please note: ETIAS will not be required for UK citizens travelling on our UK and Ireland tours.

The latest information can be found at www.etias.com.

Newmarket Holidays will not be able to undertake ETIAS applications on your behalf, so have instead instructed the services of the Travel Visa Company to provide help, should you need it. You can find more information about this service at https://thetravelvisacompany.co.uk/newmarket-holidays/?sup=NMH 

All mandatory local taxes and charges are included in the price of your holiday as per the itinerary. Prices for any optional excursions are listed separately. Any suggested free-time activities, attractions, meals or entertainment are not included (unless otherwise stated), and may be subject to local charges. Please note that tipping is optional and as such, is typically not included in the price of your holiday (unless otherwise stated).