Questions and Answers

The possibilities seem endless: Taormina with its breathtaking view of Mount Etna, Segesta and Agrigento with their ancient Greek temples, Siracusa with its classical grace, Palermo with its polyglot heritage, Cefalù and Monreale with their medieval ambience. And that's just the beginning of the Sicilian experience. Simply Sicily is a tour operator (and also a receptive agent, incoming service or destination manager) based in Sicily. Vacations, like life, consist of possibilities and choices. We offer creative deluxe group visits and services, not conventional "tours." On this page we describe a few possibilities. Let us know if one interests you, or if you'd like us to work with you to develop an idea of your own. A few frequent questions about our group visits and working with us:

"What about precise itineraries?"
There aren't many actual itineraries indicated on this site because each visit is unique, and because different themes can be combined; culinary tours and agritourism, for example. But if you contact us we'll refer you to our "hidden" page of itineraries and prices. It's a good starting point when you're thinking about a tour for your group.

"How is your approach to visitor care different?"
Let's talk: Your group's visit to Sicily should be a memorable experience. Every Sicilian tour operator works with some local tour guides (Italian law requires the use of local licensed guides for certain historical sites), but every tour we organize is personally managed by one of our English-speaking travel specialists, sometimes with the help of historians or other consultants. Not just a manager or group leader who happens to speak a little English. In Sicily, we're the only travel service with a native English-speaking management staff that takes a uniquely personal approach to your group's needs, and it's one of the special details that makes us very different from anybody else in this business in this beautiful part of the world. We're not here to criticize the competition, but you deserve an accurate comparison between their services and ours. (So you'll find plenty of comparisons on this page!) You can expect genuine professionalism from us --what the Italians call professionalità. We like the sound of that, and we think your clients will, too. (Read more about us.)

"Which languages do your tour leaders speak?"
Several (in addition to Italian), though we're English-language specialists. We differ from most tour operators in Sicily in that our leaders speak English better than most of theirs; a few are actually native English speakers. And isn't clear communication essential in accomodating your needs?

"Why are particular places or partners (travel agencies) not mentioned?"
We prefer not to publish a list of places and partners because we don't want to encourage potential competitors to "borrow" our ideas or partners. Our proposals aren't exactly state secrets, but several Sicily-based tour operators have already taken certain details and ideas from us, and even "borrowed" entire pages of text and "invisible" computer code. We're the most imitated tour service in Sicily. (Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery but too many "compliments" are not always good!) We prefer customized proposals to generic ones, and we'll work with you to make your group's wishes a reality. Contact us to begin.

"What are your prices and quality like?"
As you might expect from a premium service, they're slightly higher than those of budget and mass market tour operators because our offerings are more exclusive --fine restaurants instead of hotels' restaurants, for example, and better guides. And lodging is in superior (4-5 star) hotels. However, if you represent an institution, such as a school or association, you may find our rates lower than those of certain travel agents and tour operators because you're working with us directly, with no reseller or "middle man" taking a commission. If you're a travel agent, though, it's possible that your clientele (or part of it) is ready for something different. Something better. The quality of tour offerings in Sicily (and other destinations) varies widely. Remember that we can offer creative (and objective) choices because we are not directly affiliated with any hotel, restaurant or tourist attraction. There's a growing market for the kind of sophisticated tours we offer, which bridge the widening gap between the mass market and independent travel. Usually (but not always), a specialized tour for fifteen or twenty participants will cost more per person than one for forty or fifty participants. Each tour's price is different, and we'll work with you to keep the cost as reasonable as possible. As a very broad generality, expect our premium tours to cost about 20 or 30 percent more per person than general service tours. (Contact us for the address of our itinerary pricing page. People who choose Simply Sicily are looking for something different, and that's what they get from us. We're not here just to make money. We're here to make your group happy about choosing you (and us) for their unique trip to Sicily. Let's talk about quality you can see:

The group leaders and guides who work with us are state licensed, naturally, but our international clientele prefers group leaders who are exceptionally professional and have an exceptional understanding of Sicily's multicultural role in world history. This reflects the perspective of our unique staff, which includes (as consultants and planners) historians who have published original scholarly articles on topics relating to ancient, medieval, modern and specialised Sicilian history. One of our consultants, for example, is a professional geologist (educated in the United States). Another is a theologian. As you can see, our tours actually appeal to more sophisticated participants because our staff's knowledge far exceeds what the Italian government requires through its examinations for tour guide certification. No other "tour operator" in Sicily offers service of this kind. Simply Sicily is the only one with ready access to locally-resident, English-speaking experts of this caliber. These aren't students or other native English speakers who just happen to live in Sicily, but people who have been recognised in their professional fields.

Here's how this is a tangible advantage for travel agents. Until now, there were two kinds of specialised tours of Sicily in terms of what could be called "lecture quality" by English speakers. Suppose, for instance, that you were interested in selling a high-quality historical or archeological tour. Most travel agents had to be content with the offerings of Sicily-based mass market tour operators, while institutional clients, particularly larger museums or historical societies (whose names you would recognise even though we won't mention them here), sometimes sent their own group leaders (typically professors or authors) to lecture tour participants, perhaps promoting their trips as "learning adventures" or something similar. Our organization, unique among Sicily's tour operators, permits a travel agent or a small association to enjoy a tour of the same (or superior) lecture quality as a visit organised by a major museum (or specialised "luxury" travel agency) in New York, Washington, London or Tokyo. In fact, we're familiar with the local companies that organise various "learning" and "adventure" tours in Sicily, and we can guarantee superior quality at a comparable or lower price.

Knowledge is important, but the personal touch is essential. Naturally, a tour should be enjoyable. A central element in our planning is that we select hotels and restaurants for their general quality and convenience but also for appealing atmosphere. This obviously depends to some extent upon availability during certain periods. However, if we have a choice between a new glass tower and a historical ambience (such as an aristocratic home converted into a hotel), and the service of the two is comparable, we'll usually choose the historical hotel (or restaurant) unless there are good reasons to select the other. A few of these places are so appealing (and overlooked by our competition) that we won't describe them in detail here on this website unless you request specific information, but you won't be disappointed!

Let's talk about hotels, restaurants and stars. Not the stars in the sky, but the ones in the hotel rating systems. Some tour operators and travel agents have stars in their eyes! Somebody may refer to a hotel as "five star" without explaining what that really means. The Italian Hotel Association, a state agency, rates hotels based on a graduated ranking system, with five stars representing the highest category of luxury lodging. In the Michelin Guides, on which most other star-ranking systems are based, four stars indicate the highest quality. Few associations rate restaurants, relying instead on detailed (but often biased) reviews. Anybody who has ever worked in the travel industry knows how subjective many of these ratings and reviews can be, and varying standards among ranking systems only complicate matters. The reality is that better hotels and restaurants are unique; the ranking system is only a point of reference. Every restaurant and hotel we work with offers the highest quality. The hotels are each entitled to at least four stars, and the restaurants are among Sicily's best. Rural retreats (agritourism) may not offer all the comforts of better hotels, but any rural agricultural establishment we select has at least comparable accomodations and service.

"How do your services compare to those offered by "luxury" and "specialised" travel agencies?"
Who do you think organizes many of their tours in Sicily??? We can do the same for you! We're not at liberty to identify all the travel agencies and organisations we work with by name. Understandably, many of these fine firms prefer to maintain a certain degree of "fantasy" in their advertising by implying that they employ their own full-time staffs of travel professionals (rather than "outsourced" operators like us) here in Sicily. That's okay, but we can work with you, too!

Since you've been patient enough to read this far, we'll let you in on an open secret. Having a uniquely qualified staff permits us to work differently, but in practice competing planners of "luxury" tours here in Sicily rarely offer anything most of us would consider particularly exceptional. What usually happens is that "XYZ Luxury Travel Company" provides their Sicily-based tour operator (receptive agent) a multi-page outline of standards and specifications to be followed. (They may have special requirements for a particular clientele, such as "seniors" or students.) Most of these Sicily-based "luxury" tour operators use the same group leaders, guides, hotels and bus companies as everybody else. And despite confidentiality agreements they make no secret of the fact that they're working with "XYZ" (raising an obvious business ethics issue). It's a little like the food packaging companies that produce their own product as well a famous brand's, changing only the label. So where's the real difference in quality? With Simply Sicily, its our personnel, organization and unique choices that make your group's experience different. And the careful attention to detail.

"What kind of marketing support to do you offer partners (resellers)?"
The travel services industry is as competitive as ever. Our advertising is original, copyright material for exclusive use by our partners. By special agreement with Best of Sicily, we advertise on the world's most popular Sicilian website, with over fifty thousand readers each month. (This is subject to space availability and other conditions.) And, of course, you can consult with our staff if you require further assistance in promoting our tours.

"Can I sell your tours?" ("Even if I have only a few Sicily clients?")
Yes! If you become a partner, you can plan specific tours with us, and we will also keep you informed of various planned larger tours which have places available. For example, tours currently planned for groups of forty that are not yet filled up. Typically, there could be from ten to twenty places available. Most partners are travel agents or large organisations that plan tours frequently. Partnering with us does not require any investment or obligation, but it does presume that we'll be your only resource for advertised travel in Sicily.

"How can I get a tour started with Simply Sicily?"
It's easy. It starts with an email or fax outlining a very general (or even very specific) description of what your group would like to see and do, the length of your stay, the number of expected participants in your group and the season or month you want to visit Sicily. Based on these requirements, we'll develop a simple projected itinerary. When it meets with your approval, we'll provide a more precise itinerary with pricing. Contact us to get started.

"Can you duplicate a previous tour?"
In a general sense, yes. Due to lodging availability logistics, it is not always possible to make arrangements with the same hotels and other services used in a group's previous tour, but we can usually arrange for visits to the same places (historical sights, etc.) during the same season. You may find our suggestions better than what you were doing in the past.

"Who are you?"
We're a group of travel professionals who've worked as managers in the hospitality business (hotels), restaurants and tourism, and our staff also includes marketing people and scholars. Simply Sicily was established a few years ago. Around that time, several firms were established in Sicily to offer so-called "alternative tourism," but we were disappointed to learn of the poor customer service offered by some of these firms. So Simply Sicily was born. The unique team that grew from this delightful concept is Italian, English and American. Professionally, it includes native (mother tongue) speakers of English who are recognised experts in their fields. This is something that enhances the quality of your group's tour experience, and (really) distinguishes us in the Sicilian tourism industry. Our staff includes more women managers than any other Sicilian travel firm. The female professional element is one of the greatest assets of our organisation, and just one thing that separates us from the competition here in southern Italy. (Read more about us.)

"Why should I choose you instead of another tour operator?"
Even many of the more specialized receptive agents (incoming tour operators) are actually "mass market" oriented, offering budget packages, and we're not. Such services may be perfectly suitable to the needs of most tourists, and that's great. But we're different because we don't think of your clients as "tourists." More than tours, we offer "group visits." And our expert scholarly staff is exceptional in the Sicilian tourism industry. (Our customer care is superlative, too.) If your needs are different, doesn't it make sense that your group visit to Sicily should be different, too? Because the travel experience of each of your clients (each member of your group) is important, we offer the highest level of service and professionalism, selecting everything from group leaders and guides to hotels and restaurants from among the very best there are. We have more native speakers of English on our staff than any other travel service in southern Italy --so there are fewer misunderstandings (a common problem in Italy). That's one way our exacting standards exceed those of other tour operators here. Some small-scale tour operators who promise premium service but, in many cases, don't actually deliver what they advertise. Not being directly associated with any hotel or restaurant, we can give you wider (and better) choices in those accomodations.

Without wishing to sound boastful, we have what could be described as a superior organization. Our experienced multinational staff understands the demanding requirements of an international clientele. We work exclusively with clients outside Italy. That includes special event and conference planning. In working with us, you may find our style, influenced by an "international" philosophy in important areas like management and customer care, a little different from that of most Sicily-based tour operators. That's intentional. Our approach toward outsourcing, for example, is closer to the "American" model. (Here in Sicily, people who work in the travel industry sometimes prefer working with us, as opposed to other local tour companies, because we usually compensate through commissions based on percentages rather than the minimal professional fees established by law.) In selecting tour operators, dealing with the same company that organises both luxury and budget tours can be like buying a luxury automobile from a vendor of bicycles. Most of the more specialised Sicily tours are organized by just a handful of tour companies in Palermo and Catania, and this lends itself to a certain similarity among their services because they actually imitate each other's products to attract the same client instead of creating new solutions to attract new clients. We let you decide the form your tour takes. Yes, our tours feature special touches like a "farewell" souvenir gift for each group participant, but even the best service can be improved, and customer feedback (through participant satisfaction surveys) is important to us. We're different, and we think you'll enjoy working with us. We look forward to working with your group!

What really makes your experience with us different is our people. Until now, the quality of most tours of Sicily met only minimal government specifications. A particular group leader or guide may have been exceptional, but in assigning your tour to a specific company you had little guarantee of consistent professionalism. Simply Sicily takes time to ensure the competence of our personnel to guarantee your group's satisfaction. That's a factor we consider essential but (incredible as it sounds) it's something few other tour operators in Sicily provide. Some Italian tour operators promote their group leaders and guides as specially "licensed," as though they were offering you something nobody else could. In fact, all tour personnel must be legally licensed (by passing state exams) to work in this field. What makes ours different is that they're simply better.

As we've mentioned, every tour organised in Sicily necessarily touches the competence of local tourism professionals in some way, and our region offers good (if often undiscovered) resources in this area. Finding local professionals willing to go beyond the traditional concept of mass tourism has not been easy, but we have assembled a unique team. For "outsourced" services, we select the best restaurants, country estates and other services, many of which deal with no other tour company. Today's traveler is more sophisticated than ever, and our creative travel solutions address the needs of a growing market. Our focus on quality and detail satisfies even the most demanding visitor, who may have had some firsthand travel experience in other Italian regions before visiting Sicily.

The question of quality can be subtle. Here's an example. Some tour operators offer visits to wineries, and so do we, but we were shocked to learn that a well-known winery here in Sicily was conducting tastings offering the guests wine in plastic cups in an ugly modern "classroom" environment with no windows. Our wine tastings take place in scenic areas and the wine is served in appropriate wine glasses.

"Can you give me some tour ideas?"
We'd love to! Contact us for the address of our itinerary and pricing page. Following each description given here ("What it is") are remarks on practical considerations ("Doing it"):

Farm Holidays (Agritourism)

What it is: "Agriturismo" (guest farms) is a delightful way to spend some time in the country on a working farm or at a rural getaway. A few of these settings are closer to ecotourism, being located amid forests, but most are essentially agricultural; some are viticultural. Other farms offer activities like hiking or riding, while many make their own wines, olive oil or cheeses. The ambience depends on the farm's activities and region. Sicily's landscape ranges from wooded mountains to barren grain fields to stunning coastlines. Agritourism is easily tied into culinary or wine tours.

Doing it: Quality among agritourism farms varies considerably. We only select the best ones, usually old family-run estates with a nice atmosphere. Our choices are based on quality and cordiality. (We don't receive commissions for bringing them customers.) As guest rooms are not always very numerous, these farms can rarely accomodate overnight stays for more than a dozen or fifteen guests. Since farms are not hotels, guests in the same party may have to share bedrooms (for two or three persons). Except for smaller groups, agritourism is often incorporated into our travel offerings as a day visit or lunch rather than an overnight stay. Visit our agritourism page for a description of one such farm.

Culinary Tours

What it is: Great food! Lots of eating, of course, but a culinary tour should also include cooking lessons and wine tastings. Sicilian cuisine is unique. There really is nothing like it anywhere else in the world. Absolutely the world's best pasta and pastries, great wines and much more.

Doing it: This option is easily combined with wine tours (see below).

Wine Tours

What it is: Visits to the best wineries and farms, wine tastings and good food. This service may overlap a culinary tour experience. (See above.)

Doing it: Knowledge is extremely important here, especially if your group includes hardcore wine afficionados. We specialize in customized wine tours, not just superficial visits to two or three wineries and a few cheap meals. Instead, we offer actual tastings, and dining in Sicily's best restaurants. In other words, deluxe wine tours. Unlike most of our competitors in Sicily, we don't favor one winery over another based on commercial considerations. However, it is worth mentioning that the more famous wineries (or those that usually produce better vintages) do not always boast the best tours or atmosphere. Our suggestions do not necessarily reflect a judgement about the quality of an estate's vintage production. As we receive rather few requests for tours dedicated exclusively to wine, we usually include oenological options in general culinary tours --wine being an integral part of dining culture.

Theme Tours

What it is: Typically, theme tours focus on a specific kind of attraction: Archeological sites, churches, medieval sights, architecture, literary settings.

Doing it: Such tours presume a specific and general knowledge of the places visited, in the context of Sicilian, European and Mediterranean history. Archeologists, for example, may be the best archeological guides. Other theme tours focus on things like classical art or architecture. A literary tour might concentrate on places described in Sicilian literature. Your organisation may have a resident expert in one of these areas who our staff would work with to create a rewarding tour concentrating on the relevant topics. Otherwise, one of our specialised consultants can work with you to make your tour a success. Usually, the focus of a theme tour is built around the interests or requirements of the participants themselves; that's the idea of an art students' tour, or a tour for seniors or"over 50s."

Partners and Travel Agents

Our partners, the travel agents who represent us around the world, offer superlative service. We do not publish the entire list of partners. Please email us for the name of a partner in your country or region, or to become a partner.