The Mediterranean Sea has not lost its historical luster or travel appeal. Corsica, Malta and Sicily possess old world charm and combine European mythological history with cultural clashes that create festive nights and interesting days. Each island has beautiful port towns, sandy beaches, animated, fiesty natives and incredible countryside tailor-made for long drives, great hikes and breathtaking bicycle rides.
Sicily is best known of these island paradises. Perillo Tours (tel. 800/431-1515; www.perillotours.com) put together a 14-day all-inclusive air and land tour of Sicily and Southern Italy that explores the beauty of the land and its people. The fully escorted tour with knowledgeable guides includes airfare from New York, Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Chicago (add-ons from other cities available for an addendum in price), a full American breakfast and Italian dinner daily, accommodations at four-star hotels, air transfers and all sightseeing excursions. The cost of this trip that takes you through Sicily's most breathtaking sites including Palermo, Agrigento and Syracuse is approximately $2,999 per person not including airport departure taxes and security fees. This trip ends up in Rome after a six-day travelers romp up Italy's Southern half making stops at Pompeii, Positano and Sorrento.
Gate 1 Travel (tel. 800/682-3333; www.gate1travel.com) has an 8-day Classic Sicily tour that focuses exclusively on the spectacular island. With scheduled departures ongoing through 2006, the trip includes round-trip airfare and accommodations at first class hotels for a total cost of $1,889 if booked online for a March 20, 2005 departure date. The price goes up to $2,439 after the March departure date. Four dinners with wine are included in the price of the trip. The trip starts in Palermo and ends up in the small city of Catania.
For you Francophiles, Gorp Travel (tel. 877/440-GORP; www.gorp.com) has an 8-day island hiking tour of Corsica for $1,250. The trip does not include air travel, but the land only cost includes hotels, three meals and route and destination map information. Accommodations are at quaint bed and breakfasts along the route. Gorp rates the hiking level of this trip as intermediate, meaning you may want to make sure back is in shape and your feet are ready for some walking. While dates for the 2005 trips have are not yet available, you can expect them out soon. A small price increase based on slightly higher hotel rates may apply. Call a Gorp travel expert for details.
Further south that Corsica and Sicily, lies the island of Malta, a long-time haven for Europeans looking for rustic escape. Crown Travel (tel. 800/853-6453; www.crown-travel.com) has a fall-winter air-land Maltan special for $725. The six-night all-inclusive trip includes air travel on Lufthansa Airlines direct from New York to Malta, hotel accommodations at the Kennedy Nova Hotel on the seaside promenade just a five-minute walk to town with an optional six-night dinner plan at the hotel for $99 per person. Departures for this trip are midweek and good from January 3 to March 17, 2005. Add-on from other cities including Philadelphia (an additional $40) is available upon request. Crown Travel also offers excursions off your Malta experience to other Maltan sightseeing destinations and locations on or near the Mediterranean Sea including Cyprus, Tunisia and Sardinia.
