Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Walking Maps
For walking in the Mt Etna area, the 1:25,000
Mt Etna
map produced by Selca is a good bet. The TCI produces a map of
the Parco Regionale dei Nebrodi, at 1:50,000. For exploring the Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie, pick up the
1:50,000
Madonie Carta dei Sentieri e del Paesaggio
from the Palermo tourist office. Alternatively, the tourist offices in
the Madonie and Cefalù sell the
Carta dei Sentieri del Paesaggio Cefalù
(1:50000) for €1.50.
Money
Italy's currency is the euro (€). The euro is divided into 100 cents. Coin denominations are one, two, five, 10, 20 and 50
cents, €1 and €2. The notes are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
For the latest rates check out
www.xe.com
.
Money can be exchanged in banks, post offices and exchange offices. Banks generally offer the best rates, but shop
around as rates fluctuate considerably.
ATMs
Credit and debit cards can be used in ATMs (which are widespread and known locally as
bancomat
) displaying the ap-
propriate sign. Visa and MasterCard are widely recognised, as are Cirrus and Maestro. Remember that every time you
withdraw cash there will be fees. Typically you'll be charged a withdrawal fee as well as a conversion charge; if you're
using a credit card, you'll also be hit by interest on the cash withdrawn.
If an ATM rejects your card, don't despair. Try a few more ATMs displaying your credit card's logo before assuming
the problem lies with your card.
Credit & Debit Cards
Though widely accepted, credit cards are not as ubiquitous in Sicily as they are in the UK or the US, and it's always a
good idea to have some cash to hand. Many small guesthouses, trattorias and shops don't take credit cards, and you
can't always use them at petrol stations or at motorway ticket barriers.
Major cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, Cirrus and Eurocheques are accepted throughout Sicily. Amex is
also recognised but it's less common.
Before leaving home, make sure to advise your credit-card holder of your travel plans. Otherwise, you risk having
your card blocked - as a security measure, banks block cards when they notice out-of-the-ordinary transactions. Check
also any charges you'll incur and what the procedure is if you experience problems or have your card stolen. Most card
suppliers will give you an emergency number you can call free of charge for help and advice.
Tipping
You're not expected to tip on top of restaurant service charges, but if you feel the service warrants it, you can leave a
little extra, say €1 per person. If there is no service charge, you should consider leaving a 10% tip or rounding the bill
up, although it is by no means obligatory. In bars, locals often place a €0.10 or €0.20 coin on the bar when ordering cof-
fee. Tipping taxi drivers is not common practice, but you should tip porters at top-end hotels (€3 to €5).
