Travel Tips & Information
Hotel
Farm Pantanelli Vendicari
All guest rooms have been booked and paid for. We understand that international travel comes with significant costs, and we wanted to help by covering your accommodations. The entire hotel is reserved solely for our wedding weekend and will be the central hub for many of our celebrations.
Flight
Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) in Sicily, Italy
Plan to fly into Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) in Sicily, Italy. In planning the international flight to Sicily, there are very limited direct flights, so you will likely need to book travel through a larger US or European city. Common connection cities include Munich, Germany, Frankfort, Germany, Brussels, Belgium or Rome, Italy. Make sure you allow ample connection time (greater than 1 hour at a minimum) between your landing time and the flight time to Sicily. The couple will share their flight information once available in case you would like to align arrival times to travel together to the venue. Please note, for the most cost effective options, it is recommend to book European travel from the United States 3-6 months out with the lowest prices often hitting around 4 months out.
Travel Note
Passports & Travel Authorization
You will need a valid, unexpired passport with at least 4 to 6 months validity left on the passport from the date of travel. It will take a few months’ time frame to get a new or updated passport. So, plan ahead! No visas are needed for trips less than 90 days. However, an online ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) travel authorization will be required for Italy in late 2026 (or early 2027) before flying. Considering this, we recommend all of our guests fill out this authorization form prior to traveling. For more information on what this is and how to fill it out, please click "View" down below.
Travel Note
Time Change
Sicily is 7 hours ahead of Illinois and 6 hours ahead of Michigan. As you travel to Sicily, you’ll lose those hours, and you’ll gain them back on your return. Please keep this in mind as you plan your travel.
Travel Note
Tips for Airport Travel
Travel to Europe and Sicily specifically will involve an overnight flight and a several-hour time change. Be sure to dress accordingly for the flight and plan some extra time to accommodate for the jet lag and time change.
Travel Note
Weather in Italy
October is a wonderful time to visit Sicily. In October, the temperatures will range from about low -60s to mid-70 °F, although they can vary greatly. The cloud cover and change of rain is still relatively low but might increase towards the end of October as their rainy season begins in November.
Travel Note
Italian Language
Italian is the official language, and a Sicilian dialect is widely used in Sicily. English is spoken in the major tourist areas but English proficiency decreases significantly in smaller towns. Knowing basic Italian phrases (or having a handy translation guide or app - click "View" down below for a great option) might be helpful to improve communications.
Travel Note
Packing
Money: Sicily uses the Euro money currency (as does Italy and most European countries). You can obtain foreign currency from most banks prior to departing for Italy. Another option is to visit an ATM upon arrival. With that in mind, our hotel venue accepts cards for all transactions and most larger establishments do as well. Electrical Plugs: Sicily uses Type F plug adaptors and operates on a 230V supply voltage. These are the same as mainland Italy and other main cities in Europe. Many electronics (laptops, smartphones and cameras) are designed with dual voltage capabilities. A universal plug adaptor (with voltage convertor) is most recommended and can easily be obtained online. Click "View" down below for a great 2-pack option. Clothes / Shoes: Be sure to bring your favorite Sicilian wedding attire for the wedding events. Outside of the wedding clothing, bring comfortable clothes and shoes for traveling around Sicily. Adding a couple of layers will be helpful to accommodate weather variations.
Travel Note
Getting Around Sicily
Driving around Sicily provides the greatest flexibility but is not necessary. Trains, buses, and ferries also offer convenient options for discovering Sicily’s diverse landscapes and historic sites. Madison and Cam will be providing recommendations in June on how to get from the local airport in Catania (CTA) to our hotel venue; however, please note that all travel to and from the airport will be up to the guests.