— THE INTERNAL TRIP DOC PLAN
NING.
COSTS · BOOKINGS · CUTS · ALTERNATIVES

What's booked,
what's still owed,
what's optional.

Internal-only. Cost tracker, the master booking checklist, the things we cut and why, and the parking lot of substitutions if anything falls through.

SECTION01

Cost tracker.

Estimates and actuals. Status pills: — done, Partial — half down, Book — needs reservation, Optional — add-on, TBD — to estimate.

Item Estimate Status Notes
Flights — Iberia × 7TBDConf. K10VH
Villa Giusy · 8 nights × 7$4,656.41Half paidSecond half due pre-arrival
Car rental · 9-day, 9-pax van$2,247.782nd driver + insurance included
Groceries / villa mealsTBDTBD~€300–400 estimated
Restaurants · ~6 dinners + 6 lunchesTBDTBDRange €600–€2,500 depending on Michelin nights
Chef-in dinner (Thu)~€600–1,000To book4–6 weeks ahead. Cesarine / Take a Chef
Cooking class (Thu AM)~€60–100 ppOptionalSame network as chef
Private guide · Neapolis (Mon)€150–250Optional2 hrs · Take Walks / Sicily Activities
Etna cable car (Wed)€50 / €35 u-18At siteBuy on the day
Etna jeep tour add-on (Wed)€60–80 ppOptionalTeens + 40s only
Greek Theater Taormina (Wed)€10 ppAt siteBuy on the day
Greek Theater Siracusa (Mon)€13 ppAt siteOr online ahead
Modica chocolate (Fri)~€50TBDSouvenir budget
Gas + tolls~$200TBDDiesel ~€1.85/L
SECTION02

Booking checklist.

The things that actually need to be reserved before we leave. Check them off — state persists in your browser.

SECTION03

Logistics TODOs.

Pre-trip housekeeping.

SECTION04

Cut from the plan, and why.

PlaceWhy we cut it
Caltagirone The doc itself flagged "probably too much" — 1.5+ hrs each way for ceramics and a famous staircase. Ceramic shopping is just as good in Modica or Ortigia.
Cavagrande hike Steep — won't work for the whole group. Listed as energetic-crew add-in below.
Beach lido days Group didn't prioritize. If energy is high, sub Marzamemi afternoon at the beach club.
Overnight in Ragusa Sage suggested 2–3 nights in Ragusa, but we preferred villa-base every night.
Scicli Redundant with Ragusa/Modica on Friday unless we swap (see substitutions).
SECTION05

Parking lot — add-ons & alternatives.

Things to consider if days fall through, energy is high, or anyone wants to swap.

— PREMIUM EXPERIENCES WORTH BOOKING

MONDAY · NEAPOLIS

Private guide for Neapolis Park

2 hours. Worth it for the teens — context makes the stones come alive. Ask the villa host or book via Take Walks / Sicily Activities. Request a guide who can pace gently.
€150–250 for the group
THURSDAY MORNING

Cooking class at the villa

Pasta-making, caponata, panelle, cassata. Half-day, ends with lunch. Everyone participates at their own pace — sit and chop, or stand and roll.
~€60–100 pp
THURSDAY EVENING

Chef-in dinner at the villa

Multi-course Sicilian. Caponata, fresh pasta, locally-caught fish, almond dessert. We all stay seated, the teens get a great Italian dinner without restaurant logistics. Most important booking on the trip.
€80–150 pp · ~€600–1,000 total
WEDNESDAY · ETNA

Etna jeep tour to summit craters

From the cable car top further up toward the active craters (~2,900m). About 90 min. Cold, dusty, exhilarating. Anyone who wants to skip waits at the cable car café.
€60–80 pp
WEDNESDAY (BIG DAY)

Private driver for Etna + Taormina

If 1.5 hours each way feels heavy, hire a driver and let everyone nap on the way back from Taormina. Worth considering since this is the longest drive day.
~€350–500 for the day

— ENERGETIC-CREW ADD-INS (Teens + 40s only)

SAGE REC

Cavagrande del Cassibile hike

"Very cool, but a real workout." ~50 min from the villa. Steep descent to natural pools. Swim at the bottom. Could slot into an afternoon while the rest of us are at the villa.
Half-day · 4 strong walkers
FROM ORTIGIA

Private boat tour from Ortigia

Half-day swim/snorkel along the Syracuse coast. Friends have done these in Taormina and raved; the Ortigia equivalents skip the long drive. Book through Ortigia harbor operators.
~€400–600 for the boat
EXTEND TUE

Late beach-club afternoon · Marzamemi

Tag a swim onto Tuesday between Noto-cannoli and dinner. The beach club at Marzamemi is right at Piazza Regina Margherita.
Beach club fee · ~€20 pp

— SUBSTITUTIONS IF WE WANT TO SWAP

FRIDAY SWAP

Scicli for Modica

Scicli's baroque palaces (Beneventano with grotesque balconies, Spadaro, Fava) and churches (San Bartolomeo, San Matteo) are stunning. Skip if you want chocolate; sub if you want more architecture.
Same drive distance
SATURDAY SWAP

Augusta for Catania

If Catania feels too urban for the last day, Augusta old town is 15 min from the villa — quieter baroque + a Norman castle. Less iconic, more relaxed.
Closer · easier last day
SATURDAY SWAP

Ortigia round 3 for Catania

If the group falls in love with Ortigia, a third afternoon there + final dinner is a totally legitimate move.
— · same drive as Catania