Frequently Asked Questions

STEP 1: MAKE AN ENQUIRY

Click the “Enquire Now” button on the villa detail page. Fill-out and send the enquiry form. The price of each individual villa can also be found on the villa detail page.

STEP 2: WE CONFIRM AVAILABILITY

Once we receive your request, we will reply to you quickly confirming availability or to suggest an alternative. We will answer any questions you may have and offer our advise about your wishes and requirements. The villa will be put on hold for you for the next 48 hours. We will also send you our Booking Form to allow you to proceed with the booking.

STEP 3: CONFIRMING YOUR VILLA

Please read, complete and return the booking form to us by email. At this stage your villa is provisionally secured for you. To confirm your villa, a 30% deposit of the total price is sufficient. The balance is required 10 weeks prior to departure. Bookings made within this period will be invoiced for the full amount. If the balance is not paid in time we will retain your deposit and reserve the right to cancel your accommodation.

By returning your booking form by email, you agree to have read and accepted the terms and conditions of booking without a signature.

STEP 4: PAYMENT

Payment of both deposit and balance can be made online with PayPal, by Bank account transfer or cheques. Remember to include your booking reference number on any payment.

Our bank details:
National Westminster Bank plc,
St Paul’s Branch
98 St Paul’s Churchyard
London
EC4M 8BU
GB

Account number: 16725948 Sort code: 60 05 11 BIC: NWBK GB 2L IBAN: GB68 NWBK 6005 1116 7259 48

STEP 5: E-TRAVEL PACK

Two weeks prior to your arrival date, we will e-mail you your Sicily à la carte travel pack. The pack will include: your property voucher, detailed directions to the villa, property and area information.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Before booking please read our Terms and Conditions carefully. By returning your booking form by email, you agree to have read and accepted the terms and conditions of booking without a signature.
Once the non-refundable deposit has been paid to us, your booking is considered definite and a contract will exist between you and Sicily à la carte Ltd. A confirmation invoice will be sent to you.
No contract will exist between us prior to our issuing the confirmation invoice.
Full payment must be made within 10 weeks of the start date. Bookings made within this period will be invoiced for the full amount. If the balance of your holiday is not paid in time, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday and apply the Cancellation Charges.
Please read the information in the “getting there and away” section for your journey to Sicily. Nearest airport and recommended flight will be advised on the individual Villa description.

INSURANCE

Before travelling please make sure you are covered by a holiday insurance. Please read our Terms and Conditions for further details on Insurance.

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you cancel your holiday more than 10 weeks prior to travel we will not refund your deposit, but we will endeavour to transfer your deposit to another Sicily à la carte Ltd product on our program with a 6 month period from your cancellation date.
If you cancel your holiday after you have paid in full the following cancellation charges will be made:

• 70 days or more deposit only
• 30 to 70 days 75% of the total holiday cost
• less than 30 days 100% of the total holiday cost.

Please note these dates refer to our receiving written notification of your cancellation.

If you still have unanswered questions, do not hesitate to email us.

Usually you can check in from 4pm to 7pm and check out by 10am. Different times to these can sometimes be arranged in advance. Your voucher will state check-in and check-out times.

Bedroom and bathroom linens are always included and changed at least once a week, some include a mid-week change.
Beach or pool towels are not always provided.
Cleaning on arrival and departure.
General consumption of gas, electricity and hot water are included although some villa owners may charge a small extra if consumption is particularly high. Always refer to the villa’s description for exactly what is included and what is not.

The security deposit varies from villa to villa. You will find this information on each property description. The amount will be payable to us by bank transfer. The deposit will be returned to you in full three days after your departure. In case of damage, the estimated repair cost will be deducted from the total amount and it will take longer to complete.

Approximately two weeks before your arrival we will send you an E-travel pack which will contain useful information about the area and the villa, including a driving itinerary. You will also receive contact details and telephone numbers of the person welcoming you. Please provide us with your flight details, and contact us if you’re delayed.

The hottest months are July and August that may reach 40°C. Spring and Autumn rarely go below 15°C. Spring is in the air in February. Autumn seems to go beyond the beginning of December. The coldest months are mid December to end of January that rarely go below 10°C, when the sun is out you’ll be fine in a T-shirt. Bear in mind that it’s always a good idea to include an anorak, a fleece or a jumper, good walking shoes as well as swimwear and flip flops any time of year you decide to come. Spring is abundant in flowers but the sea is still warm in Autumn. Don’t forget, it’s considerably cooler in the mountains and in the evenings and you never know when you will be tempted to swim in the sea!

Most of our villas are located in areas which are not easily accessible and we highly recommend hiring a car. All airports in Sicily offer car hire service. If you feel uneasy about driving let us know as we can organize chauffeur driven cars for you. Our chauffeurs tend to double up as guides and local experts!

By completing our “Enquire Now” form, found in each hotel description, you are enquiring about availability for your chosen holiday dates. Please let us know the property(ies) you are interested in, and we will get back to you soon after with availability. Should your chosen villa not be available we will suggest alternative villas or dates. Once we confirm availability we will send you a Booking Form. If you would like to go ahead with the reservation please read, complete and return the booking form to us by email. At this point we will hold your booking for 48 hours. Upon receipt of a 30% deposit, we will confirm your booking and issue a full invoice.

Payment can be made either by Cheque or bank transfer. Please remember to add your booking reference number. Once your payment has been received, we will send you a confirmation email and issue a full invoice.

You can add more guests to your booking as long as the new total number of guests does not exceed the maximum number stated on the villa description. Please note, that the villa price may change by adding more persons.

Each villa description will tell you if the villa is suitable or unsuitable for children. Generally, Sicily is very child friendly as the locals are used to take their kids everywhere and eyebrows are rarely raised. This does not however mean that there are special activities organised for children.

Unless otherwise stated, hotel prices are per room per night.

After receipt of the final payment, approximately 8-4 weeks and at the latest 2 weeks prior to your arrival date, we will e-mail you your Sicily à la carte travel pack. In the pack we will include: your property voucher, detailed directions to the villa, property and area information and contact details of the person in charge of your villa.

All changes need to be notified in writing by email to info@sicilyalacarte.com. We will do our best to accommodate your request but all changes are subject to availability and confirmation by the owner. Read our terms and conditions for charges and further details.

Please notify us of your cancellation in writing to info@sicilyalacarte.com. We will do everything in our power to refund you, however, this is not always possible. Cancellation charges are set out in our terms and conditions. Once we receive your notification we will reply with a confirmation of the cancellation and incurred charges, if any.

Note that if you are covered by travel cancellation insurance and have to cancel a booking for reasons beyond your control, you may be covered by your insurance for the cancellation fee and paid deposit.

Once you have booked one of our villas or hotels in Sicily, let us help you make your holiday truly memorable by organising some of our local activities and services for you! Explore what’s on offer, make a selection of activities you would like to experience, fill out our Enquiry Form and send it to info@sicilyalacarte.com. We will reply to you within 48 hours with the relevant detailed itineraries, additional information and prices.

On our à la carte services page and on each villa and hotel description you can find a list of excursions and services we offer. The list is by no means exhaustive and the sky is the limit so let us know what tickles your fancy.

Yes, we can arrange to pick you up from your villa or hotel at an extra charge.

All our guides speak English and some speak more than one language.

Some include meals others don’t. We can organize these on request.

Half a day is approximately four – five hours while a full day is considered to be about eight hours long.

It all depends what you’ve booked. Generally all “activities” equipment is provided unless you are bringing your own. If you are bringing your own specialized equipment, make sure it is covered by your insurance! If you go trekking or cycling, it is advisable to bring a rucksack with an anorak, change of T-shirt, a sweater or fleece depending on season, drinking water, sunblock, a sun hat and possibly an energy snack.

Ideally layered and comfortable clothing especially for hikers prepared for all weather conditions, trekking shoes are a must for climbing Mount Etna. If you’re stopping by gorges or paddling, add flip flops. You can experience a wide range of temperatures in a day, either due to sudden changes of weather, a change of altitude and the time of day.

Yes, if any of our excursions are cancelled because of adverse weather conditions or reasons beyond the supplier’s control, you’ll be refunded in full. If you cancel it less than 48 hours prior to the excursion we will refund, if we can.

Our excursions are tailor-made and will depend on how the day is structured and if you are on your own or with a group of other people. When possible, discounted rates will be applied. Please note that not all excursions are suitable to children.

We will do our best to make changes but obviously it depends on the suppliers’ availability. 48 hours before normally gives us enough time to make changes.

You should definitely be covered by a comprehensive holiday insurance. If you’re planning to part-take in any activity such as trekking or mountain biking and other sports, you should ensure that you are covered for that too.

STEP 1: MAKE AN ENQUIRY

Click the “Enquire Now” button on the Yoga & Wellness page. Fill-out and send the enquiry form.

STEP 2: WE CONFIRM AVAILABILITY

Once we receive your request, we will reply within 48 hours to confirm availability or to offer an alternative. We will answer any questions you may have and advise. Your place will be put on hold for you for the next 48 hours.

These tours are limited to small groups, so please book early.

STEP 3: BOOKING AND CONFIRMATION

Once we have confirmed availability, we will send you a complete Yoga Holiday information pack including a preliminary itinerary, booking form, booking conditions, deposit refund details and tour cost information. Please read, complete and return the booking form to us by email to info@sicilyalacarte.com. At this stage your place is provisionally secured. To go ahead with the confirmation, a deposit of £650 will be required.

STEP 4: PAYMENT

Final payment will be due ninety days prior to departure. Bookings made within this period will be invoiced the full amount.

Payment of both deposit and the balance can be made online with PayPal, by Bank account transfer or cheques. Remember to include your booking reference number on any payment.

Our bank details:
National Westminster Bank plc,
St Paul’s Branch
98 St Paul’s Churchyard
London
EC4M 8BU
GB

Account number: 16725948 Sort code: 60 05 11 BIC: NWBK GB 2L IBAN: GB68 NWBK 6005 1116 7259 48

STEP 5: E-TRAVEL PACK

Two weeks prior to your arrival date, we will e-mail you your Sicily à la carte travel pack. The pack will include: your property voucher, transfer details and the holiday’s final program.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Before booking please read our Terms and Conditions carefully. By returning your booking form by email, you agree to have read and accepted the terms and conditions of booking without a signature.
Once the non-refundable deposit has been paid to us, your booking is considered definite and a contract will exist between you and Sicily à la carte Ltd. A confirmation invoice will be sent to you. No contract will exist between us prior to our issuing the confirmation invoice.
Full payment must be made within 90 days of the start date. Bookings made within this period will be invoiced for the full amount. If the balance of your holiday is not paid in time, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday and apply the Cancellation Charges.

INSURANCE

Before travelling please make sure you are covered by a holiday insurance. Please read our Terms and Conditions for further details on Insurance.

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you cancel your holiday more than 90 days prior to travel we will not refund your deposit, but we will endeavour to transfer your deposit to another Sicily à la carte Ltd product on our program within a 12 month period from your cancellation date.
If you cancel your holiday after you have paid in full the following cancellation charges will apply:

• 70 days or more deposit only
• 30 to 70 days 75% of the total holiday cost
• less than 30 days 100% of the total holiday cost

Please note these dates refer to our receiving written notification of your cancellation.

If you still have unanswered questions, do not hesitate to email us.

The answer is YES. We mostly created our program with the solo traveller in mind. During the week you will have the time to meet like-minded people and to share some experiences with others but the idea is to be as social or as private as you like.

There is often someone who will want to share a room so we will let you know and put you in contact.

There is no age group to whom we cater for. We believe that your attitude towards the experience makes the holiday attractive and pleasurable. You need to be at least 18 to book a holiday. Otherwise, age is of no importance as long as you are open to meeting new people, exercising and participating, conscious of your limits and enjoying food and culture in very comfortable surroundings.

We cater for all fitness levels. Our teachers will personalize the positions to suit all levels. As always with yoga and similar activities you are the best judge of what you can and and what you can’t do. And we promise you, it’s not a contest! Additionally, our teachers are happy to work with you on an individual basis at a basic rate.
Also, people and partners who have not practised yoga are warmly welcomed to join us. It is not obligatory to join in the classes. However, as the yoga method is very gentle, soothing and easy to follow, some may wish to take the opportunity to try yoga for the first time.

You are on holiday and we want you to enjoy every minute of it. We pride ourselves to have created an interesting program combining yoga practice and a little exploring of areas of local interest. If you decide to opt out of any of the activities please feel free to do so.

Not really. Our Yoga Holidays cater for an adult audience and children will not engage with most of the activities.

Each day of your holiday will be relaxed, enriching, inspiring and engaging. The daily itinerary is outlined on each individual description and it will vary between teachers and the kind of yoga holiday you choose. We will practice yoga and/or meditation once otter twice a day and we will go exploring on two or three days. You can help yourself to the lunch buffet and choose to have it in your room or in company. Dinner is seated and table-served and includes wine. The rest of the time is for you to relax. If it’s too relaxing for you, we can organize anything from a bicycle to an excursion trip.

• 7 nights luxury accommodation in double or single occupancy

• all meals (including wine at dinner)

• daily holistic activities such as Yoga, Pilates, Mindful meditation

• two excursions as outlined in “Price includes” in the price section of the individual yoga holiday page

• arrival and departure transfer with recommended flights. Please refer to the individual holiday for the recommended flight for your yoga holiday.

• exclusive use of our accommodation for our small group

• 3 afternoons in the spa (where relevant)

• Your flights

• Personal Insurance

• Taxis or any other activity which is not stated in the individual yoga holiday

• Extra wine or drinks

• Anything not specified as included in the price section of your chosen yoga holiday

A double is when there is either one double bed or two single beds pushed together (quite normal in Italy) but made up with bed linen for a double mattress. A twin bed is two separate single beds.

Delicious, healthy, mostly organic with lots of fresh and seasonal fruit and vegetable. It will reflect the richness of the region with plenty of vegetable dishes, local cheeses, some fish and some meat. The continental breakfasts will include fruit, fresh bread, yogurt, cereals and more. If you have any special dietary requirements add it to our Booking Form.

We have selected all accommodation with a maximum of 12 rooms. We will be between 8 and 16 guests.

You will receive more details in the E-travel pack depending on time of year and planned activities. As a general rule, bring comfortable clothes and walking shoes. A sweater for the evenings and cooler days. Generally natural fibers and “layers” to peel on and off as the temperatures shift. Pack some swimwear, flip flops and a hat – you never know!