Accommodation
Where to Stay
General Information
My wildest dream would be that each of my friends from abroad could be hosted by one of my friends from Sicily. Given the size of the guest list, this is unlikely to happen. The next best option is that those of you that will not be hosted by a friend can find accommodation in Ficarazzi or nearby. Ficarazzi is a tiny village. As such, it does not offer infinite accommodation options. Yet, there are a few B&Bs and holiday homes that can be booked online. Alternative options include nearby towns, such as Bagheria (where my parents live), or Palermo. Both are well connected to Ficarazzi by public transport, and they offer a wider range of accommodation options. The most important caveat of staying outside of Ficarazzi is that there is no public transport in the evening, so you will need to rely on taxis or car sharing to get to and from the venue. Below I collect some hints on how to find accommodation, but I suggest you start looking as soon as possible, especially if you want to stay in Ficarazzi.
Tips
Where will the party be held?
Since this website is publicly accessible, I will not disclose the exact location here. You will find the specific address in the WhatsApp community. However, I can give you a rough location that will help you in your search for accommodation. The party will be not far from via Roma, Ficarazzi.
Booking accommodation
Booking.com and Airbnb are the most popular platforms to find accommodation in Sicily. You can already start looking by yourself, but if you share in the registration form the dates for which you will need accommodation, I can try to help booking directly through the house owners. The extra advantage of this is that we avoid using these websites. You can find more info on why this is a good idea on the BDS website.
Ficarazzi
Ficarazzi is quite small, so most accommodation options will be reachable by foot within a 20 minutes walk from the venue. However, for the same reason, there are not many options. I suggest you to start looking as soon as possible if you want to stay in Ficarazzi.
Bagheria
Bagheria is probably the next best option. It is bigger and offers more accommodation options, and it is home to many of my wonderful friends, so hopefully organising rides back and forth will be easier. It is well connected to Ficarazzi (and Palermo), but trains don't run late at night.
The coast
There are plenty of small villages along the coast (including Ficarazzi itself). These are a bit more difficult to reach by public transport, but are worth checking if you are looking for a nice seaside place. As long as the place is not too far, I can try to help organising rides to and from the venue.
Palermo
Palermo is the largest city in Sicily and offers a wide range of accommodation options. It is well connected to Ficarazzi (and the coast), but trains don't run late at night. Some of my friends live in Palermo, so perhaps some rides can be organised from there as well, although it might be a bit more difficult given the distance. Perhaps this option is best if you also rent a car or could see themselves staying up all night (not alone, of course!) to wait for the first train in the morning.
If you have a car
If you have a car (e.g. because you rented one), then everything will be much easier. You can stay wherever you want and just drive to the venue. Also, you can offer rides to other people, which will be much appreciated!
If you DON'T have a car
If you DON'T have a car, then prioritise accommodation in Ficarazzi or nearby. For those of you who are always full of energies, I can see us staying up all night after the party (this happens often at my parties as we play boardgames when most people have left) and take the first train in the morning. The first one for Palermo leaves at 6:22 am, while the first one toward Bagheria (opposite direction) leaves at 5 am.
Being hosted by a local
Needless to say that being hosted by one of my wonderful Sicilian friends would be an amazing experience! Of course, it will depend on the number of people that will be able to host, but if you are interested in this option please register asap and tick the box! However, do not count on this option and start looking for accommodation as well!