In an attempt to boost tourism, a small Italian town is offering travellers a holiday for under £1 — including accommodation, food and guided tours — however there are a few catches
A little-known seaside town in Europe is selling April breaks for just 84p.
Siculiana, a town in Sicily, Italy, is offering a weekend away for two people for the bargain price of €1 (£0.84). The scheme, launched by the Siculiana tourist board, allows holidaymakers to bag a three-night Sicilian getaway for under a pound. Accommodation, meals, and guided tours are included in the fee. All travellers have to pay is €1, which is Sicily’s tourist tax.
However, there are a few catches.
One of the big ones is that flights are not included. To travel to the town, the closest airport is Palermo. Fortunately, flights from the UK to Palermo are not too pricey, with a return fasre for the dates of the trip from London Stansted with Ryanair for £144.23.
From the airport, travellers will need to hop in a taxi or hire a car for a two-hour drive to the town. With Auto Europe, travellers could pick up a Volkswagen Golf or similar from the airport, with unlimited mileage for the duration of the trip, from £12.23 a day. Alternatively, travellers can take one of two buses from Castelvetrano for under £10 each. A taxi would cost around £207 for two people.
Those who still want to head on the trip will need to apply through the council website and they must travel in a pair, with both participants being of the age of 18. As part of the application, prospective travellers must record a 30-second video explaining why they and their travel partner want to participate.
However, there is a tight deadline, with the window to send a video closing on Saturday, March 15. A total of 10 couples will be selected and winners will be announced by Thursday, March 20. The trip will then take place on the weekend of April 4 to 6, 2025.
On the council website, it explains that the experience includes a two-night stay, welcome drinks, breakfast, lunch and dinner and a drink to conclude the break, by the marina. Guided tours will also be included on the trip, including visiting historical places in Siculiana and participating in activities where guests will learn about local customs and traditions.
As part of the trip, participants will need to document their experience with a video diary, which has to include highlights from throughout the trip and the most significant moments of the adventure.
Those on the trip must also be happy with the tourist board publishing any videos or photos they take for their campaign. Siculiana is hoping to boost tourism numbers to make the spot a year-round destination. The area is particularly known for its scenic coastline and Castello Chiaramonte — a castle which sits on top of a cliff. In April, the average high temperature is 19C, which means the group can still enjoy the town’s sandy beaches.
