Page 74 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

most towns and, though sometimes minimally equipped, will be able to treat stings,

bites, fevers and minor accidents.

In an emergency, dial 113 and ask for “ospedale” or “ambulanza”. The nearest
hospital will have a Pronto Soccorso (casualty) section, while on smaller islands, or
places with no hospital, there is usually a Guardia Medica clinic.

Insurance

It’s essential to take out a travel insurance policy to cover against theft, loss, illness
or injury during your travels. A typical policy will provide cover for the loss of
baggage, tickets and – up to a certain limit – cash, as well as cancellation or
curtailment of your journey. Most policies exclude so-called dangerous sports, unless
an extra premium is paid: in Sicily this can mean things like scuba-diving, windsurfing
and volcano trekking. If you need to make a claim, you should keep receipts for
medicines and medical treatment, and in the event you have anything stolen, you must

obtain an official statement from the police. This is sometimes easier said than done
in Sicily, but persevere; without it, you’ll not be able to claim your money back.

ROUGH GUIDES TRAVEL INSURANCE

Rough Guides has teamed up with WorldNomads.com to offer great travel insurance
deals. Policies are available to residents of over 150 countries, with cover for a
wide range of adventure sports, 24hr emergency assistance, high levels of medical
and evacuation cover and a stream of travel safety information. Roughguides.com
users can take advantage of their policies online 24/7, from anywhere in the world –
even if you’re already travelling. And since plans often change when you’re on the
road, you can extend your policy and even claim online. Roughguides.com users who

buy travel insurance with WorldNomads.com can also leave a positive footprint and
donate to a community development project. For more information, go to
roughguides.com/shop.

Internet

There are internet places all over Sicily, with access costing up to €5 an hour.

However, free wi-fi access is increasingly available in B&Bs, hotels and bars, and
there are wireless hotspots in many public spaces (though you might need to sign up
and pay for an hour’s or day’s use for these).

Laundry

Coin-operated laundries are very rare. More common is a lavanderia, a service-wash