Hit European holiday hotspot is giving tourists extra night stay for free

An ITALIAN island is giving holidaymakers an extra night of accommodation for free.

Sicily has launched a money-saving initiative to draw trip-savvy tourists into the region.

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The scheme, which has been dubbed “See Sicily“, will give holidaymakers a free night of accommodation, a discount on plane or ferry tickets, and a free excursion of choice.

According to Forbes, the region’s president Renato Schifani, “hopes the initiative will boost quality tourism by encouraging vacationers to stay longer.”

To qualify for the freebies and discounts, holidaymakers will need to book a three-night stay to claim an extra night without spending a penny.

For a six-night stay, travellers will get an additional two nights’ accommodation free of charge – which is the maximum number of extra nights on offer.

Travellers who are arriving nationally or internationally by plane or ferry will be able to claim 50 per cent off the price of their ticket.

For anyone who is arriving within Italy or Europe, they’ll be able to claim a discount of €100 (£87.91) on flights worth over €50 (£43.95).

Meanwhile holidaymakers arriving from outside of Europe will be able to claim €200 (£175.82) off the cost of their flights.

For Brits on the hunt for some winter sun, return fares from London Stansted to Palermo can be snapped up for £47.

Flights from London Stansted to Catania cost less than £40 for a return trip.

To take advantage of the accommodation deal, holidaymakers are encouraged to book their stay via affiliated tour operators and hotel partners.

There is a choice of two package options, with or without flights, and tourists will need to contact a tour operator directly via phone or email to secure the voucher.

The Visit Sicily website lists a range of hotels that are taking part in the deal and accommodation ranges from one to four star hotels.

For example, a one-night stay at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Catania costs €74 per night per room, while the Best Western Santa Caterina costs €142 per night per room.

Holidaymakers should research hotel prices before contacting an establishment for the voucher.

Those contacting hotels should remain persistent when hunting down the deal because a handful of travellers have struggled to obtain a voucher.

On the Sicily message board on TripAdvisor one person wrote: “I have written to five different agencies listed on the website and absolutely no answer at all.”

Those who are keen to take advantage of the package should plan a trip to Sicily by September 30, 2023.

The offer isn’t valid in July and August and is expected to run out, so anyone interested in bagging a night in Sicily for free should book as soon as possible.

This isn’t the first time Italy has encouraged tourists into the country.

Last year, the popular region of Lazio, which includes Rome started paying couples £1,660 to tie the knot.

Yet Venice is to get more expensive – the city is to start charging visitors €10 (£8.63) to enter in a tourist clamp down.

Beaches in Sardinia are also applying charges, and the Amalfi coast has also brought in rules to prevent overcrowding.

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