The European island that’s dubbed the ‘pearl of the Mediterranean’ – and flights are just £17

THE waves rhythmically lap beneath the netting at the bow of our catamaran, where we’ve spent the entire afternoon lounging.

We’ve been cruising serenely along the coast of Sicily and this really is, as they say in Italian, la dolce vita — the sweet life.

GettyExplore Sicily by boat and explore the peaceful quiet marinas of the Mediterranean island[/caption]

Stay on a luxurious catamaran and avoid expensive hotel room prices[/caption]

I was never a boat person until I started watching reality TV series Below Deck, which made me realise that there was much more to getting your sea legs than the hedonistic booze cruises of my late teens.

Now, just a few hours into my three-day adventure aboard a luxurious Lagoon 42 catamaran, the mariner life really . . .  well, floats my boat.

This brand-new 42ft vessel can be hired for a fraction of its £450,000 price tag thanks to the Airbnb of the maritime world, samboat.co.uk.

It’s just one of a fleet of thousands of sailboats, yachts, motorboats and catamarans worldwide that can be rented online for hours, days or even weeks at a time.

Our floating rented home, named Lotus, is a contemporary double-decker of a boat that sleeps eight, plus the skipper, in four double cabins that are like mini hotel rooms with en-suites.

Two little sets of stairs even feature fish tank-like glass so you can observe the wildlife underwater.

The interior lounge upstairs has a dining table and seats, as well as a fully equipped kitchen, while on deck, there’s another table with plenty of shaded lounging areas.

And like proper yachties, our provisions were all bought fresh that morning and refrigerated.

If you’ve got a licence, you can pilot yourself, but handling the oars while taking my kids on a rowing boat doesn’t qualify me for captain duties, so we have a skipper on board for the duration.

Salvatore, aka Toto, leads our trip around the volcanic Aeolian Islands after we set off from Marina di Portorosa on Sicily’s north coast, about an hour’s drive from Catania airport.

Our first afternoon on board is spent snacking, drinking ice-cold Italian beer, sunbathing and snoozing, before arriving in Lipari, an island north of Sicily.

A free shuttle taxi takes us to Marina Corta, a picturesque bay full of classic Italian restaurants, cafes (a cannoli-cream-flavoured gelato may be one of the tastiest things I’ve ever eaten) and tourist shops.

We head back to the boat for our first night on board. Completely silent in the marina, with a mild, gentle rocking motion, I slept like a bambino, as they say in Italian.

With hotel rooms in high demand in Sicily this summer thanks to TV’s The White Lotus, I can see why a sea-stay at a docked floating hotel like ours is being touted as the new way to holiday.

Another day on board takes us to Vulcano, a small island just north of Sicily, stopping at different points for a swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear, almost-tepid water, before docking at Marina di Portorosa on Sicily.

A short stroll into the local town Tonnarella leads us to a quaint beachside restaurant where the food once again leaves us chef-kissing to the exquisite Italian cooking.

We’re too full for the karaoke night at the marina bar, so instead we unwind in the cool night-time air on our catamaran, occupying a prime spot on the water.

While you’re in this area, it’s worth taking the 90-minute taxi ride to the ancient municipality of Taormina on Sicily’s east coast.

Perched above the Ionian Sea, it boasts a charming main street — made from slate taken directly from the base of the smoking Etna volcano — that leads to twisting medieval alleyways of restaurants, cafes and shops.

After a lunch of bruschetta, gnocchi and fresh seafood, there’s just enough time to download the new series of Below Deck for the flight home.

As they say in Italian, alla prossima — until next time.

GettySicily has many picturesque spots to explore including the church in the centre of Taormina[/caption]

GettyThe ancient theatre of Taormina with Etna’s famous volcano at sunset[/caption]  Read More