We can't answer questions about what is "best" because the answer, quite obviously, depends on the individual. If there was a simple answer to this question, everybody in Sicily would live in that area, right?

@Flimzy, I agree. I mean every city in the world has districts which the citizen of that city would advise to tourist to stay in. They are safer, nice views, good transportation, civilized, modern, etc. I'm not asking the best place, I better want to know where not to stay there.

That's still very subjective. What is best to you obviously isn't best to everyone. This is why there are apartments, hotels, hostels, and houses in every part of every city. This way you can choose what is best for you.

Hey Flimz - I lov ya but I just don't see it as subjective. For example: "the area above blah is much more expensive" or "by the water has mostly tourists not locals" are straightforward, factual sentences.

Note that in answer to Green's comments: "That's still very subjective" That's really incorrect, Flimz. For example "X" has good transport, "Y" is a long way from the subway, "Z" has no crime now, "P" has 1800s buildings and "Q" has only modern buildings. There's no subjective element. :O

Note that this question for instance travel.stackexchange.com/questions/6017 is totally subjective.

@JoeBlow: Your specific examples are pretty objective, yes. But when you mix them all together, you get subjective. What does "best area" mean? Does it mean cheapest? Does it mean best transportation? What happens when those concepts conflict? Maybe the cheapest place has the worst transportation (as is often the case). What if the cheapest, best-connected hotel also has cock roaches?

Also keep in mind that even if "every city in the world has districts which the citizen of that city would advise to tourist to stay in", those are precisely the districts that many people on this site, myself included, would try very hard to avoid! In my opinion, such places are the WORST places to stay. This question is subjective to the core.

@JoeBlow Question should not be changed slightly. It should be changed. As of now it is still very subjective even with your edit. I am going to sound like a cliche but one should review the Help Center regarding the question, specifically the On Topic section and regarding open ended discussions. If recommendations are solicited as they are in this case a specific set of criteria needs to be provided in the question and not in the comments.

Fair enough - "it's your site" applies, so just flag it for closure. Yo have to wonder though if a site like this, which is not "taking off" (airline joke :) ), can afford to be so obtuse.

@JoeBlow: It's precisely because we have such high standards that our content is so high quality and the site does so well. If you want a version of this site without standards, I invite you to try Yahoo Answers :)

His best is the cheapest hostel in the area where drugs can be bought. Her best is a 5 star hotel where there are limos at her beck and call. My best is a decent hotel, at a decent price, where I'm not likely to be mugged or have belongings left in my room stolen. That, right there is why non-criteria based 'best' questions are to be avoided. All the OP needs do is add some criteria (price, closeness to sepcific types of attractions, crime, police visibility, nearness/farness to/from city centers, etc.

Flimz - a good point on YahooAnswers :) But this site is a flop on the SO network (sadly), it's hard to be so choosy. CGC - you've HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD All the OP needs do is add some criteria (...) Instead of all this talk, can someone just click edit and do that?? Note however that I asked a question travel.stackexchange.com/questions/35428 which was ridiculously voted closed, even though it is about one objective criteria ("notable - famous").

To recap, OP, click edit and type in one or two criteria, or hopefully someone else will do that if not you

@JoeBlow: How do you figure that it's a flop? It seems to me to be doing quite well... as well as to the owners of the SE network, as evidenced by the fact that this site graduated from beta not too long ago.

Flimz - success measured by # questions per day, compare to other network sites. (By all means that is subjective, you may be happy w/ the success level.)

instead of utterly pointless arguments: if someone posts a "subjective" question. Simply, you answer it with objective info. the result is great reading on the internet!

@JoeBlow: I think you have failed to grasp the purpose of this site. Why don't you come to chat, where it's a bit more constructive to continue this conversation.

@Flimzy, There is a tag "recommendations" here. What for is this tag? Exactly for such kind of questions. I'm asking for a RECOMMENDATION / ADVISE in which district to stay in the city. It means I want to hear different opinions from citizens or those who lived there and make my own decisions on them. By closing this question you forbid me and all others to get the advise. Then what for is this site if not for asking such kind of questions?

@Green: Did you read the description of that tag? It says Use this tag when asking us to offer suggestions about travel destinations. It's unlikely that such questions will be acceptable though since it's very difficult to ask one that's not too general yet not too localized.

Green - I'd just forget about it. Your question could hardly have been more clear: "tell me about the differences between the districts in Palermo (particularly sea v. centre)" It's difficult to see how much clearer your question could have been. Really I'd just let it go and not worry about it. Bon voyage!

My personal objection to the question as it was originally written was the use of the word "best". Period. As for why couldn't I edit the question myself? Sorry dude, I couldn't be bothered.

@JoeBlow: The problem with the question isn't clarity, per se, but subjectivity.

Guys, take it to the Travel Chat.

With all due respect, @CGCampbell, I think your edit hasn't really helped much. Now the question is impossibly broad. I think it would be better to let the OP select the one or two criteria they find most important, and mention those.