Advice/Comments on WHAT NOT TO MISS in several locations: Barcelona, Florence, Orvieto, Capri, Santorini, Rhodes, Croatia, Venice, Verona, Bellago, Monte Carlo & Nice
Jun 24th, 2005, 10:30 AM
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Advice/Comments on WHAT NOT TO MISS in several locations: Barcelona, Florence, Orvieto, Capri, Santorini, Rhodes, Croatia, Venice, Verona, Bellago, Monte Carlo & Nice
Departing in just over a month for a 26-day combination cruise (12 days) and land (12 days) vacation (with an additional 2 days of flying/travel). Please look over our plans and give advice on any of the places listed. We LOVE great food and wine. Also love art, architecture, people-watching, both hustle and bustle & the quiet countryside.
As you will be able to tell from our hotel choices, we are not locked into “budget” or “expensive” – we have an equal mixture of both. For us, it’s a balancing act. Stay at some budget places that are highly recommended so that you can afford a few splurges.
The same thing with eating … we love all spectrums of dining – from dives to fine dining!!
I guess the advice we are looking for really deals with “what not to miss.” We’ve done a lot of homework on this trip and are aware of the obvious things – gondola rides in Venice, the arena in Verona, the Duomo in Milan, etc. I have just had so much great advice over the past 4 years of reading this site that I know someone will read our itinerary and give us info or advice on something that we never knew about or even considered.
Thank you in advance for all the great advice I know we will receive!!
Cruise ports of call:
Barcelona – We embark here. As we arrive just 12 hours before the cruise sails, we only plan to see the Sagrada Familia and maybe eat at Cal Pep.
Livorno – Taking a bus into Florence. Have tickets for Uffizi and Accademia. Have lots of restaurant recommendations but haven’t decided where to eat.
Civitavecchia – Renting a car and driving to Orvieto. Plan to eat at I Sette Consoli.
Sorrento – Shore excursion to Capri. Restaurants we are considering are Villa Brunello, Da Paolino or Ristorante al Grottino.
Santorini/Thira – Plan to explore Santorini on our own. Might eat at Katina Fish Taverna.
Rhodes/Lindos – Will visit the Acropolis of Lindos (shore excursion). No idea where to eat.
Navplion – Going on the “Ancient Corinth & Canal” shore excursion. Again, no idea where to eat.
Split, Croatia – Going on the “Split Highlights” shoe excursion. Have free to time to explore on our own, shop, etc.
Land portion of vacation:
Venice – Cruise ends here. We will spend two extra nights here for a total of 3 days/nights. Have dinner reservations at Cipriani (Terrace Restaurant) and Quadri. Will have a drink at Harry’s Bar (it’s required, isn’t it – ha!). Have tickets to the Secret Itinerary Tour at Doges Palace. Staying at Hotel Galleria.
Verona – Two days here. Will take a train from Venice to Verona. Have tickets to Aida at Arena di Verona. Staying at Hotel Torcolo.
Bellagio, Lake Como – Four days here. Driver will pick us up in Verona and take us to Bellagio. Staying at Hotel La Pergola (yes, we realize it is actually 10-minutes or so outside of Bellagio). Will probably do a day trip to Milan (to see the Duomo and shop). No idea what restaurants we will try here.
Monte Carlo, Monaco – Two days here. Driver will pick us up at Bellagio and deliver us to Milano Centrale train station where we will take the train to Monte Carlo. Will be staying at the Hotel de Paris. Have dinner reservations at Louis XV for the evening of our 2nd night (husband’s 50th birthday).
Nice, France – Two days here. Will have a driver take us from Monte Carlo to our hotel in Nice, the Hotel La Perouse. Don’t know where we will eat here – thinking about Chanterelle but it has mixed reviews. Hotel has arranged transfers for us to the airport when we return home.
As you will be able to tell from our hotel choices, we are not locked into “budget” or “expensive” – we have an equal mixture of both. For us, it’s a balancing act. Stay at some budget places that are highly recommended so that you can afford a few splurges.
The same thing with eating … we love all spectrums of dining – from dives to fine dining!!
I guess the advice we are looking for really deals with “what not to miss.” We’ve done a lot of homework on this trip and are aware of the obvious things – gondola rides in Venice, the arena in Verona, the Duomo in Milan, etc. I have just had so much great advice over the past 4 years of reading this site that I know someone will read our itinerary and give us info or advice on something that we never knew about or even considered.
Thank you in advance for all the great advice I know we will receive!!
Cruise ports of call:
Barcelona – We embark here. As we arrive just 12 hours before the cruise sails, we only plan to see the Sagrada Familia and maybe eat at Cal Pep.
Livorno – Taking a bus into Florence. Have tickets for Uffizi and Accademia. Have lots of restaurant recommendations but haven’t decided where to eat.
Civitavecchia – Renting a car and driving to Orvieto. Plan to eat at I Sette Consoli.
Sorrento – Shore excursion to Capri. Restaurants we are considering are Villa Brunello, Da Paolino or Ristorante al Grottino.
Santorini/Thira – Plan to explore Santorini on our own. Might eat at Katina Fish Taverna.
Rhodes/Lindos – Will visit the Acropolis of Lindos (shore excursion). No idea where to eat.
Navplion – Going on the “Ancient Corinth & Canal” shore excursion. Again, no idea where to eat.
Split, Croatia – Going on the “Split Highlights” shoe excursion. Have free to time to explore on our own, shop, etc.
Land portion of vacation:
Venice – Cruise ends here. We will spend two extra nights here for a total of 3 days/nights. Have dinner reservations at Cipriani (Terrace Restaurant) and Quadri. Will have a drink at Harry’s Bar (it’s required, isn’t it – ha!). Have tickets to the Secret Itinerary Tour at Doges Palace. Staying at Hotel Galleria.
Verona – Two days here. Will take a train from Venice to Verona. Have tickets to Aida at Arena di Verona. Staying at Hotel Torcolo.
Bellagio, Lake Como – Four days here. Driver will pick us up in Verona and take us to Bellagio. Staying at Hotel La Pergola (yes, we realize it is actually 10-minutes or so outside of Bellagio). Will probably do a day trip to Milan (to see the Duomo and shop). No idea what restaurants we will try here.
Monte Carlo, Monaco – Two days here. Driver will pick us up at Bellagio and deliver us to Milano Centrale train station where we will take the train to Monte Carlo. Will be staying at the Hotel de Paris. Have dinner reservations at Louis XV for the evening of our 2nd night (husband’s 50th birthday).
Nice, France – Two days here. Will have a driver take us from Monte Carlo to our hotel in Nice, the Hotel La Perouse. Don’t know where we will eat here – thinking about Chanterelle but it has mixed reviews. Hotel has arranged transfers for us to the airport when we return home.
Jun 24th, 2005, 11:16 AM
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Well done, OT.
Can I come along?
For Florence I recommend Il Ritrovo Via dei Pucci 4/A 055.281688
Best food for the price Has fish. Full dinner w/wine abt 40E pp Closed Monday
From Pzza San Giovani (NW corner of the Pza del Duomo) walk one blk East to Via dei Martelli. Go left to Via dei Pucci. Turn Right. Look very carefully on left. No sign. Door could be locked. Ring bell.
Be sure to make reservations for I Sette Consoli and for Il Ritrovo.
Have a great trip, and please give us a report, especially dinner at Louis XV.
Can I come along?
For Florence I recommend Il Ritrovo Via dei Pucci 4/A 055.281688
Best food for the price Has fish. Full dinner w/wine abt 40E pp Closed Monday
From Pzza San Giovani (NW corner of the Pza del Duomo) walk one blk East to Via dei Martelli. Go left to Via dei Pucci. Turn Right. Look very carefully on left. No sign. Door could be locked. Ring bell.
Be sure to make reservations for I Sette Consoli and for Il Ritrovo.
Have a great trip, and please give us a report, especially dinner at Louis XV.
Jun 24th, 2005, 01:17 PM
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OT
Sounds like a great trip!
We dined at Louis XV a few years back when we were in the South of France for one of our summers. It was truly a highlight of my life. The whole experience is extraordinary. Just take it all in. The food is sublime and the service is beyond expectation. They had a beautiful stool for my purse as well.
It's all fab!!!!
Have a great time
Sounds like a great trip!
We dined at Louis XV a few years back when we were in the South of France for one of our summers. It was truly a highlight of my life. The whole experience is extraordinary. Just take it all in. The food is sublime and the service is beyond expectation. They had a beautiful stool for my purse as well.
It's all fab!!!!
Have a great time
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