I'm glad you finally made it, rcg! Sounds like a an ultra-relaxing trip.

I think I had a double-single-use overlooking the parking lot at Cenobio dei Dogi. I must have low standards, as I didn't find the room tiny and thought it extremely comfortable. It had a small entry hall and great closet space, which I always appreciate. I also thought that it was a pretty good-looking parking lot, what with the trees.

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RainyCity: GREAT reporting!! Thank you so much for that info. I would probably do more or less what you did.


Leely: Your single was nicer than my single!!!!! I am going to try to dig up a photo later.......

You two are among my favorite posters on this forum!

Great to learn about Camogli—have been to the region a few times but never to Camogli. Clearly that has to be rectified!

That room looks pretty good Leely! I will try to post the view from mine later, the set up was pretty much the same, loved the entry hall dividing the bedroom from the bathroom and I had hooks on the wall there to hang up my hat and other things. This was actually my second time there-in 2022 after covid my husband and I and this same friend from Australia were there. And it won't be the last, friend and I are talking about next year. I thought about you when I saw the people who were hiking around to San Fruttuoso because didn't you do that? Gives me palpitations just looking up at it from the ferry.

The hotel had lots of European visitors but also LOADS of Aussies, and there were also loads of Aussies in Villefranche but there they were there to ride in the Ironman or be support.

ekscrunchy you are welcome! I hope you have a wonderful time just relaxing as we did. We actually ate dinner 3 times in the hotel and I have to say the dinners there were better than the dinners we had out in local restaurants which isn't usually the case. And you and Leely are 2 of my favourites also!

Hi rcg, good to see your report. Last September, we stayed in Santa Margherita Ligure, and visited Camogli. Loved the local feel of the place, and the harbour. The trees up above the Cenobio are gorgeous, too. After SML, we drove up to Piemonte, a region we also loved and crave to go back to.

I would love to hear what your tour of the champagne area entailed. That's one area of France we have not been, and I have discovered my husband actually enjoys day tours especially involving wineries lol.

On another note, you have probably seen the news about the Gran Fondo in the Okanagan...you would wonder how this could happen...what a shame.

Hi natylou, yes the Gran Fondo incident is terrible, I still haven't read how on earth it happened. My husband has never done that one but he did the Vancouver to Whistler Gran Fondo many times.
I haven't been to Piemonte yet but it is on my list.
My champagne tour was a very intense five day small private tour that was amazing but also very busy and so information rich it was great but exhausting.
You can do day trips from Paris out to the region if you like or stay in either Reims or Epernay. Epernay is where they have the avenue of Champagne with many many maisons lining it that you can tour. The region is absolutely beautiful and everyone we met working in the industry was friendly, passionate about what they are doing and eager to share their knowledge. The focus seems to be on moving champagne along from just being an aperitif or celebratory drink to something you can pair with food and we had fabulous meals all with different champagne pairings.