"Dream Team" for Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome
 

Hello all. This is my first posting but I've been to the forums so many times to get ideas.

I think I've comprised a pretty good itinerary for Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome. I am going in February 2007 for my honeymoon. It's my version of the "Dream Team"...but for traveling.

I was looking for romance, some rustic European flare, some contemporary, location and most importantly(as the typical in-debt newlywed) price! I'm doing the planning for my fiancee so I hope this impresses her as much as it has impressed me!

If I remember, I will post my after-trip details and feedback. Feel free to comment on the itinerary, especially if you have positive or negative personal experiences!

Paris: Hotel Duret
Their price looks very reasonable for the hotel accomodations. From what I have read, it's conveniently located near transportation and just a short distance away from the Champs. For me, that's close enough to the main tourist areas. I figured I can't go to the cheapest place as the first city of the honeymoon. I was planning on using either Bee or Yellow Shuttle from the airport based on postings.

Planning to have dinner on a cruise along the Siene River and also catching a show at the Moulin Rouge. Will of course go visit the main Parisian staples and Versailles.
Will be visiting Polaine, the infamous bread company there. I hope to find some good vacuum packed truffles in Paris! I am trying to catch the Bastille Food Market. If anyone knows that it will not be open on Sunday during February, please let me know via a post(thanks!)

Venice: Locanda Orseolo
Taking the overnight train to Venice. Have reservations/tickets already. Never did the overnight train so I wanted to include it into the experience. Will be staying at the Locanda Orseolo. Looks like it's got great ratings as an establishment, as well as staff and service. It's conveniently located near the San Marco Plaza. Planning to have dinner at the Alle Testiere in the Castello district based on recommendations. The price is a bit "pricey" but I've been to Venice once and price really does impact what you can get.

Florence-Hotel Caravaggio.
Will be taking train from Venice to Florence. Planning on buying tickets at the train station on departing day. Did that last time. Hope it's still dependable.
Located very near the train station and most posters have included a tip to request a room in the back so you don't hear the noise from the street side. Even on the street side, I've read that the noise level is not bad. I'm hoping it's within walking distance as many have said. Will be taking a walking/bus tour to visit the main staples in Florence. Will also be visiting David in the Accademia. Looking forward to it! Read that La Accademia and Trattoria Ponte Vecchio are places to try great food.

Lastly Rome-Daphne Inn Veneto.
Again, planning on buying tickets in Florence on departing day.

I originally was going for grand so I was thinking the St. Regis Grand Hotel. But after seeing that it will be almost $2k for a week's stay, I decided to look at other alternatives. I figured I need to be realistic and that a grand and ornate hotel alone won't make the honeymoon more enjoyable. The Daphne Inn Veneto is highly rated in the B&B category. Their staff has been the best to work with. They have assisted in helping me make tour reservations and based on everything they've provided to me, they have already proven themselves to me and this is all before I've even stayed there! They are the perfect contemporary B&B that we would like to end our honeymoon with. They're centrally located so it's convenient to walk everywhere. Been to Rome once so I know this is a great location. They're assisting me in getting Papal audience tickets and will assist in making reservations for a Rome Walking Tour and also the Vatican Tour(via Icon Tours). They also offer a walking tour to get visitors familiar with Rome, including staff picks for fav places. I think it's great. They're also including a cell phone to use. Can't beat that!

Planning on taking a private tour to Tivoli through driverinitaly.com. The guy has been very helpful. Will be using Rome Shuttle Limousine to take a private Mercedes sedan to the airport when departing.

My only comment: there will undoubtedly be some who try to tell you that the Rome location is "not convenient" or "not in the real Rome" or "fancy schmancy" or not in the "Centro Storico" etc., etc.

DO NOT be deterred. Rome is relatively easy to get around in and you may actually enjoy staying in a part of the city which is not tourist-clogged.

GO for it.

Hi G,

Looks very nice.

How many days?

((I))

almost 2 full weeks. I'm trying not to squeeze in too much but at the same time, absorb as much as we can without killing ourselves as this is our honeymoon. About 4 days Paris, 1 day Venice, 3 days Florence, 5 days Rome.

One day in Venice is worse than no time at all in Venice. I can promise you that you will hate Venice if that is all the time you can give it.

Hi G,

>About 4 days Paris, 1 day Venice, 3 days Florence, 5 days Rome.<

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. :)

Skip Florence and stay in Venice for 4 days.

OR, you could take a day from Rome and stop in Florence.

A DAY IN FLORENCE:

Train to Florence SMN:
The Luggage Office is to your left as you leave the train.
From Piazza d' Stazione, walk up via Nazionale to via d'Ariento and the Mercato Centrale, wander through.

Take any street going NE to Via Degli Alfani and go right to the Accademia for The David.

Take via Ricasoli SE to the Duomo, the Baptistry and the Opera Museum (Originals of the bronzes on the doors)

From the Campanile, take via Calzaiuoli S (do some window shopping) to the Piazza d' Signoria. Look around, take a break.

Continue S to the Uffizi. Visit.

From the Uffizi, walk W along the Arno River to the Ponte Vecchio.

(You can walk up to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens if there is time. Great views of Florence from the top of the Gardens)

If you have time, walk E along the S bank of the river to Ponte alle grazie and cross over to visit Santa Croce.

If not, go W along the Arno from Ponte Vecchio to Ponte S. Trinita and go right. Go left on Via d'Spada to via d'Fossi and go right to Santa Maria Novella. Look around.

SMN is across the square from the train station.

Be sure to have lots of gelato (in a cup, not a cone), take some wine breaks and a light lunch.

Train schedules, prices and tickets are at www.trenitalia.com

Bus routes are at http://www.ataf.net/
Buy your ticket before you get on the bus. Stamp it in the yellow box on the bus.

Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations
The easiest and cheapest way is to call Florence 1016868 (dial around number), 011 (U.S. international access code) 39 (Italy's country code) then 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes YOU CAN RESERVE FOR BOTH. This is through the reservation service at the Uffizi and costs beyond the normal entry fee only about 3 euro for the service. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services.

You will not be charged for the reservations unless you use them.

Have a nice visit.

((I))

I guess a lot of what cities to visit and for how long is personal preference. I've never been to Paris but have been once to all the cities in Italy that I am revisiting. It will be a first for my fiancee.

When I was in Venice, I forgot how many days, maybe 2, maybe 1.5 days, my friends and I stayed mainly in the San Marco area but did wander many of the little streets but not crossing any major bridge. So, we stayed on the "main" island. We enjoyed the city but felt it was the same thing after a while. I chose Florence as the longer stay because both my fiancee and I(mainly my fiancee) enjoy the architecture and the museums and all that the city has to offer. We also like what Florence and Rome offers as far as things to see so I know we'll need time to see it. I was in Florence for 2 full days last time and I regret not having enough time.

If I get a chance to go back again, I would definitely prolong the stay in each city!

Hi G,

I think it looks great! We are staying at the same accommodation as you in Venice and Rome during our March trip.

Your allocation of days looks about right, and you've obviously thought it through. While Ira apparently strongly favors Venice over Florence, many others feel the opposite (especially if they enjoy architecture as your fiancee does).

Earlier this year we spent 4 nights in Paris and 3 in Amsterdam. Certain posters told us we should stay the entire time in Paris, but we were glad we followed our gut instinct!

Best wishes!
Liz

Hi G,

I think this sounds like an amazing honeymoon! I'm sure you guys will have a blast, all of the cities are wonderful.

I do have to agree with Ira though, I would allocate at least 1 extra day to venice. I ADORED Florence also, don't get me wrong, but 2 days in Venice would make it easier for you to take a break and enjoy the city.
But that's just my opinion, and it seems that you have put a lot of thought into this so I'm sure you are making the right decision for your needs/wants.

Congrats and I hope you have a lovely trip!

I hope we'll get a trip report!!

:) Layla

I'll make sure to do a trip report as it looks like I have a fellow traveler going to at least 2 of the same hotels as my fiancee and I will be.

If I had that one extra day, I definitely would add it to Venice. I will actually be there for about a good day and half. I know it's still not the time it deserves but I'll bank on returning there someday soon, I hope.

Hello gotta, it sounds like you have put a lot of thought, interest and love into your honeymoon..your lucky bride!

Since you have been in Italy before I would suggest that you stay with the itinerary you have outlined especially considering the interest you and your bride have per your response.

You will return to Italy and if you wish you can then stay longer in Venice. I love Venice but I also love the other cities you are going to and isn't it true, we never have enough time to stay in any one place unfortantly.

February will soon be here! Best wishes to you two with your wedding and your honeymoon along with wishes you have a long and happy life together. May your days be filled with love and joy.

And I hope after you return home and get settled in you will give us a trip report!

It sounds like a great trip. I would also add a day to Venice if only because 1 day in any city is just too rushed. Besides that, you will love Locanda Orseolo and not want to leave.

why don't you fly from CDG to Venice. It's fairly cheap and give you more time to explore the cities, instead of sleeping on train. I'm doing that. Check expedia for roundtrip from paris to venice for the date you need to leave paris.

Hi G,

>It will be a first for my fiancee...
When I was in Venice, ... my friends and I stayed mainly in the San Marco area ...We enjoyed the city but felt it was the same thing after a while. <

You were not on your honeymoon.

I strongly urge you to let your bride have at least another day in Venice, one of the most romantic cities in the world.

You could take a day away from Rome.

((I))

Wow, it seems like you really gave this a lot of thought, so what you came up with may be the *best* schedule for you after all.

But if I may, I would add another vote for one more day in Venice. To me, it seems like you won't have enough time to fully explore any of the fine cities you are visiting, so a more in-depth visit to any of them would be something for the future. But you should at least spend enough time in each city to give you (and Fiancee) a real "feel" for what that city is like, so you can make an more informed judgment on which city you would like to come back to next time. I feel that one night in Venice would not give you (or actually, your Fiancee, since you've already been there) a real feel for the place.

Just my humble opinion. I'm sure you'll have a great time no matter what.

Hotel Caravaggio in Florence is an easy walk from the train station, to the Uffizi and the Accademia. We had a street front room. There is a piazza right in front of the hotel and one night, there was quite a bit of drinking and noise coming from the park. Even with the shutters closed, it was loud. Other than that, the hotel was fine. There is a nice little bitty garden in the back and a bar in the lobby. There was a lot of choice for breakfast, the staff was helpful and the rooms were actually very sizeable (even for Italy!).

If you are looking for a hotel in Rome, I can recommend the Hotel San Carlo. The location was fabulous, only blocks from the Spanish Steps, about 3 kms to the Vatican and to the Colosseum. Very nice shopping area.

Diane

Diane

I think your itinerary and hotels sound great. I've read good things about the Daphne properties in Rome.

You have already been to the Italian cities, I think you're smart to go with your instincts in choosing how long to stay in each. You know your own preferences, and your fiancee's tastes.

Some prefer Venice over Florence, I actually didn't. And if you like architecture and museums, well, then, Florence will suit you. I liked Venice last May, but three nights could have been two IMHO.

But, my point is that you stick to your own instincts.

Flying from Paris sounds like a great idea.

Have fun planning your wonderful honeymoon.
:)>-

P.S. Sorry-- just noticed you've already purchased overnight train tickets Paris to Venice. That will be fine, too.

thanks for all the feedback, I will definitely take it into consideration. Don't know what the protocol is but planning to post my trip report on this same posting.

gotta_luv, I don't know about others but personally I think it would be great to post your trip report on this thread. It would be fun to read the entire thread, rereading the planning posts and the trip report. Best wishes and I hope you two have a Happy Holiday!