"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!

Congratulations on getting married. After four months of being married, my wife and I are planning a trip to Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome (what a cooincindence!). I used frequent flyer miles for round-trip tickets from Miami to Paris / Paris to Miami. However, I am wondering how if we have enough time to see all of these cities. We are arriving in Paris on the 3rd of May and flying back from Paris on May 15. I was wondering how you are planning on getting from city to city and how far these city's are from each other by train or car? Another dilemma is getting back to Paris from Rome. I am thinking about flying back to Paris from Rome to catch our flight back to the states.

Another vote for an extra night in Venice. It must be one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Another vote for an extra night in Venice.

My husband and I are planning a similar itinerary for next summer (5 nights Paris, 5 nights Rome, 2 nights Florence, 3 nights Venice). We too debated how to spend our time. If you and your fiancee love museums, then spend your time in Florence. For us, however, my husband HATES museums so he is basically just obliging me. On the other hand, he is planning on waterskiing and golfing on the Lido in Venice. Not exactly typical Italy, but, hey, everyone has their preferences!

Hello all. As true to my word, I am posting my first trip review. I am still in Rome, my first day here and my last leg of the honeymoon.

It has been many miles of walking and siteseeing so I am taking a little down time right now.

I hope this post helps many of you as the many Fodors posts I have referenced has helped me out a lot during the planning.

Paris...
First city we arrived in. We used Yellow Shuttle from the airport to our hotel. They are a great and reliable company. When you get there, you call them free from any phone in the airport. They will meet you outside of baggage claim.

Our hotel was Hotel Duret. It is on the modern side, which both my wife and I like. Very clean hotel, staff spoke great English and were very helpful. Breakfast was not included. The hotel is in the backside of the Arc, about a 10 min. walk. Around the corner and on the same street were a market, bakeries, the metro 1 line. The metro took us directly to many main spots and also to convenient transfer points in the subway. The room was a good size for a European hotel. In summary, I would stay at this hotel again.

We arrived in the morning around 10am so we got the whole day for exploring. Of course, we head to our closest landmark, the ATM...to get money of course! Hah hah. But after that, we walked along Avenue Foch towards the Arc De Triomphe. We took the brave route, and headed up the stairs to the top of the Arc for a great view of the city. After, we headed along the Champs Elysees.

As my wife was on a mission of shopping, I did learn some information. After converting the EUR back to the dollar and approximating the 12% VAT refund, items at the Louis Vuitton store would have been anywhere from 10-30% cheaper. Took me by surprise too since the EUR is stronger than the dollar. So shopaholics, save up!

During the evening, we headed to the Eiffel Tower. We were on a search for some good places to eat but didn't realize most places opened at 7pm. This was out first day and with the time difference and all, we were starving at 5pm Paris time. We ate at some random cafe that had decent food.

Mental note....most restaurants open around 7 so keep yourself nourished.

We took the lift up to all the floors of the Eiffel Tower and the view is spectacular. A bit windy but it's a must do. I didn't know this but the tower sparkes with light every so often too, that was a treat.

Day 2, we head to Basilique Sacre Coeur. We took the metro line 1 from near our hotel to the closest point and walked from there. It was great to explore the streets and try the many sandwhich stands. We did try Starbucks there. It cost 6 EUR for a mocha which was the biggest rip off in Paris. Serves us right for going to Starbucks.

The Basilique was great. It was on a high point in Paris so the view was overlooking the city. The interior was stunning and the top was even more stunning. We took the tormenting and sometimes claustrophobic stairs up to the top of the church. Maybe a stupid move on our part but the end result was worth it.

We headed next to see the exterior of the Centre Pompidou. Didn't go inside the musuem, just wanted to see the interesting "inside-out" design.

We ended evening two with a dinner cruise with Bateaux Parisiens. It wasn't the best of dinner I've had but the evening itself was a must do. The dinner cruise along the Seine River was great, we saw many of the Parisian landmarks lit up beautifully. Diners sit inside an enclosed glass on the cruise ship and sail around the Seine River. I would recommend this cruise for anything bringing a significant other. It was quite an experience.

Day 3 will come soon, maybe later but I will continue.

Hello gotta_luv, what a nice surprise to see your post! I so enjoyed reading about your first days in Paris as I did remember your thread. Attaching your report to your orginal thread is great IMO. Enjoy Rome and my best wishes to the two of you. May your have a long and joyful life together filled with many memorable trips. CinCin!!

Sorry, I'm finding myself writing way too much so let me get down to the nitty gritty.
Day 3 was the Lourve, Notre Dame and the Pantheon. The Lourve was of course enormous so we did what all the books say, choose what you want to see and go for it. The Mona Lisa was of course very surreal, to see it in person. During the evening, we went to the Moulin Rouge. That's a definite must. It's a cross between Cirque De Solei(Alegra) and Vegas showgirls. Very entertaining.

On Day 4, we were supposed to go to Versailles but of course, they wante to strike. Luckily, the guy at the metro station told us. We ended up going to Hotel Invalides(Napolean's Tomb) which was nice to see. We roamed around the city for the last day and took the overnight train to Venice.

The overnight train was not bad at all. Both my wife and I were able to sleep in it and it was definitely something to experience.

Venice: We stayed at the Locanda Orseolo and we were greeted by name when we walked in. These guys are VERY prepared. It's a Bed and Breakfast. The room was quite big, which a separate area to watch TV. It's worth a revisit. We were lucky to be in Venice during Carnevale. Man people walked around in their Venetian masks and costumes and we just snapped the camera away at some of the awesome costumes. We enjoyed our 2 day, 1 night stay and both of us thought it was the perfect amount of time there. A word of advice, of the gondolier wasn't lying to us, rides are no longer negotiable in rates as they are part of a "taxi" system where rates are set, much like taxi rates. It cost us 80 EUR for 30 mins. We had to do it, it was our honeymoon. And, it was worth it.

By the way, I have taken almost 250 pics at this point so you do want to load up on a pretty hefty card for the digital camera.

We ate at Alla Testiere as sugggested by many. The food was great but wasn't so great as made out by everyone. Still, we enjoyed dinner very much so. It's on the average price side so worth the visit and reservations are a must. We went there and every table had a reservation tag on it.

Next up is Florence and Rome. I will probably update in a few days. I am off to enjoy the rest of my evening in Rome.

Thanks for reading.

GTLF- I am so glad you are enjoying your honeymoon! Enjoy the remainder of your time in Rome. We are happy you enjoyed your time at the Locanda Orseolo as we'll be there in a few weeks.

Thanks for writing!

Liz

Hi, Mr and Mrs Gotta.
Sounds like a wonderful honeymoon. Congratulations and best wishes to you both.
Judy

unpacking is definitely not enjoyable so I have limited time. I thought I'd post some must and must nots and tips that we experience on our honeymoon.

-The metro in Paris is very convenient.
-If you like to shop, LV in Paris is cheaper than in Italy.
-The guys that try to sell you souneviers on the streets, they will easily go down less than half their original asking price, just by walking away.
-Don't try and do the Louvre in a day. Pick what you like to see and go for it.
-Try and walk up stairs to the top of a site to experience the cityscape.
-Check before going to Versailles if it's opened that day,we've learned from locals that Parisians like to strike or don't like to work. I didn't say this, the local vendor told me this himself.
-In Venice, if you're there on a day or night with high tides, it's an experience to see San Marco Plaza flood.
-Restaurants that were great for us:

FLORENCE-Ristorante Toto on Borgo S.S. Apostoli off of Via Por S. Maria. This is the big street heading on to the Ponte Vecchio. Borgo is one street before you hit the Ponte Vecchio. It's about half way down the street on the right. The BEST Florentine steak we've had.

ROME-sorry, I don't have many addresses for these but I'm sure you can find them via the Net or your hotel.

Ristorante San Marco between Villa Borghese and Barberini area. Great pastas and huge portions. About 10 EUR for pastas.

Osteria del Sostenga near Pantheon. The best carbonara we've had onthe trip and absolutely the best fusilli there. 8,50 EUR for each dish. Main dishes were ok.

Da Sergio(was in the Lonely Planet book was looked up at our hotel). Near Campo Di Fiori. They had the best pasta/main dish combo on the entire trip. We each had pasta, then a main dish, with a side of eggplant, and a bottled water for 53 EUR.

-In Rome, the customs office DID stamp our invoices for purchases in Paris and Italy even though we had a change of flight in Munich, Germany. I believe you get custom stamps at the last EU city you visit but it appears the lay over EU city does not count.

-Used www.romeshuttlelomousine.com for a private Mercedes E series sedan from Rome city center to the airport for 35 EUR. One of the best 35 EUR we spent.

-Used www.driverinitaly.com for a private tour to Tivoli. 200EUR. It was the best price I can find for a private tour. Great driver, great tour of the Villa D'Este but the owner didn't come through with providing us with a luxury sedan as requested. We sat in a VW van which wasn't as comfortable.

-Walked almost everywhere in Rome. Didn't try the metro or bus.

-Our hotel staff said petty crime, including pick pocketing, happens to locals and tourists so it's always good to be aware of your surroundings and keep valuables close to you.

-Trains between cities are very reliable and was very easy to buy tickets at the train station.

-For the sleeper train from Paris to Venice, there's a private lounge for people who hold sleeper train tix versus 2nd class seating. The lounge was spacious and had complimentary drinks(2nd floor of the train station)

-In Rome, the best gelatorias we tried we San Crispini, near Barberini area and Giolitti, near Pantheon. There are so many gelatorias there but many have become chains and some just weren't as good as others. We happened to like these two the best, suggested by our hotel staff.

-Shopping in Florence is better than Rome, per our travel books.

-Not everything in Itlay is cheaper than the US, do comparitive shopping if you can.

That's all I can think of for now. I'll post Florence and Rome soon.

So here is my update on Florence and Rome.

Florence: We spent day an equivalent of 3 full days and nights here. Hotel Caravaggio was home furing this time. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from the train station.

HOWEVER, if you're bringing anything more than a rollie with you, I would not suggest the walk. The sidewalk is narrow and it's not worth the trouble. We walked to the hotel and took a taxi to the train station upon leaving. The hotel is very close to the San Lorenzo street merchants, then you hit the Duomo, then Ponte Vecchio...so, everything is very walkable.

The hotel was a the cheap side, 125 EUR during our stay. It's not on the classy side but it's clean, updated, and close to central Florence.

During our stay, we visited the Accademia, Piazzale Michaelangelo, and walked around the Duomo area(via a bus/walking tour). We also went to Santa Croce, the Pitti Palace(Boboli Gardens), the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and shopped a lot. All this in 3 days/nights and we didn't feel rushed at all.

Rome was our last stop. We were there for 5 days and nights and the timing was perfect. We stayed at Daphne Inn Veneto. A pretty new B&B right off of the Bernini station. We took a taxi from the train station. If I knew it was half a block up the street after exiting the train station, I may have braved the metro ride. Nice staff, clean and modern rooms and Daphne Inn Veneto has a lift. The Trevi location does not. Breakfast was typical, cappuciono, deli meats, yogurt, fresh fruit. They provide wireless access and also have a community laptop on each floor. Dislikes did pile up but not enough that we wouldn't go back. Walls were on the thin side, our room, #303 had the time capsule shower that wasn't very spacious, and the rooms didn't have tempurature control. No TVs and phones in the room. They did give us a cell phone to use and we paid only if we made calls. That was very convenient.

Everyday was a new adverture and again, nothing felt rushed. During our stay, we were able to go to the Spanish Steps, Fountain of Trevi, Piazza Venezia, walk around the Borghese Gardens, go to the Vatican Musuem/Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basillica, Piazza Navona, Campo Di Fiori, Castel San' Angelo, Imperial Forums, Ancient Roman Forums, Colosseum, and Pantheon.

We walked everywhere from our hotel and I tell you, you can eat pasta twice a day for lunch and dinner and gelato twice and day and not gain any weight if you just walk everywhere. I was surprised myself that the pastas and gelato didn't do us in when we got home.

We're glad to be back but of course, we miss Europe like most people do when they go back home to the states.

Any other details I missed, please ask.


Mr. and Mrs. GLTF

Congratulations on your marriage! My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Italy 17 years ago. What a wonderful place for starting your marriage. We're planning another trip in May and I enjoyed your report and will take notes from it.