France/Italy trip 15 days
Jul 18th, 2006, 08:06 AM
#42
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Beph -
Here are just a couple of hotel suggestions:
In Florence, Hotel Casci. Great location near the Duomo, very kind and helpful staff. As I recall, breakfast included stal cornetti (croissants), but it's been a while since we've stayed here, so maybe they've improved their breakfasts! It looks like they may have rooms available (I just put in the dates 8/20-8/24), at a price of 50 Euros per person, per night.
The places we've stayed in Rome are a bit higher-priced than you're looking for, Albergo del Senato (which has raised its prices a HUGE amount since the last time we visited) and the place we're staying this fall, Residenza Canali ai Coronari, doubles between 145 and 207 Euros (but less for cash). They both have great central locations, though, on the Pantheon and near Piazza Navona, respectively.
Here are just a couple of hotel suggestions:
In Florence, Hotel Casci. Great location near the Duomo, very kind and helpful staff. As I recall, breakfast included stal cornetti (croissants), but it's been a while since we've stayed here, so maybe they've improved their breakfasts! It looks like they may have rooms available (I just put in the dates 8/20-8/24), at a price of 50 Euros per person, per night.
The places we've stayed in Rome are a bit higher-priced than you're looking for, Albergo del Senato (which has raised its prices a HUGE amount since the last time we visited) and the place we're staying this fall, Residenza Canali ai Coronari, doubles between 145 and 207 Euros (but less for cash). They both have great central locations, though, on the Pantheon and near Piazza Navona, respectively.
Jul 18th, 2006, 10:34 AM
#43
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Your itinerary looks great. You can always do a day-trip from each city if you get bored. If you click on my screen name above, you will find my trip reports to Rome, Florence and Venice. Hotels we liked that were 'budget':
Rome-- Domus Julia (same ownership as Hotel Julia); but try also the Daphne Trevi and the other Daphne property which looked very nice but only reserve 4 nights' minimum stay in high seasons
Florence-- Relais Cavalcanti, a charming little hotel, right by the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio
Venice- Hotel Riva, a little one-star that's cute and has unbeatable views of two canals which intersect there (room 1)
Paris- Hotel de la Bourdonnais, in the 7th, with great views of the Eiffel Tower from some rooms (like quad room 503)
Rome-- Domus Julia (same ownership as Hotel Julia); but try also the Daphne Trevi and the other Daphne property which looked very nice but only reserve 4 nights' minimum stay in high seasons
Florence-- Relais Cavalcanti, a charming little hotel, right by the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio
Venice- Hotel Riva, a little one-star that's cute and has unbeatable views of two canals which intersect there (room 1)
Paris- Hotel de la Bourdonnais, in the 7th, with great views of the Eiffel Tower from some rooms (like quad room 503)
Jul 18th, 2006, 12:45 PM
#45
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WAIT!!!!!!!!
Honeymoon?? STAY IN VENICE LONGER! You might be very disappointed, once you see it, that you didn't spend more time there!
I spent 6 days there last summer with my boyfriend...not NEARLY enough time.
But whatever you choose, have a wonderful time.
Honeymoon?? STAY IN VENICE LONGER! You might be very disappointed, once you see it, that you didn't spend more time there!
I spent 6 days there last summer with my boyfriend...not NEARLY enough time.
But whatever you choose, have a wonderful time.
Jul 18th, 2006, 07:02 PM
#47
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Florence- may be a bit higher but the hotel we stayed in was wonderful.. The Hotel Davanzati- centrally located, spotlessly clean, wonderful/helpful staff- a really great place. I just recommended it to someone else that stayed there and they said it was one of the best they had ever been to. I found it last year on Tripadvisor reviews.. it lived up to the reviews.
Jul 19th, 2006, 08:53 PM
#49
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MacPrague: the Hotel Santa Maria Novella looks amazing 
I checked the places everyone listed and they all look great...but being that my 25th birthday is in September...my parents offered to pay for the Santa Maria Novella for our 3 day stay in Florence.
I checked the places everyone listed and they all look great...but being that my 25th birthday is in September...my parents offered to pay for the Santa Maria Novella for our 3 day stay in Florence.
Jul 19th, 2006, 09:25 PM
#50
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ok so we are officially booked for Paris and Florence. We are still looking for Venice and Rome. I am still sifting through previous suggestions (things have been super busy lately) and am definitly welcome to any other suggestions people have for Venice, Rome and Dublin.
Any 'must sees' for Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome? We are pretty good on Dublin having been there but are as usual open to comments/thoughts people have
How long do you think I should book museum reservations for?
Any 'must sees' for Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome? We are pretty good on Dublin having been there but are as usual open to comments/thoughts people have
How long do you think I should book museum reservations for?
Jul 19th, 2006, 09:47 PM
#52
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Hi everyone I've been reading this thread with interest as I am off to Nth Italy at the beginning of August. Getting the train from Milan to Venice and then hiring a car for 10 days to meander our way back to Milan via the Dolomites and Lakes. I know it will be peak tourist season for Italy, so can anyone tell me if I need to pre-book hotels (and therefore be tied in to a strict itinerary) or is it OK to just turn up at a place and hope to get accommodation?
I've been reading this thread with interest as I am off to Nth Italy at the beginning of August. Getting the train from Milan to Venice and then hiring a car for 10 days to meander our way back to Milan via the Dolomites and Lakes. I know it will be peak tourist season for Italy, so can anyone tell me if I need to pre-book hotels (and therefore be tied in to a strict itinerary) or is it OK to just turn up at a place and hope to get accommodation?
Jul 19th, 2006, 09:52 PM
#53
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Here's some of my husband's and my favorite hotels in the places you will be visiting:
Paris: Grande des Hommes, Latin Quarter near the Pantheon. Ask for a room on the front of the hotel with a view of Sacre Coeur.
Lake Como: The Hotel Florence in Bellagio. Ask for a corner room with a view of the lake. The hotel restaurant is fantastic and you can eat lakeside. It's like being in a Botticelli painting.
Venice: The Hotel Ponte al Mocenigo (check out the reviews on Trip Advisor). It's well located near the Rialto Bridge and the best place I've ever stayed in Venice -- small, charming, beautifully decorated rooms, lovely patio, I could go on.
Florence: Splurge and stay at the Torre di Bellosguardo - the tower room will take your breath away with 360 views over Florence and the Tuscan hillsides.
Rome: The Scalinata di Spagna or the Modigliani Hotels at the top of the Spanish Steps are rare finds. The Scalinata di Spagna has a rooftop room with views over Rome that's a real treat.
If you go to the Cinque Terre, I recommend staying in Portovenere. It's a great base to explore the many hilltowns nearby.
Paris: Grande des Hommes, Latin Quarter near the Pantheon. Ask for a room on the front of the hotel with a view of Sacre Coeur.
Lake Como: The Hotel Florence in Bellagio. Ask for a corner room with a view of the lake. The hotel restaurant is fantastic and you can eat lakeside. It's like being in a Botticelli painting.
Venice: The Hotel Ponte al Mocenigo (check out the reviews on Trip Advisor). It's well located near the Rialto Bridge and the best place I've ever stayed in Venice -- small, charming, beautifully decorated rooms, lovely patio, I could go on.
Florence: Splurge and stay at the Torre di Bellosguardo - the tower room will take your breath away with 360 views over Florence and the Tuscan hillsides.
Rome: The Scalinata di Spagna or the Modigliani Hotels at the top of the Spanish Steps are rare finds. The Scalinata di Spagna has a rooftop room with views over Rome that's a real treat.
If you go to the Cinque Terre, I recommend staying in Portovenere. It's a great base to explore the many hilltowns nearby.
Jul 20th, 2006, 02:40 AM
#54
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beph--I'm glad the SMN in Florence looked good to you! We thoroughly enjoyed it.
One note, at some point when you are confirming your reservations, ask if they've put up a sign yet! they didn't yet have one when we arrived, so it took us a couple of laps around the square before we found it. Well worth the effort, though.
We also took an excellent private tour while we were there; if you are interested, I'll check with the tour guide about sending you his email address.
(this is almost as exciting as planning a trip for myself!) --MP
One note, at some point when you are confirming your reservations, ask if they've put up a sign yet! they didn't yet have one when we arrived, so it took us a couple of laps around the square before we found it.
Well worth the effort, though.We also took an excellent private tour while we were there; if you are interested, I'll check with the tour guide about sending you his email address.
(this is almost as exciting as planning a trip for myself!) --MP
Jul 20th, 2006, 05:08 AM
#55
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hehe - thansks MP. It is fun to read other peoples posts, I have become addicted and have gotten some great ideas for further trips. I appreciate all your and everyone elses help.
What did you do on your private tour? We would def. be interested. Can you give me any info on cost/things you saw? If your guide is willing I think it would be great
What did you do on your private tour? We would def. be interested. Can you give me any info on cost/things you saw? If your guide is willing I think it would be great
Jul 20th, 2006, 06:59 AM
#56
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I have been looking around and noticed a post about validating train tickets. If I am buying our tickets the day we are traveling are the automatically validated - or - do we need to go somewhere to have it done?
As I have said I am unsure of the train system and how it works in Europe, so I just wanted to make sure I knew what to do. If it is something so obvious that I will figure it out in the train station just let me know I am being paranoid ;-)
As I have said I am unsure of the train system and how it works in Europe, so I just wanted to make sure I knew what to do. If it is something so obvious that I will figure it out in the train station just let me know I am being paranoid ;-)
Jul 20th, 2006, 07:42 AM
#57
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Venice Hotel - has anyone stayed or know anything about Hotel Mignon?
website:
http://www.mignonvenice.com/en/location.htm
website:
http://www.mignonvenice.com/en/location.htm
Jul 20th, 2006, 07:50 AM
#58
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I believe in Italian train stations you will find machines to validate your ticket. It's important to do it. We were fined on the train because our tickets were not stamped. (We had just purchased the tickets from a woman at the window, who knew we were rushing to catch the train. We assumed she had stamped it for us, as she can do that. But noooooo.)
Jul 20th, 2006, 08:00 AM
#60
I only reached your thread after you'd decided to cut out the lakes stage. What a shame! IMO, your ideal trip would be Paris, Venice, Lake Como, Rome. Yes, that's it. If you go to Florence as well as Venice and Rome, by the time you get to Rome you won't want to see another Museum in your life! Whereas, if you give yourselves a rest in between, you'll get there refreshed and ready for more. And it won't be wasted time as the area is beautiful, with lots to see.
Incidentally, I've been to France over a dozen times[ not boasting, but it's easy from the UK] and I've never been to MSM or the normandy beaches. Might get there one day, might not. A trip to Giverney to see Monet's garden [not been there either yet, but it's on my list] is much easier from Paris, or why not Versailles, which is a doddle on the RER.
Less is more!
Have a great time.
Incidentally, I've been to France over a dozen times[ not boasting, but it's easy from the UK] and I've never been to MSM or the normandy beaches. Might get there one day, might not. A trip to Giverney to see Monet's garden [not been there either yet, but it's on my list] is much easier from Paris, or why not Versailles, which is a doddle on the RER.
Less is more!
Have a great time.
