Help ! leaving in 1 week need advice
Aug 9th, 2008, 11:54 AM
#61
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Okay - the good news about Venice: your parents will be there in the low/mid season, so rates seem to be surprisingly low (for Venice).
Two potential ideas (slightly outside of your budget range, but if they want A/C and a decent location, they're going to have to pay a little more):
HOTEL ALA
http://www.hotelala.it 144 Euros/night = 289 Euros for a weekend stay from Sat 8/23 checking out Mon 8/25. I've stayed there and it's great - easy to find, right on a canal, fantastic staff, A/C rooms, and elegant interior. They might even get a canal view.
HOTEL BECHER
http://www.hotelbecher.com 120 Euros on Sat/100 on Sun = 220 Euros for weekend stay from Sat to Mon. I haven't stayed here, but it gets great reviews on Tripadvisor and it also has A/C and a good location.
Worst case scenario: There is a tourist information location in the train station where they'll arrive in Venice. As long as they get there early enough in the day, the staff will be able to find them a decent A/C room that meets their needs.
Stay tuned for a restaurant post on Rome...
Two potential ideas (slightly outside of your budget range, but if they want A/C and a decent location, they're going to have to pay a little more):
HOTEL ALA
http://www.hotelala.it 144 Euros/night = 289 Euros for a weekend stay from Sat 8/23 checking out Mon 8/25. I've stayed there and it's great - easy to find, right on a canal, fantastic staff, A/C rooms, and elegant interior. They might even get a canal view.
HOTEL BECHER
http://www.hotelbecher.com 120 Euros on Sat/100 on Sun = 220 Euros for weekend stay from Sat to Mon. I haven't stayed here, but it gets great reviews on Tripadvisor and it also has A/C and a good location.
Worst case scenario: There is a tourist information location in the train station where they'll arrive in Venice. As long as they get there early enough in the day, the staff will be able to find them a decent A/C room that meets their needs.
Stay tuned for a restaurant post on Rome...
Aug 9th, 2008, 11:59 AM
#62
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ROME RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS (from a foodie friend of a friend):
RESTAURANTS
La Rosetta- near Piazza Navona
Alfredo - where fettuccine Alfredo was born – Via della Scrofa
Ristorante Il Matriciano – Via dei Gracchi – Near the Vatican
Osteria Romana – via S. Paolo alla Regola 29 – near Campo dei Fiori- 7 course meal for about $30
Matricianella – a great trattoria – via del Leone
La Rosetta – devoted to seafood – Via della Rosetta 8
Antico Forno Marco Roscioli – great bianca pizza – Via dei Chiavari 34
La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali- Via Madonna dei Monti, 16; (06 679 8643). Dinner for two with wine, $85 to $125
CAFFES AND GELATO
Giolitti – Vai Uffici del Vicario 40 – the city’s oldest ice cream shop
Caffe Sant’Eustachio – Piazza Sant’Eustachio, near Pantheon – world-renowned cappuccino!(tastes chocolaty)
Tazza d’Oro – Via degli Orfani 84r –near Pantheon – best coffee house
Il Gelato de San Crispino – Via della Panetteria 42 – near Piazza di Trevi, closed on Tuesdays; fantastic gelato
RESTAURANTS
La Rosetta- near Piazza Navona
Alfredo - where fettuccine Alfredo was born – Via della Scrofa
Ristorante Il Matriciano – Via dei Gracchi – Near the Vatican
Osteria Romana – via S. Paolo alla Regola 29 – near Campo dei Fiori- 7 course meal for about $30
Matricianella – a great trattoria – via del Leone
La Rosetta – devoted to seafood – Via della Rosetta 8
Antico Forno Marco Roscioli – great bianca pizza – Via dei Chiavari 34
La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali- Via Madonna dei Monti, 16; (06 679 8643). Dinner for two with wine, $85 to $125
CAFFES AND GELATO
Giolitti – Vai Uffici del Vicario 40 – the city’s oldest ice cream shop
Caffe Sant’Eustachio – Piazza Sant’Eustachio, near Pantheon – world-renowned cappuccino!(tastes chocolaty)
Tazza d’Oro – Via degli Orfani 84r –near Pantheon – best coffee house
Il Gelato de San Crispino – Via della Panetteria 42 – near Piazza di Trevi, closed on Tuesdays; fantastic gelato
Aug 9th, 2008, 12:05 PM
#64
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One last thing: email [email protected] and ask him to send you his notes on Venice. Your parents can read them on the plane and they have some great suggestions for things to do and see, as well as ways to save money.
He offered them up in an earlier thread, but they're too long to post, so he needs you to email him. Just say you saw it on Fodors.
He offered them up in an earlier thread, but they're too long to post, so he needs you to email him. Just say you saw it on Fodors.
Aug 9th, 2008, 08:03 PM
#65
I loved Venice, so can understand your Mom's desire to include that.
These hotels are 3-star and might be a stretch of the budget, but they're ones I happen to know of so will include here:
Venice
www.lacalcina.com
www.pensioneaccademia.it
Paris
www.parisdacialuxembourg.com
www.hotelmonge.com (recently remodeled and renamed Hotel Acte V and I can't get their website to work)
These hotels are 3-star and might be a stretch of the budget, but they're ones I happen to know of so will include here:
Venice
www.lacalcina.com
www.pensioneaccademia.it
Paris
www.parisdacialuxembourg.com
www.hotelmonge.com (recently remodeled and renamed Hotel Acte V and I can't get their website to work)
Aug 11th, 2008, 07:08 AM
#66
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Here is a place in Venice, with charm and available rooms within your budget. It is just beyond the Jewish ghetto museu, (Cannaregio). We have stayed there twice and can vouch for the quality. Simple, clean and with some old Venice elegance (lovely chandeliers, big tubs and a courtyard breakfast room).
www.hoteltrearchi.com
www.hoteltrearchi.com
Aug 11th, 2008, 07:22 AM
#67
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Hi,
the mid - end of August is surely a terrible hot season (while low and that's better for budget) for rome and venice both of them with a heavy humidity rate during summer.
When booking hotels please remind that italy first floor is actually american second one, so if your parents need some help climbing stairs be sure that the hotels have elevators. One more thing to mind at is that cheap / budget hotels have usually poor AC (while not at all) and in that season it really could negatively affect your holidays.
the mid - end of August is surely a terrible hot season (while low and that's better for budget) for rome and venice both of them with a heavy humidity rate during summer.
When booking hotels please remind that italy first floor is actually american second one, so if your parents need some help climbing stairs be sure that the hotels have elevators. One more thing to mind at is that cheap / budget hotels have usually poor AC (while not at all) and in that season it really could negatively affect your holidays.
Aug 11th, 2008, 07:36 AM
#68
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Skip London for another trip...
Florence is better than Venice if you are art afficianado. Venice for city scenery (can do Venice in about a day really).
Paris 3 days is enough.
Rome 3 days
Do take the train..try venere.com for hotels..always had good luck with them for Paris hotels...stay in St Germain and/or Latin Quarter so you can walk to most everything.
Don't do the plain...take the train!
Florence is better than Venice if you are art afficianado. Venice for city scenery (can do Venice in about a day really).
Paris 3 days is enough.
Rome 3 days
Do take the train..try venere.com for hotels..always had good luck with them for Paris hotels...stay in St Germain and/or Latin Quarter so you can walk to most everything.
Don't do the plain...take the train!
Aug 12th, 2008, 09:18 AM
#69
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Update Thanks to all of you for your wonderful suggestions! I managed to convince them to break it down to 3 cities so they are doing 4 nights Rome in a boutique hotel called Suite dreams (100/night), 2 nights Venice in hotel Becher (98/night) and then 4 nights Paris in La Familia hotel (99/night). I am treating them to a canal view room with balcony in venice and will pay the fee to upgrade.
They will likely buy their train pass from Rome to Venice there and if time permits can do a guided day trip to florence from Rome (so no bags to bring or stuff to pack).
Still deciding on whether to fly or take the overnight train from Venice to Paris but at least rooms are all booked. Yipppeee on to actual planning things to see and do where to eat etc
Anyone know if city tours/entrance fees/excursions need to be booked in advanced or all done there?
They will likely buy their train pass from Rome to Venice there and if time permits can do a guided day trip to florence from Rome (so no bags to bring or stuff to pack).
Still deciding on whether to fly or take the overnight train from Venice to Paris but at least rooms are all booked. Yipppeee on to actual planning things to see and do where to eat etc
Anyone know if city tours/entrance fees/excursions need to be booked in advanced or all done there?
Aug 12th, 2008, 09:27 AM
#70
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I think I would book tours in advance. We used www.enjoyrome.com for our Vatican and Roman Forum tours and were very happy. Glad things are working out!
Aug 12th, 2008, 09:28 AM
#71
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If they are taking a night sleeper train from Venice to Paris, it would be best to buy their ticket and make reservations before they leave home.
The only train ticket we purchased for our trip in September was for the night train.
The easiest website for me to use is www.raileurope.com I have used them 2 times and been satisfied with the way they get the tickets to me. This time they overnighted them at no charge.
The only train ticket we purchased for our trip in September was for the night train.
The easiest website for me to use is www.raileurope.com I have used them 2 times and been satisfied with the way they get the tickets to me. This time they overnighted them at no charge.
Aug 12th, 2008, 09:43 AM
#72
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Good job with the hotels Mia! That wasn't an easy task.
Entrance to most major sights (but definitely not all) you can do without a reservation. Special tours do usually need to be booked in advance. Most major sights and museums (Vatican, Lourve, Doges Palace, etc) have basic audio or group guided tours which you can usually purchase with your admission at the door. Most hotels can set you up with some generic tours, but a good city or specialty tour you may want to research and book in advance.
The one museum in ROme that you should book in advance, if they want to see it (and it's well worth seeing) is the Borghese Gallery. It's small and has timed entry. Advance purchase is necessary.
Entrance to most major sights (but definitely not all) you can do without a reservation. Special tours do usually need to be booked in advance. Most major sights and museums (Vatican, Lourve, Doges Palace, etc) have basic audio or group guided tours which you can usually purchase with your admission at the door. Most hotels can set you up with some generic tours, but a good city or specialty tour you may want to research and book in advance.
The one museum in ROme that you should book in advance, if they want to see it (and it's well worth seeing) is the Borghese Gallery. It's small and has timed entry. Advance purchase is necessary.
Aug 12th, 2008, 10:00 AM
#73
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I agree with MFNYC, no need to book tours now. There is so much to see in Rome I would not bother with the Borghese museum this trip.
With regard to Vatican museum, line into museum looks long but moves fast. Advise mom and dad to have a good breakfast, arrive early, get in line and get in. At end of Vatican Museum is Sistine Chapel - from this exit they will go directly to St Peter's to see Michelangelo Pieta and Bernini bronze and marble sculptures. So no need for a new line.
There is no need for Forum tickets. Lots of room there. They just started charging to walk through ruins - but there is plenty of room in that ancient city ;-)
Ideas for a perfect day in Rome:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=255
Make sure they go to Raphael Hotel rooftop at sunset for a drink. Two drinks = 20 euros:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=195
If they like coffee:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=188
And a reasonable restaurant near Piazza Navona:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=187
With regard to Vatican museum, line into museum looks long but moves fast. Advise mom and dad to have a good breakfast, arrive early, get in line and get in. At end of Vatican Museum is Sistine Chapel - from this exit they will go directly to St Peter's to see Michelangelo Pieta and Bernini bronze and marble sculptures. So no need for a new line.
There is no need for Forum tickets. Lots of room there. They just started charging to walk through ruins - but there is plenty of room in that ancient city ;-)
Ideas for a perfect day in Rome:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=255
Make sure they go to Raphael Hotel rooftop at sunset for a drink. Two drinks = 20 euros:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=195
If they like coffee:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=188
And a reasonable restaurant near Piazza Navona:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=187
Aug 12th, 2008, 10:04 AM
#74
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Mia,
I stayed at Familia in June and it was perfectly fine--an easy walk to Ile de la Citie and the metro. There is a great restaurant just a couple of blocks away...http://www.mareeverte.com/index.php?lang=en
if they feel like a little splurge one night.
www.hereinfranklin.wordpress.com
I stayed at Familia in June and it was perfectly fine--an easy walk to Ile de la Citie and the metro. There is a great restaurant just a couple of blocks away...http://www.mareeverte.com/index.php?lang=en
if they feel like a little splurge one night.
www.hereinfranklin.wordpress.com
Aug 12th, 2008, 10:34 AM
#76
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I would fly from Venice to Paris. Not everyone sleeps well on night trains and with the short time they're in Europe they'll experience enough new things without adding a night train to the mix.
If they're doing a Vatican tour in Rome I would prebook. They can just show up for other tours.
If they're doing a Vatican tour in Rome I would prebook. They can just show up for other tours.
Aug 12th, 2008, 03:53 PM
#77
GOOD WORK on the hotel reservations. They're good to go now. And can arrange the rest after arrival.
As above, you do mean a train "ticket" right for Rome to Venice. There is no reason for a "pass".
As above, you do mean a train "ticket" right for Rome to Venice. There is no reason for a "pass".
Aug 12th, 2008, 04:47 PM
#78
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Just another note that you don't want a train pass from Rome to Venice. I hope you meant a ticket.
You mentioned that you were glad to get restaurant recommendations. I just want to point out that slangevar may have recommended good restaurants, but I doubt that they are in your parents' budget. Just for example, La Rosetta, which he lists twice, is probably one of the most expensive seafood restaurants in Rome. A few others are also not for those on a budget. I don't consider $85-$100, even for two people, to be in their budget.
DaFrancesco, recommended later, is one of my favorite places and is very reasonable. However, their hotel is near Termini. Are they really going to feel like going to a restaurant near the Piazza Navona for dinner after a long day of sightseeing? It's also not the easiest place to find, so I hope they have a good map. I'd be glad to give a couple more recommendations in that area for reasonable restaurants, but again, are they really going to go that far for dinner?
Not trying to be negative here, just realistic. I know that I look for restaurants near where I'm staying because I know I won't want to go a long way for dinner.
And the Raphael rooftop for drinks may also be a wonderful idea, but the budget here is very small and probably doesn't include 10€ drinks.
I hope they have a wonderful trip!
You mentioned that you were glad to get restaurant recommendations. I just want to point out that slangevar may have recommended good restaurants, but I doubt that they are in your parents' budget. Just for example, La Rosetta, which he lists twice, is probably one of the most expensive seafood restaurants in Rome. A few others are also not for those on a budget. I don't consider $85-$100, even for two people, to be in their budget.
DaFrancesco, recommended later, is one of my favorite places and is very reasonable. However, their hotel is near Termini. Are they really going to feel like going to a restaurant near the Piazza Navona for dinner after a long day of sightseeing? It's also not the easiest place to find, so I hope they have a good map. I'd be glad to give a couple more recommendations in that area for reasonable restaurants, but again, are they really going to go that far for dinner?
Not trying to be negative here, just realistic. I know that I look for restaurants near where I'm staying because I know I won't want to go a long way for dinner.
And the Raphael rooftop for drinks may also be a wonderful idea, but the budget here is very small and probably doesn't include 10€ drinks.
I hope they have a wonderful trip!
Aug 12th, 2008, 06:16 PM
#79
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SusanP, I think you are right about the restaurants. Too pricey for their stated hotel amounts.
Maybe people could suggest ones near the likely places mia's parents will be going: Pantheon, Vatican, Collosseum. This would be helpful for lunch too.
I don't have good specific suggestions. I didn't really keep track of them. But I would suggest to look about 1-2 blocks off the most touristy section, for a small place that doesn't have a huge reader board in English.
I would strongly suggest not to eat along "Via delle Conciliazone" (please forgive if I misspelled it) the street in the front of St. Peter's. Did it the first trip and it was terrible.
Maybe people could suggest ones near the likely places mia's parents will be going: Pantheon, Vatican, Collosseum. This would be helpful for lunch too.
I don't have good specific suggestions. I didn't really keep track of them. But I would suggest to look about 1-2 blocks off the most touristy section, for a small place that doesn't have a huge reader board in English.
I would strongly suggest not to eat along "Via delle Conciliazone" (please forgive if I misspelled it) the street in the front of St. Peter's. Did it the first trip and it was terrible.
Aug 12th, 2008, 06:21 PM
#80
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If the hotel is near Termini, there is a woman who posts on the Slow Travel website who does nothing but budget travel in Roma, often staying near Termini. She's got a lot of recommendations for affordable food, plus tips on saving money, how to use the buses, etc.
Her Slow Travel screen name is "dragonpat." She could really help out here, mia, and there are a couple of budget Venice travelers who post on that Slow Travel website as well. Check out their food reviews.
Her Slow Travel screen name is "dragonpat." She could really help out here, mia, and there are a couple of budget Venice travelers who post on that Slow Travel website as well. Check out their food reviews.
