I need help planning the perfect trip
 

My husband, who ALWAYS plans our trip, has decided to pass this one on to me! So I need help!! We're going to Paris in July for 4 days (we'll be there for Bastille Day), then on to Provence for a few days, Venice for 3 days and then Rome for 4 or 5 days.
These are the hotels I've narrowed it down to. Paris:Hilton, Hotel de Crillon, Lancaster, Le Senat, Raphael, The George V seems pricey but if it's worth it, then ok...
Venice I have San Clemente, Westin, Luna Baglioni,Danielli, Gritti Palace.
In Rome: Ca Maria Adele, A la commedia, Metropole, Dona Palace, La minerve, Eden or Hotel de russie.

Ideally I would like to plan a romantic trip as this is a special occasion for us.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated as our trips are always wonderful when my husband plans them and not that I'm competitive or anything but I need this to be as perfect as possible. Thanks in advance!

Sounds like a great trip!

I believe the A La Commedia is in Venice. It is a new 4 star and I am booked there for two nights this fall. It is getting rave reviews. I have stayed at the Danieli and enjoyed it but I find the current pricing a bit over the top. I am out and about too much to invest so much in sleeping and showering.

In Rome, I love the De La Minerve,it is my favorite hotel. The rooms are large by European standard, the small bar is great, and the rooftop terrace is fabulous! It will be open in July. The location is superb and so has the service been during my five stays there.

The De Russie is very highly regarded but I have never stayed there. The Minerve and the Del Senato (room with a view a must) are both special places.

I have been to Paris a few times but not stayed in any of the hotels you note, nor any I would be excited to recommend for a special stay.

tripadvisor is a great source for hotel reviews and info.

I still need help with where to stay in Paris and Venice!!
As well, I need feedback on where we should stay in Provence....
Auberge de Cassagne in Avignon, Hotel D'Europe or Chateau de Massilan just outside of Avignon.

kfusto....

My previous response didnt post. Thanks for your input, it's appreciated. If we stay at La Commedia, I'll post my feedback for you. Look for it early August.

I can't take credit for this Provence recommendation (I found it from another poster on this board) but we booked it for our May honeymoon and I can't wait.

I also found out later the hotel is listed in the book "1,000 places to see before you die"

http://www.crillonlebrave.com/

re Paris..Of the classic hotels, I would pick George V BUT, I probably would stay in Pavillon de la Reine instead of one of the classics however. I would not stay at the Paris Hilton (or certainly not the one near ave Suffren.

Crillon le brave sounds wonderful! Wont my husband be surprised! He's already made a pretty good dent in that 1000 places to see before you die book! but I know he hasn't been there! That can be my surprise for him! Thanks so much.

I just checked out Pavillon de la reine, It looks nice...and less expensive than George V!! ANy other suggestions for a romantic place to stay in PAris? Also..since we're there for BAstille day and the fireworks are happening, a room with a great view or rooftop dining would be nice....Ideas??

Check out a jr.suite at The Relais Christine, but ask for one w/garden view. Or, although I haven't stayed there yet ( going in July) check out Hotel D'Aubusson, which is just around the corner from Relais Christine, same amazing neighborhood. Hotel D'Aubusson gets raves most places, and seems to have very beautiful accomodations, some of them suites.

The Relais sounds nice too! What would be the best location? Pavillon de la Reine or Relais Christine? I'm looking for the most romantic setting....

The Relais sounds nice too! What would be the best location? Pavillon de la Reine or Relais Christine? I'm looking for the most romantic setting....

We recently were in charge of planning a trip to Europe - one of the stops being Venice. After doing a lot research I received several great recommendations for Ca Maria Adele in Venice. I was so set to make a hotel reservation in one the top 2 or 3 hotels in V. but I decided to to with Ca Maria Adele insead.

After traveling for business as well as pleasure for many years I have gotten somewhat tired of the big hotels so the Ca Maria Adele sounded great...and IT WAS!

A wonderful spot to really enjoy Venice from. We loved the restaurants in the area. And the service from the 2 brothers who own and opperate the hotel was beyond compare.

One of my favorite places...sorry we only spent two nights there.

1jan1

For the *perfect* trip to Paris, I'd also look at Le Meurice, the Ritz, or the Plaza Athenee. I've stayed at the Ritz and really loved it. If you can get a suite at Le Meurice overlooking le Jardin les Tuilleries... or Room 888 at the Plaza Athenee -- a suite whose windows have a clear, unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower. Expensive, but, hey, I'm spending your money :-) [I have some "annoying" tips I could add, but I won't! I heard you guys loud and clear.]

In Venice, try the Gritti Palace.

From what I gather here, I should book into one of the bigger hotel for Paris and go for the more intimate settings in Italy. I just hate having the feel of a business trip hotel when we finally have time to spend one on one...no work, no kids....
So I'm pretty sure on La Minerve, Ca Maria and Crillon le brave. I'm just stuck with Paris.... but that shouldnt be too difficult, there are so many great choices.
And thanks for spending my money!!! According to my husband I should answer the question on travel budget %..... It seems my rule is 100% for accommodation, 100% food/wine, 100% shopping.....

Stayed at Le Meurice during our trip to Paris in November 2006. I loved the hotel, the room was indeed sound proof. We got a room on the top floor, facing the tuileries garden. The room was beautifully decorated and had a very very large bathroom.I have also stayed at Hotel de russie in Rome, great hotel, great service and great location. Eden is also nice, but I do not particularly care for the via venetto area.

Great! I'll look into Le Meurice....unless someone has a better suggestion!

To each his/her own but in my book:
1) There is nothing as freaky (and impossible to achieve, thank God!) as a "perfect trip"
2) To you, the "perfection" in the trip seems to boil down to the hotels, which is a bit sad IMHO. What about activities, visits, cultural background, and, more importantly... leaving room for the unknown and the unexpected?

For me, that would be too rushed, unless the time in Provence were quite a bit longer than your post suggests. First, there's the potential of jet lag, if you're coming across the Atlantic. Next, changing cities will take most of a day. (And why two cities in Italy on a relatively short two- country tour?) If you know all of these spots well and have done similar ambitious itineraries so you're confident of your stamina, perhaps. Otherwise, slow down and experience more.

Art, the perfect trip is a state of mind. I can achieve it and have many times. Maybe the weather isn't perfect or the hotel or the food...thats not the point. It's a combination of all your experiences, personal, cultural..... Yes, on this occasion, where we stay is important to me but certainly will not be the greatest factor in making this trip memorable. Thanks for your input...though what I was asking for was help in choosing hotels.

Dave, Our schedule is somewhat flexible, I've been trying to decide how best to divide our time. My husband wants to be in Paris for Bastille day which is the only reason we're spending 4 days there (we arrive on the 10th)! My other option would be to go Provence directly and then Paris for the 14-15th. Then on to Venice and Rome for 10 days before heading back to Paris.

Well, if your husband wants to be in Paris for Bastille Day, then you definitely should do it!

Now, from the other side of my mouth, I'm going to break with "guy solidarity" and ask, Why? It's all but impossible to watch the big parade on the Champs Elysees. Mostly what you see is the back of people's heads. There are (usually) no fireworks. On top of the that, a significant proportion of the day in Paris is spent dodging firecrackers. Dinner on the terrace? Impossible.

A fireman's ball might be fun, but there are dances all over France during the Fete Nationale. I'd much rather share in the celebration in a small town (Province has small towns, I imagine, though I've never been there because I'm feuding with Peter Mayle) where one also gets fireworks and a fanfare, and there's more firecracker-dodging room.