Italy and Paris: a trip report - Part 1
Feb 8th, 2006, 09:05 AM
#41
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First, let me heartily endorse Jeanne's comments about visiting Europe in winter. It's still worth it, even if you have to pack a few extra layers of clothing and boots.
I was wondering about one thing, Jeanne. After reading the first few posts here, I went to my extensive (LOL!) travel library and found an old (circa 1990) Fielding's guide that seemed to be very "down" on Italy because of crime, hidden charges, unscrupulous shopkeepers and hoteliers, etc. Did you have any negative experiences involving what you were charged for anything at hotels, restaurants, shops, and thelike?
I was wondering about one thing, Jeanne. After reading the first few posts here, I went to my extensive (LOL!) travel library and found an old (circa 1990) Fielding's guide that seemed to be very "down" on Italy because of crime, hidden charges, unscrupulous shopkeepers and hoteliers, etc. Did you have any negative experiences involving what you were charged for anything at hotels, restaurants, shops, and thelike?
Feb 8th, 2006, 09:56 AM
#42
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Absolutely NOT. I would have reported that and <u>underlined it</u>!
That said, I did take one precaution. I had read about some sort of practice at Hotel Parlamento...something about converting the bill to pounds sterling before dollars. Rather than deal with it, we planned our ATM withdrawals such that we could pay euros at check out. Nothing seemed amiss, so please don't take this as any kind of slap at the hote.
It seemed to me that everyone bent over backwards to make us happy. Of course, if I WERE shortchanged a bit, I probably didn't notice it. (those "coins" seem like petty cash, when in fact they can add up pretty quickly).
That said, I did take one precaution. I had read about some sort of practice at Hotel Parlamento...something about converting the bill to pounds sterling before dollars. Rather than deal with it, we planned our ATM withdrawals such that we could pay euros at check out. Nothing seemed amiss, so please don't take this as any kind of slap at the hote.
It seemed to me that everyone bent over backwards to make us happy. Of course, if I WERE shortchanged a bit, I probably didn't notice it. (those "coins" seem like petty cash, when in fact they can add up pretty quickly).
Feb 8th, 2006, 12:00 PM
#44
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FOOTNOTE:
I forgot to mention that apparently smoking is now prohibited indoors anywhere in Italy. All hotels and restaurants were non-smoking. We didn't frequent any "bars", so I can't say about them. We smoke when we're drinking, so we just got up and went outside between courses. Everyone was doing it.
And I remembered one rip-off! On our last night in Florence we had dinner at Semolina. After dinner we asked the restaurant to call a cab. (It was only a few blocks, but it was cold and they were very dark blocks.)
We waited out front and then this....<i>thing</i> drove up. It was a car, but there were projectiles sticking out of it and it was painted all over like a 1960's VW van (not psychodelic daisies, though...these were like cartoon characters all over the car). After some hesitation, I noted the "Taxi" sign on top, so we got in. Ouch! I had sat on a <i>ukelele</i>! Amazingly, the driver started encouraging me to play it! Groovy music was already eminating from at least 6 speakers, so I politely demurred.
She got us where we were going, but charged us 11 euros. Outrageous, but whatcha gonna do standing on a dark foreign street late at night?
I don't know what lesson to take from it...how could it have been avoided? Perhaps we should have just given her the 5 euros she deserved and left. But who knows what kind of scene may have ensued at that point? We just laughed it off and warned our host and hostess about the "Groovemobile".
I forgot to mention that apparently smoking is now prohibited indoors anywhere in Italy. All hotels and restaurants were non-smoking. We didn't frequent any "bars", so I can't say about them. We smoke when we're drinking, so we just got up and went outside between courses. Everyone was doing it.
And I remembered one rip-off! On our last night in Florence we had dinner at Semolina. After dinner we asked the restaurant to call a cab. (It was only a few blocks, but it was cold and they were very dark blocks.)
We waited out front and then this....<i>thing</i> drove up. It was a car, but there were projectiles sticking out of it and it was painted all over like a 1960's VW van (not psychodelic daisies, though...these were like cartoon characters all over the car). After some hesitation, I noted the "Taxi" sign on top, so we got in. Ouch! I had sat on a <i>ukelele</i>! Amazingly, the driver started encouraging me to play it! Groovy music was already eminating from at least 6 speakers, so I politely demurred.
She got us where we were going, but charged us 11 euros. Outrageous, but whatcha gonna do standing on a dark foreign street late at night?
I don't know what lesson to take from it...how could it have been avoided? Perhaps we should have just given her the 5 euros she deserved and left. But who knows what kind of scene may have ensued at that point? We just laughed it off and warned our host and hostess about the "Groovemobile".
Feb 8th, 2006, 06:12 PM
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Part 2 (Paris) is here:
http://tinyurl.com/7e4c2
http://tinyurl.com/7e4c2
Feb 11th, 2006, 03:30 PM
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I want to add another note about Foscari Palace in Venice. There was a coffee maker in the room! For early risers like us, that's a welcome "luxury". And there was a complimentary basket of fruit, candy and biscuits waiting for us. Two nice touches I thought deserved mentioning.
Feb 11th, 2006, 04:30 PM
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JeanneB, thanks so much for this post, especially about Venice, which is one of my favorite places in the world. And I agree with you about Italian food over French, though I love them both dearly.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 01:44 PM
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A belated thank you for your report!
We were in Rome last weekend and used two of your resto recs: La Sagrista (excellent pizzas/veggie appetizers and very friendly staff) and Fiametta where we tried to have the spinach crepe. Alas, the crepe wasn't on the menu that day for lunch--very sad--so we had to console ourselves w/Gnocchi alla Sorentina!
We were in Rome last weekend and used two of your resto recs: La Sagrista (excellent pizzas/veggie appetizers and very friendly staff) and Fiametta where we tried to have the spinach crepe. Alas, the crepe wasn't on the menu that day for lunch--very sad--so we had to console ourselves w/Gnocchi alla Sorentina!
Mar 31st, 2006, 09:36 AM
#52
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Hi JeanneB, my family and I will be staying in Rome for few days then taking the train to Venice, can you tell me how much the trains would cost and if you have any recommendations on any thing since we are traveling with a 17 and 12 year old. Thanks
Apr 1st, 2006, 04:09 AM
#53
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Rome to Venice: about 70 eu 1st class, 50 eu 2nd class. It's 5 or 6 hours, so I'd recommend 1st class.
You can go to the TrenItalia website for schedules and pricing. Use the Italian version (the english version has some bugs). Use "Roma" and "Venezia" instead of the anglo versions. Put in your dates, times, etc. and you'll get scheduled trains for that day. Click on the grocery cart for prices. You don't need to buy your tickets online. When you get to Rome, simply buy them at the Termini or ask your hotel for the nearest travel agency.
If you have any questions about using the website, do a search here on Trenitalia. There have been many threads about it.
You can go to the TrenItalia website for schedules and pricing. Use the Italian version (the english version has some bugs). Use "Roma" and "Venezia" instead of the anglo versions. Put in your dates, times, etc. and you'll get scheduled trains for that day. Click on the grocery cart for prices. You don't need to buy your tickets online. When you get to Rome, simply buy them at the Termini or ask your hotel for the nearest travel agency.
If you have any questions about using the website, do a search here on Trenitalia. There have been many threads about it.
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