Italy Trip 2008 - Flights & Hotels all booked and confirmed!
Nov 16th, 2007, 01:15 PM
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Italy Trip 2008 - Flights & Hotels all booked and confirmed!
Yes, our flights and hotels for our first trip to Italy in September/October, 2008 are all booked & confirmed! My thanks to all who so kindly & patiently responded to my many questions regarding where to stay and how to travel! You have been so helpful!
Our itinerary looks like this:
Sept 15th fly from Vancouver via Frankfurt to VENICE; stay at LOCANDA ORESEOLO (4 nights)
Sept 20th pick up car; drive to BELLAGIO, LAKE COMO; stay at HOTEL DU LAC (4 nights)
Sept 24th drive to SAN GIMIGNANO; stay at HOTEL LEON BIANCO (4 nights)
Sept 28th drive to SAN QUIRICO; stay at CASA LEMMI B&B (4 nights)
Oct 2nd drive to FLORENCE & drop off car; stay at TOURIST HOUSE GHIBERTI B&B (4 nights)
Oct 6th fly from Florence to Vancouver via Frankfurt
In the months ahead, we will be designing a plan for what we will be doing & seeing during our stay in Venice, Lake Como & Tuscany. I may be calling for your advice again, Fodorites!
Oh, September can't come soon enough!
2010
Our itinerary looks like this:
Sept 15th fly from Vancouver via Frankfurt to VENICE; stay at LOCANDA ORESEOLO (4 nights)
Sept 20th pick up car; drive to BELLAGIO, LAKE COMO; stay at HOTEL DU LAC (4 nights)
Sept 24th drive to SAN GIMIGNANO; stay at HOTEL LEON BIANCO (4 nights)
Sept 28th drive to SAN QUIRICO; stay at CASA LEMMI B&B (4 nights)
Oct 2nd drive to FLORENCE & drop off car; stay at TOURIST HOUSE GHIBERTI B&B (4 nights)
Oct 6th fly from Florence to Vancouver via Frankfurt
In the months ahead, we will be designing a plan for what we will be doing & seeing during our stay in Venice, Lake Como & Tuscany. I may be calling for your advice again, Fodorites!
Oh, September can't come soon enough!
2010
Nov 16th, 2007, 02:32 PM
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A GREAT itinerary. We just did 4 nights in Venice at Locanda Orseolo (nothing short of fabulous).
4 nights in each location gives you time to savor.....
(It was smart of you to break up Tuscany into 2 "regions" so you can explore both)
Ciao.
4 nights in each location gives you time to savor.....
(It was smart of you to break up Tuscany into 2 "regions" so you can explore both)
Ciao.
Nov 16th, 2007, 09:52 PM
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Thanks for your reassuring comments!
Bob, just a couple of questions ...
In your estimation, what time does morning rush hour start in Milan?
Regarding your comments about early ferry sailings, do you recommend that we take a car ferry to Varenna & leave from there?
2010
Bob, just a couple of questions ...
In your estimation, what time does morning rush hour start in Milan?
Regarding your comments about early ferry sailings, do you recommend that we take a car ferry to Varenna & leave from there?
2010
Nov 17th, 2007, 02:19 AM
#6
hi, 2010,
how lovely to read an itinerary that doesn't try to fit the whole of italy into a week. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.
perhaps we should a motto for this board - can i propose
"less is more"
regards, ann
how lovely to read an itinerary that doesn't try to fit the whole of italy into a week. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.
perhaps we should a motto for this board - can i propose
"less is more"
regards, ann
Nov 17th, 2007, 05:22 AM
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Well, surprise surprise !
They suggest just driving down the peninsula and skipping the ferry. That does make sense if that road is OK. They also say 4:34 driving time---sounds light to me---I would plan 5 plus stops. Get a start at 0630 and you will be around Milan by 0800. Have fun !
They suggest just driving down the peninsula and skipping the ferry. That does make sense if that road is OK. They also say 4:34 driving time---sounds light to me---I would plan 5 plus stops. Get a start at 0630 and you will be around Milan by 0800. Have fun !
Nov 17th, 2007, 07:04 AM
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And if it was me, I wouldn't rent a car until I left Lake Como. You don't need it around Lake Como, and that drive up the Bellagio peninsula is supposed to be a bit harrowing. Maybe pick it up in Como the morning you leave.
Nov 17th, 2007, 01:16 PM
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"Less is more" ... hmm-m-m, I like it, Ann!
Yes, some of the itineraries I've seen leave me breathless. As adventureseeker says, we hope to savor the places we find ourselves!
Bob, I shall make note in my book of an early start out of Bellagio to avoid Milan's rush hour. Viamichelin is a great resource. We'll take the recommended directions along with a large-scale road map for our drive!
mimar: We had this exact discussion about taking the train from Venice to Varenna via Milan & picking up a car on our way to Tuscany. We decided that we would like to have a car in case we want to take a day to explore beyond Lake Como. But thank you for your insight.
2010
Yes, some of the itineraries I've seen leave me breathless. As adventureseeker says, we hope to savor the places we find ourselves!
Bob, I shall make note in my book of an early start out of Bellagio to avoid Milan's rush hour. Viamichelin is a great resource. We'll take the recommended directions along with a large-scale road map for our drive!
mimar: We had this exact discussion about taking the train from Venice to Varenna via Milan & picking up a car on our way to Tuscany. We decided that we would like to have a car in case we want to take a day to explore beyond Lake Como. But thank you for your insight.
2010
Nov 19th, 2007, 06:15 PM
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Looks great!
Should I be concerned that my late April/early May honeymoon (to Italy & France) has nothing booked and confirmed yet? I want to book the flight next week or soon after and then will quickly zero in on hotels.
Should I be concerned that my late April/early May honeymoon (to Italy & France) has nothing booked and confirmed yet? I want to book the flight next week or soon after and then will quickly zero in on hotels.
Nov 19th, 2007, 07:41 PM
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Hi, csp:
Because we fly on points, we book our flights early in order to get the dates we want. Once that's established, we begin contacting hotels. We prefer staying in smaller family operated hotels/B&B's, many of which have winter closures. So to avoid disappointment, we try to book hotels in the fall for next summer.
Depending what your intinerary is and the type of accommodations you require, you may or may not have difficulty making arrangements. Hotels will indicate closures on their websites.
My recommendation to you is begin contacting hotels as soon as you have confirmed the dates of your flights.
Good luck!
2010
Because we fly on points, we book our flights early in order to get the dates we want. Once that's established, we begin contacting hotels. We prefer staying in smaller family operated hotels/B&B's, many of which have winter closures. So to avoid disappointment, we try to book hotels in the fall for next summer.
Depending what your intinerary is and the type of accommodations you require, you may or may not have difficulty making arrangements. Hotels will indicate closures on their websites.
My recommendation to you is begin contacting hotels as soon as you have confirmed the dates of your flights.
Good luck!
2010
Jan 8th, 2008, 07:46 AM
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I'm trying to book a trip to Italy to join my husband who will be coming from a business trip in Frankfurt. I am from Calgary and will fly through Frankfurt but am having trouble finding a good flight to Venice. I plan to fly into FRA with Air Canada at 11:20 am. 2010, what flight did you find to venice?
Jan 8th, 2008, 03:17 PM
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Jamiek:
We are flying Lufthansa from YVR at 15:50 and arriving in FRA at 10:40. We change to a LH flight leaving FRA at 12:20 and arriving at Venice Marco Polo at 13:35.
You might want to check Air Canada's partner airlines to see if there's an appropriate connection. I don't know if there is a local airline you can use -- perhaps a travel agent can assist you with this.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
2010
We are flying Lufthansa from YVR at 15:50 and arriving in FRA at 10:40. We change to a LH flight leaving FRA at 12:20 and arriving at Venice Marco Polo at 13:35.
You might want to check Air Canada's partner airlines to see if there's an appropriate connection. I don't know if there is a local airline you can use -- perhaps a travel agent can assist you with this.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
2010
