Trip Report: Bellagio, Milan, Venice, Cinque Terre and Piedmont
Jul 21st, 2015, 06:34 AM
#102
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Bravo, Dave! Thanks for the wonderful TR. Pay Pal terminals is new to me and a good idea.
Sounded like you needed the Global Entry card in Miami. I first used it in Philly in 2014. After getting off the plane, the pilot and I were in one line, everyone else in the other. I dare say more people use it now: http://www.cbp.gov/global-entry/about
Sounded like you needed the Global Entry card in Miami. I first used it in Philly in 2014. After getting off the plane, the pilot and I were in one line, everyone else in the other. I dare say more people use it now: http://www.cbp.gov/global-entry/about
Jul 22nd, 2015, 04:15 AM
#103
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Dave, what a treat your trip report has been. I just reread it with notebook and pen in hand to make some notes for our trip this fall which includes Milan and CT. I was excited before, now even more so.
A question on the Pay Pal terminals...can you also change US dollars to Euros at them at a fair exchange rate? I'd heard the currency exchanges at the airports have bad rates and we will need Euros right away for the train to CT. Or are there bank ATM's at Malpensa?
I didn't prebook our train from MPX to Rapello (not actually the CT, I know). I didn't want to gamble on a our flights all being on time. And I'm not sure our credit cards will work in the train ticket machines, we have chip and signature, not chip and pin. Of course we can always use the ticket office, but we'll be a lot more comfortable with some Euros in our pockets.
Thank you once again for your report, you have been very generous in sharing so much of your trip with us.
CindyP
A question on the Pay Pal terminals...can you also change US dollars to Euros at them at a fair exchange rate? I'd heard the currency exchanges at the airports have bad rates and we will need Euros right away for the train to CT. Or are there bank ATM's at Malpensa?
I didn't prebook our train from MPX to Rapello (not actually the CT, I know). I didn't want to gamble on a our flights all being on time. And I'm not sure our credit cards will work in the train ticket machines, we have chip and signature, not chip and pin. Of course we can always use the ticket office, but we'll be a lot more comfortable with some Euros in our pockets.
Thank you once again for your report, you have been very generous in sharing so much of your trip with us.
CindyP
Jul 22nd, 2015, 07:00 AM
#104
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CindyP: Thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure about exchanging U.S. dollars to Euros at the PayPal terminals, but there are ATMs at Malpensa (the one I found was in the main concourse pretty close to the exit to the car rental desks). I would definitely opt for the ATMs; the PayPal exchange rate was okay but not nearly as good as the rates you'll get at an ATM. The one thing I would recommend is using credit cards and debit cards that don't have foreign transaction fees. We used CapitalOne cards exclusively on our trip and didn't run into a single fee.
As for credit cards, we had chip and signature, too, and the only place we had a problem with it was at one of the Milan metro stations, although the problem might have been our fault. They even worked fine at toll booths on the Autostrade.
Have a great time. Milan and CT are wonderful.
Dave
As for credit cards, we had chip and signature, too, and the only place we had a problem with it was at one of the Milan metro stations, although the problem might have been our fault. They even worked fine at toll booths on the Autostrade.
Have a great time. Milan and CT are wonderful.
Dave
Jul 22nd, 2015, 07:27 AM
#105
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Dave, I have the Capital One credit card too. Got it years ago for travel and it has been great. I've seen what a couple friends paid on the ccs on a recent trip and those fees add up. I did open a Capital One checking account for my last trip too, so no ATM fees. Great deal! I will look for the ATMs in the airport.
Good to know about the chip and signature cards working in most places. We aren't driving this time around, strictly trains or buses.
Can't wait for September to roll around!
CindyP
Good to know about the chip and signature cards working in most places. We aren't driving this time around, strictly trains or buses.
Can't wait for September to roll around!
CindyP
Jul 22nd, 2015, 08:32 AM
#106
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CindyP: Quite a few ATMs asked us if I wanted it to do the currency conversion for us. In all instances, the answer is no. Only once, at the Duomo ticket booth in Milan, did they do the conversion without asking. Nobody else even offered.
By the way, I didn't say much about tipping in my trip report. One thing I didn't even know until we were in Austria a few years ago is that if you pay by credit card in a restaurant, there isn't even a line for tipping. In Italy, we tipped occasionally, usually just three or four euros with loose coins on top of the credit card charge. Very often we didn't tip at all.
By the way, I didn't say much about tipping in my trip report. One thing I didn't even know until we were in Austria a few years ago is that if you pay by credit card in a restaurant, there isn't even a line for tipping. In Italy, we tipped occasionally, usually just three or four euros with loose coins on top of the credit card charge. Very often we didn't tip at all.
Jul 22nd, 2015, 12:46 PM
#110
davetroy - you cross the Bridge of Sighs if you take the "secret itineraries" tour of the Doge's Palace; you cross it as you pass into the dungeons, the sighs being those of the prisoners who saw daylight for the last time through the tiny windows of the bridge as they passed into the cells.
As was explained to us by one of the teachers at the language school in Venice when he did a guided walk around part of Venice, the rulers of Venice built the prison next to the Palace as a symbol of its might and the dispenser of Justice; and the library was built on the other side of the piazza as the symbol of learning. They can all be seen together from the end of the Zattere with the 2 Palladian churches opposite on the other side of the basin.
Shock and awe as we might now say.
As was explained to us by one of the teachers at the language school in Venice when he did a guided walk around part of Venice, the rulers of Venice built the prison next to the Palace as a symbol of its might and the dispenser of Justice; and the library was built on the other side of the piazza as the symbol of learning. They can all be seen together from the end of the Zattere with the 2 Palladian churches opposite on the other side of the basin.
Shock and awe as we might now say.
Jul 24th, 2015, 05:39 PM
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Dave,
Whilst waiting for a delayed flight from SFO to IAD (DC) I stumbled across your TR. What an adventure! Your ability to weave a tale is second to none! We've never considered exploring the north because of our bias towards the south (wife from Ruviano).
After sharing your adventure with my wife we both agreed that Lake Como and Milan will be the focus of our next Italian adventure. I've always wanted to see the Last Supper and the museum housing Leonardo's other works, name escapes me now. Anyway, your TR will be used as a blue print for our trip. Thanks for sharing the experience!
Whilst waiting for a delayed flight from SFO to IAD (DC) I stumbled across your TR. What an adventure! Your ability to weave a tale is second to none! We've never considered exploring the north because of our bias towards the south (wife from Ruviano).
After sharing your adventure with my wife we both agreed that Lake Como and Milan will be the focus of our next Italian adventure. I've always wanted to see the Last Supper and the museum housing Leonardo's other works, name escapes me now. Anyway, your TR will be used as a blue print for our trip. Thanks for sharing the experience!
Jul 26th, 2015, 07:37 AM
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Dave,
We are going for 10 days of which 4 will be consumed by a niece's fall wedding in Casserta. That leaves 6 days. I think we liked the idea of Lake Como for just the relaxation and scenery. Who can argue with the view? If you had to chose which would you pick, Piedmont or Lake Como?
We are going for 10 days of which 4 will be consumed by a niece's fall wedding in Casserta. That leaves 6 days. I think we liked the idea of Lake Como for just the relaxation and scenery. Who can argue with the view? If you had to chose which would you pick, Piedmont or Lake Como?
Jul 26th, 2015, 11:06 AM
#118
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Paul,
That's a tough call. Both are gorgeous but in different ways. Lake Como is lakes and Alpine foothills. It's surreal. Piedmont is hills, castles, countryside and vineyards. They're about the same distance by car from Malpensa. Piedmont is quieter; Como is more touristy. When it comes to food, there's no comparison. Much better in Piedmont. You'll need a car in Piedmont; you won't in Como. I'd go back to Piedmont before I'd go back to Lake Como, but that's just me.
I think either way you'll be very happy.
Dave
That's a tough call. Both are gorgeous but in different ways. Lake Como is lakes and Alpine foothills. It's surreal. Piedmont is hills, castles, countryside and vineyards. They're about the same distance by car from Malpensa. Piedmont is quieter; Como is more touristy. When it comes to food, there's no comparison. Much better in Piedmont. You'll need a car in Piedmont; you won't in Como. I'd go back to Piedmont before I'd go back to Lake Como, but that's just me.
I think either way you'll be very happy.
Dave
Jul 27th, 2015, 05:50 AM
#120
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Grappa is a digestive, not a fast way to get drunk, and it usually offered to people who have just eaten a large meal that is very fatty. It is not from Piemonte, so I wouldn't expect Piemontesi waiters to like it (especially if they are from Sicily or elsewhere in southern Italy, which many in Piemonte are!) It also needs to be served in a correct glass.
http://www.winexmagazine.com/index.p...wdrink/grappa/
http://www.winexmagazine.com/index.p...wdrink/grappa/
But it is strong, and if it is not the finest grappa, it can be as unpleasant as any other lower quality alcohol.
http://www.winexmagazine.com/index.p...wdrink/grappa/
http://www.winexmagazine.com/index.p...wdrink/grappa/
But it is strong, and if it is not the finest grappa, it can be as unpleasant as any other lower quality alcohol.
