Lizzie

Julie, I really enjoyed reading your trip report - very nicely written and packed with useful information. Please don't be deterred by the bitter people who take offense at the amount of money you spent; I find it shocking that someone actually bothered to tally up how much it was! People, none of you know Julie's circumstances and you have no right to criticize. Furthermore, there was not an ounce of "braggadocio" to be found in the report. I've filed it away for future use. Thanks!

John

Julie, thank you for a very thorough and engaging trip report. Lots of useful information. <BR> <BR>And to the petty few (estpecially Kim and Jason) who were taken aback by Julie's means: Grow up. Julie shared a tale of her experiences in the hopes that others would share with her--not to brag about the amount of money she spent. Your posts are pathetic in their transparent envy. Lots of people travel well, as evidenced by the existence of fine hotels and restaurants. You should feel privileged that someone took the time to share their account of these experiences with you as you obviously will not be experiencing them for yourselves. <BR> <BR>(And to Kim--right you are "well off finanacially"; that's why you're so upset that someone else is.)

deja

But you forgot to tell us what happened to SIMBA the poodle!!! It IS you, isn't it Clara? How's Herb?

lisa

Thanks Julie (and especially thanks for not responding to the venom with equal poison. One does not always fight fire with fire) <BR> <BR>People need to keep in mind that since Julie and her husband are lovers of travel, they obviously put that first in their buget. Instead of splurging on clothes, furniture, they put it toward the travel budget. I wonder how much we spend on new clothes and fixing up the home instead of a travel budget? I bet we could go a lot more places if every time I wanted new shoes, clothes or a little something for the home I put the money in a travel "jar". Hmmmm. Interesting idea... <BR> <BR>There are all kinds of people in this world who have different incomes. They should be treated with respect if they show respect. It's obvious Julie is a class act.

John

Lots of time and effort went into this report and for those familiar with these areas of Italy and Europe, it is most interesting. But I do think that one should be able to offer some constructive cricism without being labeled envious. I know I have some criticisms and they are not due to envy. <BR> <BR>It is really "in your face" to start out a report with this is my 32nd trip to Europe and then to constantly mention the high price of every morsel of food, wine and price of room. <BR> <BR>How would we react if someone told us about the high cost of every item of clothing they were wearing, or the cost of our house, car etc.. <BR> <BR>The report would have been more interesting and less irritating if not every dollar amount was listed.

Ismael

Julie, <BR>thanks for your detailed report with personal touches that I liked very much. Thanks also for your notes. <BR>I'm an amateur travel counsellor and every trip that I plan for my clients is as if I was going too. So I did with your report. <BR>Do you know the book "Feeding Frenzy - Across Europe in search of the Perfect Meal" (Stuart Stevens - Atlantic Monthly Press) about a couple that goes to Europe to have a meal in all Michelin's three star restaurants ? <BR>It is very interesting and amusing. <BR>Thanks again, Ismael

Julie

Yes, Ismael, I, too, enjoyed Feeding Frenzy. Food/cooking and travel are my two favorite things so I particularly enjoy books that combine the two. I so enjoy the book and movie or video tips that find their way into these posts. Thanks for reminding me of this fun book.

Denise

I just want to add that I recently met Julie on this site and she was extremely helpful to me with my travel plans. She even took the time to send me dozens of hotel brochures, right before her own departure, and even wrote me upon her return to make sure I received them. Never did I feel she was pretentious. I never even had an inkling that I was communicating with someone whose finances were well above mine. She respected my "economic status" . I only wish that I could go along with her next time!! <BR>Thank you again Julie for all your help. <BR> <BR>Denise

kk

Julie, Thanks for the trip report. I too, put off buying a new car or painting the house in favor of a trip... and when on vacation, prefer to stay at luxury hotels. I budget approximately $5000/week for a luxury European vacation. K

Diane

Thank you for an enjoyable, detailed report.

dan

I would just like to chime in on the subject of the price information in the report to say that I am glad to have this information. My budget is well below Julie's, but I will sometimes splurge on something. I wish more Fodorites would put cost information in their reports. I often read about something that sounds wonderful and that I might like to do, but then I have to begin the search for price info to determine whether I can manage it. If they would say, "Our one-day guided tour in Tuscany was so wonderful, and only $400", I would know that I don't have to search for cost info because I can't fit it in my budget for the next trip or two. So keep that price info coming.

Leo

AMEN, DAN!!! I can't imagine that more -like us - wouldn't want to know costs, etc. <BR>I'm sure all Fodorites have a budget in mind. Thanks.

Sal

Julie: Thank you for the bus and wine information. I echo all the previous posts praising your report. <BR>Ignore the nerds. Sal

Riffic

ttt because it's very detailed and hasn't surfaced for nearly 3 years!

twoflower

Comprehensive report Julie, especially if you're into hotels and restaurants. While most posters seem to envy your food budget, what I envy is your joint passion for travel. Every year in our house there's a conversation with me saying &quot;It's been xx years since we went overseas; let's go next year&quot; and the response being &quot;We'll never get the mortgage paid off if we go every few years.&quot;

And we stay in modest B&amp;Bs, partly because of price, but also because they're friendlier and homelier. We also eat in modest restaurants where the locals eat, paying what the locals pay. Again, it's not just price; it's also for the authenticity and appreciative friendliness.

We had a wonderful example of the latter once in Bacharach am Rhein. (This is a bar story rather than a restaurant one, but it illustrates the point). As is our way, we found a small bar off the tourist beat, frequented only by a handful of locals. We ordered &quot;drei bier, bitte&quot; and attempted to make conversation in our inadequate German. Everyone was polite, some spoke a smattering of English, and we spent a pleasant hour chatting with them and they with us as best we all could. A nice evening.

End of story? No. Next night we dropped in to the same bar again. The reception was overwhelming. By returning we had shown that our interest not merely the curiosity of &quot;loopies&quot; (the universal word for tourists), but was genuine and sincere. Everyone rushed over to greet us - not politely as before, but exuberantly - and suddenly beers appeared as if by magic in front of us - with schnapps chasers! We didn't have to pay for a thing all night, and later a group of them took us to a nightclub!

I've done it time and again since, in many countries: found a nice local, attempted the local language, then dropped in again the next night. So far it has never failed to produce genuine hospitality and appreciativeness.

TopMan

Very interesting, if now somewhat historic, report! I know the degree of work it takes to put one of these together. I'm always a bit taken aback by people who plan in this sort of detail and actually stay on the schedule once they get there.

hopingtotravel

Loved the report. Tuscany and the Italian lakes are somewhere out there in a dim future haze for me. I admit that on the detailed reports I skim the foodie sections of xyz wrapped in abc and sauced with ghi. However, I do appreciate knowing the cost of different hotels. I too, like to splurge about every 3rd night on a long trip.

ArchiMark

To 'russ i' if by some lucky chance you still check out these forums..... ;-)

Your post here mentioned your staying many times in agriturismi for $25-40/night. Is that even possible now??

If so, could you mention some of the places you stayed at?

Also, what is the name of the good 4 start hotel in Limone you mentioned?

Thanks,

Mark

JulieVikmanis

Just did a search on venice restaurants and found that this old report of mine had gotten some rereading and some nice comments. Gratifying. Thanks. Twoflower, liked your post regarding enjoying a local place and going again to cement your relationships with the local. We do that sometimes with good bars we find. Sad thing is to return to a place several years later and find &quot;your&quot; bar closed or changed. Never feels fair somehow.

jr20

Julie- Thanks for your detailed report. I would like to follow up on your points on Colmar and the rest of the Alsace region. I am considering staying in the hotel du parc that you mentioned. But also have heard great things about Colmar (which i believe you had visited in a prior trip.) Any tips you could provide on staying in Colmar vs other areas would be much appreciated.
Thanks