Trip Report-Part 1
May 19th, 2007 | 02:54 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Trip Report-Part 1
This was our first trip to Europe for DH and I who are 40s-50s. Left April 12 returned April 26.
Preparation:
Read everything on this board! Thank you all.
Got debit/cash card from credit union that doesn't charge a transaction or currency conversion fee.
Packed as light as I could; ended up with 1 40# suitcase (each) and 1 carryon (each).
I have to preface this with this was not a budget trip. This was my dream trip, 10th Anniversary and a celebration of life as my father in law passed 3 weeks before we left. If you cut some or all of the splurges the trip would come in at a reasonable cost.
Flew into Zurich from US. Would not do again. This is a business destination not a tourist town and is very expensive with little to do. We chose this as our airline choices with miles are limited.
Train from Zurich through Alps to Como. First mistake. Purchased my tickets online at trenitalia and they could only be picked up in Italy; no good when you are in Zurich. Bought new tickets in 1st Class and had plenty of room for our bags. Knew the schedule in advance so we choose a train without connections.
Arrived Como; took cab to Hotel Terminus 6Euros. Hotel was very pretty and good location on the lake and on a square. 180Euros per night. Room was acceptable. It was pretty. Bed was a foldout couch. AC mediocre. Room overlooked square which meant with window open it was loud. Window and shutters kept out noise. It was the weekend and weather was fantastic so Como was jammed with Italians so it was great people watching. We went to Bellagio via the slow ferry (2.5 hours); unless you are dying to take pictures take the hydrofoil (45 minutes). The shopping in Bellagio was great. Dollar is down against the Euro, but we bought costume jewelry, gallery painting and odds and ends. The prices in Bellagio were the cheapest (I didn't know this at the time, but although I was done shopping I checked prices throughout the trip). Also shopped for clothes in Como. Dinner at the hotel restaraunt was very good; was overcharged which was removed when disputed. Spent 2 nights. In addition to the slow ferry, we also spent 100 Euros on a 1/2 hour private tour around the lake. This was good, but expensive. Would I go again or tell someone to go? No. It was good but not great. We live close to a lake resort town and to me Como was like going there, with Italian villas to see on the water.
Day 4: From Como to Venice via train. Again 1st class on a train with no connections. Trip uneventful. Arrived Venice. Splurged and let hotel arrange for hostess and private water taxi. This was great not to worry about how to get there. Cost was 120Euros. Arrived at the Hotel Concordia (1050 Euros for 3 nights). This hotel states that they are the only hotel with view of San Marco. Our room was lovely when we walked in. The suprise was the stairs leading up to a private terrace that did indeed look right at the Basilica and the square. Room 316. The hotel being located on San Marco made sightseeing easy. We arrived early to St. Marks, beat the crowd. We also did Murano (waste of time--I collect Venetian glass and had looked forward to Murano tours for years but shortly before we departed had decided that I already had too much "stuff" and although the items there are incredible-I bought nothing). Doge's Palace great. Dancing in San Marco after dark without the crowd fantastic. Gondola ride a must do. Took the free water taxi to Hotel Cipriani. Dead!
Hotel made a reservation for us at Ristorante Antico Pignolo, advising that it would be better for us than finding one on our own--special prices and better service for hotel guests. This was the sole issue I had in 2 weeks. The staff verified twice the name of our party (of 2). As you probably know from reading, the rest. charge a "cover". We were charged 15 covers and believe this to have been an intentional overcharge. It is difficult to imagine how you hit 15 instead of 2. The food was good, but we have many good Italian rest. in our city and it was no better and VERY expensive.
Next day: Took water taxi to bus station and met our driver for the trip. Corrado whom you can find on the internet- Touring in Tuscany. He took us to Montisi via a Balsamic Vinegar Factory in Modena and the Ferrari Museum. Long day and the cost was $600 Euros, but we didn't have to drive it. The Balsamic Vinegar Factory tour was arranged by Corrado and was a private tour given by the farm's owner. Ferrari musuem okay.
I am uploading now, but the best part is yet to come.
Janet
Preparation:
Read everything on this board! Thank you all.
Got debit/cash card from credit union that doesn't charge a transaction or currency conversion fee.
Packed as light as I could; ended up with 1 40# suitcase (each) and 1 carryon (each).
I have to preface this with this was not a budget trip. This was my dream trip, 10th Anniversary and a celebration of life as my father in law passed 3 weeks before we left. If you cut some or all of the splurges the trip would come in at a reasonable cost.
Flew into Zurich from US. Would not do again. This is a business destination not a tourist town and is very expensive with little to do. We chose this as our airline choices with miles are limited.
Train from Zurich through Alps to Como. First mistake. Purchased my tickets online at trenitalia and they could only be picked up in Italy; no good when you are in Zurich. Bought new tickets in 1st Class and had plenty of room for our bags. Knew the schedule in advance so we choose a train without connections.
Arrived Como; took cab to Hotel Terminus 6Euros. Hotel was very pretty and good location on the lake and on a square. 180Euros per night. Room was acceptable. It was pretty. Bed was a foldout couch. AC mediocre. Room overlooked square which meant with window open it was loud. Window and shutters kept out noise. It was the weekend and weather was fantastic so Como was jammed with Italians so it was great people watching. We went to Bellagio via the slow ferry (2.5 hours); unless you are dying to take pictures take the hydrofoil (45 minutes). The shopping in Bellagio was great. Dollar is down against the Euro, but we bought costume jewelry, gallery painting and odds and ends. The prices in Bellagio were the cheapest (I didn't know this at the time, but although I was done shopping I checked prices throughout the trip). Also shopped for clothes in Como. Dinner at the hotel restaraunt was very good; was overcharged which was removed when disputed. Spent 2 nights. In addition to the slow ferry, we also spent 100 Euros on a 1/2 hour private tour around the lake. This was good, but expensive. Would I go again or tell someone to go? No. It was good but not great. We live close to a lake resort town and to me Como was like going there, with Italian villas to see on the water.
Day 4: From Como to Venice via train. Again 1st class on a train with no connections. Trip uneventful. Arrived Venice. Splurged and let hotel arrange for hostess and private water taxi. This was great not to worry about how to get there. Cost was 120Euros. Arrived at the Hotel Concordia (1050 Euros for 3 nights). This hotel states that they are the only hotel with view of San Marco. Our room was lovely when we walked in. The suprise was the stairs leading up to a private terrace that did indeed look right at the Basilica and the square. Room 316. The hotel being located on San Marco made sightseeing easy. We arrived early to St. Marks, beat the crowd. We also did Murano (waste of time--I collect Venetian glass and had looked forward to Murano tours for years but shortly before we departed had decided that I already had too much "stuff" and although the items there are incredible-I bought nothing). Doge's Palace great. Dancing in San Marco after dark without the crowd fantastic. Gondola ride a must do. Took the free water taxi to Hotel Cipriani. Dead!
Hotel made a reservation for us at Ristorante Antico Pignolo, advising that it would be better for us than finding one on our own--special prices and better service for hotel guests. This was the sole issue I had in 2 weeks. The staff verified twice the name of our party (of 2). As you probably know from reading, the rest. charge a "cover". We were charged 15 covers and believe this to have been an intentional overcharge. It is difficult to imagine how you hit 15 instead of 2. The food was good, but we have many good Italian rest. in our city and it was no better and VERY expensive.
Next day: Took water taxi to bus station and met our driver for the trip. Corrado whom you can find on the internet- Touring in Tuscany. He took us to Montisi via a Balsamic Vinegar Factory in Modena and the Ferrari Museum. Long day and the cost was $600 Euros, but we didn't have to drive it. The Balsamic Vinegar Factory tour was arranged by Corrado and was a private tour given by the farm's owner. Ferrari musuem okay.
I am uploading now, but the best part is yet to come.
Janet
May 19th, 2007 | 04:42 AM
#5
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,236
Likes: 1
Sorry you didn't like Zürich. Some people do, some don't. I'm a "give me a Brown Swiss cow in a green pasture" over "find the best chocolate in Zürich" person and prefer going to the mountains. That's where Switzerland's charm really comes out.
How long were you in Zürich?
How long were you in Zürich?
Trending Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jaspertl
Asia
5
Feb 14th, 2009 03:22 PM
nocinonut
Europe
21
Apr 25th, 2004 12:58 PM
