August 18, 2010...Can't wait for the MAGICal Mediterranean!!!

[pixie08]

Kim- great! Maybe we will be at the same table Dh and I also did not want to be rushed through port time.

What sort of things are you planning for cinque terre on your own? Maybe I should pick up the rick Steves.

Lucky you have fun in WDW.

 

[MinnieDiva]

We are going to take the train from La Spezia north to the furthest city of Cinque Terre and then hike the trail back. According to the book we read, it should take about 5 hours. Add in lunch and whatnot, and it'll be a good day!

Yes, looking forward to WDW, but wouldn't you know there's a stupid tropical storm/hurricane? It looks like there will be minimal FL impact, but still.....annoying!

We might go see A Christmas Carol tomorrow. Anyone else gone yet?

kim

 

[mindelmouse]

Just got back from Orlando this afternoon...now the only vacation I need to do planning for is the cruise. Welcome Pixie...I am not as organized as Kim and have not looked into all my options for the ports yet....although thanks to Kim and Lori, I have my excursions all set up for Rome and Pisa.

Pixie...I will add you to the cruise manifest on the 3rd page...we used to have Amy update it on page one..but she seems to have disappeared.

Great vacation, glad I'm back, not glad I'm back..you know the mixed emotions of being away and coming back. Was very disappointed in the huge amount of people that Disney allowed into the Halloween Party this year....many more than last year...we had to wait on lines for rides...very unlike last year....oh well..it was Disney we had fun none the less.

Time to unpack...see everyone later.

 

[pixie08]

Hi Mindy!

It's great to see the transatlantic excursions were posted. I hope we are not too far behind.

 

[jel0511]

Hi Everyone, we're back from our relaxing week on St. John!!!! Now to unpack... YIKES!!!! We have our annual spring break trip to the world up next before this one.... Luckily I've made all our ressies for that one, so I can concentrate on this one now!!!!!! For those of you coming with us to Florence/Pisa, I got confirmation for the 2 cars, so we need to decide if we're all still going or what. Please email me directly. Thanks!!!!!

 

[ejw]

Hi Everyone, we're back from our relaxing week on St. John!!!! Now to unpack... YIKES!!!! We have our annual spring break trip to the world up next before this one.... Luckily I've made all our ressies for that one, so I can concentrate on this one now!!!!!! For those of you coming with us to Florence/Pisa, I got confirmation for the 2 cars, so we need to decide if we're all still going or what. Please email me directly. Thanks!!!!!

Hi jel0511,

I see you just came back from st. john. hope you had a great time. we are cruising on the oasis for springbreak next year. one of the stops is st. thomas. do you have any recommendations for things to do on st john or st thomas?

thanks, ellen

 

[mindelmouse]

Ok guys - I've spent hours researching and I'm still just as confused as I was before.....We're in Barcelona the night before and the night after we come back...there are so many hotels...I can't figure out which are located conveniently to where we need to go.....many I have to get 2 rooms for (since we have 2 kids) and that doubles the price...it says that July and August are the slow season in Barcelona......Le Meridien has no availabilty.....any suggestions

 

[jel0511]

Ok guys - I've spent hours researching and I'm still just as confused as I was before.....We're in Barcelona the night before and the night after we come back...there are so many hotels...I can't figure out which are located conveniently to where we need to go.....many I have to get 2 rooms for (since we have 2 kids) and that doubles the price...it says that July and August are the slow season in Barcelona......Le Meridien has no availabilty.....any suggestions

I have no idea. Luckily I made ressies at Le Meridien back in Sept. I think we're paying 199 EUR per room per night. Try any of the other DCL hotels. I got MUCH better deals by looking myself then DCL prices.

 

[MinnieDiva]

I have no idea. Luckily I made ressies at Le Meridien back in Sept. I think we're paying 199 EUR per room per night. Try any of the other DCL hotels. I got MUCH better deals by looking myself then DCL prices.

Ditto. Good luck. Did you try the "suites"? And have you read the trip reports posted from last trip? They should give you some ideas...

Back from FL. Had an awesome trip! My dad gave me my xmas present early (the dslr camera I'd been researching), so I came back with a few videos and....1099 pictures! I still haven't gone thru them all, but will in the next few days. I'm already in withdrawal, as the weather here is cold, windy, and rainy. With no letup in sight. Sigh.

kim

 

[pixie08]

Dh and I are flying in Sun before the cruise. I do not want to spend too much money on a hotel because I rather pend all my money on the cruise lol! Anyway I was thinking of the Hilton Diagnol Mar....only because it received decent reviews from past med cruisers and from Deb on All Ears and it is on DCL's list (not like that means too much- plus I wouldn't book with DCL it is around $100 more than through Hilton). I think it is around $250/night at the moment which I think is very reasonable. In terms of location I am just not sure. I am still trying to figure Barcelona out. The only issue I have with the Hilton is it is seems like a business hotel which is both a plus and minus. Plus for amenities, minus for authenticity.

I too was considering LeMerdian but there was no availability (maybe there is a conference or Disney booked up all the rooms lol!) Let me know if you find anything else!

 

[pixie08]

Interesting. Le MEridian just let me proceed to book a king room for $219 Euro/night. I didn't book it but I thought you might be interested.

 

[jel0511]

Mindy, I just played around on Le Merieidn's webiste and found availability. Here is the website I used https://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/index.html
and the availability was for 2 rooms which were 229 EUR for the night before the cruise and 279EUR for the night after. I can't believe how much rates have gone up.

 

[mindelmouse]

Mindy, I just played around on Le Merieidn's webiste and found availability. Here is the website I used https://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/index.html
and the availability was for 2 rooms which were 229 EUR for the night before the cruise and 279EUR for the night after. I can't believe how much rates have gone up.

I was out yesterday afternoon and evening...I'm going to try and play some more today.....229 per room was a little more than I wanted to pay (and I need 2 rooms)...I want to see if I could get something for all 4 of a us a little cheaper...I have no concern about getting something...there is just so much to choose from, it gets confusing as to where's a good location and what's a decent place....I'm just going to do all my homework first...now that the cruise details are my primary vacation focus, I will work on it. I'm off all next week too...so I should have some time. I'll let you know what I find.

 

[jel0511]

To all of you looking for Barcelona Hotels, I made ressies yesterday at Hotel Rívoli Ramblas. It got good reviews here on the DIS and two rooms cost me only 280 EUR!!! The pictures look nice and for one night pre/post cruise look o.k. to me!!! I still have my Le Meridien ressies, will prob cancel them due to price.

 

[mindelmouse]

To all of you looking for Barcelona Hotels, I made ressies yesterday at Hotel Rívoli Ramblas. It got good reviews here on the DIS and two rooms cost me only 280 EUR!!! The pictures look nice and for one night pre/post cruise look o.k. to me!!! I still have my Le Meridien ressies, will prob cancel them due to price.

I spent all yesterday researching hotels and los ramblas was on it...they quoted me 126 Euros per room...we still haven't made a decision on where to stay...I guess I should book some things that I can cancel...if you want me to email you my excel sheets let me know. I've compiled the tripadvisor rating...cost through the hotel website and the cost through other websites....

 

[mindelmouse]

Guess what everyone -they're finally posted the shore excursions....Kim and Lori - it looks like we did amazing with our Rome tour...they want $329 per person. I haven't looked yet, got the info from my husband....they're kind of hidden need to go to ports of call under Europe cruises and then click on the port until you get to the excursions.

Have fun.

 

[IrishCowboy]

subscribing

 

[mindelmouse]

subscribing

If so, give me your details and I'll add you to the master list on page 3...welcome aboard

 

[jel0511]

Guess what everyone -they're finally posted the shore excursions....Kim and Lori - it looks like we did amazing with our Rome tour...they want $329 per person. I haven't looked yet, got the info from my husband....they're kind of hidden need to go to ports of call under Europe cruises and then click on the port until you get to the excursions.

Have fun.

I saw that MIndy, just finished browsing them quickly. I think we did really well with Rome and those joining us in Florence/Pisa I think we did pretty good as well..... I have a laundry list of the ones I like so far.... Either the treasure hunt in Tunisa or historical hunt in Malta, the beach day in Corsica and sorrento/almafi coast drive with pizza making for the kids, also the train tour of Nice. Those are my must dos, I'm hoping to do them all, but we'll see. They do seem pricy... my KTTW card is going to get a work out......

 

[pixie08]

I am very excited for some of these as well! Dh and I are really thinking about the cooking school in Tuscany!

Does anyone know of private drivers for Naples? How much do these drivers typically cost? I like the Pompeii/ Amalfi excursion but thought it would be much cooler to do it privately.