Just off the plane - Viva Italia trip

[Toby]

Well I've been up for 15 hours now - 5pm on the east coast. I just got home from the airport. Can't believe we had breakfast in Venice this morning, and home now.

Well for all of you who want to know about this trip??

Well it was WONDERFUL!!! My husband who never wanted to do this trip in the first place loved it. From our hotels to the fabulous tour guides - Tina & Marco - everything was first rate. Never having to deal with the luggage was so good. The food was great - will miss those delicious croissants in the morning. Met all kinds of wonderful people - 22 total in our group - only 3 kids - 10, 11, and 13. They seemed to be having a ball. I can't tell you what wonderful surprises Disney has in store for you daily - I won't spoil it, but it was the little touches that just made all the difference. The tour bus was comfortable, and even little surprise touches on the rides. Rome was fabulous, with a wonderful Italian tour guide. She made learning about Rome's history so interesting and fun. We went to the front of the line at the Colisseum, the Vatican, etc. We got into parts of places that the public never sees. We had our own rooms in restaurants for lunch, and dinner.

Although the days were busy, it wasn't an all-day thing. There is plenty of down time built in, so you aren't run ragged, like some tour groups.

Whatever you do, don't overpack - you will want room for the beautiful souvenirs you'll will be bringing home. You only need casual clothes for 99% of the time. Some dinners, maybe black pants and a nice top. I brought 4 pairs of shoes - only wore 2 of them the whole time. You will wear jeans, khakis, etc. That's it - don't bring real dressy stuff - you will not need them.
Bring a light jacket or sweater - you won't need anything more.

Beware if you're a coffee lover - the coffee in Italy is expresso with steamed skim milk - all the time - they have no idea what half & half is, or cream in the coffee. I was so sick of drinking expresso, that I practically kissed the front door of Macdonalds - where they serve, "american coffee" with half & half. Believe me, that expresso will curl your hair. If you like that coffee, you'll be in heaven.

I have lots of other tips should anyone have any questions about the hotels, restaurants, etc.

One major tip - beware of the gypsies!! They are everywhere tourists are and are in your face constantly. Just don't make eye contact, ignore them and they will go away. But boy, are they annoying. Kind of ruins the moment when you're trying to absorb the wonderful history and sights!!

 

[Cinci]

Toby,,,,,,,,,,, thank you so much for taking time to tell us about your adventure. I'm sure you are writing in your sleep right about now.

I do have a couple of questions if you don't mind...........

Did have to use Euros or does a credit card suffice?
Were all of the hotels up to par as far as cleanliness, etc.?
What type of souveniers are you recommending we bring back with us?
Any recommendations for restaurants on our down time? Did you go with new friends from the tour or do it alone?

Once again I thank you for your report and I'm sure you have given us all more excitement to look forward to.

Patty

 

[Mamadis]

We are going on the 5/29 trip. I am so excited I can barely stand it. I would love any tips or restaurant recommendations, recommendations on what to do during our down time,what to see and what to skip. Any tips on where to shop as well would be great. As far as what to pack, how was the weather? I read the highs are in the 70's and the lows in the 50's which is cold for us since we are from Texas. Thank you!

 

[Toby]

The hotels were fabulous - very plush - with decor and amenities. All very modern.

Some of the restaurants and shops do NOT take charge cards. Found this out on more than a few occasions. Had to hit the ATM - which are plentiful -more than one time. Be aware, things are expensive in Italy. Bring plenty of Euros, as a lot of shopkeepers and restaurant owners do not want american dollars. Everyone seems to want Euros!! Our dollar isn't worth much there!

In Florence, near all the sights, my husband and I went to a gelato store to get an ice cream cone. We got two flavors, in a waffle cone, with a small cookie on top, and were charged 10 euros - which is about $15.00 US. That's just for one cone!! Off the beaten path, the price was much cheaper. This place was just trying to gouge the tourists!! That is why we were thrilled that most meals are included with this trip. You can find places that you can buy sandwiches and pizza slices and then sit down on a bench to eat, and it's really reasonable. If you go to a restaurant, there is a cover charge just for sitting down!! That's why people get things to go!! Look for little Snack shops.

Some souvenirs I picked up were Murano glass pendants, earrings, pottery in Orvieto, pasta, aprons,with all kinds of neat Italian themes on them, lace table runner, and these cute Pinocchio wooden toys - they're everywhere. Beware though, read the labels on them - some are made right in Italy, and some are made in China!! I also got two very nice leather purses, made in Italy. There are bargains out there. I learned the hard way - bought things at the first stall I saw. Then I noticed that a lot of the street sellers were selling the same things, with price differences. So don't shop at the first one you see, and you can bargain with the owners, too!!

In Venice, look for Murano glass everywhere, and again don't buy at the first place you come to - there are tons of places to buy at, and again, lots of price differences. There are pasta and olive oil shops everywhere, and those are the types of things you can bring back to the states. You can have wine shipped home too, as you will be visiting a winery for wine tasting.

All you will need to pack for the end of May is short sleeves and maybe a light jacket. It's very warm in Rome, already, and with all the walking around you'll do, you can get very heated. And be prepared - there's lots of walking, so bring only comfortable shoes. No one wears heels in Rome - too many ancient cobbled streets, which can be uneven. No bare arms in the Vatican - crop pants are fine.

Any other info I can give, just let me know!! I'm fading fast - 8pm east coast time, but 2 am in Italy. Have to readjust my internal clock again !!

 

[PiperPilot]

Toby, thanks for being the first to write about the 2008 Viva Italia Trip. I'm glad to hear you had a great time. I fully understand what you mean about the gypsies. They are prevalent in Paris also.


I have a few questions.

1) Do you remember which rooms you saw at the Vatican Museum? We have some extra time in Rome and would like to NOT duplicate the rooms that are shown on the ABD tour.

2) Did you happen to have an early early morning return flight from Venice. Any details of time to travel to Marco Polo Airport, ticket counter, security, etc.

3) Did you feel that you had enough time in Florence? How would you rate the pasta making day? We are considering skipping that event and making a sidetrip back to Florence on our own. Any input would be appreciated.

4) Did you do any extra days and what sights did you see?

 

[Mamadis]

We are going on the 5/29 trip. I am so excited I can barely stand it. I would love any tips or restaurant recommendations, recommendations on what to do during our down time,what to see and what to skip. Any tips on where to shop as well would be great. As far as what to pack, how was the weather? I read the highs are in the 70's and the lows in the 50's which is cold for us since we are from Texas. Thank you!

 

[wdwsos]

Thanks for the report -- I'm looking forward to hearing more! We've had Tina twice so far, and we were hoping to have her again for France next month, but she emailed that she's doing mostly Viva and Roma and La Costa Bella. Maybe next year! Isn't she wonderful?

Dotti

 

[Toby]

The rooms we saw at the Vatican was the Sistine Chapel, of course, a longer hallway where there were beautiful statues and mosiacs, more paintings on the ceiling, tombs of the Popes, and we were even lucky to go down in the "basement" area where some of the Popes are buried, and got to see Pope John Paul's tomb. The public usually doesn't get into this area at all. We also saw gardens that were out in back of the building and a hall of tapestries. It was just beautiful. Inside the basilica, we saw the Pieta and more statues. Be mindful, it does get very crowded there, but so well worth the trip.

We left our Venice hotel yesterday at 7am!! Yikes!! But our flight was at 9:30am to Rome for a connecting flight to Boston. You travel by water taxi up the canals to open lagoon and the airport is about 20 minutes by boat. Very easy check-in and security. It's a small airport, so there's no craziness with it all. Plenty of places to eat and shop!!

Now, about Florence. This was the one city I was very disappointed in. I had been there years ago, and I didn't remember it being so dirty and crowded. Lots of graffiti. After seeing "David", and some other cathedrals, we were on our own for about 3 1/2 hours, which I felt was more than enough time for us. It was a holiday for Italy when we were there, so it was very crowded. Perhaps, it will be a lot more sane when you all are there, so you can have time to really appreciate what you are seeing. There is plenty of shopping stalls in the city. Again, selling pretty much the same merchandise. Restaurants around the main cathedral square are very expensive - hence, the $10 euro gelatto cone. Walk a bit and you'll find cheaper ones. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as your bus has to park on the outskirts of the town - good 20-25 minute walk. No buses allowed in the city at all. The best part of the whole day was going up on top of a mountain area, and seeing the panoramic view of Florence. That was gorgeous. You might find Florence wonderful, but it was hot and so crowded that day, and I was hot and crabby, so that might have colored my opinion, slightly!!

The villa that you stay in in Tuscany is beautiful. You won't believe the views. It was built in the 1500's and has olive tree groves, and grapevines everywhere.

Please, whatever you do, don't skip the pasta- making class. It was so much fun and informative. My husband, who doesn't boil water, and didn't want to go at all, had a ball. You really do learn how to make fresh pasta, and then you have a delicious lunch - not with the pasta you make, however. It's a great bonding experience with your group.

Venice was great. And there is a new law recently passed. You can no longer feed the pigeons in St. Mark's square. Up to 20,000 pigeons a day were congregating there, and as you can imagine, were making a mess. After a certain breaking-in period, you will be fined a lot of euros. Not all the people are happy with this, but I guess the government in Venice is concerned these pigeons make a mess, and can carry diseases, and just are a general nuisance.

My husband and I flew into Rome one day ahead, which if you can do it, I'd recommend highly. It gives you some time to adjust to the time change, nap, and explore a little on your own. Your adventure doesn't really start until Saturday night at the "Welcome" dinner. We started out that Saturday morning getting breakfast at the hotel on our own. They have a great buffet, but we weren't all that hungry. We got 2 croissants/jam, 2 expressos, and a yogurt. It came to $32.00 euros - close to $45.00 us. Yikes!! Thankfully, Tina, the tour guide, had that taken off our bill.

The best thing we did that first day we were there was taking an open-air bus tour around Rome. It lasted about 2 hours, and you can hop on - hop off. It gave a great overview of the city, and is very relaxing. We never got off, but got some great photos.

I can't recommend Tina and Marcos enough as tour guides. They were wonderful, and can answer any questions or anticipate any questions you have. There were two other "guides-in-training" the whole time with us, and they were great, too. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. They always have great surprises in store for you! They have many recommendations for you for restaurants that will not overcharge you.

Be aware, it's 3:30 am here on the east coast. I went to bed last night at 9pm, but my body's on Italian time - 6 hours ahead. So, I think it's 9:30 am. Be sure to give yourself a day or two on the other end before heading back to work!!

 

[redzinner]

Thanks Toby for getting back to us so quickly about your trip.

Question: Is there a Disney 'desk' or station set up in the Rome hotel and what hours was it manned?

We are also doing a pre-night in Rome and would like to check-in with the Disney people to find reasonably priced places to dine those few meals we will be on our own. The $45 breakast is a bit much

Did you stay at the Bernini? Was it well situated for walking to different sites on your own?

p.s. thanks for answering my bedbug question on the other thread

 

[Toby]

Yes, we stayed at the Bernini - very nice hotel. Immmaculate, and beautifully decorated. The chandelairs (sp?) alone in the foyer are worth it alone. Beautiful glass. And well situated to the Metro, bus stops, and everything is within walking distance - Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and great shopping and Snack Cafes. It is a block from the Hard Rock Cafe, and the American Embassy.

Your tour guides will be available for questions about restaurants, sightseeing, every morning or afternoon for about an hour. They can give you maps, good places to shop, etc. Very helpful.

We got free tickets from them for the open-air bus ride. You may get something entirely different.

Be advised that the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain are usually mobbed, but well worth seeing. Be extra careful about your $$ and wallets. Pickpockets everywhere. We never had any problems. My husband wore a neck wallet, and lots of times, I just carried cash in my front pocket of my jeans. I'm making it sound worse that it is, but just be careful.

 

[wdwsos]

Just a note that they will likely not be there if you arrive a day early. (Toby, correct me if I'm wrong.) You'll be picked up at the airport, but check-in will be up to you. In Austria, my boys luckily ran into Tina and Anett in the hotel lobby, so they recommended restaurants for them (we were delayed in Heathrow) but I think normally you're on your own if arriving early.

I also believe that, if booking that extra night through AbD, the breakfast is supposed to be included.

We had a great dinner in Rome at Taverna Flavia. It was a somewhat strange situation, though! From my trip report:

Dinner tonight was on our own, and our Adventure Guides were in the lobby for any questions or recommendations. Tony had a name of a local place, only a few blocks away, that was recommended by a friend. We were to go to the Taverna Flavia and ask for "Rocco." After meeting up with some of our traveling companions, six of us headed there for dinner and had a wonderful meal -- albeit by questionable means. When Tony asked for Rocco (who was there, by the way), the owner came out to welcome us "back." He brought us champagne to start the meal, an enormous selection of antipasto, only charged us for some of the wine we consumed, and also brought complimentary Limoncello after our meal! From then on, we decided that "Rocco" was a code word, and that we were likely mistaken for visiting Mafia! ;-)

~~~

We tried it in other restaurants, but it didn't elicit the same results.

Dotti

 

[cydlei]

Hi Toby! Get some sleep! Thanks so much for your informative trip report! We leave tomorrow for Viva Italia and you are responsible for ramping up our excitement!!!! I'm trying to pack light as we speak, but don't hold out much hope. I think we are going to try "nesting" some duffel bags in our luggage so we can come home with more loot. Surely, Disney will bend the "1 bag per person rule" on the way back? I'm packing bubble wrap so I can pad all the olive oil and pottery!
Ciao!
Cindy

 

[wdwsos]

I think we are going to try "nesting" some duffel bags in our luggage so we can come home with more loot. Surely, Disney will bend the "1 bag per person rule" on the way back? I'm packing bubble wrap so I can pad all the olive oil and pottery!
Ciao!
Cindy

I don't think they care at all on the way back! They just don't want to schlep two bags per person all over Italy.

Toby, you're really making me miss Italy! June 2009...

Dotti

 

[Toby]

You're all welcome to any and all information that I could give. I was sitting this morning eating breakfast, and was thinking, "wow, beautiful breakfast in Venice yesterday, and today, Cheerios with milk that's just about going sour. To the supermarket......back to reality.

 

[nicolepdonnelly]

Thanks Toby for all the great info- we're going Sept 21 and I can't wait! It seems like a long way off, but I know it will be here before we know it.

Thanks for the idea Cindy about bubble wrap. I never thought of that- could save on some shipping costs then.

 

[ashky71]

Hey Toby, glad to hear how great your trip was. We leave tommorow for ours and I am even more excited now. Thanks for all the info.

 

[cydlei]

Hi Ashky!!!

See you in Rome Thursday a.m.! (Ci vediamo a Roma il Giovedi mattina!)
(compliments of Google translator )
Cindy

 

[Toby]

I found that a lot of the shopkeepers did bubble wrap fragile items. Everything was well packed for me, and I did buy a lot of pottery at Orvietto. It is just gorgeous. We had an extra foldup dufflebag that we brought all our treasures home in. Worked out great. It was given to us on our first night there by the tour guides. It says Adventures by Disney, and it was filled with goodies. Look for lots of surprises similar to that on your trip.

 

[ashky71]

Hey cydlei, we will see you there. We get there bright and early, we are in Rome at 7:45 am. Its gonna be a blast.

 

[redzinner]

I found that a lot of the shopkeepers did bubble wrap fragile items. Everything was well packed for me, and I did buy a lot of pottery at Orvietto. It is just gorgeous. We had an extra foldup dufflebag that we brought all our treasures home in. Worked out great. It was given to us on our first night there by the tour guides. It says Adventures by Disney, and it was filled with goodies. Look for lots of surprises similar to that on your trip.

Toby, did you check the duffle bag of pottery into cargo or did you carry it onboard for the flight home?