Wow! I've accomplished alot of planning this week for my San Sebastian/Paris trip in the spring.
I've created my personal guide for San Sebastian and the Basque Country based on what I've read in the Cadogan Bilbao and Basque Country guidebook and Maribel's guide to the Basque Country. It's still a work in progress and it's mostly restaurant recommendations and a few sightseeing "must do's". Once I get the Rick Steves Spain guide I'll read through that and I'll feel set with my Basque Country logistics. Since most of the time in San Sebastian will be with the tour I'm not "over planning" that portion of the trip. Paris on the other hand is another story.
The Paris portion of the trip is independent travel and I'm having a ball planning each day. I'm reading the Fodor's 2010 Paris guide right now and starting to put together a daily itinerary of things to see and do. During my research I've come across a few really interesting opportunities and decided to take the chance to enjoy some more of the "out of the main stream" tourist activities.
For instance one morning I've booked a cooking class in the the Montemartre neighborhood with Cookn' With Class. There is no more than 6 people in the class and we meet at the local market, buy fresh ingredients and then cook a 3 course lunch with professional chefs.
Another day I've booked a private half day photography tour of the famous Paris Passages. These are shopping galleries from the 19th century, some have been renovated to show their former splendor and I think it would be a great place to explore with a camera.
I also got a lead on a funny one man show done in English called "How to Become Parisian in One Hour". It sounds like a hoot and I even managed to manuveur the booking website in French...let's hope the tickets are waiting at the box office for me!
And last but certainly not least I was able to book Prems (discount) TGV tickets for a day trip to Reims. What a savings, by using the TGV.com website instead of RailEurope I was able to get 2 roundtrip TGV tickets for €48. And I love the idea of being whisked away to Reims (and the champagne houses there!) in just 45 minutes!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Bologna Accommodations...A Bargain Apartment!
After booking flights to Bologna I started perusing accommodation options and let me tell you it wasn't easy. Oh, I found some great hotels, some really nice boutique hotels and for a fleeting moment I really wanted to book the €250 a night room, but then I started to check more options.
After reading a few posts on Fodors I found out Bologna is a city known for it's conferences and conventions and rooms can book up quickly. Then I read the earlier a room could be booked in Bologna the better. Now I was understanding the high room rates for mid-November, well, that and it was 9 months in advance, so reduced rates probably weren't likely. Still, I really wanted to try and get something booked.
While scouring the Fodors threads for information on Bologna I came across some information about PerfectPlaces.com. This is a vacation rental website similar to Vacation Rentals By Owner. I was really happy to see several aparment options in Bologna. Once I picked the one apartment that was really appealing to me I checked the rates. Oh My God! I nearly shot up out of my chair and did a little happy dance. The listing said for a one week rental in November the price was €480, I had to rub my eyes to make sure I was seeing correctly!
I quickly composed an email to the apartment owner asking if the apartment would be available for the dates I was looking for and what the price would be for 8 nights. I wasn't expecting a fast reply from the owner, so you can imagine my surprise when I checked my email the next morning and found a reply and it was positive!
The apartment was available for the 8 nights I wanted in November and for 8 nights the price was €550 plus a €50 cleaning charge. 8 nights for €600 is a great deal! The owner did request a deposit, which I was able to wire through my bank account and he recieved it within a few days. Having never done an international wire transfer before, it was definitely a learning experience, but it was easy.
So now I'm booked into the Due Torri, one bedroom apartment in the centro storico of Bologna! check it out http://perfectplaces.com/vacation-rentals/32702.htm
After reading a few posts on Fodors I found out Bologna is a city known for it's conferences and conventions and rooms can book up quickly. Then I read the earlier a room could be booked in Bologna the better. Now I was understanding the high room rates for mid-November, well, that and it was 9 months in advance, so reduced rates probably weren't likely. Still, I really wanted to try and get something booked.
While scouring the Fodors threads for information on Bologna I came across some information about PerfectPlaces.com. This is a vacation rental website similar to Vacation Rentals By Owner. I was really happy to see several aparment options in Bologna. Once I picked the one apartment that was really appealing to me I checked the rates. Oh My God! I nearly shot up out of my chair and did a little happy dance. The listing said for a one week rental in November the price was €480, I had to rub my eyes to make sure I was seeing correctly!
I quickly composed an email to the apartment owner asking if the apartment would be available for the dates I was looking for and what the price would be for 8 nights. I wasn't expecting a fast reply from the owner, so you can imagine my surprise when I checked my email the next morning and found a reply and it was positive!
The apartment was available for the 8 nights I wanted in November and for 8 nights the price was €550 plus a €50 cleaning charge. 8 nights for €600 is a great deal! The owner did request a deposit, which I was able to wire through my bank account and he recieved it within a few days. Having never done an international wire transfer before, it was definitely a learning experience, but it was easy.
So now I'm booked into the Due Torri, one bedroom apartment in the centro storico of Bologna! check it out http://perfectplaces.com/vacation-rentals/32702.htm
Thursday, February 18, 2010
I'm quoted in Fodor's The Amalfi Coast, Capri & Naples, 5th Edition Guidebook!
WooooHooo! I'm doing a little happy dance. It was just a regular day when I checked my email inbox and discovered an email from a Fodors guidebook editor. As I clicked to open the email a huge smile spread across my face...there it was in black and white...
"Congratulations You were quoted in Fodor's The Amalfi Coast, Capri & Naples, 5th Edition along with other travelers like you as a part of the guide's "Word of Mouth" feature."
Yes, I'm going to brag here and say this is the second time in about a year Fodor's has used a quote from one of my trip reports. Last year they used a quote from my Turkey trip report and now they are using a quote from my Amalfi Coast trip report and I am thrilled!
And you ask...what is the quote Marcy? Why thanks for asking, here it is:
On page 217... "When we arrived in the center of Anacapri we decided the first thing we wanted to do was ride the chairlift up to the top of Mt. Solaro. This was one of the things that was on my ‘really want to do list’ and I’m very happy that we did. It was such a beautiful day…clear blue sky, sun shining, sharing the experience with great friends, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect setting”.
And now you're asking...well, what do you get for this little gem of a quote? I'm glad you asked....I can get a free copy of the guidebook I'm quoted in or ANY guidebook Fodor's publishes. So, not that I don't want the Amalfi book, but why not ask for the 2010 Italy book! So I am eagerly anticipating a nice little package in the mail in the next few weeks...YAY! More Italy trips to dream about!
"Congratulations You were quoted in Fodor's The Amalfi Coast, Capri & Naples, 5th Edition along with other travelers like you as a part of the guide's "Word of Mouth" feature."
Yes, I'm going to brag here and say this is the second time in about a year Fodor's has used a quote from one of my trip reports. Last year they used a quote from my Turkey trip report and now they are using a quote from my Amalfi Coast trip report and I am thrilled!
And you ask...what is the quote Marcy? Why thanks for asking, here it is:
On page 217... "When we arrived in the center of Anacapri we decided the first thing we wanted to do was ride the chairlift up to the top of Mt. Solaro. This was one of the things that was on my ‘really want to do list’ and I’m very happy that we did. It was such a beautiful day…clear blue sky, sun shining, sharing the experience with great friends, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect setting”.
And now you're asking...well, what do you get for this little gem of a quote? I'm glad you asked....I can get a free copy of the guidebook I'm quoted in or ANY guidebook Fodor's publishes. So, not that I don't want the Amalfi book, but why not ask for the 2010 Italy book! So I am eagerly anticipating a nice little package in the mail in the next few weeks...YAY! More Italy trips to dream about!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Hello Bread Basket of Italy...Bologna Here I Come!
How could I let a year go by without a trip to Italy? Well, the answer is I can't!
The next question is how to maximum holiday and vacation time off? Think November! Yes, November...maybe not the most ideal time to visit Italy, but if I can squeeze 2 weeks in Italy with only taking off 9 work days I am going to do it!
When I started looking at airfares to Bologna, I originally wanted to go for a week in September thinking that would be a good time to go(weather-wise). Well, when airfares were $1900 I about died! So, I started looking at October dates, still pretty high...then I moved onto November...BINGO! Airfares for under $1000...that's what I like to hear!
Now, since I thought a week in Bologna would be great, I thought a week in Rome tossed into the mix would be even better! Looking at the November calendar I realized, Veteran's Day (November 11th) is a paid holiday and Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving are also paid holidays and only a week apart...BINGO a second time! Why not spend a week in Bologna and then take the train to Rome and spend another week there.
When I proposed this option to my intrepid travel companion (my mom) she was on board and tickets were purchased.
Now it's onto finding accommodations!
The next question is how to maximum holiday and vacation time off? Think November! Yes, November...maybe not the most ideal time to visit Italy, but if I can squeeze 2 weeks in Italy with only taking off 9 work days I am going to do it!
When I started looking at airfares to Bologna, I originally wanted to go for a week in September thinking that would be a good time to go(weather-wise). Well, when airfares were $1900 I about died! So, I started looking at October dates, still pretty high...then I moved onto November...BINGO! Airfares for under $1000...that's what I like to hear!
Now, since I thought a week in Bologna would be great, I thought a week in Rome tossed into the mix would be even better! Looking at the November calendar I realized, Veteran's Day (November 11th) is a paid holiday and Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving are also paid holidays and only a week apart...BINGO a second time! Why not spend a week in Bologna and then take the train to Rome and spend another week there.
When I proposed this option to my intrepid travel companion (my mom) she was on board and tickets were purchased.
Now it's onto finding accommodations!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tips for writing a travel journal
I just finished reading Globejotting (How to Write Extraordinary Travel Journals) by Dave Fox. I loved this book.
The author is a humor travel writer and part time tour guide for Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door.
The book is funny, direct and provides great hints for overcoming the daunting task of journal writing while traveling.
If you're interested in travel journaling I highly recommend this book!
Monday, February 15, 2010
New York City Trip Plans underway...
After Finian's Rainbow was canceled we contemplated....hmmm...which Broadway show should replace this one. We could not let a Friday night in NYC go by without tickets to a show! When I got a playbill.com email advertising a new showing opening with Valerie Harper it seemed like a perfect fit. Tickets to Looped have been purchased!
Looped (at the Lyceum Theater) is a comedy which tells the story of Tallulah Bankhead being called to the studio in 1965 to re-record (or "loop") one line of dialogue for what would be her last film. Ms. Bankhead was known for her wild partying and given her inebriated state (and inability to loop the line perfectly), what ensues is a hilarious showdown.
And on the restaurant side of things...Mom forwarded me an email from David Rosengarten which extolled the virtues of a restaurant on the east side, La Mangeoire (did you expect anything other than a French Restaurant!). Since we were planning to go to the Frick Collection on the Upper East Side, on the Friday morning we will be in the city, I thought this would be a great spot for lunch...and they serve small plates during lunch hours...perfect! I checked Open Table to see if the restaurant was listed there and it was. I was surprised I was able to book a reservation more then 30 days out, but I could and I did. So, one lunch taken care of now.
A couple days ago I came across an article about a new Roman trattoria (Maialino) that has open on the East Side (in the 20's)...now I know I can't go wrong with an Italian place and it's not far from our hotel. So I checked out the website...looks great! This time when I checked Open Table I was notified a booking couldn't be made this far out...no worries, in a couple weeks I'll check again and make the reservation.
NYC restaurant planning is right on target!
Looped (at the Lyceum Theater) is a comedy which tells the story of Tallulah Bankhead being called to the studio in 1965 to re-record (or "loop") one line of dialogue for what would be her last film. Ms. Bankhead was known for her wild partying and given her inebriated state (and inability to loop the line perfectly), what ensues is a hilarious showdown.
And on the restaurant side of things...Mom forwarded me an email from David Rosengarten which extolled the virtues of a restaurant on the east side, La Mangeoire (did you expect anything other than a French Restaurant!). Since we were planning to go to the Frick Collection on the Upper East Side, on the Friday morning we will be in the city, I thought this would be a great spot for lunch...and they serve small plates during lunch hours...perfect! I checked Open Table to see if the restaurant was listed there and it was. I was surprised I was able to book a reservation more then 30 days out, but I could and I did. So, one lunch taken care of now.
A couple days ago I came across an article about a new Roman trattoria (Maialino) that has open on the East Side (in the 20's)...now I know I can't go wrong with an Italian place and it's not far from our hotel. So I checked out the website...looks great! This time when I checked Open Table I was notified a booking couldn't be made this far out...no worries, in a couple weeks I'll check again and make the reservation.
NYC restaurant planning is right on target!
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