Best Of
Notes from May 2024 trip
Belated post from 2024. Just realized that I previously sent this to another Forum reader by private message, but I don’t think I ever posted it on the Forum itself. Better late than never.
Here are some notes on highlights of our Week in Venice, Florence, and Rome. Most of this covers free-time activities (we had a lot of free time because we extended our trip on both ends to spend more time in all three cities but many of these things can be done on free time during the tour itself).
Our tour director was Cristina Castorina. She was excellent. She emailed our group before the trip started and suggested we might want to book a visit to the Panoramic Terrace at the Fondaco dei Tedeschi department store roof top in Venice. The website is https://www.dfs.com/en/venice/service/rooftop-terrace Timed tickets are free but reservations are all gone within minutes of being opened up on line. It was a great vantage point. We did this during a free afternoon during the tour. We also went up the bell tower on our own. Also a great vantage point because you are very high and can see in all four directions. But honestly, I liked the Grand Canal view from the department store roof better. And the store is close to the Rialto Bridge, another highlight of the city.
On one free evening in Venice we took the Vaporetto (easy to use, there are Youtube videos that show you how, day passes available) to the Ponte dell’ Accademia stop. We ate at a small out-of-the-way restaurant recommended in the Rick Steve guidebook, Al Vecio Marangon that was delightful. We really enjoyed it. Then, we attended a Vivaldi concert at Chiesa di San Vidal. Another really enjoyable experience.
Another great vaporetto experience was taking one to the beginning of the grand canal route at Piazzale Roma and riding it back toward our hotel (we stayed at the Ca di Dio on the lagoon. I understand some Tauck groups stay at the Hilton Molino Stucky on Giudecca Island. I hope you don’t; we could walk out our door and be in Venice. From the Molino Stucky, you have to take a shuttle boat across the lagoon to actually be in the heart of Venice.) Anyway, if you get in line for vaporetto route 1 (be sure you get on the right dock; there are several at Piazzale Roma) so you can be first on the boat when it opens, sit in front so you have good views out both sides. Listen to the Rick Steves audio tour of the Grand Canal (free app, download various audio tours). Quite enjoyable.
Not clear from the Tauck trip description, but we got a tour inside the Doge’s Palace so you don’t need to do that on your own.
Last Venice advice: it will be crowded. Go for a walk at dawn, or head for parts of town that aren’t touristy.
In Florence we stayed at the Bernini Palace. Old old building, but one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in because of the service. Ask them anything, and the answer is “Yes, of course!” Also one of the best breakfasts on the tour. Great location, but again, go out at dawn to experience medieval Florence without the crowds. Speaking of locations, the Bernini has a rooftop terrace. That almost NO ONE knows about. You can get drinks and snacks at the lobby bar and take them up there or, as we did, have a decadent dinner consisting of a bottle of prosecco and a bag of potato chips from a nearby store. On the roof, all to ourselves. Not great views, just a sea of ancient rooftops. Lots of swallows and other birds.
One of the best meals we had on our own was a short walk from the Bernini at Il Gato e la Volpe on Via Ghibellina. (Gato and Volpe, cat and fox, are two prominent characters in Pinocchio, which is an Italian story). After a round of negronis we can’t finish a bottle of wine; they have a good selection of half bottles. We had the 2013 Cantina di Montalcino Brunello di Montalcino; best wine of the trip. We lamented that it was a half bottle!
We wanted to buy a picnic dinner and walk from the hotel across the river and up the hill to the Piazzale Michelangelo for the great views, but my wife sprained her ankle in Florence, and that limited our walking a bit. People on tour who went up there said it was very nice.
We had an after-hours visit to the Uffizi—treasure it. Huge contrast to the packed madhouse at the Accademia to see David. Speaking of packed madhouses, on to Rome. We were supposed to have an after-hours tour of the Sistine Chapel. Then it got shifted to early morning public hours, then late afternoon public hours. So crowded it was difficult to appreciate this great art treasure. I hope you get the after hours tour. Tauck sent us each a check for $100 and a $250 voucher for a future trip to compensate. I would rather have had the after hours tour.
Our Tauck hotel in Rome was the Palazzo Ripetta. Nice neighborhood but long walk from hotel to places you might want to visit: Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, Colosseum. We visited Trevi and the Pantheon on a drizzly early morning. Weather kept the crowds away from Trevi, and although there was a long line to buy tickets at the Pantheon before it opened, the line moved quickly. Near there we found a nice shop that was great for buying food souvenirs for folks back home: Enoteca Guerrini on Via del Governo Vecchio. They also have a branch nearer the Palazzo Ripetta at Via della Croce not far from the Spanish steps. Small quantities of limoncello, balsamic vinegar, cantucci, etc. for taking home as gifts.
One of Rome’s most acclaimed restaurants is very close to the Palazzo Ripetta. It is Restaurant Ad Hoc. We tried to make reservations but six weeks in advance was WAY too late. We did have a nice lunch at PizzaRe just down the street on via di Ripetta.
If you take a taxi in Rome or Florence, try to have your tour director get the taxi and tell the driver where you want to go. We had Cristina do that for us once and it helped.
We were glad we went into the Colosseum but I enjoyed touring the Forum with the free Rick Steves app narration more. More variety of ruins. However, in late May it was very hot and sunny in the Forum with practically no shade. Go early, take water. We would have killed for a cold beer when we got out, but couldn’t find one nearby.
RickS
Re: Kingdoms & Dragons: Singapore to Bali Review - Part 3 Sights and Activities
Day 14 - Fly home day. We check out at noon, no late check out was available, and spend the afternoon at the poolside bar/restaurant until our 6:30 PM pickup for transfer to the airport and the start of the long journey home.
End of Review!
Re: Any alternatives to the Komodo Dragon day?
Komodo dragons tomorrow. Here’s the view from our room on Flores Island.
Re: New to Tauck and wonder if our expereince was typical
I am finding all of this quite amusing…..just live and let live. No judging, but if you ever want to talk about “being needled” on this forum, then I’m your spokesperson. 🤣
Re: Trip Report, Patagonia Feb/March 2025
Part 2
Day 6: Puerto Natales to El Calafate. Fairly early start for the bus ride to Argentina. Very smooth border crossing. We had a later lunch at a restaurant in El Calafate - very good - I had the trout. We checked into the Hotel Xelena - lovely water views. I liked the Hotel. I have read comments about thin walls, but that was a non-issue for us, as everyone staying there appeared to be similar tourists who were early to bed and early to rise.
At 4:45 p.m. the group went by bus to the Glacier Museum. Very informative and fun visit. Back at the Hotel, we were provided a snack in our room with a bottle of wine. We supplemented with a salad we bought at the bar area and split. Very pleasant to relax and enjoy while watching the sun fading over the Lake.
Day 7: Upsala Glacier and Estancia Cristina. We had another good day for a cruise to a glacier. It was partly cloudy and there was no wind. The cruise on Lake Argentino was nice, and then we headed to the Upsala Channel, where we could view the glacier and many stunning icebergs. Lots of picture taking. Then, we sailed to Estancia Christina.
Our TD had previously advised us of an option of a long hike at the Estancia. It is a 9 mile hike above the Lake and then down into Fossil Canyon and then to the Estancia. We were advised that the hike is challenging because the hikers needed to move quickly to get down to the Estancia for the sail back. Four from our group, including my husband and me, chose to take this optional hike. (Sometimes there is no availability and sometimes the weather precludes it). Our TD discussed it with the group a couple of days prior, as it needed to be reserved.
The four of us were driven in a 4 by 4 to the Upsala Viewpoint area, and 4 non-Tauck people joined us for the hike. The guide recommended using one hiking pole. The rest of the Tauck group said they also was driven up to the viewpoint, then to the Estancia for a nice lunch, lots of wine. a mate tea demonstratiion and a visit to the museum. Positive reports from the group.
The hike we took was not as difficult as the one we took two days earlier (although there were a couple of rocky areas where the guide recommended sitting down and sliding). As we were told, it was challenging because the guide kept a very fast pace. She did stop several times in Fossil Canyon to discuss the many marine fossils we could see. Between the fossils and the changing colors of the rocks, the canyon was beautiful and otherworldly. The latter part of the walk was through streams and meadows and trees starting to show their fall colors. We did have some drizzle at around the halfway point. I really enjoyed the hike, and appreciate being given the choice to take it. We made it back to the Esctancia for a quick refreshment and then back to the boat. Dinner at the Hotel at either the bar or the restaurant at previously reserved time. We chose the restaurant, and were able to enjoy the Thursday night Tango show. A great day.
Day 8: Perito Moreno Glacier. Very nice day, partly cloudy, no wind. This glacier is amazing and spectacular. It was calving quite a blt. Our guide led the group around the walkways and there was free time to just wander and watch the glacier. We had a designated time to meet up at the Park restaurant, which we could walk up to (30-40 minutes) or take our bus. We walked, wanting to savor every moment of the views. Good lunch at the restaurant with wine. We went back to the Hotel and rested/napped before our group dinner in town. Others chose to be dropped in town for shopping and meet the group at the restaurant. Good dinner at the Mako restaurant.
Day 9; Our flight to Buenos Aires was rescheduled to 2 hours later, so we had a relaxing early morning. It was another nice day, and my husband and I took a long walk along the lakeside promenade prior to the group's 10:30 departure for the airport. We arrived in Buenos Aires at 4:30 p.m. Traffic was heavy on Saturday evening, but we did have a short tour of the sights. Very good included dinner at the Sofitel. Nice room and the Sofitel is in the nice Recoleto area.
Day 10: The group had a very full day tour to, first, San Antonio de Areco to visit a silversmith. I found it interesting. It was another lovely day and we had time to walk around the small town, visit the Church, enjoy the ambience. Then, we drove to an Estancia, where we had an excellent barbeque lunch and gaucho show. Back to the hotel to freshen up. We had our farewell reception at the Hotel, and then were transported to the dinner and Tango show, which was outstanding.
Day 11: We had a leisurely last morning because we had a 4:00 p.m. pickup for an evening flight. We took our time with breakfast and then walked over to the nearby Bascilica and Cemetary and visited both. The Cemetary, where Eva Peron and other notables are entombed is very interesting. We then went back to the Hotel and checked out (late checkout not available) and left our luggage with the bellmen. We enjoyed a light lunch and walking around the Recoleto area, and through some of its beautiful parks and the shopping center across the street from the Sofitel. Back at the hotel, we freshened up and changed clothes in the spa area. The pickup was early and we had a smooth ride to the airport. Uneventful trip home on American Airlines to JFK and then Chicago.
Clothing: we were prepared for windy, cold and rainy weather. While we were remarkably fortunate to have good weather, we still used most of the outerwear that we brought, sometimes alone and sometimes in various combinations. We both brought a puffer jacket, a fleece and a good raincoat. We both brought good hiking pants and I had a pair of stretch hiking pants that can be worn alone or layered. For the two long hikes, we wore lined water resistant hiking pants, and they worked out very well. Many in the group had rain pants that they wore as a second layer. We brought both hiking boots and hiking shoes and wore both. At times I wore a buff, a beanie and light gloves. I brought, and did not use, a wool scarf and heavy gloves. My husband also brought and used a baseball cap and I did sometimes wear a sun hat with chin strap.
Trip Report - Venice and Dalmatian Coast September 2024 (part 1)
Venice and Dalmatian Coast September 2024
What a wonderful trip! I wanted to share some of our experiences, particularly information about selecting shore excursions to those who may consider this trip in the future. This tour includes a couple days in Venice and then a Ponant small ship cruise along the Dalmatian Coast.
For our tour the Ponant ship L’Austral had over 200 Tauck guests and was not a “shared ship” with other non-Tauck guests. Tauck personnel included 6 tour directors and a cruise director. Slightly over half of the group stayed at the Venice Stuckey Hilton on Giudecca Island and the rest stayed at the Excelsior Hotel on Lido Island in the Venice lagoon. The welcome dinners were held at the respective hotels, so we didn’t meet the other guests and 3 of the tour directors until we boarded the ship on the 3rd day. We chose to stay at the Hilton as it is a bit closer to the main part of Venice, but Lido Island has better beach facilities if that is of interest. We found the Stucky to be very accommodating with a great breakfast buffet. Also not to miss is their rooftop bar with a breathtaking view of Venice at sunset. We also appreciated onsite restaurants (especially on arrival evening) and the selection of local restaurants along the shoreline of Giudecca island only a short distance away.
One key consideration for taking this trip would be mobility. Aside from the usual European caveats of walking over cobblestone streets, steps without handrails, and standing, I must mention the need to get on and off small vessels throughout the trip. As noted, both hotels are on islands, so the small boat experience begins on the way from the airport in order to check into the hotel. It was the first time we’ve ever pulled up to a hotel in a speedboat. Gondola rides also require balance and mobility -- think of getting into a canoe. Transportation around Venice is provided by small water taxis, and floating public bus-boats (called in Italian a vaporetto). . Lastly many of the ports require access by a ship tender (aka lifeboat) to reach shore. A couple of these rides were over very choppy water. All types of vessels had an attendant to lend a steadying hand for getting on and off, but it is something to be aware of to fully enjoy all parts of this journey.
Day 0
We arrived a day in advance of the tour, so we headed out in the morning to explore the sites of Venice after checking with the TD’s to not duplicate the Tauck walking tour scheduled the next day. Buying an all-day vaporetto pass was a great investment and I would recommend taking a few moments to review the map for routes and stops of these water taxis before you head out to tour. It is also important to allow time for transportation and to note the Stucky hotel’s complimentary taxi-boat intervals were every 30-45 minutes.
Out first stop was the small island of San Giorgio Maggiore to see the Basilica built by the Renaissance architect Palladio that contains artwork by Tintoretto (father and son) and Sebastion Ricci. We opted not to scale the tower with reported impressive views, but did enjoy an art exhibit held in the nearby buildings.
We then took the vaporetto across the lagoon and then switched to Line 1 to get an overview going up the Grand Canal. One of the best ways to see Venice is from the water. I really appreciated the cooperation and skill of the operators navigating on the canal. After a brief pizza break for lunch, we then did an informal walking tour of the Jewish ghetto (a small island) provided an overview of the history of this community, museum, and synagogues.
Then back to the hotel to enjoy a lovely outdoor reception to meet the other tour guests staying at the Hilton hotel. The dinner (inside) was lovely, and I especially enjoyed my panna cotta (as well as half of my wife’s). To note my wife comments that this was a dressy affair – most men wore jackets, some with ties, and the women mostly wore dresses.
Day 1
The next day, Tauck offers either a morning or afternoon tour of St Marks Basilica and square and then an inside tour of Doges palace, including a view from the Bridge of Sighs and a tour of the jail area. They also divide each session into smaller groups that are of a good size for these venues. This tour is led by local guides and was informative and well presented. At the end of the tour, we were presented with an opportunity to ride in a gondola, four guests per boat. It was a nice experience as they also included a gondola with every third boat having two guests plus two musicians to accompany us. It was fascinating to watch the gondolier duck under the bridges, some being quite low while continuing to paddle the boat!. One thing that I wished I brought along was a lanyard for my phone as the best shots were when we were on the water, but I was always worried about dropping it into the canal.
The rest of the day was free time. We headed out for lunch (yes to more pizza!!) and then navigated our way to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. This required some assistance from our morning local guide to find one of the four bridges across the Grand Canal to reach the museum. The collection of European and American 20th century art was presented in her former mansion which alone was an amazing visit to see the view into the canal. If you enjoy this period of art, it really is an amazing collection and glimpse into her life in Venice. Although we considered having dinner in Venice, we decided to head back to Giudecca and have our meal at a local restaurant (Trattoria Ai Cacciatori) along the waterfront. It was delicious and had a varied menu, including non-seafood options. If you dine later in the evening (we ate at 7 as we were still getting used to the time change) you may want to make reservations.
Day 2
This day began early as the luggage needed to be outside our hotel door by 7AM. After a quick breakfast, all of the Hilton guests headed out on a bus-like boat to Murano, a small Venetian Island famous for glassworks. The glass blowing demonstration was very informative and entertaining. We then toured their shop, or it seemed more like a museum for some of the pieces of glass artwork. My wife did find some more affordable jewelry downstairs that will make memorable gifts. Our group then re-boarded the boat to head to Burano, another island known historically for lace products. We had a leisurely lunch with some folks from the tour, so we didn’t investigate the lace products or other offerings from the local shops.
Our small tour boat then took us to the cruise terminal in Venice to begin embarkation to Ponant’s L’Austral cruise ship. After touring the ship and settling into our cabin, we had a lovely dinner in the main dining room. Overall, the food was very good to excellent, with a seemingly large selection of items for each course, given the size of the ship. There also was a casual buffet-type restaurant on the top deck that did not require a dress code. We had a few lunches and breakfast there during the cruise and found the food to be very good with a large selection, as well as a featured entrée for lunch.
Re: Advertising
😂😂😂. BKMD … if you don’t think that post was ‘political’, you need to learn how to read your own lips. Once again … put it to bed. We talk about travel here, and the ‘majority’ couldn’t care less about your political perspective.
Sealord
Re: Yet another Tauck Freebie
I disagree with the poster who thought all Tauck guests should be treated equally. I have completed over 45 tours with Tauck and have two more scheduled this year. I think those of us who have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars with Tauck should receive an occasional recognition. In fact, I recommended this to Tauck on my review cards for the past few years. I travel frequently with an upscale cruise line and they have had a recognition program for years - the more cruises you buy the more "goodies" you receive. As it should be, in my opinion - we deserve to be rewarded for our loyalty. In fact, I think Tauck should take this a step further and reward guests for every 25 trips, or something similar.
smarks50