Trip report: Venice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We spent four days in Florence last year, along with days in Amalfi, Rome and Venice. Florence was hands down the favorite for our family of two parents and two teenagers. Sorry you didn’t enjoy it but maybe you needed more time there.

I'm sure you're right that it could be fun, especially given a longer stay. I normally love city vacations. I think the main issue was we were trying to fit too much into one day, and our kids' dispositions don't lend themselves to such a marathon touring situation, especially after an early morning wakeup.

[Anonymous]

Is this jubilee crowd?

[Anonymous]

We were in Paris last week and it, too, was insanely crowded in many places. Someone mentioned to us that French schools were closed last week for Holy Week, so that may be the case in other European countries. We visited Florence years ago and it was amazing; we stayed right next to the Duomo and loved the location. However, it was September. If it's any consolation, the Musee d'Orsay was so crowded in some room it was downright uncomfortable. We didn't even attempt the Louvre. Unfortunately, I think the crowds are par for the course in many European places right now...especially at peak times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting this. I wish more DCUMers would.

I’m sorry about the Florence day trip. I really enjoy Florence, my DH does not, and I certainly understand why you wouldn’t want to return!

+1

More trip reports, folks!

People probably don't want to post trip reports here because it could be very easy to figure out who was posting, if a friend was reading.

That would break the first rule of DCUM.

So let your reviews marinate for a few weeks or a month or so

[Anonymous]

OP, your experience mirrors our friends' experience last week. They said Rome and Florence were very crowded and unbearable, but Cinque Terre was fine. The Vatican was the worst and this was with guided tours. The herd part was exactly how they described it as well.

And they described Venice as beautiful looking but dirty and smelly and crowded and not worth staying more than a day or two.

Another point they mentioned was after a while you get tired of all the cathedrals and just want to call it a day. They paid for the guided tours but didn't really enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Our friends also did the Bernina and said it was over rated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this jubilee crowd?

OP here. I didn't get that impression.

[Anonymous]

This is so helpful, OP! Thank you for posting. We're going to como, florence, and cinque terre in June. We were going to take the Bernina express to say we went to switzerland but I think you just saved my family of 4 many hundreds of $$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so helpful, OP! Thank you for posting. We're going to como, florence, and cinque terre in June. We were going to take the Bernina express to say we went to switzerland but I think you just saved my family of 4 many hundreds of $$.

The southeastern tip of Lake Lugano on the Swiss side is the town of Riva San Vitale (yes it's an Italian name, this is the little Italian-speaking slice of Switzerland). It's a 30 minute train ride from the city of Como, or just over an hour from Milano Centrale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this jubilee crowd?

OP here. I didn't get that impression.

Tourism is going to be up, 20-30%, throughout Italy this year due to pilgrims because of the jubilee. I would not have planned a trip to Italy this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this jubilee crowd?

OP here. I didn't get that impression.

Tourism is going to be up, 20-30%, throughout Italy this year due to pilgrims because of the jubilee. I would not have planned a trip to Italy this year.

Do you have evidence to support this claim for areas outside of Rome?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so helpful, OP! Thank you for posting. We're going to como, florence, and cinque terre in June. We were going to take the Bernina express to say we went to switzerland but I think you just saved my family of 4 many hundreds of $$.

This is the OP here. Don't get me wrong, Switzerland is gorgeous. And visiting it as a side trip would be worth it. I would just take the train from Milan or Torino to Wengen (or somewhere nearby) instead of going all the way to the Bernina Express. You take a train on a tunnel through the alps, but the travel time is less and the destination is more spectacular. Or, you know you could go to see the Matterhorn or somewhere else that's easier to get to. But, yes, taking the time and money to get over to the Bernina Express really isn't worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so helpful, OP! Thank you for posting. We're going to como, florence, and cinque terre in June. We were going to take the Bernina express to say we went to switzerland but I think you just saved my family of 4 many hundreds of $$.

The southeastern tip of Lake Lugano on the Swiss side is the town of Riva San Vitale (yes it's an Italian name, this is the little Italian-speaking slice of Switzerland). It's a 30 minute train ride from the city of Como, or just over an hour from Milano Centrale.

Great idea. This is the OP and I really wish we'd done this. I really just wanted my kids to see the Alps and got caught up in the hype of the Bernina Express.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this jubilee crowd?

OP here. I didn't get that impression.

Tourism is going to be up, 20-30%, throughout Italy this year due to pilgrims because of the jubilee. I would not have planned a trip to Italy this year.

Do you have evidence to support this claim for areas outside of Rome?

“Evidence” lol? It is a freaking jubilee year in Italy. Res ipsa loquitor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this jubilee crowd?

OP here. I didn't get that impression.

Tourism is going to be up, 20-30%, throughout Italy this year due to pilgrims because of the jubilee. I would not have planned a trip to Italy this year.

Do you have evidence to support this claim for areas outside of Rome?

“Evidence” lol? It is a freaking jubilee year in Italy. Res ipsa loquitor.

I'd agree with you as it relates to Rome. Not sure why it would also apply to the rest of the country. There is significant evidence of much higher tourism to Italy post-covid generally. Pretty easy to conflate that with "Jubilee traffic".