Trip report: Venice

[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 $$.

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.

hi, I'm the june traveler, and this is again so helpful, thank you!!

[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.

Thank you!! This is really helpful info as we're trying to figure out our rough plans for the trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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".

Because many/most who go to Rome will travel elsewhere in Italy as well. Florence/Venice/etc will be well above usual numbers for months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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".

Because many/most who go to Rome will travel elsewhere in Italy as well. Florence/Venice/etc will be well above usual numbers for months.

Right, except that recent evidence from large events like the Olympics show that they actually produce lower overall tourism numbers outside of the specific event periods, because people are "scared off" by the prospect of disruption, etc.

Had a friend who was actually in Rome and Venice a few weeks ago. Said both were busy, but main Jubilee evidence they saw were huge groups of teenagers in Rome- apparently there as part of big organized tours. Said primary tourist areas were busy, but as usual once you got away from the primary areas it wasn't crazy.

[Anonymous]

On Lake Como we stayed in Bellano. It was very nice. Wish we had stayed more than two nights but at the same time I don’t feel like we “needed” to.

We too stayed in Lake Como. DS took ill unexpectedly and Serge Clooney kindly made his assistant available to us, who went and secured a selection of local cremes and gels. A real lifesaver. Viva Como!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in Europe right now and everywhere is super crowded, and it’s not primarily Americans. The crowds have hampered our enjoyment of places like London and Munich, which I used to love.

I've noticed this too on spring breaks. Lots of eastern europe in for easter hols. (in my anecdotal experience),including school groups. Obnoxious teens.

Yup - we were in Paris last week (and still adjsuting to the time change, hence the 3am post, lol) and met up with expat friends whose kids were also on spring break. It's an extremely popular week to visit cities in particular because the weather is nice, and everyone goes to the beach or mountains in the summer! Lots of school groups too. (I like Paris but the crowds were a bit much, we enjoyed the Normandy part of our trip better.)

OP- did you find there was enough to do at Lake Como when it is too cold for water activities like swimming, etc.? Was considering a combo Venice-Lake Garda trip in the spring or fall but wasn't sure if the lakes were worth it with kids that time of year or if they'd get bored.

[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.

Because you wouldn’t want your friends to read what you thought about your hotel? 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Because you wouldn’t want your friends to read what you thought about your hotel? 🙄

+1

It’s not like anybody would know what other posts on here were yours. And who cares anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The first rule of DCUM is you don't let anyone know you read or post on DCUM.

Because you wouldn’t want your friends to read what you thought about your hotel? 🙄