bellagirl

Also, if you turn right coming out of the hotel, there is an alley that will take you to a vaporetto stop- Giglio I believe it's called. It's very handy for getting around.

Shelly

Grego- I stayed at the same hotel a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. Lovely breakfast, spacious room (for Europe) and nice service. It's also located in a great space. Close to San Marco but not noisy. The best part is it's got its own water deck meaning that a water taxi can take you right there. I only found this out after I had schlepped my bags over bridges, people's feet, etc. I wish I had done my homework before but it was nice having the luxury of a water taxi to return me to the ship.

One bit of warning that I, again, learned the hard way. There are no screens on the windows so don't make the mistake I did in lying down for a nap with the windows open!! I was covered in mosquito bites from head to toe.

Enjoy your stay!!

Shelly :)

As mentioned before, one definitely needs a guide for the Vatican. We had Sarah with RIL and she was fabulous. She whizzed us around the many groups that were there and really took her time explaining everything we needed to know. It was a great investment and I can't imagine ever going there without a guide.

The rest of the sites are pretty easy to navigate on one's own.

Shelly:)

If I recall correctly,cabs were not allowed into the port area itself but you may want to check on that.

you will love Brugges!

I'm. going to be a Debby Downer on this one and say that of all the stops we had last yr on our transatlantic, Brugge was THE worst in terms of getting out of the port.

We had booked a van but in the utter confusion and chaos of being told where to go (by Celebrity) we somehow missed our van and ended up walking to the nearest village. From there we called a cab(along with two other couples who were in the same mess) and got to Brugges.

Later that night,people were very upset as they believed that Celebrity had deliberately misled them. All I know is that I had never seen such a mix-up in my life. BTW,I know you're not travelling Celebrity but just thought I would share our experience.

Brugge is absolutely charming. We were there on a Sunday so other than some touristy shops,not much open but it is worth a trip. I would not take the train.

Shelly

Although we didn't go as far as Dover, we did stay at the Charing Cross Hotel in order to board the train to Sevenoaks for an overnight stay. The location was perfect as we had several tube stations nearby plus the train directly underneath the hotel.

Hope this helps a bit!

Shelly

You still have lots of time. Things will pick up on your rollcall. I've been in the same situation in organizing tours and things have always worked out--organized several through Rome in Limo too!--with people being very satisfied.

Good luck and have fun!

Shelly:)

This hotel worked wonderfully for us as we used the tube on one side and the train station for travelling to Kent on the other. we didn't take the breakfast pkg as there were cafes all around. great place and I would definitely return

In Bari, we did a tour of Alborabello and Matera (where the Passion of the Christ was filmed). It was hard to say which one I enjoyed more. Matera was absolutely beautiful and seeing the neat houses of Alborabello was really something! Shelly:)

We had Sarah as a tour guide and she was wonderful. If I remember correctly, she was an Art and History major, so she was able to bring everything to life for us. I found that, even though I had read up on the history of the place, it immediately flew out of my head as I walked through the doors.

For me, it was nice to have her there!

Shelly:)

Thank you, Terry for this article on Donna Leon. She is my favourite mystery writer and her detective, Brunetti seems so real to me. So real in fact, that on our last trip to Venice, I literally stalked his hang-outs with the help of the book-Det. Brunetti's Walks in Venice. I don't know the author (it may be Donna Leon) but boy, that book kept me going for days around the city! My hubby was convinced I had lost my mind, but after awhile, he just shrugged and enjoyed the sightseeing!!

Thank you again for this article!

Shelly:)

You will not be disappointed with RomeInLimo. They are so professional and friendly.

We have used them twice and will not hesitate to use them again.

Hi-just my ten cents worth here, but there is no such thing as a bad driver at RIL!! We have toured with them several times and have organized tours for others,and each and every time we get top service.

Duman and Jany are the best to work with-very prompt and professional. You will have no regrets!!! Shelly:)

I have been singing the praises of RIL since 2007 when we first had the pleasure of using them for a tour of Rome. In Oct/11 we will be using them for the third time in Rome and Naples. They cannot be beat for their professionalism and customer satisfaction.

Shelly

I have been singing RIL's praises since 2007 when we took our first tour with them. In Oct/11, we will be using them for the third time around for Rome and Naples. You cannot beat them in terms of professionalism and customer s

I'm on a Venice high right now after visiting last month, so please keep the book suggestions coming. I'm re-reading Henry James right now!!:) Thanks, Shelly

Hi-I'm still in the planning stages since our cruise isn't until Dec.,but have a few questions! If we do the shore excursion with Azamara to Taj Mahal(and they haven't announced any shore excursions yet),is it usually a one-day tour or overnight? I'm just wondering if we can fit in any time to explore Mumbai? Anyone who has done the Azamara excursion I'd love to hear from you!!

Thanks! Shelly:)

ps. We are there for 2 days!

I found a really unique gold ring in Florence. Our tour guide mentioned that there was such a thing as black gold and pointed out the store where we could purchase items. I bought a yellow and black gold ring from there for approx. 350 euros. The store is in the Santa Cruce square to the right of the church. It's on a corner-sorry I can't remember the name,but it's worth a look!! Shelly:)

There is a lot of great information and I've tried to read through it all. I would definitely like to book my Rome tour with RomeInLimo.

 

Several driver/guides names have been mentioned. We will have three children with us (13,11 and 8). Is there one particular driver that anyone has found especially good with a younger audience? We really want someone who is both informative and interesting (it sounds like all are!).

 

Thank you for any advice.:)

If you are referring the question to me, I would ask Jany's opinion since she would know who has children. Duman is young and energetic and I'm sure would keep the children "entertained" while being a great driver/guide. Vincenzo is the other gentlemen we had and he is also great,so run it by Jany and she what she suggests! Shelly:)

Hi-I'm just finally getting around to doing a cruise review of our recent cruise. The reason I am putting it under this heading is because Romeinlimo was our major tour guide during our time spent in Europe.

We started off in Barcelona where we spent one night pre-cruise at Hotel Continental. When we were there 2 yrs. ago,we were in a somewhat spacious(European standard)room. This time, they put us in one of their so-called renovated rooms which was the size of a large closet. We literally jumped from the door onto the bed and stayed there. While the free continental breakfast is still decent, I do not think we would be enticed to return to Hotel Continental any time soon.

The next morning, we jumped in a cab(quite happily, I might add) and proceeded to the port. We arrived around 11am and just as easy as can be,got in line and walked through with no pauses whatsoever. We did purchase some wine in the duty-free shop at the pier and proceeded on-board where we were greeted with champagne and mimosas. Love that touch! Our CC room was awaiting with yet more champagne(or whatever it is they call it!) and an OBC credit from our TA. Could this cruise get any better????

We dumped our stuff and checked out the lunch buffet which tasted wonderful. We had previously been on the Golden Princess a few months prior and were somewhat disappointed with the flow of the buffet-it just seemed to create logjams everywhere. This time around,everthing just seemed to flow. The servers were very gracious and carried my tray to the table several times during the week.

That night we met our tablemates at dinner and they have become fast friends. Hello to Jayne and Peter and Don and Jo-Elle. They were the absolute best as were our waiters. I'm sorry-after all this time I have forgotten their names,but there wasn't anything that couldn't be done for us.

The next day we tendered into Cannes where Catherine Coppex from travel tour prestige was waiting. She was fabulous and so animated!! What a funny,lovely lady-she kept a van full of us entertained the whole day and suggested a wonderful lunch in Nice that was full of locals,not tourists. The weather was in the mid-20's and glorious. St. Paul-de-Vence was my favourite place that we travelled that day. Full of artists' colonies and cobblestone steps, it's very easy to get lost in the maze of twists and turns. Once can also look out onto the grave of Marc Chagall, the famous painter, in the beautiful flower-lined cemetery beneath the wall. Our last stop of the day was at the Fragonard Perfumerie where the smell prevented some of us from going in,but others enjoyed and purchased some scents. The smell was very strong, I found.

Next day, we docked in Genoa, which is a place I knew nothing about so off we went with no pre-conceived idea of what to expect. It turns out,we were very pleasantly surprised by what we found! The huge St. Lorenzo cathedral was our first stop after being driven into the centre of town by taxi. We picked up a local map at a nearby travel info centre which was very helpful. From the cathedral, we literally roamed the streets,not having a clue where we wanted to go, but just enjoying the beauty of the place. We ended up in a town square with the most beautiful fountain I have ever seen! From there, we walked down a boutique-laden street(big names)until we found the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. We literally turned the corner and it was there. The place is VERY tiny but interesting to see.

After lunching at an outdoor cafe,we were off to see the Japanese bird garden., What I wasn't expecting was the smell!! And right after eating,it wasn't very pleasant!! So, we kept walking and walking and walking until we realized we had absolutely no idea where we were;then, much to my husband's dismay(you know how they are-I can find the way!),I hailed a taxi back to the port. If I had left it to him, we would still be in Genoa looking for the right street!!

Next port was Livorno. For this one, we simply decided to take the Celebrity bus into town and do the sight-seeing on our own. First stop was Pisa, which was so beautiful as it was early morning and we were the first ones there. As we were leaving,we saw the big tour buses pulling into the parking lot,so I'm glad we got there first. Trudy was our guide and she was very knowledgeable-very funny! The sight of the stalls next to the Tower of Pisa is somewhat disconcerting. It just feels out of place somehow.

Next up was Florence,a place we have never been and it was everything we expected and more. It was more compact in size than I expected and walking was no problem. The Accademia(for which we had tickets) was only a 10 min. walk at the most from the main square. What we enjoyed the most was eating gelato and sitting in the square people-watching! We did some shopping but for the most part just soaked up the culture and the beauty of the place. I must say I also enjoyed the drive to and from the port through the countryside-absolutely beautiful. If we are ever lucky enough to return, I would love to have a tour through the rural areas.

After a peaceful nights sleep, we were in Rome again! This time around I wanted to see the Appian Way and the Roman Forum up close. So, we hired Romeinlimo whom we had used 2 years ago and had absolute faith in. Sure enough, Vincenzo was there to greet us and soon we were at the Appian Way touring the catacombs. What an experience to go beneath the ground and view such ancient burial places. I though I would be really creeped out but I was more in awe than anything. We drove by the Quo Vadis church where Peter supposedly saw Christ who encouraged him to return to Rome. It was closed.

Next up was the Roman Forum which we got to see only from the top of the Capitoline Hill last time. This time, we were totally immersed in the hub-bub of the action. Even though I had a map with me of the buildings, I felt so small and insignificant next to these massive buildings which had withstood eternity. Even now when I look back on my pictures, I can't believe I was actually there. After puffing and panting up the stairs to the Capitoline Hill(there's a lot of stairs there!!!), we met up with Vincenzo who then took us to a restaurant close to the Vatican by the name of Osteria dei Pontefici. Very appropriately named as it has pictures of the popes on the walls. While the main course was very good, all that I remember is the tiramisu that we had for dessert!!!!! The best ever!!! We had asked Vincenzo to join us for lunch-he couldn't but he did join us for coffee and dessert. We so enjoyed talking to him!

Last stop before the ship was the Vatican Musuems and to be perfectly honest, we did not do it justice. The place was full of tour groups and most of the time was spent either in front or behind them! One thing that I was particularly interested in seeing was the famous painting of the two fingers touching-I can't remember the name of it now. We finally arrived in this huge room where all the guard were telling everybody to hush and I just happened to look up and see it on the ceiling. I nearly shrieked in excitement-but it was so small!! I had expected it to cover nearly a ceiling,but it was just so minimal in size. Almost like seeing the MOna Lisa for the first time and realizing how small the painting is......

That ended the day for us.....we chatted with Vincenzo all the way back to the port and again,bid good-bye to Romeinlimo!

Next day, we were in Naples and had Giovanni and Gennaro from romeinlimo waiting for all 9 of us!! We had booked them for a full day tour of the Amalfi coast including a tour of Pompeii. This was a most beautiful day,both in terms of weather,good friends and good food and wine(and limoncello!!) After driving along the coast and seeing more postcard-perfect pictures than one can imagine, we landed at Trattoria La Tagliata-a restaurant high in the hills of Positano with views to die for!! One lady in our group(Anne?????!!!!) even took a picture from the bathroom window!! That's how amazing it was. In addition to the amazing view, food, and wine, they had entertainment to boot!!! Pappa took time out from the kitchen with his wooden instrument and joined the group in serenading us. We were waving our napkins in the air and clapping and singing,and before we knew it, it was time to go. If you are ever lucky enough to go,you will enjoy yourself immensely. The place was packed(we had reservations),so you'd better call ahead. www.latagliata.com.

Next up was a life-long dream come true for me--Pompeii. We had a lovely guide by the name of Lucia who really knew her history and made it come alive for us as she took us down the bumpy roads. It was just amazing to behold the place of such destruction and to see beauty all around. The dogs are abundant and appear to be well-cared for. We saw several tourists feeding them.

The house that really interested me was the House of the Poet with the Beware of Dog sign at the front. Even back then, they had their problems with trespassers! We peeked through the gates and saw a beautiful garden in the back. It allowed us a glimpse into the life of an ordinary man who went through such an extraordinary situation.

The sun was just setting as we left Pompeii and it will be a memory of a lifetime. We,being Canadians, thought the weather was very mild, but poor Lucia was bundled up against what she thought was frigid weather!!

We were very lucky to have such a sweet,intelligent guide! So, we said good-bye and headed to the port and for the last time,said good-bye to romeinlimo. The two drivers made the trip a wonderful experience and I can't say enough about this company. They truly care about their customers and really do aim to please!

Well, my trip report is over. Next up is Celebrity Constellation to Northern Europe. As you can tell, we love Celebrity-I only wish they had romeinlimo in no. Europe!! All the best, Shelly:)

Cheryl-We're using their services in Nov. and now I'm really excited about going! Thank you for posting the pics-they are lovely. Did you see many leather products while shopping? Shelly:)

I agree. We hired a tour guide for St .Peter's Basilica and she was fantastic. We are going again this year with RIL and we are hiring a tour guide for Pompeii-I think it will be money well spent. Shelly:)

Sherri-thanks for answering so promptly on both threads!! May I ask which tour you took from Michel?. I was just looking at our itinerary and it looks like we may only be able to take the half-day tour as our ship doesn't get into Cannes early enough to take the 9-hr. excursion.

Oh well, half-day is no better than not doing it at all! Thanks for the info, Shelly:)

Hi-We are thinking of doing the Riviera Panorama tour from this company. I just have one question:do they pick you up from the tender at the Cannes port? I noticed they have different prices depending on where you are coming from.

Also looking at Dream Tours-do they provide the same pick-up from the tender at Cannes? This is our first time in this area, so I have lots of questions!

Thanks to all who answer! Shelly:)

I'm booking romeinlimo for some of my pre-cruise time in Rome, thanks to the many accolades here on CC. My questions:

1-They are suggesting an 8 hour tour with a driver, and a guide for the Vatican. Do we need a guide for other sites? Or is the driver usually knowledgeable enough to provide info?

2-Have you ever just gotten a guide at the Vatican rather than scheduled one in advance? If so, how did that work out? Did you still have to stand in line for tickets? Can you just visit the "church" on your own without tickets? (I obviously have lots more research to do! I visited Rome years ago, but I was on a tour and they took care of everything.)

3-Do you tip on top of the fee for the driver, or is it included?

 

4- Not a romeinlimo question, but has anyone ever done a day trip from Rome to Pompeii? Is that possible?

 

I can only tell you what we did on our tour with RIL 2 yrs. ago. We did an 8 hr. tour with Duman and had him arrange a tour guide for St. Peter's. We didn't stand in line and had Sarah, who was wonderful in explaining everything. At the end of the day, we tipped both Duman and Sarah simply because we felt that they had gone above and beyond in their service to us. It was a very special day that we will never forget.

We are heading to Rome again in Nov. and will have Duman again as our guide! Shelly:)

This has probably been said already...this is just my two cents worth. Our Romeinlimo driver Manuel was very knowledgable about everything he took us to see and many other things we didn't even think of that you normally aren't there to see. I suggest the private guide in the Vatican we got so much more info then if we had done it on our own. The guides are professionaly trained and very knowledgeable. They also suggest you pre-purchase tickets at the Vatican website. We did this and got a printed voucher. Our guide Massimo met us at the van took the voucher bypassed any line and came back with our tickets. Then he whisked us in the group entrance straight up the stairs and into the Vatican. No waiting for us. He was worth every penny!