Euro Travel & More

I didn’t really wanna go to Milan or Venice because I’ve been here so many times for work – but my besties haven’t been here – so they wanted me to tag a long – the called it the foodie trip.  So I was supposed to show them where to get the best pasta.  Well, truth be told – they don’t need to come to Milan to find great pasta – but food here can be quite fascinating and of course the Italian men are quite charming as well – as you would read later – how my girlfriend married an Italian man and is a happy married woman.

Of course we went to our favorite restaurant/cafe in Milano – the Salvini – after shopping at Louis Vuitton right beside it.  The pasta and coffee – to die for.

The Savini by night -  unique by itself – one can by all sorts of pasta at their boutique in the first floor.  Pasta are like €10 each – very expensive but worth every penny paid.

The pastries at Savini is to die for too – so equisite and so colorful.

The Galerie Victor-Emmanuel II located on the north side of  Piazza del Duomo -  awesome place to shop for anything and everything quality.

We also checked  Io Corso Como  – another famous cafe in Milano – you can’t missed it – located at one of the busiest night streets in Milano.  In fact the I0 Corso Como is not only famous in Milano – they have branches in Tokyo & Seoul – Korea  as well. More on Milano in another post.

Venice virgins can be forgiven for thinking that the city’s best hotel should be close to San Marco or on the Grand Canal. Not so. Insiders know that you want to look over to the main island while avoiding the hordes of tourists, who can be more plentiful than the pigeons. There’s nothing quite like waking up in the Hotel Cipriani, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. That location, for starters. It’s on Giudecca Island facing San Marco, amid a sea of quiet streets, sprawling gardens, and that giant saltwater pool (hotel lore says it was planned in feet but the designer built it in meters, thus tripling its size). The full glory of Venice is suddenly yours—you can actually imagine being here when the city was a world power of its own.

Be aware that rooms vary in size and have a certain faded look, so ask for dimensions and try to snag a lagoon view. (Management tends to favor repeat guests, but persevere.) Avoid the new annex altogether, which has small rooms and a less glamorous feel. Even better—though it costs a mint—choose a room in the Vendramin, a restored waterfront palazzo that comes with a fleet of private butlers. It’s no wonder Clooney often makes the Cipriani his bachelor pad when in town for the film festival.

Hotel Cipriani
Tel: 39 041 240 8028
Doubles from $1,260; lagoon-view doubles from $1,580

Source : The Concierge.com

Hotel Bauer is not like your ordinary hotel, this is one of the best hotels in Venice, Italy. It is what we hoteliers considered as a 5 star hotel or a first class hotel. Not many hotels are named first class hotels.. and what i liked most was it was a 2 mins walk from San Marco.

I was privileged to have stayed in this wonderful hotel.. that transported me back in times.. i felt like a queen.. and i’m sure my bosses felt like the kings. My room overlooked the small square.. internet access is available in the room and of course satellite tv and the meals were awesome.. at the terrace. It was so enlightening almost every evening. .sipping a glass or wine.. relaxing before turning in.

The concierge department as well as the front desk were efficiently operated.. and every morning.. when turning in my room keys.. they would greet me by my family name. The concierge department and the bell men knew which was my limo driver every morning. I forgot to mentioned that the bathroom was tiled with marble .. and it was really awesome.. on a hot summer day.

Venice during dusk .. brings back many good memories. I was there several times.. during the last 20 years.. and everytime i go back.. it seems different.. yet the same.. like visiting an old friend. I know.. i know.. it’s corny .. muahahha!! but yes.. i loved Venice alot.. and i usually go only during the spring time.. because it is absolutely crowded during summer.

Everyone knows about the Piazza San Marco aka St Mark’s square, you don’t even need to travel to Venice to know about it. It is said that the Piazza San Marco is so popular .. that photographers from all over the world.. flocks over here to take pictures of it. Our Europe office was nearby .. so we do get to talk walks over here.. during lunch time. Our hotel was pretty near .. the Piazza .. we stayed in Bauer Hotel .. but that would be for another post.

One of the things i did when i was touring Europe.. was to make sure that i buy great souvenirs in every place that i’ve set foot on.  When i was in Venice .. i spotted some religious jewelry that i had gotten for my grandaunt .. because she was a catholic .. and she was so happy with that thoughtful gift .. she never fails to talk about it.. whenever she had a visitor.

Boat taxi is what Vaporetto is all about and it seems like a really wise idea to travel with this boat taxis .. because you rarely have to wait for more than a few minutes before another comes along. But you need to make sure that you are in the right line though. Buying a day ticket .. is the smart way to go .. else it can get pretty expensive .. if you are doing alot of sightseeing and shopping. Popular places like the Grand Canal can cost you yup to €5,00 .. .now that’s about 15 bucks Canadian..!

Remember you have to buy your tickets in advance.. because they don’t sell them on the boat itself. We had fun..!