Buongiorno!
We arrived into Rome a day early (October 2nd,) to have some time on our own before the start of the Insight Vacations Italian Vogue tour. This trip is part of the Insight Gold deluxe tour collection. We have been to Italy before while on a cruise, but this is our first Italy tour. Don’t get me wrong, I love cruising, but this is the first time that we get to experience Italy like a local. We have time to visit intimate shops with hand made goods, or that bakery that has the most amazing pastries in the window. We didn’t have any extra time in the ports we visited while on the cruise – it was rush, rush, rush to see all the major sites we could and make it back to the ship on time. This also happens to be our first Insight Tour. We took our time in picking and researched lots of Italy tours before selecting this Insight Gold. We wanted to cover a lot in under two weeks, with upscale hotels and not a lot of out of pocket expenses, and we felt this was the best fit.
We booked our own flights through Virgin Atlantic so we had a connection in London and then into Rome. We had arranged for a private shuttle through Insight to take us to the hotel. There was no one with a sign waiting for us as we had anticipated after we left the baggage claim area. Fortunately there was a an airport Information desk a few feet away that looked at our vouchers and pointed us in the direction of the transfer company. It was about a 25 minute drive to the Boscolo Exedra Hotel in Rome. The hotel was beautiful. The lobby and lounge are were all in marble, and the service was very attentive from the moment we arrived.
The room was very spacious: king bed, desk, flat screen tv, large sofa and seating area, and a great bathroom. The only odd thing was a small balcony that had 8 ft. tall walls so you had no view. After relaxing in our spacious room for a bit, we decided to head out to find a place to eat. There were lots of choices within a few blocks of the hotel. We picked a little pizza place on a side street. The pizza was okay, but nothing spectacular.
The following morning (October 3rd,) after a sumptuous breakfast at the Exedra, which was included with the pre-night we booked with Insight, we took a walk to the Trevi Fountain. The weather was great, and we passed lots of stores and restaurants along narrow cobbled streets. We spent some time taking photos at the Street of Four Fountains while in route. Romulus is pictured here with a wolf. Once we arrived at the fountain, we took lots of photos, threw in a coin and enjoyed some Gelato. It only took us 20 minutes to get there. On the way back we took a different route and walked by the Quirinale Gardens and Palace. We decided to skip the orientation tour with the tour director to take a nap instead.
For our first dinner as part of the Insight Italian Vogue tour, our bus took us for a short drive from the hotel to Via Veneto where we ate at the Cabiria Restaurant in the Marriott. They took us up to the rooftop where we had a beautiful view of Rome and the sunset. There was a live musician and wine was flowing during our four course meal. By the way, we almost missed dinner for skipping the orientation tour. Take our advice and go to the welcome drink! Not only do you get to meet fellow passengers, but you receive pertinent information from your tour director.
Today (October 4th) was breakfast around 7 am and on the bus by 8 am for a tour of the Vatican. Why so early? Well groups get in an hour before the rest of the public, which is nice because you can get through most of the museum before it really gets crowded. It was already quite crowded with people in line (que) for the Vatican to open. There are about 20,000 visitors per day.
We took this picture of the Dome of Michelangelo from the Vatican Gardens. We spent a few hours viewing different areas of the museum. After a quick lunch break (on our own,) we got back on the motor coach and crossed the Tiber River to our next stop which was the Colosseum. Our tour guide informed us that it only took about 3 years to build. It accommodated up to 50,000 spectators. We arrived back to the Boscolo around 3 pm and had dinner on our own later that evening. Again we found the food in Rome to be average, but my husband had found a new love…Nutella flavored gelato. When we got back to our room, we found a note from our tour director, Lorena stating that we had a 6:15 a.m wake up call, bags outside of our room and head to breakfast at 7 and then on the bus at 8 a.m.
(October 5th) We had a lot of territory to cover as we had a tour with a local guide included in Pompeii and then a boat to Capri at 4 p.m. By the way these notes in your room are how the tour director lets you know what is going on for the next day or two so there are no surprises. There are also of course announcements on the bus. She did a great job of keeping is informed. When a few travelers complained about getting up early, she explained the distance and all that we were going to see, and managed to get everyone excited. Besides, we are there to see as much as possible, not to sleep in!
On our drive to Pompeii, we passed the Pope’s summer residence, Frascotti vineyards and villas. Our tour director also shared a story with us about the Casino Monetary that was bombed in World War II – tip bits of history and information we would never have learned on our own. We also learned about umbrella palm trees and how they were planted in a certain way to create shade for chariots to pass through the roads. It was about a 3 and a half our trip with one stop on the way, but the tour director made it all go by quickly.
We had a local guide for our hour and a half tour of Pompeii (included in our tour price.) As a matter of fact, all the tours up to this point have been included on the Italian Vogue itinerary. There was one optional horse and carriage ride in Rome that was offered which was reasonably prices, but we chose to stay out on our own. Now back to Pompeii. The local guide was excellent and shared knowledge about the residence and town back in 300BC, as well as the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD. The water system was quite impressive, with over 47 public fountains. You walk along the original roads and get a sense of what life was like during that time. You would see where there were merchants, restaurants and even brothels (24 of them). Something else I forgot to mention is that Insight provides you with small headsets so you can wander a bit off on your own in these areas and still clearly hear the tour guide.
After lunch on our own (pizza and a Peroni, Italian beer,) and we were back on the coach to Naples. This is where we would catch the hydrofoil to Capri. It was a 45 minute boat ride. It was quite crowded and unorganized to get onto the hydrofoil. Many in our group were being pushed and shoved by others also trying to board (not from our group,) and were quite upset. This is just one of those things you have to expect when you travel – not everyone is polite.
At the Marina, Insight already had several open top taxi vehicles ready to take us up the mountain. What a way to enjoy the atmosphere and the view. The roads are narrow and the cab drivers do speed, so it only added to the excitement and experience. The hotel Capri Palace was beyond description. Every room was great, but some of us were lucky enough to be upgraded to suites. We had a sea side deluxe room. It was 378 sq. ft. with a long balcony that overlooked the Mediterranean sea….it was break taking. With the room rates starting at $1,000 USD during the time frame we were there, we could really start to see the value in how much we were getting for our money on this Insight tour. We had a superb meal at the hotel that evening with Italian wine included.
Breakfast (October 6th) was even more impressive at the Capri Palace than at the Exedra. You had the typical eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, pastries and breads, but then they had added touches such as 6 types of fresh squeezed juice include unique flavors such as Green Apple, Pineapple and Pomegranate. They also had Cappuccino and Lattes included and champagne for those what wanted Mimosas. Did I mention we didn’t have to wake up early today, so every one looked very refreshed. Included in our price was a trip to the Blue Grotto. Some in our group were afraid of enclosed space, so not everyone participated. Once the speed boat arrived to the Grotto, you are greeted by small row boats that fit 4 people. You do have to lie flat all the way back on the boat to get through the narrow opening of the grotto. Once you are inside you can sit up and see the beautiful blue of the water. When this part of the tour was over, my husband and I decided to go out on our own. The rest of the group took the Funicular up to the town of Capri and were treated to lunch at the Via Roma. Everyone told us we missed a great lunch, but were happy going off on our own. We walked around the shops of Capri and then took a cab back up to Ana Capri. We had lunch right outside the local Church, St. Sophia’s in a beautiful square. We planned on having dinner on our balcony watching the sunset over the Mediterranean, so we stopped and bought wine, bread, meats and cheese for that evening. A lot of shops close early when the large cruise ships leave so if you plan on a picnic, buy the items earlier in the day and leave them in your hotel room.
Travel tip: Your luggage does not come with you all the way to Capri. It is kept safely on the Insight bus with your driver, therefore you will need to pack pj’s, a change of clothes, medicines, toiletries and whatever else you need in a carry on bag for the time you stay in Capri.
October 7th – 5:45 am wake up call – yikes! Breakfast at the Capri Palace and then back by taxi to the marina to take the hydrofoil to Naples. I could have stayed in Capri the remainder of the trip! During the 45 minute boat ride back, many fell asleep. It rained most of the day on our way to Florence from Naples, but this was our longest bus day, so at least it did not interfere with any sightseeing. The motor coach is quite comfortable with plenty of leg room. When we made our first stop for a bathroom break, the tour director surprised us with a tray of Neapolitan pastries. It was called Santa Rosa Fogliatella – something you only find in Naples. It looked a bit like a lobster tail and was filled with custard and cherries. How thoughtful! It brought a smile to everyone’s face.
We arrived into Florence around 3:30 p.m. Our hotel in Florence was the Hotel Brunelleschi which is a restored historical building. The tower that is attached to the hotel is known as La Pagliazza, and is the oldest standing structure in Florence. The room was nice, but I don’t think anything will hold a candle to Capri. The tour guide gave us an orientation tour of Florence and stayed with anyone in the group that was interested in purchasing leather or jewelry at a good price.
The next morning after breakfast (October 8th,) a local guide took us on a city tour which included walking along the Ponte Vecchio, the Doumo and to see the statue of “David” at the Accademia. Those that wanted to stay in Florence could do so on their own, or there was an optional tour to San Gimignano.
Up to now all sightseeing had been included in our price and we knew we were leaving Florence the next morning so we were going to opt out, until another traveler told us San Gimignano was her favorite tour when she visited Italy the year prior. So we were hesitant but we signed up, and we were so glad we did. The cost of the optional was 33 Euro pp. The drive there alone was worth the trip full of Cypress trees, vineyards, olive groves and villas – it reminded me so much of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. The tour director played Andrea Bocelli and everyone on the bus was quiet just taking it all in. It only took a little over an hour to get there. Included in the optional was a taste of the World’s Best Gelato. We then had time on our own to explore this medieval town. Again our tour director went above and beyond when we left San Gimignano. She had the bus driver take us to a spot where you could get a great photo of the town, and then served us the local wine and cheese, Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Pecorino.
In the evening we had a choice of dinner on our own, or an optional dinner. About half of the group chose to take the optional. The couple that recommended San Gimignano were going on the Tuscan dinner so we decided to join them. This optional was 57 Euro pp. This may sound like a lot, but dinners in Italy are expensive no matter where you go. The restaurant was called Il Mulinaccio. We were served a traditional Tuscan meal with several courses as well as lots of Chianti wine. We really bonded as a group that night – perhaps the wine? The tour director played music on the way home and there was even some dancing in the isles.
Tomorrow we leave for Cinque Terre. For those that had never been to Florence, some of our tour mates commented they felt they did not have enough time to shop and enjoy Florence. I get confused when I hear things like that, as didn’t they read the itinerary before choosing this trip?
Good morning from the Italian Riviera (October 10th)! I did not have a chance to write at all yesterday as it was a long day! We were up at 6:45 and onto Cinque Terre. Our first stop was La Spezia which is the 4th biggest port and a navel base in Italy. We picked up the local guide on the side of the street and drove to Manarola. He then walked us to Corniglia. This area has very lots of steps and narrow streets. It was difficult for some that were not in good shape to keep up, but they all hung in there. The houses seem to be built on top of one another on the sides of the mountain. It’s ironic, but in many of these seaside town people are farmers, not fisherman as there is no easy access to the sea since they are so high up. Our next stop was the train station to go to Monterosso and Vernazza. It was a VERY crowded train. Monterosso is known for lemons and Limoncino (a little different from Lemoncello,) as well as seafood. A very nice lunch was included, and the tour director treated everyone to a glass of wine (another added touch!) We then took a 50 minute boat cruise from Monterosso to Palmaria, and then a 2nd boat back to La Spezia – sounds exhausting right? It was a very long day. It was all beautiful, but to arrive at the Grand Hotel Principe di Piedmonte in Viareggio just an hour before dinner gave no time for people to unwind. As a matter of fact, some did not receive their suitcases in their room until about 15 minutes before dinner. Obviously Insight had a lot of the same feedback, and the itinerary has been changed to include an added night in this area.
Today (October 11th,) we are on our way to Venice, with stops in Pisa and Lucca. Breakfast had the largest selection of any of the hotels. It was about a 30 minute drive to Pisa. Our driver parked in a big lot and the tour director had a train waiting to pick us up to take us to the entrance. We had 1 hour there for pictures and to walk around. Train back, onto the motorcoach and off to Lucca where a local guide met us. By the way having the train was not only a time saver, but it made the rest of the day easier on everyone. Lucca is the birthplace of Pucchini. It is said he began to play the piano at age 4. It is the only town in Italy completely surrounded by walls. They were built in the 16th century to protect the town from invaders, and are 4 kilometers long. You will find some of the finest Renaissance and Medieval architecture in Lucca. There was amphitheater (pictured here,) with seating for about 10,000 where they would hold gladiator battles. The area is known for silk, wool and pepper.
We arrived in Venice a few hours ago (around 4:30 pm) and were taken by boat to the Hotel San Clementi. The hotel is across from San Marks Square, but there were boats available for complimentary transfers every hour. We decided on the optional excursions Evening Magical Venice. We had an hour and a half private motor launch ride along the Grand Canal and ended in Piazza S. Marco….beautiful. We had time to go off on our own for dinner. We found a small cafe and shared a bottle of wine and a pizza. We then met back up with the group at the Chirggia Bar in the piazza for an included drink with music, and dancing under the stars. I had to pinch myself as I couldn’t believe I was sitting in Venice experiencing all of this.
It’s October 12th and hard to believe our trip is almost over. This morning there was an orientation tour of Venice and a glass bowing factory. Rather than the hotel boat shuttle, Insight had arranged for a private boat to pick us up at 9 a.m. and return to the hotel at 4 p.m. We were meeting friends for lunch at noon so we went from shop to shop throughout all the small streets and bridges of Venice. The handmade masks were amazing. I wanted to buy one for my nieces and didn’t know where to start. For lunch everyone tells you NOT to eat along the Grand Canal as you pay perhaps double what you would in another restaurant, but who knows if or when we will come back, so we all agreed to lunch right off of the Rialto bridge. We had spaghetti bolainese, mussels, and veal scaloppini. We also had a bottle of wine. How much did lunch cost? $268.71 for 4 of us, so that’s $67 pp. It felt like one of those MasterCard commercial….great friends, amazing food and a view of the Grand Canal….priceless. We were not the only ones – there were long lines for people waiting for an overpriced meal. Venice was very clean and safe. I recommend just walking and getting lost. Enjoy the shops full of jewelry, murano glass, gelato and fresh bakes goods. Sit and enjoy the music, or just people watch sitting in front of the Doge Palace. Gondoliers singing, church bells ringing, orchestras playing…so much comes to mind when I think of Venice now.
Tonight was our included Gondola ride and farewell dinner. After the boat ride over, our gondoliers were waiting for us. We set off under the Bridge of Sighs. I was disappointed because our gondolier did not sing – I thought they all sang like you see in the movies, or even at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. A couple of boats back there was a gondolier signing, but we could not hear it well. My husband pulled out his cell phone and played Bocelli. You end up going through a lot of tall buildings – some of which seemed to be falling apart. It got dark in certain areas, there was a chill in the air, and a church bell was ringing in the distance – felt a little like Phantom of the Opera. For the first time I experienced the bad smell I had heard about in Venice during a portion of the gondola ride. After the 30 minute ride, our guide led us through the streets to the Trattoria Do Forni for our farewell dinner. The decor was beautiful. We had a private room for our group and the meal was wonderful.
Overall impressions – would we tour Insight Gold again? Absolutely. We made lasting friendships and memories. The side trips and added experiences were so well organized by Insight Vacations, we found them more enjoyable than being in the heart of the tourist areas. The hotels were amazing. It was truly an upscale vacation with all of the details taken care of so that we can sit back and take it all in.
2014 Update: Although the core of the Insight Gold Italian Vogue tour has stayed the same since we took the tour, there have been some improvements that are worth mentioning. Rather than taking a motorcoach between Rome and Florence, you now take a high speed train. This gets you into Florence much faster so you have more free time there. They had also added a ride to the top of Mt Solaro in Capri, a visit to a wine growing estate in Chianti to sample famous wines of the region and a visit to an artisan showroom and workshop in Venice are all now included in the trip. Another important thing to mention is a hotel change in Venice from the Hotel San Clementi to the Bauers L’Hotel. The San Clementi was nice, but you were still a short boat ride away from the heart of Venice. Not only is the Bauers L’Hotel beautiful, but you are in the heart of Venice just two minutes walking distance from St Mark’s Square.
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