Ah Venice! You beautiful romantic city of canals and cannoli.
When opportunity strikes, I jump at the chance to head off to a new city to explore and discover the great delights of another culture. A business trip is no different.
Flying on Emirates A380 in Business Class is just the tip of the princess iceberg, starting with Moét and Veuve on virtual tap and eating my way across the globe for 27hrs.
#traveltip Number 1 - Wear expandable clothing and eat nothing for a week prior to flying
On arrival into Marco Polo airport, we had the option to catch a public ferry or pay a few extra hundred euros and live like George Clooney in a highly polished wooden speedboat. We didn't feel like George Clooney and jetlag hand't yet kicked in so we caught the public ferry for a couple of Euros.
We got in on a Saturday afternoon after 27hrs of travel, an early night was on the agenda for our first night. As we were staying at the Hilton Molino Stucky, we took advantage of the rooftop bar to enjoy the sunset, beer and cocktails before throwing our exhausted selves into our room.
The Hilton is a ferry ride to the main island, located on Giudecca which only added to the romance of Venice.
#traveltip Number 2 - Embrace your jetlag.
Jetlag means waking at ridiculous times, which is a blessing when you're in a city with a zillion tourists who all want to see the same sights. We ventured across to San Marco Square extremely early (6am), before everyone else woke up. Having the place to ourselves meant we could wander aimlessly in relative peace, exploring the beauty of Basillica and surrounds. Sadly there are limited coffee options at that hour, but the wait for our first Italian coffee was worth it!
#traveltip Number 3: Visit Venice in Aqua Alto season.
#traveltip Number 6: Holiday hangover is best cured with arranging another holiday.
I'm now planning our Eastern Europe holiday for 2016.... Watch this space
When opportunity strikes, I jump at the chance to head off to a new city to explore and discover the great delights of another culture. A business trip is no different.
Flying on Emirates A380 in Business Class is just the tip of the princess iceberg, starting with Moét and Veuve on virtual tap and eating my way across the globe for 27hrs.
#traveltip Number 1 - Wear expandable clothing and eat nothing for a week prior to flying
On arrival into Marco Polo airport, we had the option to catch a public ferry or pay a few extra hundred euros and live like George Clooney in a highly polished wooden speedboat. We didn't feel like George Clooney and jetlag hand't yet kicked in so we caught the public ferry for a couple of Euros.
We got in on a Saturday afternoon after 27hrs of travel, an early night was on the agenda for our first night. As we were staying at the Hilton Molino Stucky, we took advantage of the rooftop bar to enjoy the sunset, beer and cocktails before throwing our exhausted selves into our room.
The Hilton is a ferry ride to the main island, located on Giudecca which only added to the romance of Venice.
#traveltip Number 2 - Embrace your jetlag.
Jetlag means waking at ridiculous times, which is a blessing when you're in a city with a zillion tourists who all want to see the same sights. We ventured across to San Marco Square extremely early (6am), before everyone else woke up. Having the place to ourselves meant we could wander aimlessly in relative peace, exploring the beauty of Basillica and surrounds. Sadly there are limited coffee options at that hour, but the wait for our first Italian coffee was worth it!
#traveltip Number 3: Visit Venice in Aqua Alto season.
Despite everything you read in Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and every other travel book/blog on the planet - don't listen to them.
The floods were awesome!
I was confused at first with sightings of the scaffolded walkways. I thought there was a power-broking construction project happening all over the island. I soon discovered these were walkways to avoid the high waters. Its starts of as a few mils of water and after a few hours you're breaststroking your way to an Aperol Spritz.
if you're packing light (like I do), and can't fit your Hunter Gumboots in your luggage, don't fret. Every corner sells disposable bright orange plastic covers for your shoes. Italy is the country of "style" - which is not quite how I'd describe the covers. I refused to wear them and sadly my beautiful boots got ruined. But I remained semi stylish while I ruined them, and on the plus side it meant I didn't have to pack them to return to Aus.
#traveltip Number 4: Aperol Spritz and tasty little morsels
I get that I'm a late adopter of the trends. Always have been. But my god, the discovery of the Spritz was nothing short of winning the lotto! Every glass came with a bowl of potato chips and when we went slightly more fancy, a bowl of olives!
Its fairly easy to wonder and stumble across something truly amazing in Venice. One of my favourites was a a quite little cafe bar called Al Parlamento - unassuming, affordable and amazing! There were a few others we found by accident, which is the way to go in Venice.
Don't plan. Wander.
#traveltip Number 5: Bring on the romance.
The most beautiful aspect of Venice is that there are no cars. No cars means no traffic noise and no streetlights. Just cute little street lights lighting the alley ways and canals and a gentle ambience to guide you to little wine bars.
If you really have to jump in a gondola, do so. For me they seemed constructed and awkward and overpriced so we stuck to walking and getting lost in little alleyways.
A week in Venice was enough of an entree to make we want to return to Italy.
If you really have to jump in a gondola, do so. For me they seemed constructed and awkward and overpriced so we stuck to walking and getting lost in little alleyways.
A week in Venice was enough of an entree to make we want to return to Italy.
#traveltip Number 6: Holiday hangover is best cured with arranging another holiday.
I'm now planning our Eastern Europe holiday for 2016.... Watch this space
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