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*Celeste*
Hey! Sorry I didn'treply to your post...we've been in Nashville. Anyway, I am so excited for you and wish I were going so bad!!! I think you picked 3 fabulous places and just the right amount of time for each place. I wish I knew how to look up my old posts b/c a few weeks ago I posted a ton of info about Italy on here with recs of places to stay and stuff (I don't remember if you saw that or not). If you haven't already chosen a place to stay in Venice, I HIGHLY recommend Locanda Orseolo...check it out on tripadvisor. If you want a quick day trip while in Florence, you could easily go to Pisa from there. If you want a quick trip from Venice (30 min by train) you could go to my FAVORITE little town called Treviso...that's where my Dad grew up and where we always visited my grandparetns. It's such a quaint little city....not at all touristy...and has the BEST pizza at this little pizzaria....OMG... Valdagno and Vicenza are also nice places to visit. I know that may be overwhelming for a first time trip to Italy, but just thought I'd throw it out there JIC.
I LOVE the shoes! They look very stylish, yet comfy. Yes, I did get a pair of Merrels that I wore all over Italy:
I loved them and still do. I had to put a gel insole in them though b/c they were so flat on the bottom. BTW, zappos.com offers free shipping and free return shipping. It's a great way to order several pairs and only keep the ones you want and return the ones you don't with no hassle.
You will be amazed at how all the local Italian women all wear high heels though everywhere they go! I mean, even on cobblestone streets and even in the middle of the day just going to the market or whatever! I love it! They are soooo stylish. But, you will also see alot of the European tennis shoes (similar to the Merrel styles) too.
Let me know if you have any other questions! When are you going?
Re: *Celeste*
Hey Monica! Thanks for all the info!!
Yep...I actually copied and pasted the post you're talking about into Microsoft Word...lol...there was a lot of good info!
I guess I'm worried that we'll feel rushed, but at the same time, I want to see as much as we can while we're there, you know? So, you honestly think 2-3 nights in each location will be enough? Should we consider only going to 2 of those cities instead of 3?
We'll be going at the end of Feb/beginning of March...I'm so stinkin' excited!!!
I'll definitely check out Zappos...I didn't know they did free shipping/returns....that's really good to know.
I want to do everything I can to not look like the typical tourist...I know I will no matter what though...lol. From what I've read, the Merrell shoes seem to look a little more "European." I guess I'll leave my other running shoes at home.
Our travel agent suggested a hotel in Venice called Hotel Ala...have you ever heard about this hotel?
She also recommended Hotel Monna Lisa in Florence...
Thanks again!
Yeah, I really do think that you'll be able to see most of what you'll want to see in 2-3 days/city. Honestly, you could do Venice in 2 days/1 night if you really wanted to, but I love it so much there that I'd rather stay 2 nights myself. Rome is the biggest and has the most to see, but I still think 3 nights will be enough time there. I haven't been to Florence since I was a kid, so I don't remember alot about it...but I don't think it's huge so you should be good there too.
As far as not looking like a tourist...we say that everytime we go. My sisters and I spend all this time shopping for clothes and shoes that will help us to blend in, but it never works! LOL!!! It's impossible to walk around with a travel guide book, a backpack, and a camera and not look like a toursit! Haha! But, honestly, the places you are going to are packed with tourist so everyone looks like that. And, with all the walking you'll be doing, COMFORT IS KEY...fashion goes out the window at some point and you just want your feet to feel good. So, as much as I hate to say it, you may want to take your comfy broken in runnning shoes as a back up. Seriously, you may regret it if you don't. Anyway, It really only bothered us when we were in places like Treviso and Valdagno b/c those are not touristy places and the locals are so stylish that we always felt underdressed and frumpy. But, truly, everywhere you look in Venice and Rome will be tourists...including tacky overweight white men with long white socks on with their sandals...lol!
Really, you should just wait and shop when you get there. Trust me, you will want to shop there! They have the best of the best designer shops. And, you will certainly see styles there that will grow on you and you will want to get whatever it is. I remember when the Euro shoes first became popular here and remembered seeing all the Italians wearing them like 2 or 3 years before that and thinking, Man! I should have bought some while I was there and I could have been so fashion-forward here in the states and wear something before everyone else! LOL!
I haven't heard of those hotels, but there are SOOOOO many that I'm not surprised. I would just check them out on tripadvisor and see what people who have stayed there said about them.
You are going to have a blast! I'm so jealous!
of course I'm butting in, girls I'm going to send this info to my DH since he's planning our trip. This is great stuff to know.
thanks and keep the info coming Monica - you're awesome.
Hope Caleb is doing well, you enjoyed Nashville (I would have much better had my Tigers won!!) and that Haley enjoyed her break....
Katie
No problem! I'm glad to help! Yes, we did enjoy Nashville! Thanks!
Monica, thanks again for all the info!!!
I feel much better about the time now...I'm so excited about seeing Venice...it looks so amazing from all the photos I've seen.
And I agree...looking like a tourist is inevitable...LOL. I'm going to take your advice and dress for comfort!