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Back to Anglo American Hotel
Hello Kristin,
We had a really wonderful trip. A few comments below...
Rome - Roma Centro apt - very well-located, with lots of character and amenities in the 'hood. It was wonderful to stroll to the Piazza Navona and to try all the restaurants only steps away. The grocery downstairs was very convenient as well, and with our kitchen we were able to do breakfast daily at home before venturing out. We also felt very secure there, which was a plus in more ways than one. Our daughter needed to stay back from sightseeing to rest a couple of times, and we were comfortable leaving her there alone for a couple of hours. Two downers: the apt. downstairs was being renovated, and the hammering began at 6:30 a.m. every day and lasted most of the day. That was awful. Also the bed REALLY needs a new mattress. Otherwise a very nice accommodation.
Stefano's tour of Pompeii was a highlight of the trip. He did a marvelous job, and the experience really sparked my imagination. The whole commercial city came alive for us. Stefano is very pleasant and knowledgeable. He also related well to our 11 year old daughter and helped enliven the trip for her as much as possible.
Palazzo Bandino was the second major highlight of the trip, and hands-down our favorite week of the vacation. We were treated like kings and queens in every way--coffee any time for the asking, fabulous meals where our every desire was remembered from one day to the next and anticipated, lovely people on staff, well-planned outings to complement cooking school. My daughter and I enjoyed the cooking classes very much. Chef Luciano and his translators were informative and helped us understand Tuscan cooking traditions and culture as much as recipes and preparation. The accommodations were nice although the showers are very small. Gabriel and Marta were a treasure; my daughter was almost in tears over leaving Marta behind. The scenery is gorgeous, and the setting was very peaceful. And again--the FOOD! Unbeatable. We also enjoyed the wine tasting; PB has some very good ones. A great place to sight see, relax, breathe deeply, and eat well.
Florence and Milan were not our favorites although we're glad we went to both. The Anglo American Hotel in Florence gave us a gorgeous suite. The bed was firm and the bathroom a good size. Breakfasts were delicious. English was less available but manageable. The downside is the hotel is located a good walk from central Florence, which may be why we didn't enjoy ourselves as much. I highly recommend Rampini Ceramics in Florence to anyone interested in buying pottery. Very high quality and custom-made to your desires. Also we discovered a fabulous restaurant, family-owned for 30 years--Il Profeto. Great food.
Our outings to Pisa and Venice were good; Venice better than Pisa (was a long walk from train to the tower in hot weather; I recommend a cab for folks with kids). We spent a quick overnight in Venice and stayed at the outstanding Hotel Abbazia. It is around the corner from the train station, and the staff here was the best of any hotel we experienced. They went out of their way to ensure we had a wonderful time in every way possible. While we gave up our room in the morning, our train wasn't until evening. They offered us their comfortable lobby with nice bathrooms at any time during the day, and provided drinks etc. at the bar while we waited for the train. Above and beyond the call of duty. Our triple room was small, and we were glad we weren't there long, but it was nice and the beds were good.
Our final stop was Milan and the most underwhelming of the trip. It was awesome to see the Last Supper, however.
Hope all that is helpful. Thanks again for everything! If I have missed anything, I will ask my husband to fill the gap.
Mary M.
Dear In Italy,
We liked the Anglo American Hotel very much. Their breakfasts were buffet style and everything you could think of and more. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly. Only negative was the presence of mosquitoes in our room as they have no screens. The location was great and very convenient but, most importantly, quiet. The American consulate is very close by but don't try to take a picture of it. The police are guarding it 24/7 and will not allow pictures.
Naturally the art is king in Florence. The Pitti Palace has more art than most art museums in the world! DO NOT try to see the Uffizi and the Academia galleries on the same day! Art overload rapidly sets in if you do. Luckily we did not try this.
The Piazzale Michelangelo, just east of the Pitti Palace, is a great photo shoot opportunity and a lovely place in itself.
The negatives all stem from the fact that the entire city is a national monument and, therefore, can't be changed. The streets are very narrow and the sidewalks even narrower. Both were built approximately 800 years ago and the stones are very rounded and hard on the feet. The streets are lined with cars and motorscooters so they are impossible to clean. DO NOT DRIVE IN FLORENCE unless you do not intend to park. The large trash bins are permanent fixtures on almost all streets. At most popular venues you will be accosted by "gypsies" selling all manner of things.
The Ponte Vecchio is a curiosity but you will be well advised to look elsewhere for your jewelry purchases if you are looking for truly unique pieces.
The South side of the Arno is definitely more "user friendly" and restful.
Finally, allow 45 minutes for the shuttle bus from the train station to the airport if you are leaving during morning rush hour.
These are random thoughts but I hope they are of some use to you. Thanks for your interest and follow-up.
Ed B.
Dear In Italy,
Our trip was fantastic and the weather could not have been better. A little cool in the mornings and 70's in the afternoon.
Our accommodations were great.... Clean, friendly, locations to all were perfect. Thank you again for all your help. We would use your services again.
Sincerely,
Craig R. K.
Hi Jessica
Just thought I'd send you this for your information.... Anglo American Hotel was an unexpected surprise. Beautiful hotel with modern amenities and first class all the way. Very accommodating and well situated. We walked everywhere from there. So glad we cancelled our reservations at Hotel California which would have been impossible to get to and looks like a dump from the outside.
Thanks for everything. Would definitely use your services again.
Thanks again,
Mary Ann K.
Jessica-
The trip was superb. We enjoyed both hotels -- the Anglo-American was away from a lot of the noise and traffic of Florence, but still close enough to walk everywhere. Breakfast there was surprisingly bountiful and even included Prosecco for those interested. We had a junior suite on two floors with two bathrooms and a small terrace. Rooms were nicely appointed, excellent water pressure in bathrooms.
I hope this is helpful.
Jeff P.
Julie,
Thank you so much for your efforts in making our short, but memorable trip so special. The Anglo American Hotel was excellent. I liked the way it was nice and out of the way from the tourist areas, but still within walking distance - and close to the train station.
The staff was very helpful. I liked the fact that a daily US Newspaper was included. In addition I had laundry done (since I was in the middle of a business trip in Europe) and they did an excellent job. I mention this because normally it is near impossible to find a good place in Europe that does laundry/dry-cleaning without ruining the cloths.
Our favorite activity was climbing to the top of the Duomo. The views were breathtaking and the climbing (although difficult) was an adventure. We thought the Uffizi was a waste of time - there was so much renovation and it paled compared to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The Galleria dell'Accademia was excellent
We also enjoyed walking in the food market (it was inside a building near the outdoor markets)
We also enjoyed walking around the local streets on the less touristy side of the bridge where we found many local bakeries and shops to explore without any tourists.
Thanks for everything,
Frank P O
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