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Back to Grand Hotel Cadenabbia
Dear Kristin,
Hi and thanks and for the e-mail.
The trip was really nice. You couldn't beat the weather, 35-38 c the entire time. We did everything that we had set out to do plus a little more.
The accommodations were all very nice. All the descriptions were accurate and for the most part we were very satisfied. There were a couple of things that were somewhat disappointing and one was the hotel in Rome. The Hotel Alexandra itself was very nice and the location was excellent. However, one of the women that works the front reception desk was in my opinion extremely snooty and really has no business being in a job that requires her to deal with paying customers. We never had to complain about anything so there was no reason for the attitude but none the less it was there. I probably would not go back because of her.
Hotel Caddenabia was wonderful. The location and price were perfect. The evening ambience was unforgettable and I believe my husband and I will go back. Perhaps as soon as next year. Shopping in Fox Town across into Switzerland is highly recommended.
Florence was also very nice. I was very disappointed in all the graffiti and that the youth don't really seem to appreciate what they have.
Villa Odino was exceptional. The villa was beautiful and quiet. The pool a Godsend! Breakfasts were astounding...so much so that my 19 and 17 year old boys were up nice and early so they wouldn't miss it.
We took the train to Venice and it was not only very quick it was also very, very economical. Upon arrival in Venice, we needed to exchange some American Express travelers cheques...that were already in Euros. Here is where the trip took a little bit of a wrong turn. As it was Saturday and the banks were closed, we used the exchange services at the train station. BIG MISTAKE. They charged us 50 Euros in order to exchange 300 euros. People at our hotel (from Belgium) said that it was extortion. It left a very bad taste in my mouth and after the beggars (standard fare in Italy) and everyone hustling to get you into their restaurant, the exchanging of money was pretty much the last straw.
Not to sound too negative, the highlight really was Lake Como and we will not hesitate to return. Thanks for your assistance as I know we did not give you much notice before we left.
Regards,
Peggy P.
Hi Jessica and Kristin,
We had a fabulous time in Italy and using your agency was one of the best things we did. I will start with the order of our itinerary. Since you don't make reservations in France (the second leg of a 3 week trip), we had to use a separate agency there. While I was a little nervous about doing everything via email or the internet, the results were better than expected.
Milan - We stayed at the Hotel Zurigo. This hotel was very nice for a 3 star hotel and within a 10 minute walking distance of the Duomo and Galleria - some of the highlights of Milan. The breakfast was very good with many selections of beverages and bakery items. The staff was very helpful, especially when I needed a taxi in a hurry (due to a missing voucher) or we would miss the 'Last Supper' exhibit. The concierge got us a taxi within 5 minutes and we made the event in time. They were also extremely accommodating with our rooms since our arrangements were a bit complicated. We were grateful that our two rooms were just across the hall from each other on a private floor (the top). We would recommend this hotel to our friends.
Lake Como - Our favorite accommodations of the entire trip! I was a little apprehensive because the price was the most economical of our vacation. Wow, we weren't prepared for the amazing view of the Lake and Bellagio from our private balcony. Our only regret was that we weren't there longer. Even though this hotel appears to be at least a hundred years old, it was kept up very nicely with a beautiful lobby and an modern tiled bathroom. The view from the restaurant (we only ate our complimentary breakfast there) on the 5th floor and verandas was breathtaking. The breakfast was also excellent with a great variety. Who knew what a gem Hotel Cadenabbia would turn out to be?
The hotel referred us to Rodrigo's restaurant, just up the street. You hadn't mentioned it on our voucher but we would suggest it to anyone. The prices were reasonable and the food was excellent, we especially enjoyed their pizza. It was nice to be able to walk just a couple of minutes to dinner.
Florence B & B - this was a nice hotel on a quiet street near the main piazza of the city and the Uffizzi. We loved being this close to the action while not having the noise of the city. For a budget hotel, we were impressed with their efficiency and nice accommodations. We stayed in their recently upgraded rooms and were pleased with the nice bathroom and room.
Our splurges - we decided to book private tours through you. My husband was apprehensive at first due to the cost, but these proved to be the highlights of the trip. I would recommend this to anyone - if you are trying to do Italy on a budget, do it with less expensive rooms and even food if necessary but don't cut on the tours. I was traveling with my husband and 21 yr. old twin boys. They had never shown much interest in art and were apprehensive of an entire morning viewing just that in Florence. My husband later exclaimed that Florence was 10x better than expected and I will say that is directly related to the fact we booked private tours through you. Valentina was very impressive and guided us through the art, hitting only the highlights (this helped to avoid art overkill) and explaining each piece's significance in detail. In both the Uffizi and the Academia, we left feeling like we knew more than the average visitor. Valentina made the visit meaningful and not mind boggling, as museum overload can be. Our friends visited there a day earlier and didn't enjoy the Uffizi as they just wandered aimlessly. Valentina and her knowledge of the pieces and their historical significance made the difference. We would highly recommend her to any visitors on your site.
Rome - Trevi Apartment, it was great to be in the heart of the city - near the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon - yet it is quite and safe since you have an armed guard at the head of the street because the apartment is located next door to the Quirinale - Presidential Palace. We liked being in the center of things without the noise. The metro was close by and the best gelato - Crispins, was just down the street (tell others about them on your site). Marco was very helpful when we called for directions to drive into the city and where to park (yes we had a rental car and it worked out very well).
Tour - we did the full-day Coliseum, Catacombs and Vatican tour. Kiran (sp) was our guide. We were a little worried since he was nearly 25 minutes late, but he was apologetic (traffic?) and made up for it during the day. Whenever their were time delays during the day due to traffic jams, etc., he made up the time when we did get to our desitnation and probably spent more time with us than scheduled. Since he is working on his PHD in Art History, his wealth of knowledge was incredible - I can't imagine a better guide. He was fascinating and stated the stories without slant or opinions which allowed us to think on our own. His knowledge and insights, with extra details I'm sure most guides don't have, were well worth the time. We also appreciated the fact that English was his first language - it was easier for us to understand him. It was wonderful to walk past the long lines at the Coliseum.
Having Kiran as a guide for the Coliseum and Vatican was well worth the cost. Before we went inside the Sistine Chapel, he spent at least 30 minutes reviewing the panels using a story board in the courtyard. Once we did get inside, it was much easier to take it all in with the insights he had provided. I appreciated his knowledge of the real gems vs just artifacts so we didn't waste time wandering.
We will definitely use In Italy again and I will recommend you to my friends traveling to Italy. Now, when are you opening up infrance.com? This is a service I really could've used!
Thanks,
Meridee C.
Hi Kirill,
The Hotel Cadenabbia was great. We really enjoyed our terrace lake view room. Although it could have been a little more decorated as it was pretty bare minimal in any kind of decoration, the view made it worth it. The food at that hotel was great, also. The staff was wonderful and we really enjoyed our time at the Italian Lakes. We did go to Bellagio and Como and have a nice time.
Thanks for your help.
Mary Ann F.
Dear Jessica,
We had a wonderful, convenient, and restful stay in Lake Como, thanks to your help with the arrangements. Here’s a few notes on what we learned that may improve visits for others using your service.
Thanks again for your assistance in making this part of our trip easy and enjoyable.
Take care,
Krystyn
Dear Julie,
Italy was great, as always. I have a good review and a not-so-good review. The Grand Hotel Cadenabbia wasn't so grand at all. We paid for a superior room with a balcony and lake view. When we arrived, they gave us a room on the first floor, with twin beds and no shower curtain. At our request, they did move us to the third floor. The view was, in fact, wonderful. However, the rest of the service/amenities was not up to par. The one bright spot was Sonia who worked at the reception desk. She was great. The other staff were not as friendly/helpful. I would say that for the cost, the value isn't great.
We LOVED the Hotel Abbazia in Venice. It was in a great location and even though it's a two minute walk to the train station, we never once heard a train. It is absolutely beautiful and since it was a monestary, you feel a sense of history. The staff was amazing (Matteo in particular) and couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. Having breakfast in the garden every morning was very relaxing before heading out for the day. And when we wanted to go to Murano, they had a private taxi pick us up and take us out there. I'm sure you know the owner of the hotel also owns one of the factories in Murano - I think it may be the largest one called " Cam".
Even though our experience at the Hotel Cadenabbia wasn't great, we didn't let it
spoil our trip.
Kimberly R.
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