European tours

[mama squeak!]

@cha - Really? You didn't like Venice? Sad naman.     How long did you stay? My parents and most of my family and friends naman they liked it for its history not so much the crowd. About the 10% tax, would that be the tourist tax or something else? As far as I know meron talagang tourist tax, iba iba na lang amount bawat city.

About the crowd/not so clean places in Rome, yeah expected ko na yan. Sa mga kwento na lang ni hubby (he's been there during his teens) parang nakaka letdown. Pero I still want to visit     At least my expectations are not high so I won't be disappointed. Oh and I want to attend holy mass at St. Peter's Square kasi.

Florence, I know is a beautiful city. The birth place of Renaissance! Kaya plan namin ni hubby to have 4 full days there so we can also do some side trips on the Tuscan hills.

By the way, what were the hotels you stayed at there?

 

[[-c-h-a-]]

sorry let me rephrase, the 10% tax isn't actually tax, it's the tip required daw talaga yun and may mga italian waiters dun crude talaga, ibibigay sayo yun bill saying "10% tip not included" duhhhhhh

[[-c-h-a-]]

ganun din pala sa rome... tipping is expected...

yun mga hotels, post ko later ha kasi I'm at work and wala dito yun list ko

[mama squeak!]

^oh, I see. I understand the tips. Mababa pa ang 10%, usually nasa 15% pa. I usually give 15%, up to 20% if service is exceptional. Also the tips are good for sit down service but kung tipong fastfood service or counter service no need to give tips.

 

[[-c-h-a-]]

^that's the thing, service was not exceptional at all kaya hindi ko maintindihan yun "must tip 10%" rule sa Venice and Rome. Sa Manila, its up to us nga if we tip, hindi tacky na sasabihin pa na 10% tip not included don't get me wrong, husband and I are generous tippers too pero to those who deserve them, ayoko ng pnpwersa kami magtip sa mga hindi naman dapat tip-an kasi wala namang kwenta service

tipong, we picked our table ourselves, they gave us our order and bill, that's it. For me, that's not worth the 10% tip.

[mama squeak!]

^Sa kare-research ko I found out that Italians don't tip automatically pala. Kaya siguro when they gave you the check naniguradong meron silang tip makukuha kaya siguro sinabihan kayo. Probably they were also thinking being tourists you wouldn't know better.

Well, something learned. That's the beauty of travelling, one gets to know about different cultures. Maski minsan nakakainis yung culture nila.   

[Mhoirae]

I'm planning our itinerary for our next trip late Sept 2012. It will be another DIY trip (my favorite way to go). Hubby and I plan to go on a road trip in Southern France then cross over to Italy. Still deciding if we'll drive to Italy or take the train. We wil be sticking with just 2 countries so we really get to experience the people and the culture.

In Italy, we plan to go to Firenze (Florence), Venice, Rome and the Amalfi coast. For those who've been to these places, any tips you can share?

 

Hi, Mama Squeak.  My girlfriends & I are planning to go Oct 2012 naman. Italy (Venice, Florence & Rome) and Barcelona. Need tips on accommodation, budget is around 100 euros a night.

[mama squeak!]

^sige sis, let's compare notes.

 

[little_princess]

anyone been to greece? will be going there this holy week including santorini and mykonos 

[naughtybrat]

Hi girls! i need your help! we have a trip this coming april - may and i have a lot of research to do. I just want to ask saan mas okay mag shopping, sa paris or sa london? para maiplan ko saan mas matagal ang stay namin =)

TIA

[[-c-h-a-]]

^Paris ako.. pero not bad rin ang London.

Hilig ko lang kasi talaga french brands so of course mas mura sya dun are you after some LV, Chanel etc ba?

[mama squeak!]

anyone been to greece? will be going there this holy week including santorini and mykonos 

I'd like to go there one day. Post mo your experience so we can get tips for future travel there.

 

[little_princess]

they said it's a bit like turkey, been there last year and the ruins are amazing! though i didn't go to the mediterranean parts.

our itinerary looks like a light of sight seeing and a little shopping. will surely post after

re shopping, for french brands, paris all the way they say that the item gets more expensive the farther away from the source. so best prices for LV will be there plus tax refund!

[naughtybrat]

Then Paris it is! 

Sis cha, yep im gonna shop for bags whopee! mura daw dun eh, tama ba? =)

it's gonna be my first time if ever my visas get approved (cross fingers). Can you suggest which part of Paris i should look for a place to stay? yung malapit sa shops sisssies ha!

TIA

[snowflakes08]

I have booked Barcelona for Holy Week. Actually it is a choice between Barcelona or Rome kaso worried ng friend ko baka there will be too many people in Rome since Holy Week for pilgrims. Does anybody have itinerary for Barceleno and hotel/hostel idea too? We will be there for full 3 days.

[vhanya]

for me, barcelona is better than rome.  bf's family has a house there. it nice strolling around barcelona. there's a lot to sightsee and of course, the excellent catalan night life hahahah!

[forsix10]

sis cha, need ko rin ng tips/suggestions where to stay in Florence. yung di masyadong mahal pero kahit papano malapit lapit sa pasyalan or sa train/bus station. at if you could also give some other tips. same as you quote above Florence-venice-rome din ang pwedeng destination namin. Rome ang port of entry. thanks

[Vera]

Off to France for 7 days, Italy for 10 days

[wowry]

I'm currently planning our first europe tour this Aug. 1-15, super excited na kami ni hubby:) Big help tong thread na to!

[italiandoll]

Hi guys, question, where do you book your packages? I'm going with my family and it's our first time so we are looking at booking a package instead of DIY. Are there local travel agencies here or can we book directly with Trafalgar and the like? Thanks much!