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SEPT 17, 2013 FLORENCE

Today we stop in Livorno, Italy which is the port to go to Florence, approx 1 1/2 hrs bus drive away.

Celebrity Cruises on this voyage had offered transportation only excursions to ports so travellers can explore the city on their own. This will be our first time trying this instead of using a shore excursion firm.
The Florence excursion will allow us five hours on our own once we are dropped off and when time is up we go back to the meeting place to get our bus.

I had made reservations to have lunch at a great restaurant in Florence where we had a delicious Florentine steak the year before. It is Il Latine.

Since we had taken a  guided tour last year we knew the downtown area and walked to the covered bridge, several churches and the main street with all the designer shops.

We started walking to the center of town with the plan to go to the Ponte Veccia (covered bridge).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio

 What a surprise to find we were close to the city center that we toured last year.
We saw the giant David replica and the Duomo on our way to the downtown and bridge.

WE took photos at the covered bridge, looked at the gold shops and found we still had time before lunch so we walked to the restaurant to find it would not open till 12:30- we got there at noon- so we walked around taking photos and then went back.

When we arrived at the restaurant we were seated right away. We ordered the Florentine steak, melon and prosciutto and roasted potatoes. 

The food was great!!  The waiter treated us to biscottini and vinsanto (sweet wine for dunking). later he treated us to a sweet sparkling glass of wine. the bill was the same as last year- 80 Euros!!

We walked back over the covered bridge to see the outside of the Pitti Palace and then back into the town center and to the meeting place to wait for our group.

There were uniformed officers patrolling the downtown area. I really liked the two policewomen so I asked if I could take their photo.

We took the bus back to the ship and chilled out till dinner.

Florence is so beautiful and if we come again we will try and see the museums. Last year we saw the statue of David.

2019 TRAVEL TIPS updates in RED

TRAVEL TIPS

CRUISES/LAND TOURS

1. HAVE MORE THAN 5 CABINS/16 PEOPLE ON A LAND TOUR- MAKE A  GROUP

• GROUPS ON SHIP- EXTRAS LIKE COCKTAIL PARTY, REDUCED CABIN RATE,

DINE TOGETHER

• LAND TOUR- LOWER PRICE, TRAVEL TOGETHER IN SMALLER GROUP

2. USE TRAVEL AGENT FOR CRUISE/TOURS ABOVE - NO EXTRA CHARGE

REMARKS BELOW APPLY TO INDEPENDENT TRAVEL - IF YOU USE A TRAVEL AGENT THE AGENT WILL ASK ABOUT YOUR NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS AND BOOK YOUR TRIP ACCORDINGLY

3. BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE-

• MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER MEDICAL EXPENSES WHILE TRAVELLING ABROAD
• LOST LUGGAGE ASSISTANCE
• TRIP CANCELLATION
• TRIP INTERRUPTION

4. RESEARCH YOUR TRIP- WHETHER BY CRUISE OR LAND

• READ ABOUT THE SIGHTS TO SEE SO YOU CAN SELECT THE PROPER CRUISE EXCURSION OR THE STOPS ON A LAND TOUR

• MAKE SURE THE TRIP IS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR PHYSICAL NEEDS IE EASY OR NO WALKING, MODERATE WALKING OVER COBBLESTONES OR UP AND DOWN STREETS/HILLS

5. IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING INDEPENDENTLY AND LOOKING FOR HOTELS IN EACH CITY USE TRIP ADVISOR, FODOR'S, FROMMER’S OR RICK STEVE’S TO NARROW DOWN HOTELS

• FOR EXAMPLE DO YOU WANT TO STAY IN THE CENTER OF A CITY TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO SIGHTS OR STAY FURTHER OUT AND HAVE TO TAKE A TAXI OR METRO TO GO TO THE CITY CENTER OR SIGHTS.

• LOCATION IS A FACTOR IN SELECTING A HOTEL BY COST

• SELECT A HOTEL THAT WILL MEET YOUR STANDARDS IE 3 STAR, 4 STAR ETC.
• REVIEW HOTEL AMENITIES- IE LOBBY COMPUTER, ELEVATOR, WIFI, BREAKFAST INCLUDED, ETC

• YOU CAN GET A BETTER RATE FROM A HOTEL IF YOU BOOK ONLINE

• BEST PRICE FOR HOTEL IS WHEN YOU PREPAY BEFORE YOU LEAVE- ALSO MAKES FOR FASTER CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT.

• USE HOTELS WHERE YOU HAVE A LOYALTY CARD

6. RESEARCH TOURS FOR EACH CITY YOU VISIT

• IE HOP ON HOP OFF BUSES
• GREYLINE OR OTHER TOUR BUS COMPANIES
• EMAIL WHERE POSSIBLE TO SEE IF TOURS OPERATE THE DAYS YOU ARE IN THEIR CITY
• TRY SMALL VAN TOURS- 6-9 PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE FLEXIBLE IN SIGHTSEEING TIMES AND STOPS

BEFORE YOU LEAVE PREPARE!

1. DO YOU NEED A VISA?

2. IS YOUR PASSPORT CURRENT OR EXPIRING WITHIN 6 MOS OF RETURNING TO THE US.?

3. ARE YOUR CREDIT CARDS CURRENT AND NOT EXPIRING WITHIN 6 MOS. OF YOUR TRAVEL DATES?

4. IF YOU ARE DRIVING APPLY FOR AN INTERNATIONAL LICENSE (IT ALSO ACTS LIKE A SECONDARY FORM OF PHOTO ID AND SAFER TO CARRY THAN A PASSPORT)

5. MAKE PHOTOCOPIES OF ALL THE CREDIT CARDS & ATM CARD YOU ARE TAKING WITH YOU, COPY  OF YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE, COPY OF PASSPORT AND PACK IN YOUR PURSE OR CARRY ON- NOT IN YOUR SUITCASE!!

6. CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND ADVISE THEM WHEN AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING

• WHY- SO WHEN YOU BUY THAT TURKISH CARPET THE CHARGE WILL BE PROCESSED.

7.  MAKE SURE YOUR ATM CARD HAS A 4 DIGIT PIN

• IF YOU HAVE A LOW DAILY WITHDRAWAL AMOUNT YOU MAY WANT TO INCREASE IT SO YOU CAN WITHDRAW MAX AMOUNT EVERY TIME TO LIMIT ATM USAGE FEES.

8. CELL PHONE- SET UP SKYPE OR ACTIVATE INTERNATIONAL PLAN TO USE PHONE OVERSEAS. ACTIVATE A DATA INTERNATIONAL DATA PLAN IF YOU WANT TO USE THE INTERNET WHEN TRAVELLING.

• MAY WANT TO JUST TURN OFF DATA ROAMING AND CELL PHONE CALLS AND USE YOUR SMART PHONE WIFI AT CAFES, HOTELS ETC FOR SKYPE AND INTERNET USE.
• Use hangouts by Google.
• Activate calls over wifi if your phone allows it and if your carrier provides it
• Get a Skype phone number and use it to make calls home or get calls from home. 

9. PACK MENS AND WOMENS CLOTHES TOGETHER IN TWO SUITCASES- NO MAN'S LUGGAGE AND WOMEN'S LUGGAGE IN CASE ONE BAG IS LOST. 
THIS HAPPENED TO ME THIS LAST MAY. - LUCKY IT WAS MY CLOTHES AND NOT MY WIFE'S AS I WAS ABLE TO GET BY WITH THE FEW CLOTHES I HAD.

• ALSO PUT YOUR ITINERARY AND NAME AND ADDRESS IN EA. BAG AS WELL.
• USE SEVERAL LUGGAGE TAGS WITH A WORK ADDRESS AND A CURRENT PHONE NUMBER.
• TAKE PHOTOS OF WHAT CLOTHING YOU HAVE PACKED TO REMIND YOU WHAT YOU PACKED IN CASE YOU LOSE YOUR BAG AND NEED TO MAKE A CLAIM

10. LUGGAGE- USUALLY EACH INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT WEIGHT ALLOWANCE IS 50 POUNDS.

• IT HELPS TO HAVE A LIGHT BAG TO ALLOW MORE CLOTHING
• INEXPENSIVE OR EXPENSIVE BAGS WILL BE DAMAGED BY THE AIRLINES SO FILE A CLAIM IF YOUR BAG IS DAMAGED
• LUGGAGE SCALES ARE GREAT TO WEIGH YOUR BAG SO YOU DON’T GET HIT WITH EXCESS WEIGHT CHARGES FROM SOUVENIRS, WINE ETC
• BRING SOME BUBBLE WRAP TO CUSHION YOUR SOUVENIRS

AIR TRAVEL

USE A SEARCH ENGINE TO FIND THE AIRLINES THAT WILL FLY TO YOUR DESTINATION.

USUALLY THE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE FOR YOUR DESTINATION MAY HAVE THE BEST TRAVEL TIMES AND ARRIVAL TIMES. RETURNING YOU WILL CLEAR US CUSTOMS IN SAN FRANCISCO.

DOMESTIC AIRLINES MAY REQUIRE CLEARING CUSTOMS IN THE US AIRPORT YOU LAND IN FROM EUROPE AND COULD CAUSE DELAYS IN MAKING YOUR CONNECTING FLIGHT.

WHEN CHOOSING AN AIRLINE CONSIDER SEAT SIZE, LOCATION, CLASS AND BAGGAGE ALLOWANCES AS WELL AS CONNECTION TIMES.

CHECK FOR NON STOP FLIGHTS VS. CONNECTING FLIGHTS FOR PRICES AND DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL TIMES.

EXAMPLE- TURKISH AIR WILL TAKE YOU TO CONSTANTINOPLE NON STOP. DEPARTS LAX AND 13 HRS LATER YOU ARE IN CONSTANTINOPLE.

SIGN UP FOR THE MILEAGE AFFINITY PLANS OF THE AIRLINES YOU USE THE MOST.

• Join the mileage program of your airline as you may be able to use the miles for another airline that participates in Star Alliance.
• Download the airline app.

MAKES TICKETING AND BOARDING PASS PRINTING A SNAP.

ALSO ALLOWS FOR GETTING TEXT/EMAIL ALERTS IF THE PLANE IS LATE.

PERSONAL SAFETY

In last three years we visited different ports as part of our cruise excursions. Every time we got on a bus the local guide warned us of pickpockets who targeted men but also women.

Men- buy a front pocket wallet and keep it in your front pocket OR use your existing wallet but keep it in your front pocket.

Women- keep your purse zipped and carry it by putting on across your body and not hanging from your shoulder to prevent purse snatching.

When possible keep your passports ( and money) locked up in the hotel or ship safe and carry your driver's license and photocopy of passport with you.

Only take money with you that you will need for that day's expense. If you need money for a purchase use your credit card.

 There are very few instances where you will need your passport once you pass the airport passport control.

I also get an International Driver's License as another form of photo ID.

MISCELLANEOUS

MONEY- HOW MUCH AND DO I USE DOLLARS OR CONVERT

• WHEN DO I CONVERT AND HOW MUCH

• Use currency application like

  XE Currency 

• BRING $100-200 US IN SMALL BILLS IE ONES, FIVES, TENS IN CASE YOU RUN OUT OF LOCAL CURRENCY.

BEST ADVICE IS TO BUY LOCAL CURRENCY IE EUROS, TURKISH LIRA AT THE WELLS FARGO BANK. IN THE LONG RUN IT IS CHEAPER THAN PAYING THE TRANSACTION FEES AT OTHER BANKS OR A CURRENCY EXCHANGE.

• GET A VARIETY OF BILLS AND IMPORTANTLY A GOOD AMOUNT OF SMALL BILLS TO BE USED FOR TIPPING, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION. NOT ALL STORES OR TAXIS CAN BREAK A LARGE BILL IE 50 EUROS

• GET ENOUGH MONEY FOR ONE DAYS EXPENSES PLUS TAXI FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL.

SINCE EUROS ARE USED IN A LOT OF COUNTRIES NOW YOU CAN WITHDRAW MONEY AS YOU GO FROM ATMS.

TRAVELER'S CHECKS ARE NON EXISTENT AND THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS CHARGING FOR EXPENSES OR HOTELS.

ATTRACTIONS REQUIRE CASH IE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM, LOUVRE. USING A CHARGE CARD MAY MEAN A LONGER LINE.

THIS IS A PERSONAL CHOICE. I PREFER TO PAY AS I GO AND USE THE CHARGE CARD FOR LARGE PURCHASES OR EMERGENCIES.

EACH CHARGE USUALLY HAS A FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE AND ONE RISKS IDENTITY THEFT/CREDIT CARD FRAUD EVERY TIME ONE USES THE CARD AT A STORE/RESTAURANT.

HOTELS ARE OK.

SAME HOLDS TRUE FOR NON EURO COUNTRIES LIKE TURKEY.

BEST EXCHANGE RATE IS AT A BANK HERE OR ATM IN TURKEY. ALTERATIVE IS US DOLLARS BUT EXCHANGING THEM MAY DELAY TRANSACTION OR BE MORE  EXPENSIVE DUE TO CONVERSION.

FOR EXAMPLE AS OF A FEW DAYS AGO ONE TURKISH LIRA WAS WORTH .45 US.

A BOTTLE OF WATER IS USUALLY 1TL. IF  ONE PAYS WITH A DOLLAR BILL ONE IS PAYING TWICE AS MUCH THAN USING LOCAL $. IF THE MERCHANT ACCEPTS THE DOLLAR MAY GIVE BACK TL AS CHANGE- NOT A GUARANTEE.

AT REST STOPS PRICES FOR WATER WAS $1 OR 1 TL.

TRYING TO CONVERT DOLLARS TO TL IS TIME CONSUMING AND FRUSTRATING- MERCHANT MAY NOT TAKE $

• USING EUROS MAY BE MORE EXPENSIVE BUT MORE ACCEPTABLE THAN US $.

KEEP IN MIND YOU PAID A CONVERSION FEE FROM $ TO EURO AND MAY LOSE IN THE EXCHANGE TO TL.

MAPS

In addition to Google maps there is a new  one Maps.me available on the apple app store and google play.  Download and use before going on a trip to see how it works.

RESEARCH

BRING ALONG A TRAVEL BOOK ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING. THERE ARE THE 10 BEST SERIES OF BOOKS by DK AS WELL AS OTHERS.

BOOKS ON KINDLE/IPAD ARE GOOD TO. IPAD BOOKS CAN ALSO BE READ ON YOUR IPHONE SO THE INFO IS READILY AVAILABLE.

CELL PHONES

TRAVEL BOOKS WILL TELL YOU YOU CAN BUY A PREPAID PHONE OR USE YOUR CELL PHONE AND THEN GO ALONG AND SWAP SIM CARDS.

NOT TRUE CANNOT DO IN GREECE OR TURKEY.

ONE MUST GO TO A PHONE STORE AND REGISTER THE PHONE TO GET A SIM CARD.

BETTER TO USE SKYPE OR ACTIVATE INTERNATIONAL CALLING ON YOUR CELL.

Buy an international phone plan from your existing carrier for the period you are travelling for the ease and convenience of making calls home and getting calls from home.

PHOTOS, NOTE BOOKS JOURNALS

Memories can be short so bring a journal or notebook to document what you enjoyed about the place you visit every day. Note interesting experiences and events. You can do this during a coffee break or at night.

PHOTOS AND MOVIES

smart phones and digital cameras can take photos and movies-no need for a separate movie camera anymore

• remember to bring enough memory cards and chargers and cables- do not pack in luggage
• instead of postcards use instagram or email/text to send a photo postcard to friends and family
• post movies/photos to facebook once you return home- do not alert people that you are not home and on a trip
• take a photo of signs and then photos so you know where you were when you took the photo
• gather business cards of that great shop or restaurant to remind you if you want to revisit on another trip or to write a glowing review on yelp/tripadvisor
• bring a ziplock bag for business cards, notes and small items. this way everything is in one place and water resistant.

SEPT. 16, 2013 NICE, FRANCE (VILLEGRANCHE)

Our first port is Villefranche, France (Nice) and we will be in port from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
This is a tender port where we must be tendered from the ship to the port.

Since we went on an excursion to Monaco last year we decided to take the excursion to Saint-Paul de Vence - two hour bus ride from the port to the walled village.

Since we had some time before he had to join our excursion we stopped at a cafe we ate at last year. the food was good and it had a great WIFI connection.

Afterwards we joined our tour  and we had a scenic drive past Nice to the village. the walled part of the village was small and easy to walk around in.
After our walk we decided to have our late lunch at a cafe near the bus and the food was really good.
We then boarded the bus and it drove along the Nice seaside so we could see the big hotels and lovely beach.
We then walked around Villefranche and took photos and then got on the tender to go to our ship.

SEP15, 2013 START OF OUR CELEBRITY CRUISE TO ISTANBUL (CONTSTANTINOPLE)

Today we boarded the Celebrity Constellation for our 10 night cruise to Istanbul.

Some of the ports we will visit on this trip will be ones we visited on our cruise in 2012.


There was 5k race in Barcelona that passed by our hotel and we had to wait until the last runner passed by before our taxi took us to the pier to board the ship.

Because we had left on  a cruise last year we knew that there was a selection of shops in the terminal building to buy souvenirs, wine and bottled water. I learned that once we checked in on the ship I could go ashore again and buy wine and water which I did- several bottles of Sangria and 6 large bottles of water.

We settled into our cabin, went to the lifeboat drill and then went on deck for the sail away.

The Constellation is a mid size ship and one of my favorites in the Celebrity Fleet.

Sept. 22, 2013 Pireaeus (Athens)

Today we arrived in Piraeus. We docked at the international terminal and took a shuttle bus to the main terminal to exit.

Today is a Sunday so a lot of places are closed so our plan is to take the Red Hop on Hop off bus to the center of Athens to find our friends at Argonaut Travel. We had brought some small gifts to give them. Marios and Jenny are the owners and they are so nice. We booked several trips with them in the last two years. They did an excellent job in planning our hotel stays.

After we visited Marios and Jenny we went next door to the Athens Gate Hotel where we stay when in Athens. The staff are like family to us since we have stayed there so often in the last three years.

We then took  a cab to  Kolonaki to go to the Cafe Peros where we had lunch in June.

We had a great lunch then went across the street to buy cookies to snack on on the ship.  It is ok to bring dry baked goods like cookies aboard.

We then got on the hop on hop off bus for the tour and transferred at the Acropolis Museum stop to get the bus for Piraeus.  

We had a coffee and dessert at the terminal cafe and went to the duty free shops to buy some things and then back to the ship.

Weather was really nice but it was a busy day!,

Sept 21, 2013 at sea sailing to Pireaeus

today is a sea day as we travel from Sicily to Piraeus, Greece.
The ship activity guide has  a  list of things to do today.

Sept 20, 2013 Catania Sicily

This is a new port for us.  We have a morning tour - on our own- with the ship excursion bus taking us to Taormino for 3 hrs.
On the way we drove by Mt. Etna but could not see it as it was covered in clouds.
It is a beautiful resort town perched on a hill overlooking the sea. The main st. is not very long and lined with shops and cafes and leads to the large Greek Amphitheater.

We had only three hours here and could have spent 6  hours here easy.

We toured the Amphitheater and then headed back to the center of town to find the cafe that served
arancini and pizza. After this lunch we headed back to meet our guide and get on the bus to go back to Catania and  the ship.

contrary to what the Rick Steve's guide books say, Catania port is really in an industrial part of the port and we did not feel safe enough to make the 20 min walk from the ship to the city so we stayed on board ship until it sailed.

I would love to take a 10-12 day land tour of Sicily as it is beautiful and full of history.