New insights into Italy

Here are few new thoughts, insights or updates since our last visit to Italy four years ago:

1. Italians are becoming more customer-oriented and friendly. They are still nowhere near as responsive or friendly as hospitality workers in the Scandanavian countries, Germany or other countries. But they are learning that, in a highly competitive travel and tourism industry, and with economies in recession, that customers (aka tourists) can not and should not be taken for granted. Hotel staff in particular have greatly and noticeably improved. Restaurant and food services are also better but service can still be spotty. Transportation workers (including airport staff, bus drivers and taxi drivers) and retail workers have not improved much.

2. Moving around and through Italy, especially with luggage, remains a problem. Streets often lack sidewalks and ramps. Hotels have small and cramped lifts and sometimes don't even have a lift or elevator. Stairs and steps are everywhere and there is often no other option than to carry your bags. Venice in particular is difficult on the elderly or physically challenged individuals as most of the city is not accessible by bus or taxis and thus walking is mandatory in most of the city. To compound the problem, most locations require traversing multiple bridges with steps and uneven surfaces are prevalent.

3. Unlike other, more modern and progressive places in Europe (Copenhagen comes to mind), tour companies, taxis and many shops and stores still do not accept credit cards.

4. Many taxis still operate without meters so knowing your routes and the tariff (or at least the going rates) in advance is a must if you don't want to be ripped-off by drivers.

5. Non-Americans still have a different and more expansive notion of personal space, so be prepared to be pushed and shoved whenever you are in close proximity to others! This is useful to know when waiting in queues entering attractions, boarding trains and buses, etc. If you are not careful about closing your spacing, you might find people butting in front of you in queues!

6. In restaurants, coperto was far less common, and servizio incluso (service included) was non-existent, during our most recent visit.

7. Always have a couple one Euro coins handy as some bathrooms, especially in the train stations, use automated pay entrances to use the toilet/bathroom.

Venice

Venice is a magical city that is built on a series of small islands and canals in the middle of a lagoon. The lack of motor vehicles in most of the city, and the fact that one must use boats or walk to get around is what makes Venice so unique and beautiful amongst the world's great cities.

But the lack of transportation options makes Venice a particular challenge for the elderly or for  physically-challenged individuals--especially if you are not independently wealthy. Since most of the city is not accessible by bus, car or land taxi, one must either spend using water taxis, or be fit enough to take public transportation and walk, and carry your belongings, though most of the city. To compound the walking problem, most locations require traversing one or more pedestrian bridges with steps and uneven surfaces are prevalent.

On top of all this, you have the same common problems that you will find in most of Europe: narrow, cramped streets that lack sidewalks and ramps. Hotels with either small, cramped lifts/elevators or sometimes no lift at all. Stairs and steps are everywhere and there is often no other option than to carry your bags.

In summary, if you are planning a visit to Venice, consider your budget and physical fitness. If you are either physically unable or unwilling, but can afford over 100 Euros a pop, taking water taxis is a good option. If you are like the rest of us, then you are well advised to pack light and to choose your lodging location carefully!

A New Cruise Booking Strategy

There has been a notable imbalance between cruise ship stateroom supply and demand in most peak season markets that has resulted in huge "last-minute" sales this year. At least in the U.S., booked cruises must be paid in full (and the fare is mostly or totally non-refundable depending on how close your cruise is) by the final payment date, which is typically 70 days prior to your sailing.

I believe the cruise industry is having trouble selling staterooms due to a number of factors: (1) industry overbuilding has resulted in too many ships and staterooms saturating specific popular markets in Alaska and Europe as just two examples, (2) the global economic recession/slow-down, and (3) an airline industry at or near full capacity that has resulted in full planes and high airfares. The result this 2013 summer cruise season has been large and substantial post-final-payment price drops in cruise fares. And there is an increase in sales promotions including stateroom upgrades, free gratuities, free beverage packages, onboard credits to spend, travel agency discounts and other perks. This season, you can even get two or more of these perks!

So I now recommend the following cruise booking strategy for peak season cruises. First make one or more bookings within the travel window you desire. This is to ensure you have something in the event that the cruise should sell well, stateroom inventory decline and prices slowly rise. Then follow cruise pricing and sales carefully in the 70-120 days prior to each sailing you are following. Check common cruise booking web sites for stateroom availability and prices. As the final payment date nears, determine if your sailing is indeed selling well or not. If it is selling well (which was highly unlikely in most of 2013's Alaska or Europe summer itineraries), cancel the original booking(s) and wait until the final payment date has passed for the inevitable fare sale!

In my opinion, it is much rather to change sailings, book an alternative land vacation, or not go at all, than to risk taking a huge hit on the cruise fare. The lowest post-final-payment prices paid by many for most 2013 peak summer sailings were less than half of what many early bookers paid for the same staterooms! In addition, I've learned that the best way to secure a better stateroom, i.e. suites, CC or AC, is to wait. Of my over a dozen cruises, the only two times I've had a suite were both last-minute deals whereby I got a suite for a good deal because nobody would pay the advance booking premium over the preceding 18 months. And finally, the best air fare these days is often about 60 days out so that's after final payment anyhow. This strategy has worked great for our last two Celebrity cruises AND they were/are both peak season too!