ITALIAN TRILOGY - by Louise Gorbatov

Travel Stop • April 17, 2024

Italian Trilogy - by Louise Gorbatov

After a short early morning flight we arrived in Rome for the first of a 3 night Italian Trilogy with Kirker Holidays and the 5* Baglioni Hotels. We checked into the Regina Baglioni Hotel which is located just a short stroll from the Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese Gardens and easily accessible on foot to all the major landmarks. We started with a ‘light lunch’ (the Italians don’t do light!) then burnt off said lunch with a private walking tour of some of the major sights, to include the Colosseum, Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. 

On our second day after a leisurely breakfast we headed to Termini Central station to board the fast train to Florence, taking just 90 minutes. We were greeted on arrival and taken to the boutique yet grand Baglioni Realis Santa Croce which would be our home for tonight. The hotel is in a quiet yet central location, just 50m from Santa Croce Basilica and being less than a 10 minute walk from The Duomo.

The hotel shares it’s building with the famous ‘Enoteca Pinchiorri’ which has three Michelin stars, I am told you need to book well in advance to eat here so unfortunately we didn’t have the opportunity, however the hotels own restaurant didn’t disappoint.

As part of our private walking tour this afternoon we enjoyed fast track access to the Uffizi Gallery which is a must do for any art lover along with a stroll across the famous Ponte Vecchio.

Our final journey by rail was from Florence to Venice Santa Lucia, taking approximately 2 hours. After a short private water taxi we arrived at Baglioni Hotel Luna, the cities oldest hotel and being just a stones through from Piazza San Marco. After checking in we headed to the Londra Palace for lunch right by the Grand Canal. This afternoon’s private walking tour included entrance and a tour of Doge’s Palace. On our final day, after breakfast in the former ballroom of Hotel Luna we had time at leisure to explore the narrow alley ways and sights of Venice including Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. The trip ended perfectly at sunset with a private water taxi from our hotel’s own dock. Venice really is a city like no other, one which is on my list to return to.

ARUBA - by Louise Gorbatov

By Travel Stop • October 17, 2023
In March 2023 British Airways launched their first twice weekly direct flight to Aruba (with a short touchdown in Antigua). In October I was lucky enough to be invited by the Aruba Tourist Board to experience all of what the Dutch Caribbean Island has to offer.

CANADA – BRITISH COLUMBIA by Louise Gorbatov

By Travel Stop • December 9, 2019
Day 1 Prestige Holidays invited me to Canada to join them to experience Vancouver and the not so well-known Okanagan Valley region of British Columbia. From Heathrow we boarded our direct British Airways flight to Vancouver. On arrival we were read full story The post CANADA – BRITISH COLUMBIA by Louise Gorbatov appeared first on Travel Stop.

THE QUEEN MARY 2 by Cheryl Locke

By Travel Stop • August 29, 2019
The Queen Mary 2 and the Norwegian Fjords The Queen Mary 2 (QM2) is a beautiful ship and one which was a joy to sail on. I had a couple of minor reservations when booking this cruise on two counts read full story The post THE QUEEN MARY 2 by Cheryl Locke appeared first on Travel Stop.

SWITZERLAND by Louise Gorbatov

By Travel Stop • July 19, 2019
Switzerland – Interlaken & The Bernese Oberland. My Journey started on the evening of Thursday 9th May where I checked into the Thistle at London Heathrow. In the early hours of Friday, I checked out and headed to the Heathrow read full story The post SWITZERLAND by Louise Gorbatov appeared first on Travel Stop.

CELEBRITY EDGE by Sonia Reece

By Travel Stop • July 19, 2019
What an awesome sight! As you drive into the port at Southampton and you see your home for the next two nights. The Celebrity Edge is an amazing sight and anyone would be impressed as they approached her.   Parking read full story The post CELEBRITY EDGE by Sonia Reece appeared first on Travel Stop.

SOUTH AFRICA by Hannah Moore

By Travel Stop • June 26, 2019
South Africa – Western Cape I was lucky to recently travel to South Africa with African Pride to the Cape Town area. The trip started with an overnight flight on South African Airlines, on their new Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Business read full story The post SOUTH AFRICA by Hannah Moore appeared first on Travel Stop.

CHINA by Bridget Keevil

By Travel Stop • June 25, 2019
We arrived into Shanghai at 07.45am after an eleven and a quarter hour direct flight from London Heathrow.  Having had to go to the China Visa Centre in London to give our fingerprints as part of obtaining the Chinese Visa, read full story The post CHINA by Bridget Keevil appeared first on Travel Stop.

ICELAND by Anne Fisk

By Travel Stop • April 10, 2019
My Iceland trip commenced from the North Terminal at London Gatwick flying with Icelandair. On arrival into Keflavik, after a 3-hour flight, we were met and taken to our private vehicle to visit the famous Blue Lagoon. The journey only read full story The post ICELAND by Anne Fisk appeared first on Travel Stop.

Vienna City Break by Bridget Keevil

By Bridget Keevil • March 27, 2019
As with any city break when time is at a premium, it is always best to have a plan.  Plan where you want to go and what you want to see at the same time as booking your break, and read full story The post Vienna City Break by Bridget Keevil appeared first on Travel Stop.

SOUTH AFRICA – KWAZULU NATAL by Louise Gorbatov

By Travel Stop • November 15, 2018
I was invited by Africa and Beyond (an independent tour operator, specialising in Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands and the Middle East) to join them on an exciting trip of the KwaZulu Natal area of South Africa, along with 4 read full story The post SOUTH AFRICA – KWAZULU NATAL by Louise Gorbatov appeared first on Travel Stop.
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