Thursday 25 September 2014

Our fabulous Italian trip

Just returned from a wedding and a working second honeymoon in wonderful Italy – in fact a very busy time, hopping from one beautiful hotel to the next, to inspect rooms and get a flavor of Italian lifestyle. And what is more, travelling with my enthusiastic Åke, I also did some hard and rewarding work sightseeing...

In Rome, amidst its ancient history and famous monuments, we went without lunch, as Åke got deeper and deeper into the mystical treasures of the Vatican, the wicked history of the Colosseum and much much more.

But I will start the picture story with our wonderful hotels, a visit to the family of Prince Lorenzo de Medici, and his wedding to his American bride Rosemary, before sharing some of the stirring culture Åke and I experienced in Rome.

Formal gardens around the historic hotel La Posta Vecchia


Warmly met by Resident Manager Marco Filippi at La Posta Vecchia on the seawall near Rome -
a lovely hotel propped full of art treasures
On to Calabria to get together with the family of the groom - de Medici.

Lunch by the beach
Portraits of the De Medici family


Lots of lively Italian spirit and glamour
Then by train to the Amalfi Coast...where I was met and transferred to...

Magical gardens at Belmond Caruso,  running down the steep slopes
high above the village of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast


Stunning views from our dinner table at Belmond Caruso
PR and Guest Relations Manager Iolanda Mansi who showed
us around Belmond Caruso   
After a fabulous dinner, a night drive took us to Hotel Santa Caterina, a very authentic Italian property high above Amalfi. It was dark and we had to leave early in the morning as the sea had come up rough and our hyrdofoil in the afternoon was cancelled.

Infinity pool at Santa Caterina
Bedroom at Santa Caterina

And then to the romantic isle of Capri, amazingly my first visit...

View from Caesar Augustus, Capri. It is not not for those with vertigo...

Dazzling water

A collage of images taken at Caesar Augustus. Top right shows Åke on the balcony of our Vesuvio suite, which literally hangs over the cliff
An old favourite, Capri Palace - where we did a hotel inspection, closer to the port
Finally back by hydrofoil to Naples, train to Rome.

Hotel Eden - we stayed in this Dorchester Collection property.
Beautifully situated below the Spanish Steps
Dinner in the gardens at de Russie - one of my old favourites


And then the big day, starting with a hair appointment organized by the hotel, and climaxing with the fairytale wedding of Lorenzo and Rosemary

At the glamorous society wedding of Lorenzo and Rosemary
Now for sightseeing with Åke, who simply adores art and history...and drinks it all in. Fortunately we had private guides who could answer all his questions. What is more, if we had not booked private guides we would have stood in queues for hours. Luckily for us and our customers we have a concierge service at Select.... 

At the Vatican - 3 full hours 




The God of Wine Bacchus, one of Rome's secrets
The impressive and evocative ruins of the Colosseum - here Christians were
thrown to lions and other dramas

A very contented Åke after a day of ancient treasures.
Here by the monument to Vittorio Emanuela II, one of the "neoclassical" additions to the eternal city

Here is our itinerary as planned beforehand, with important details worked out for us by my staff in collaboration with our hotels. Everything done to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey...

DAY 1
1505 Arrival Rome Fiumicino Terminal 3
        Private transfer to La Posta Vecchia

Stay La Posta Vecchia

Double room inclusive of buffet breakfast, soft drinks and snacks from minibar, internet Wi-Fi connection, heated indoor pool, Calidarium (roman steam bath), parking, use of our bicycles and tennis court, visit to the Archaeological Museum on site, service and VAT.
Dinner at  The Cesar restaurant

DAY 2
1200 Pickup for private transfer to FCO
1445 Alitalia  flight departs from FCO Terminal 1  to Lamezia Terme
1555 Arrive Lamezia

Stay Calabria private overnight and family dinner

Am Italian look

DAY 3
1302 Depart Lamezia by train
1533 Pick up from Salerno train station by Belmond Caruso
            Site inspection
1930        Dinner at Belvedere Restaurant at 19:30 hrs


   Transfer after dinner to Santa Caterina by Belmond Caruso

           
Stay Santa Caterina

DAY 4
  Breakfast at Santa Caterina enjoying fabulous views

  Pickup for transfer to the ferry for the hydrofoil to Capri – due to rough conditions our 1430 hydrofoil was cancelled.
     Met at Capri port and transferred by car to Caesar Augustus    

Stay Caesar Augustus
             Enjoy a beautiful Vesuvio suite with wonderful views

DAY 5    
         Breakfast with a stunning view
         Transfer to Marina Grande
1450 Hydrofoil Capri to Naples (direct service, 50 mins)
1540 Hydrofoil arrives at the port.
        Private transfer from Molo Beverello port to Napoli Centrale.
        Eurostar Direct train from Naples to Rome (FIRST CLASS)
1740        Arrives Rome (direct service, 1hr 10 min)
            Hotel Chaffeur to meet you at the front of the train for a private  transfer to the hotel.
            You will be met at the hotel by Luca and Laura.    

Stay  Hotel Eden
           Including full buffet breakfast


DAY 6
      At leisure in Rome - a very very very busy day sightseeing including the Vatican and the Colosseum.
 

    Dinner at de Russie

Stay  Hotel Eden
     Including full buffet breakfast

Wednesday 17 September 2014

A working 2nd honeymoon

Sometimes my staff pamper me the way we pamper our customers. So for this trip to Italy, they have collaborated with our wonderful  hotels to take care of every little detail…

I even have a hair appointment on Sunday made by the hotel concierge at salon Femme Sistine, just 2 minutes from our new Select Collection treasure, Hotel Eden in Rome. The hair effort is timely as that afternoon I will attend the wedding of Prince Lorenzo de Medici and his American bride Rosemary.

Hotel Eden - their concierge made my vital hair appointment

I will also spend one night with his family down south in Calabria. But the rest of the time I will be very busy inspecting hotels.

So busy that we will spend only one night each at these lovely Select hotels...

Caesar Augustus on romantic Capri


Santa Caterina high above Amalfi, and


La Posta Vecchia on the seawall near Rome.

 We will also inspect this Belmond jewel and dine here ... 

The magnificent Belmond Caruso floating between sky and sea


Transfers of course are a priority for a smooth trip. No running around for taxis, standing in queues or the like…

Interestingly, the most efficient way to get from Naples to central Rome is by train. So our trip even includes Eurostar (first class), hydrofoil and luxury cars, all sewn together seamlessly.

Just wait for my reports. Even though I will be working, we are following one of the world’s most romantic routes.  It will be like a second honey moon….

  
Here is a brief outline of the trip:

DAY 1

1505       Arrival Rome Fiumicino Terminal 3
                Private transfer to La Posta Vecchia

Stay La Posta Vecchia
Double room inclusive of buffet breakfast, soft drinks and snacks from minibar, internet Wi-Fi connection, heated indoor pool, Calidarium (roman steam bath), parking, use of our bicycles and tennis court, visit to the Archaeological Museum on site, service and VAT.
Dinner at  The Cesar restaurant

DAY 2

1200       Pickup for private transfer to FCO
1445       Alitalia  flight departs from FCO Terminal 1  to Lamezia Terme
1555       Arrive Lamezia

Stay Calabria private overnight and family dinner

DAY 3

1302       Depart Lamezia by train
1533       Pick up from Salerno train station by Belmond Caruso
   Site inspection
1930       Dinner at Belvedere Restaurant at 19:30 hrs
   Transfer after dinner to Santa Caterina by Belmond Caruso

Stay Santa Caterina
              

DAY 4

   Breakfast at Santa Caterina enjoying fabulous views
1430       Pickup from Santa Caterina for transfer to the harbour
1500       Hydrofoil from Amalfi to Capri (55 mins).   
   Met at Capri port and transferred by car to Caesar Augustus      

Stay Caesar Augustus
  Enjoy a beautiful Vesuvio suite with wonderful views

DAY 5      

  Breakfast with a stunning view
  Transfer to Marina Grande
1450       Hydrofoil Capri to Naples (direct service, 50 mins)
1540       Hydrofoil arrives at the port. 
               Private transfer from Molo Beverello port to Napoli Centrale. 
               Eurostar Direct train from Naples to Rome (FIRST CLASS)
1740       Arrives Rome (direct service, 1hr 10 min)
   Hotel Chaffeur to meet you at the front of the train for a private  transfer to the hotel.
   You will be met at the hotel by Luca and Laura.      

Stay  Hotel Eden
   Including full buffet breakfast

DAY 6

 At leisure in Rome

Stay  Hotel Eden
 Including full buffet breakfast

DAY 7

1200       Hair appointment at Femme Sistine 2 minutes walk from  hotel
   Wedding

Stay  Hotel Eden
 Including full buffet breakfast

DAY 8

1300       Transfer departs from Hotel Eden

1550       Departure  from Rome Fiumicino  Terminal: 3