Looking for some advice on family travel next May from Lugano, Switzerland. We'll be in Lugano for two nights for my daughter's college graduation. Then, we have six nights we can spend somewhere. Also have Marriott points to use & platinum status, so want to stay with the Marriott brand.
I was thinking we could fly from Milan to Barcelona for a 3-night stay there, then continue on to Lisbon for the last three nights. EasyJet flies Milan-Barcelona, Milan-Lisbon & Barcelona-Lisbon. So, that should work. (there is a van shuttle from Lugano to the Milan airport) Would you recommend 3 nights in each city, or is that the right amount of time in each place? Also, would you recommend going to Barcelona first, then to Lisbon, or should we reverse that order? Or, should we just go to one city, not both?
Which Marriott Hotels would you recommend and why?--any comments on upgrades, hotel location, amenities, etc. would be much appreciated. Traveling with two twenty-something-aged children who will want to enjoy the nightlife, beaches, etc. Also looking for something truly memorable and luxurious....thanks for your help!
tsastor
Jun 17, 12, 1:43 pm
Looking for some advice on family travel next May from Lugano, Switzerland. We'll be in Lugano for two nights for my daughter's college graduation. Then, we have six nights we can spend somewhere. Also have Marriott points to use & platinum status, so want to stay with the Marriott brand.
I was thinking we could fly from Milan to Barcelona for a 3-night stay there, then continue on to Lisbon for the last three nights. EasyJet flies Milan-Barcelona, Milan-Lisbon & Barcelona-Lisbon. So, that should work. (there is a van shuttle from Lugano to the Milan airport) Would you recommend 3 nights in each city, or is that the right amount of time in each place? Also, would you recommend going to Barcelona first, then to Lisbon, or should we reverse that order? Or, should we just go to one city, not both?
Which Marriott Hotels would you recommend and why?--any comments on upgrades, hotel location, amenities, etc. would be much appreciated. Traveling with two twenty-something-aged children who will want to enjoy the nightlife, beaches, etc. Also looking for something truly memorable and luxurious....thanks for your help!
Welcome to FT, Pamela!
Yes, you should really visit both cities. If not now, then later. Along with Paris, they are my favorite cities in Europe. I don't see what difference it would make to which city you are going first. I might like Lisbon a little bit more if it weren't for Barcelona's beaches, which make things even.
To be honest neither of the Marriott chain hotels I've stayed at in these cities have been really luxurious or close to the nightlife.
The Marriott in Lisbon was comfortable, maybe a little old, but the rooms have balconies and the breakfast is great. The location is a bit out of the way but within walking distance to the Zoo and its subway stop.
In Barcelona I have stayed at the Renaissance Airport. Nice modern hotel with free shuttle to the city, but because of the location I can't really recommend it except in conjunction with an early morning flight / late arrival. There should now be a Marriott property downtown as well I think.
jerry a. laska
Jun 17, 12, 2:19 pm
Looking for some advice on family travel next May from Lugano, Switzerland. We'll be in Lugano for two nights for my daughter's college graduation. Then, we have six nights we can spend somewhere. Also have Marriott points to use & platinum status, so want to stay with the Marriott brand.
I was thinking we could fly from Milan to Barcelona for a 3-night stay there, then continue on to Lisbon for the last three nights. EasyJet flies Milan-Barcelona, Milan-Lisbon & Barcelona-Lisbon. So, that should work. (there is a van shuttle from Lugano to the Milan airport) Would you recommend 3 nights in each city, or is that the right amount of time in each place? Also, would you recommend going to Barcelona first, then to Lisbon, or should we reverse that order? Or, should we just go to one city, not both?
Which Marriott Hotels would you recommend and why?--any comments on upgrades, hotel location, amenities, etc. would be much appreciated. Traveling with two twenty-something-aged children who will want to enjoy the nightlife, beaches, etc. Also looking for something truly memorable and luxurious....thanks for your help!
You will probably do better with regard to the Marriotts in these cities by checking and asking questions in the Marriott forum. Here are some of the threads for these hotels in that forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/1194647-milan-marriott.html?highlight=lisbon
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/1260310-lisbon-marriotts.html?highlight=lisbon
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/737652-lisbon-marriott.html?highlight=lisbon
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/1204300-portugal-marriotts.html?highlight=lisbon
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/1342244-barcelona-ac-sants.html?highlight=bcn
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/1227748-barcelona-airport-rennaisance-airport-shuttle.html?highlight=bcn
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/893998-any-info-barcelona-renaissance-airport-hotel.html?highlight=bcn
pamela1108
Jun 18, 12, 9:19 pm
Welcome to FT, Pamela!
Yes, you should really visit both cities. If not now, then later. Along with Paris, they are my favorite cities in Europe. I don't see what difference it would make to which city you are going first. I might like Lisbon a little bit more if it weren't for Barcelona's beaches, which make things even.
To be honest neither of the Marriott chain hotels I've stayed at in these cities have been really luxurious or close to the nightlife.
The Marriott in Lisbon was comfortable, maybe a little old, but the rooms have balconies and the breakfast is great. The location is a bit out of the way but within walking distance to the Zoo and its subway stop.
In Barcelona I have stayed at the Renaissance Airport. Nice modern hotel with free shuttle to the city, but because of the location I can't really recommend it except in conjunction with an early morning flight / late arrival. There should now be a Marriott property downtown as well I think.
pamela1108
Jun 18, 12, 9:24 pm
Yes, thank you for that advice--I did already read the posts that are in the Marriott forum. But, didn't find them helpful enough, particularly since there have been new hotels added in Barcelona since that posting. But, I appreciate your help, Jerry. It can be a little confusing when you are a new flyertalk poster!
I think I will go ahead and try dividing up our trip between the downtown Lisbon Marriott & the downtown Renaissance in Barcelona. We'll see how it goes!
Palal
Jun 19, 12, 7:39 am
3 nights in Lisbon is just about right... enough time to enjoy the city and do one or two day trips. Be sure to enjoy the nightlife as well, which starts late.
I'm looking at where the Marriott is and it's VERY MUCH out of the way, and it's about 1km to either of the two closest metro stations. Taxis are not that expensive though.
tsastor
Jun 19, 12, 8:46 am
3 nights in Lisbon is just about right... enough time to enjoy the city and do one or two day trips. Be sure to enjoy the nightlife as well, which starts late.
I'm looking at where the Marriott is and it's VERY MUCH out of the way, and it's about 1km to either of the two closest metro stations. Taxis are not that expensive though.Yes, it could be even 1 km (0,6 miles). Definitely something to factor in.
To be honest, I don't think three days is that much for what Lissabon has to offer. Downtown, the hills and castles, the many museums, Belem and the site of the world expo in itself take more than three days and will thus not allow for day trips.
Amarone
Jun 19, 12, 11:08 am
Yes, thank you for that advice--I did already read the posts that are in the Marriott forum. But, didn't find them helpful enough, particularly since there have been new hotels added in Barcelona since that posting. But, I appreciate your help, Jerry. It can be a little confusing when you are a new flyertalk poster!
I think I will go ahead and try dividing up our trip between the downtown Lisbon Marriott & the downtown Renaissance in Barcelona. We'll see how it goes!
I'd recommend a trip down the coast from Lisbon. If you do get the time to do go to, say Cascais, then the train makes for a relatively short journey but be sure to buy a ticket on the way back! I and virtually all of the other tourists had difficulties on the trip back to Lisbon - we all thought we had bought return tickets in Lisbon that morning but apparently return tickets aren't available. More than a little hassle with the Ticket Inspector!
pamela1108
Jun 19, 12, 8:46 pm
Great, thanks Palal....glad to hear you think 3 nights is enough. Hmmmm, too bad the Marriott is out of the way, I still think we'll use points, so maybe using taxis will be best. Thanks! (I'll leave the late nightlife for the twentysomethings.....can't do that anymore!)
3 nights in Lisbon is just about right... enough time to enjoy the city and do one or two day trips. Be sure to enjoy the nightlife as well, which starts late.
I'm looking at where the Marriott is and it's VERY MUCH out of the way, and it's about 1km to either of the two closest metro stations. Taxis are not that expensive though.
pamela1108
Jun 19, 12, 8:54 pm
Okay, maybe we won't do any day trips for our first visit to Lisbon, then. I am cool with that......would rather get to know the city itself well, I think. Wish we had more vacation time so we could stay longer. That four-letter word 'work' seems to always mess up things!
Amarone--Would love to go down the coast, we'll see if time permits, or if we can go back someday....thanks so much for your advice!