Note: This first post will be updated whenever new information dictates.

How can a tour of Verona -- city of Romeo and Juliet -- be a mere side attraction?

Easy -- by holding the main part of the Meet along the Grand Canal in Venice! And that's what we'll be doing in November.

When most tourists have left but the weather is not yet too cold, travel-wise FlyerTalkers will be taking advantage of low air fares (including a specially reduced group fare from Delta) and off-season hotel bargains (again, including one at a four star hotel just for us) to see what is arguably Europe's most romantic city.

Schedule

Friday evening, Nov. 19 : A pre-Meet meet at the Quadri Bar in St. Mark's Square. This is outdoor seating, usually with a band playing. If the weather is too cold, we will move indoors to Harry's American Bar (made famous by Hemingway.)

Saturday afternoon, Nov.20: A walking tour of the city.

Saturday night, Nov 20. The main Meet in a restaurant near the Casino in Venice (right off the Grand Canal).

Sunday, Nov. 21 and Monday, Nov. 22: Other events, including a tour of the glassworks on the island of Murano and visits to Venice's art museums.

Tuesday, Nov. 23: A guided tour of Verona.

Hotel Accomodations

You are free to chose your own hotel but I strongly recommend the Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente. You can take a look at it at http://www.hotelaimoridoriente.it/

Why the Ai Mori? Because it is not only a beautifully decorated place (inside -- admittedly the outside doesn't look like much) but we have gotten a tremendous agreement with them thanks to Obscure2K, a good friend of the manager.

Deluxe double rooms there are quoted on their website as running from 250 Euros to 350 Euros per night in the offseason (that converts to $300 to $420.)

On various websites, like Hotels.com, there are special offers for the Ai Mori. Generally they are about $105-$130 for a standard room.

Obscure2K's friend advised her to have the Flyer Talkers search the net for the best price they can get for a standard room and make the reservation. They are then to send a letter to him at [email protected] and to put "Attention Marco Musco" in the subject line. In the letter, let him know what days you made the reservation for and that you are part of the FlyerTalk group. He will upgrade all FlyerTalkers to the superior rooms!

I suggest you make the reservations as early as possible. Each of these sites has a limited number of rooms available to it. (I took the last of the PlacesToStay rooms.)

Of course, if the discounted rooms run out you can make your reservation for the full price at the hotel website or -- as I would do -- look for another hotel. If you take a look at the discussion we had on the Delta Forum called "Venice Meet" you can find some good suggestions on where to stay.

Airfare

Fares to Venice are low in November. They jump up during Christmas, Carnivale, and the spring and summer months. American, for example, is offering JFK-VCE round trip for $549.

Thanks to MsEverywhere and TxLobo, Delta has established a special reduction for people attending the meet. To get it, call the DL Meeting Desk @ 800.241.6108 and specify Meeting # 206183A. (For more details of this reduction, see Post #57 of this thread.)


Definitely Attending:

Obscure2K ( Arriving Nov. 14. Staying at the Ai Mori. )
Dr. O2K (Same as Obscure2K.)

Monitor (Arriving Nov 18 on AZ. Departing from FCO on Nov 29. Staying at the Ai Mori.)
Franny (Same as Monitor.)

Ms. Everywhere (Arriving Nov 19, DL 144. Departing Nov 23, DL 145. Staying at the Ai Mori.)

Dovster (Will be in Italy about 10 days. Will stay at Ai Mori four nights, Nov 18 through 21).
Bianca -- aka the UIG (Lives in Italy. Will join me for two nights, Nov 20 and 21).

dedehans (Arriving Nov 19, DL 144. Departing Nov 21, DL 145. Staying at the Ai Mori)

Dorlee (Staying at the Ai Mori Nov 18 - 23.)
Leonard (Same as Dorlee.)

Cholula (Arriving AF, afternoon Nov. 19. Departing Nov 24. Staying at the Ai Mori.)
Mrs. Cholula (Same as Cholula.)

RalfKrippner (Staying one night at the Danieli.)

KLC (Arriving Nov 19, DL 144. Departing Nov 23, DL 145. Staying at the Ai Mori.)



In addition, the following are on the "Possible" list:

Traveller (Room reserved at the Ai Mori for nights of Nov 20 and 21.)
Dan1431
Canarsie
rkt10
cawhite60156
Belle3388 (Room reserved at the Ai Mori Nov 19 - 22.)
SanDiego1K (Room reserved at the Ai Mori Nov 19 - 22.)