NOV 20 Meet in Venice
 

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.)

[QUOTE=Dovster]Note: This first post will be updated whenever new information dictates.



Date: Saturday, Nov 20.

Place: A restaurant near the Casino in Venice.




---where is the casino in VCE?
d

It is on the Grand Canal, about a 5 minute walk from the train station. Just turn left when you leave the station. Alternatively, you can take the vaporetto (water bus) and get off two stops later.

You can not take the vaporetto back from the casino. (At least, I have never left the casino with bus fare left in my pocket.)

placestostay.com told me not avail for 11/19 - 11/23. But I was able to book on orbitz.com for 120 euros / nite for those dates.

There are a number of websites that have good prices for the Ai Moro d'Oriente but each seems to have only 2 or 3 rooms. I suggest that you do a search for "Hotel reservations Ai Moro d'Oriente" and then click on each website until you find a good price. However, I have a feeling that these are soon going to be gone.

But be careful and make certain that you make your reservation at the Ai Mori d'Oriente (on Fondamenta della Sensa). There is also a place called Hotel Ai do Mori" near St. Marks. It is much less expensive and has a great reputation, but it is a tiny place, with either 2 or 3 stars, and we have no agreement with them.

I managed to snarf a room at the Al Mori d'Oriente on Orbitz for $120 Euros. And I just fired off an e-mail to Marco with the requested info.
Thanks to Dovster and O2K for your assistance on this!!

picked up my deluxe double on expedia $134.56 per night..wowser! :D

Hmm.. expedia seems to have a better deal. My orbitz 120 euros X 1.2 exchange rate = $144/nite. And I think that was just a reservation so if the $ drops more before then, I could pay a lot more.

On the other hand, I got a single room on expedia for $117.49/nite including tax. It seems like I paid for it today, so I won't lose if the $ drops.

I booked my expedia, then cancelled orbitz. I don't think I'll owe anything for the cancellation. But what is the difference between single and double rooms? My single said 2 people are allowed. Won't we all be upgraded anyway (or the first few requests until they run out of the better rooms) to the upgraded double? :confused:

I got to it through www.Tripadvisor.com which gave me great reviews of the hotel and a selection of search engines.....

Here is the link on Tripadvisor which give the reviews of the hotel.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ce_Veneto.html

Another Hotel Ai Mori occupant
 

I followed the great instructions you guys have given and reserved through Expedia at $134.56 for a deluxe double. The standard doubles were sold out.

I sent the information to Marco Musco, and hope it all goes through. I reserved for Nov. 18 - Nov. 23.

Expedia informed me that full payment is due now, and to cancel or make a change the charge is $26.68. Change can be made for that fee until midnight November 15. After that, you are charged one night plus tax. Once your stay has commenced, there is no refund of any kind.

I don't have the air finalized yet.... :(

Finalize your air. You got a great deal on the hotel
 

--Dorlee-- do it! Great deal. Grab your air, now. Look for award travel via Skyteam (if you have enough miles). See what Cholula managed to grab. I garnered the same award using 200K for 2 in AF/FC. Nov. is very low season. Good luck
O2K

Hurry!
 

Clicked on http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...ice_Veneto.html posted by ob2K above, then clicked on www.hotels.com, I found, still available, $104.00 for a standard room (2 adults) from Nov. 19th-22nd. ^

At www.hotels.com, the rate now shows US$109.00 per night, double occupancy.

When I stayed at the hotel last year they had an extra charge for the second person in the room (which is very common in Europe). Although I had the largest room, I was charged as a single because the UIG was not with me. If she had come with me there would have been a very hefty additional cost.

Most of the reservations that people have been citing here have been for two people in the room. I hope that is the case for you.

Expedia is now asking $135 per night both for single and double occupancy. If you plan to share the room I suggest you call them and verify that your reservation was for two people. Otherwise, when you get there, you might find yourself charged a lot more for the second person.