An Italian Thanksgiving in Venice and Milan via EK F
Dec 7, 2016 | 11:12 pm
#17
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Plat, DL Credit Card Holder, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,469
"More and better food is coming up in Venice! Next segments will hopefully be up tomorrow!
Off topic, but since I've been back, my boss went on a work trip and my other analyst went on vacation until January, so I've been a little swamped keeping up with 3 people's worth of work
and people say December is supposed to be quiet... I just hope our clients decide to F off after next week for the holidays.
Last edited by krazykanuck; Dec 7, 2016 at 11:32 pm
Dec 10, 2016 | 10:29 am
#18
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Plat, DL Credit Card Holder, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,469
3 days in Venice
Hilton Milano Stucky
Room booked: King guestroom
Room received: King executive suite
Rate paid: €132
I decided to leave the HGI as soon as I was awake and ready, so at about 9 am I checked out and got on the #5 bus toward Venesia. From the bus, I took route 4.1 water bus 3 stops to Guiducca which is the closest you can get to the Hilton with the public water bus. It’s only a few minute walk back to the hotel, which you actually pass on the way to the bus stop. Despite being 9:45 am, my room was ready and I had been upgraded to King Executive Suite. ^
The room was very spacious and nicely appointed, if not perhaps a bit dated decor wise. Off the entry way was a large bathroom with both tub and shower. The entry way gave way to the desk, sofa, and a pair of sitting chairs and table. From there you entered the bedroom with an extremely comfortable king bed, another pair of chairs and a table, and a large TV.
Executive Lounge
The executive lounge is still located in a separated area adjacent to the lobby restaurant/bar seating. I’m not sure how new this is (people have complained about the lack of access control in the Hilton forum) but there is a sliding glass door and you swipe your room key to access the lounge. Happy hour runs from 5-7 pm daily, and breakfast is served 7-10 am, but Diamonds are eligible to take breakfast in the restaurant. The quality and substance of the happy hour food varied significantly. I was there 3 nights and 1 night it was great, dinner substitute worthy, with nice hot appetizers, parma ham and cheese, mozzarella and tomatoes to make a caprese salad, couscous, as well as salad greens. Another night there was sad looking mini pizzas and terrible tasting “chicken sticks”, which were trying to be chicken fingers but just didn’t taste or look appealing. The third night featured chicken wings and pasta salad. The constant were the drinks, 1 type of red (merlot), 1 type of white, and 2 beer options.
Breakfast in Il Milano
As I mentioned, Diamonds can take their breakfast in the restaurant. No chits are required as they have a list at the podium when you arrive. The selection and quality was very good and on par with what you’d expect from a top Hilton. Something I’ve never seen before was this though, an actual honey comb!
Service was decent each day with them offering cappuccinos or other coffees on order.
Overall I had zero complaints about the hotel. Great service and amenities as a Diamond. The shuttle boat from the hotel to the main island worked as advertised and was on schedule the whole time.
Day 1 in Venice
Anyway let’s get into Venice. After I unpacked and took the shuttle boat to San Marco. Today I was mostly interested in wondering and getting my bearings. Also eating.
First was St. Marks, and flaunting their many rules
The sun began to break through
Followed by some more pizza and a visit to the Grand Canal and the Rialto bridge
And overseeing some political advertisements for the referendum that the Italian Prime Minister just lost
Day 1 featured the best lounge food of the trip, way more than what’s pictured, so I just ate here and then took a drink to go and shot these photos from outside the hotel
Day 2 in Venice
After a delicious breakfast in the restaurant, I set off for Dorsoduro, the most southwestern of the main Venice areas. It was a wonderfully serene area compared to the tourist madhouse that much of San Marco was the day before.
Crossing the bridge from San Marco
After walking to Dorsoduro from the shuttle boat drop off, which is all the way back on San Marco, I went to the Peggy Guggenheim museum.
After getting my fill of art, went to the eastern tip of the area which made for some great photos of the boats coming into San Marco.
Feeling peckish around noon, I ducked into a wine shop and didn’t realize until after the fact it was Cantine del Vino Gia Schiavi, which is ranked #32 of all restaurants in Venice on TripAdvisor. I stopped for some cicchetti and a couple glasses of wine, which were €1 each ^
Continuing the trek up the canal, stumbled into another local bar. This time for a sandwich and more wine. Across the canal is what is said to be one of the oldest working gondola/boat facilities in Venice
View of the Hilton from Dorsoduro
I walked back to San Marco and picked up some beer and wine at a local supermarket and then got some fresh pasta from Dal Moro’s on the walk. So so good.
Back at the Hilton I went for happy hour in the lounge. This was the night of “chicken sticks” being on offer. Thankfully I already had plans to go back to Dorsoduro for dinner at Al Profeta. It was funny to watch my waitress try to explain their pizzas as rolled and not flat in semi fluent english. Didn’t matter as it was amazing.
Stuffed, I rolled my way back to the shuttle boat pick up spot, while another evening envelops the classic Hilton in darkness, though I am bummed this photo didn’t come out clearer as the water was rough that evening due to wind.
Day 3 in Venice
The weather was forecast to be rainy today, so I spent a couple hours in the morning in the museums along San Marco.
Starting to feel a little bit hungry, stopped for a €2 slice along my walk to over to San Polo, followed by a glass of house red at All’ Arco once I made the treacherous and tiring walk
Nearby they were cleaning up from the morning market and I watched these very territorial birds fight over the leftover fish, which was entertaining. On my walk back I couldn’t resist pulling a €1 coin out for a delicious cannoli.
I went for the lounge happy hour with plans to go back over to San Marco for dinner, which was a good plan, since the lounge food was barely average tonight. After catching the shuttle boat back over, I had dinner at Rossopomodoro, where my pasta was excellent.
Room booked: King guestroom
Room received: King executive suite
Rate paid: €132
I decided to leave the HGI as soon as I was awake and ready, so at about 9 am I checked out and got on the #5 bus toward Venesia. From the bus, I took route 4.1 water bus 3 stops to Guiducca which is the closest you can get to the Hilton with the public water bus. It’s only a few minute walk back to the hotel, which you actually pass on the way to the bus stop. Despite being 9:45 am, my room was ready and I had been upgraded to King Executive Suite. ^
The room was very spacious and nicely appointed, if not perhaps a bit dated decor wise. Off the entry way was a large bathroom with both tub and shower. The entry way gave way to the desk, sofa, and a pair of sitting chairs and table. From there you entered the bedroom with an extremely comfortable king bed, another pair of chairs and a table, and a large TV.
Executive Lounge
The executive lounge is still located in a separated area adjacent to the lobby restaurant/bar seating. I’m not sure how new this is (people have complained about the lack of access control in the Hilton forum) but there is a sliding glass door and you swipe your room key to access the lounge. Happy hour runs from 5-7 pm daily, and breakfast is served 7-10 am, but Diamonds are eligible to take breakfast in the restaurant. The quality and substance of the happy hour food varied significantly. I was there 3 nights and 1 night it was great, dinner substitute worthy, with nice hot appetizers, parma ham and cheese, mozzarella and tomatoes to make a caprese salad, couscous, as well as salad greens. Another night there was sad looking mini pizzas and terrible tasting “chicken sticks”, which were trying to be chicken fingers but just didn’t taste or look appealing. The third night featured chicken wings and pasta salad. The constant were the drinks, 1 type of red (merlot), 1 type of white, and 2 beer options.
Breakfast in Il Milano
As I mentioned, Diamonds can take their breakfast in the restaurant. No chits are required as they have a list at the podium when you arrive. The selection and quality was very good and on par with what you’d expect from a top Hilton. Something I’ve never seen before was this though, an actual honey comb!
Service was decent each day with them offering cappuccinos or other coffees on order.
Overall I had zero complaints about the hotel. Great service and amenities as a Diamond. The shuttle boat from the hotel to the main island worked as advertised and was on schedule the whole time.
Day 1 in Venice
Anyway let’s get into Venice. After I unpacked and took the shuttle boat to San Marco. Today I was mostly interested in wondering and getting my bearings. Also eating.
First was St. Marks, and flaunting their many rules
The sun began to break through
Followed by some more pizza and a visit to the Grand Canal and the Rialto bridge
And overseeing some political advertisements for the referendum that the Italian Prime Minister just lost
Day 1 featured the best lounge food of the trip, way more than what’s pictured, so I just ate here and then took a drink to go and shot these photos from outside the hotel
Day 2 in Venice
After a delicious breakfast in the restaurant, I set off for Dorsoduro, the most southwestern of the main Venice areas. It was a wonderfully serene area compared to the tourist madhouse that much of San Marco was the day before.
Crossing the bridge from San Marco
After walking to Dorsoduro from the shuttle boat drop off, which is all the way back on San Marco, I went to the Peggy Guggenheim museum.
After getting my fill of art, went to the eastern tip of the area which made for some great photos of the boats coming into San Marco.
Feeling peckish around noon, I ducked into a wine shop and didn’t realize until after the fact it was Cantine del Vino Gia Schiavi, which is ranked #32 of all restaurants in Venice on TripAdvisor. I stopped for some cicchetti and a couple glasses of wine, which were €1 each ^
Continuing the trek up the canal, stumbled into another local bar. This time for a sandwich and more wine. Across the canal is what is said to be one of the oldest working gondola/boat facilities in Venice
View of the Hilton from Dorsoduro
I walked back to San Marco and picked up some beer and wine at a local supermarket and then got some fresh pasta from Dal Moro’s on the walk. So so good.
Back at the Hilton I went for happy hour in the lounge. This was the night of “chicken sticks” being on offer. Thankfully I already had plans to go back to Dorsoduro for dinner at Al Profeta. It was funny to watch my waitress try to explain their pizzas as rolled and not flat in semi fluent english. Didn’t matter as it was amazing.
Stuffed, I rolled my way back to the shuttle boat pick up spot, while another evening envelops the classic Hilton in darkness, though I am bummed this photo didn’t come out clearer as the water was rough that evening due to wind.
Day 3 in Venice
The weather was forecast to be rainy today, so I spent a couple hours in the morning in the museums along San Marco.
Starting to feel a little bit hungry, stopped for a €2 slice along my walk to over to San Polo, followed by a glass of house red at All’ Arco once I made the treacherous and tiring walk
Nearby they were cleaning up from the morning market and I watched these very territorial birds fight over the leftover fish, which was entertaining. On my walk back I couldn’t resist pulling a €1 coin out for a delicious cannoli.
I went for the lounge happy hour with plans to go back over to San Marco for dinner, which was a good plan, since the lounge food was barely average tonight. After catching the shuttle boat back over, I had dinner at Rossopomodoro, where my pasta was excellent.
Dec 27, 2016 | 7:07 pm
#19
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Plat, DL Credit Card Holder, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,469
After a fast week, it was time to begin the trek home. The first leg of the trip was a business class seat on the Frecciarossa train. The business class seat was a bit nicer than the standard as its a 1-2 seat setup and includes a free snack and bubbles welcome drink. I bought this fare as it was only a couple more than the cheapest ticket.
Outside the Venice central train station
Business Class on the train
Back in Milan, I dropped my bag back at the Hilton where after the mention of Diamond and stayed here a couple days ago they agreed to hold onto my suitcase for a few hours and I went out for a walk and found myself back at Baladin for dinner.
Now THIS is what a burger is supposed to look and like!
I took the bus to Malpensa airport and the shuttle van to the Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn Malpensa
Room booked: King room
Room received: King suite
Rate paid: 45
I didnt have super high expectations for the 1 night stay, but was upgraded to a HGI style suite that was pretty sterile feeling. Main complaint would be that the AC/heat fan was rather loud and auto shut on/off ever few minutes. I eventually just changed the temperature so it wouldnt come on at all.
UA 18
MXP-EWR
I switched my itinerary from the LH one to a UA metal flight due to the LH pilot strike, which is the flight I originally wanted, but UA didnt release saver economy seats on their own metal when I was booking the trip. I was fairly happy getting my E+ aisle seat for free thanks to my United status.
Beautiful sunrise at MXP
A tired, but workable lounge at MXP. They had very light food out for breakfast and a full bar on offer.
UA18 ready for boarding
The gate lice form even in Italy!
Decent legroom for a daytime flight
Main meal, chicken curry. Other options were a pasta or "vegetarian", whatever that was Let's be honest though, free Goose Island beer really saved the day here.
Chicken curry was actually decent.
Dessert of tasty chocolate ice cream
Pre arrival snack, a warmed turkey sandwich. Also not bad considering what it was.
The onward EWR-IAH flight was nothing to write home about. Being the Sunday after Thanksgiving it was so booked I wasnt able to get an aisle or window E+ seat. I killed time watching stuff on my ipad and drinking a Moscow Mule.
Anyway that brings the trip to an uneventful end. Thanks all for following along. If there is interest I may write up my trip to Europe in a couple weeks thats via Aeromexico on their Dreamliner, otherwise thats probably it from me until April when I am flying ANA biz to Tokyo for the Japan DO.
Outside the Venice central train station
Business Class on the train
Back in Milan, I dropped my bag back at the Hilton where after the mention of Diamond and stayed here a couple days ago they agreed to hold onto my suitcase for a few hours and I went out for a walk and found myself back at Baladin for dinner.
Now THIS is what a burger is supposed to look and like!
I took the bus to Malpensa airport and the shuttle van to the Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn Malpensa
Room booked: King room
Room received: King suite
Rate paid: 45
I didnt have super high expectations for the 1 night stay, but was upgraded to a HGI style suite that was pretty sterile feeling. Main complaint would be that the AC/heat fan was rather loud and auto shut on/off ever few minutes. I eventually just changed the temperature so it wouldnt come on at all.
UA 18
MXP-EWR
I switched my itinerary from the LH one to a UA metal flight due to the LH pilot strike, which is the flight I originally wanted, but UA didnt release saver economy seats on their own metal when I was booking the trip. I was fairly happy getting my E+ aisle seat for free thanks to my United status.
Beautiful sunrise at MXP
A tired, but workable lounge at MXP. They had very light food out for breakfast and a full bar on offer.
UA18 ready for boarding
The gate lice form even in Italy!
Decent legroom for a daytime flight
Main meal, chicken curry. Other options were a pasta or "vegetarian", whatever that was
Let's be honest though, free Goose Island beer really saved the day here. Chicken curry was actually decent.
Dessert of tasty chocolate ice cream
Pre arrival snack, a warmed turkey sandwich. Also not bad considering what it was.
The onward EWR-IAH flight was nothing to write home about. Being the Sunday after Thanksgiving it was so booked I wasnt able to get an aisle or window E+ seat. I killed time watching stuff on my ipad and drinking a Moscow Mule.
Anyway that brings the trip to an uneventful end. Thanks all for following along. If there is interest I may write up my trip to Europe in a couple weeks thats via Aeromexico on their Dreamliner, otherwise thats probably it from me until April when I am flying ANA biz to Tokyo for the Japan DO.
Jan 16, 2017 | 10:49 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,633
A solid trip krazykanuck. ^
I am sorry to report that MrsWT73 doesn't do museums with any enthusiasm so I missed out on the Guggenheim museum in Venice.
I agree - Cantine del Vino Gia Schiavi is to die for. I'll be headed back there the next time I am through town.
Thanks for posting.
I am sorry to report that MrsWT73 doesn't do museums with any enthusiasm so I missed out on the Guggenheim museum in Venice.
I agree - Cantine del Vino Gia Schiavi is to die for. I'll be headed back there the next time I am through town.
Thanks for posting.
