Our Shop 'til you drop weekend in Florence via Lufthansa First Class
Apr 23, 2015, 6:42 am
#31
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
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I have often wondered about that particular factory outlet, having driven by it on the Florence - Rome highway several times.
Were the prices indeed substantially cheaper? Or where they the usual American styled 20% discount of market sticker?
I am also saddened by the loss of the First Class Cabin to my local Vancouver market. I share your pain.
Were the prices indeed substantially cheaper? Or where they the usual American styled 20% discount of market sticker?
I am also saddened by the loss of the First Class Cabin to my local Vancouver market. I share your pain.
Apr 23, 2015, 7:23 am
#32
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 439
A great report as always! Making me envious as usual. We were there almost exactly a year ago (thanks to your help with booking LH F ORD-FRA 
) and had a great time. I had been a little under a decade before and enjoyed it a lot more the second time.
As always look forward to the rest!
) and had a great time. I had been a little under a decade before and enjoyed it a lot more the second time. As always look forward to the rest!
Apr 23, 2015, 8:06 am
#34
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Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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Probably very little. As the various trip reports SFO777 has presented have historically indicated, Mrs SFO777 is clearly a very discerning shopper and photos of her trying on such fabulous vestments as Piana jackets are merely designed to give us less fortunate folk a local flavor of what it is like to shop in Florence. Accordingly, a couple of Zegna and Piana knick-knacks no doubt come way under dutiable ceilings.
What was even more amazing is that we were able to pack our entire haul (a pair of shoes and 14 shirts/sweaters) into our carry-ons.
Yeah, that "lukewarm" description has to go.
That's the quote of the month, so true!
Great TR SFO777, but I shouldn't have shown it to Mrs. JohnRain, guess where we're going next...
The lovely landscape, the food, the narrow streets, the culture, the history, Italy really is a country one cannot visit often enough. Thanks for posting the impressions of another wonderful trip.
Great TR SFO777, but I shouldn't have shown it to Mrs. JohnRain, guess where we're going next...
The lovely landscape, the food, the narrow streets, the culture, the history, Italy really is a country one cannot visit often enough. Thanks for posting the impressions of another wonderful trip.
Have a great trip. Maybe you can even find an empty leg.
You should've checked out the original Panerai store next to the Duomo. I was there in July and unfortunately they were closed for renovations - sensing my disappointment, the Panerai rep who was standing by the door sent me to their other store at the FS in a chauffeured S550 compliments of Panerai and I got to check out their amazing gardens. Fun stuff!
Another great TR, SFO777. I especially love all the delectable and exquisite food you got to appreciate, looks like you definitely got your euro's worth! Italy is one of those countries I would really love to see more of. Enjoying your TR will have to suffice until then though.
. I especially love all the delectable and exquisite food you got to appreciate, looks like you definitely got your euro's worth! Italy is one of those countries I would really love to see more of. Enjoying your TR will have to suffice until then though.I have often wondered about that particular factory outlet, having driven by it on the Florence - Rome highway several times.
Were the prices indeed substantially cheaper? Or where they the usual American styled 20% discount of market sticker?
I am also saddened by the loss of the First Class Cabin to my local Vancouver market. I share your pain.
Were the prices indeed substantially cheaper? Or where they the usual American styled 20% discount of market sticker?
I am also saddened by the loss of the First Class Cabin to my local Vancouver market. I share your pain.
A great report as always! Making me envious as usual. We were there almost exactly a year ago (thanks to your help with booking LH F ORD-FRA ) and had a great time. I had been a little under a decade before and enjoyed it a lot more the second time.
As always look forward to the rest!
) and had a great time. I had been a little under a decade before and enjoyed it a lot more the second time. As always look forward to the rest!
Thanks LANDJ999.
Apr 23, 2015, 9:05 am
#35
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SMF, SNA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite, IHG Diamond
Posts: 175
I made the mistake of telling Mrs. LR2013 about the outlets. Unfortunately, in a wild imagination-stretching idea I never would have thought of, it somehow occurred to her that there may be jewelry outlets in Italy. Lo and behold, she managed to find a favorite, the Bulgari outlet near Milan at Serravalle. She'd like to thank Mrs. SFO777 for the inspiration.
On a more budget-friendly topic, I am looking forward to the best meal part. We had a short stay in Florence a couple of years ago and only came across mediocre food.
She'd like to thank Mrs. SFO777 for the inspiration. On a more budget-friendly topic, I am looking forward to the best meal part. We had a short stay in Florence a couple of years ago and only came across mediocre food.
Apr 23, 2015, 3:55 pm
#36
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 405
Side note - Snagged a great pair of Alfred Dunhill dress shoes for half off while there.
Apr 23, 2015, 8:41 pm
#37
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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Friday morning we are off to the Uffizi Gallery. With an 11:45A reservation, we passed the time by exploring more of Florence. The walk from our hotel to the Ponte Vecchio.
Past the beautiful Hotel Lungarno, close to the Ponte Vecchio. Looked really nice. We may stay here next time.
Ponte Vecchio.
And the nearby Uffizi.
Since we 45 minutes early for our reservation time, we headed over to the Piazza della Signoria for a cappuccino.
Nice café where we struck up a conversation with a personable local high end leather merchant whose family has been in the business for years and spends the winter in Palm Beach. He also recommended tonight's restaurant. ^
We headed back to Uffizi, door #1 to pick up our preserved tickets.
Then back to door #3 to wait to enter one of the most crowded and miserable museum experiences in a long time. As a result, we tended to avoid many of the rooms with the most significant collections.
Yikes, get me outta here.
After about 45 minutes, we'd had enough and left to have lunch at nearby All'Antico Vinaio, a great panini shop rated the #1 restaurant in Florence by tripadvisor.
After lunch, we started walking towards the Duomo.
And we entertained by a loud shouting match between these two. No idea what they were yelling at each other, but the only thing missing was fisticuffs.
And The Duomo, or Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.
Another cappuccino...
... at Piazza della Republica.
And finally back to another 3 hours of shopping. Oh, woe is me.
To Prada, our home the next hour where Mrs. SFO bought a pair of shoes at roughly 40% off the US retail price.
A couple more stores before we spent 45 minutes at ETRO where I bought 6 shirts at nearly 60% off the US retail price.
The scary part was that even I was getting into this.
Then back towards the Arno.
Heading to the Westin Excelsior for a drink at the rooftop bar.
More great views of Florence.
And finally our walk back to our hotel.
And the carnage from our two days of shopping.
Past the beautiful Hotel Lungarno, close to the Ponte Vecchio. Looked really nice. We may stay here next time.
Ponte Vecchio.
And the nearby Uffizi.
Since we 45 minutes early for our reservation time, we headed over to the Piazza della Signoria for a cappuccino.
Nice café where we struck up a conversation with a personable local high end leather merchant whose family has been in the business for years and spends the winter in Palm Beach. He also recommended tonight's restaurant. ^
We headed back to Uffizi, door #1 to pick up our preserved tickets.
Then back to door #3 to wait to enter one of the most crowded and miserable museum experiences in a long time. As a result, we tended to avoid many of the rooms with the most significant collections.
Yikes, get me outta here.
After about 45 minutes, we'd had enough and left to have lunch at nearby All'Antico Vinaio, a great panini shop rated the #1 restaurant in Florence by tripadvisor.
After lunch, we started walking towards the Duomo.
And we entertained by a loud shouting match between these two. No idea what they were yelling at each other, but the only thing missing was fisticuffs.
And The Duomo, or Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.
Another cappuccino...
... at Piazza della Republica.
And finally back to another 3 hours of shopping. Oh, woe is me.
To Prada, our home the next hour where Mrs. SFO bought a pair of shoes at roughly 40% off the US retail price.
A couple more stores before we spent 45 minutes at ETRO where I bought 6 shirts at nearly 60% off the US retail price.
The scary part was that even I was getting into this.
Then back towards the Arno.
Heading to the Westin Excelsior for a drink at the rooftop bar.
More great views of Florence.
And finally our walk back to our hotel.
And the carnage from our two days of shopping.
Last edited by SFO777; Apr 23, 2015 at 8:57 pm
Apr 23, 2015, 8:41 pm
#38
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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Based on the recommendation of our new friend, we are off back across the Ponte alla Carraia to wonderful Trattoria Gargani. Great atmosphere and even better food.
Up next: Chianti, San Gimignano and the most wine glasses I've seen at lunch.
For more pics and an HD version of this report, please visit SFO777.com.
Up next: Chianti, San Gimignano and the most wine glasses I've seen at lunch.
For more pics and an HD version of this report, please visit SFO777.com.
Last edited by SFO777; Apr 23, 2015 at 10:07 pm
Apr 23, 2015, 8:51 pm
#39
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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I made the mistake of telling Mrs. LR2013 about the outlets. Unfortunately, in a wild imagination-stretching idea I never would have thought of, it somehow occurred to her that there may be jewelry outlets in Italy. Lo and behold, she managed to find a favorite, the Bulgari outlet near Milan at Serravalle. She'd like to thank Mrs. SFO777 for the inspiration.
On a more budget-friendly topic, I am looking forward to the best meal part. We had a short stay in Florence a couple of years ago and only came across mediocre food.
She'd like to thank Mrs. SFO777 for the inspiration. On a more budget-friendly topic, I am looking forward to the best meal part. We had a short stay in Florence a couple of years ago and only came across mediocre food.
Thanks DetailsIM. There are some great bargains these days for US shoppers.
Apr 24, 2015, 4:08 am
#41
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
Wonderful wonderful wonderful report SFO777! And fantastic pictures^
And seriously - you have to adopt me or marry me or something or nothing...but I want to be on your next trip...
And seriously - you have to adopt me or marry me or something or nothing...but I want to be on your next trip...
Apr 25, 2015, 6:57 am
#43
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 10
Great report as usual. My wife and I were in Italy exactly this time last year, so I've thoroughly enjoyed your photos thus far. I know my wife will be interested to know about the outlet mall.
Florence/Tuscany was our favorite part of the trip. Can't wait to go back.
Florence/Tuscany was our favorite part of the trip. Can't wait to go back.
Apr 25, 2015, 7:04 am
#44
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
Did you try one of those highlighter-colored suits? TF has some suits in serious colors and fabrics, but you will rarely see those at the outlet. The outlet is mainly for things people didn't want to pay full price for. If money is no concern, I think most people would prefer TF's plain navy/gray/black suits rather than a pink one.
Apr 25, 2015, 7:54 am
#45
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 439
All'Antico Vinaio, great bread, meats and accompaniments. They actually have a sister shop across the street, which sells the same things but seemed to be less known, and less busy, which we preferred. They also made us a meat and cheese platter, and made sure we poured the self serve wine to the brim of the glass! Definitely worth a visit, the workers were great.