Captain Canuck

if you do ephesus make sure you go for the terrace houses

most tour companies include lunch at a rug factory...but unlike other places was not a hard sell...

we did b2b on different ships...overnight in between...rental cars really cheap in Florida..gave us a day to do laundry and catch up with fast wifi

most places..including Tim Hortons (coffee shop everywhere) take debit and credit cards...

check out your card to see if they charge a premium for use out of the US

 

that being said having a bit of cash always a good idea...and we are not $17,000,000,000 in debt so our $ will eventually be worth more than yours (or so I hope)

like above there is a shuttle into town..ours dropped us off close to train station...big rush to get on train to bruge...we walked around a bit and went back to station..no line..frequent trains to bruge..really easy to do and most ticket sellers speach English

try and NOT be like me and try to do as much as possible.

 

make sure you take a day or two to just relax by the pool

 

cool for locals but summer weather for us

 

-another tip though...if you have Costco membership there is one just west downtown Vegas that is a business Costco (22 S Martin L King Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89106, United States)

 

if you cook it may be of interest...for example entire row of knives

 

Las Vegas Premium Outlet mall is in the same general area

 

have fun

 

take pictures

went on the trenitalia website...looks like all the trains but one make you change trains...the one direct train is around 130 am.

 

hoping that somebody who has actually done this answers you

googled it...bus station for sienna is roma tibertina station...not termini...but still a train station too

its the main train station in Rome....its a main transportation hub and there are a lot of buses in front...never taken one of those but its a place to start checking..

1. Caesars Palace...in addition to Trevi fountain on the outside there is a copy of Michelangelo's David inside the casino. In the back off the main casino area.

 

2. Mirage. Volcano is very cool..people start lining up early. There is a walkway into the hotel with a side view of the volcano if you get there too late to get a good spot out front.

 

3. Ferris wheel. I have a fear of heights so no way I would do this..ok if she who must be obeyed asked I would suck it up and try..but it was not open in February. Should be a great view. Its on the Paris side of the strip in the back.

 

4. Venetian. Tons of photo ops. Do not miss the lobby. It has great floors. You can walk from the second floor to the Winn hotels on the outside.

 

Watching tv with my wife today...she realizes this the first time in memory that we do not have a trip at least planned upon getting back from one. Got back from driving trip to Victoria yesterday. We normally book on the return leg of trips.

 

Have a great time in Vegas. let me know if you have specific questions.

Got this tip from a friend

Most Vegas gas pumps are prepay

When you use a card at the pumps they

Ask for your zip code to match card to owner

Use the three numbers from postal code and two zeros for five digit number

Does not always work but seems to at chevron

Newer pumps recognize chip cards which avoid this problem

 

If not zip at pump you have to. Go inside and guess at the amount you need

Real fun with a rental car you have never filled before

 

We always go to bellagio conservatory early in the morning

Better pictures before the crowds

 

Also walkways over strip have mesh fencing

Normally at either end by escalator there is an open area where you can take pictures without mesh in the way

 

Have fun

if you want a picture at the vegas sign it is on Vegas Strip south..entry is on the left and the turn lane is on the left. can also enter it going north and again entry is from the left lane.

 

factory outlet mall is south of the strip too...one of 2 actually. another one that looks like it has sails for a roof is on the north side of town.

Something I ave an opinion on

 

Have not done carnival world buffet (rio)

In some time

Used to be #1

 

My faves MGM, bellagio ,mirage and Luxor

Luxor less for the food but I love egypttheme

 

I play myvegas slots online for free

Got points for 3 free buffets last trip

your price not too bad...about 10% more than I was finding but you wanted HC room so that factors in. you got most of what you wanted so do not sweat it.

 

we were on the Oasis in December. great ship. tons to do. do not forget to book your shows before you board. you can get into a lot of them last minute but they only started seating for no shows 10 minutes before the show. you can only reserve 1 seating of the same show so try and work out when you want to see the big ones and work the others around that. you can likely see what you missed on the second leg anyways.

 

 

have fun

I scammed going to school in Paris one summer in university. 6 weeks as a student not a tourist. Even with 6 weeks did not have time to take it all in. So do not beat yourself for only having a day. Day trip to Paris better than none.

when I run into annoying people who speak another language..I just use the Alberta Translator...bang the guys head on the table til he speaks English

 

 

I love that joke..most cause it is so stupid

we did paris on your own with different cruise company. they dropped us off just off place du concord. if eiffel tower is drop off it is also central. there was a transit strike the day we did this so we walked everywhere. much easier with metro.

 

there are also hop on hop off tours. both a bus and a boat. also the regular river cruises with or without a meal.

 

as you have limited time suggest you google tours of Paris and id the items that are must sees. you will not have time to go into much. Louvre would take hours. line for going up the Eiffel tower is always long..except for the steps..did that when I was really young. would kill me now.

 

have fun

I would reserve shows BEFORE you get on board.. can do this on the cruise line website.

 

that being said there are normally no shows so if you show up you can probably get in...

there is one over Freemont street...not to be missed is the light show on the canopy over the street..runs about 3 blocks

 

 

can also suggest the Clark County Museum....on the edge of town. lots of outdoor stuff...great pictures if the light is right.

in a bit of a dodgy neighbourhood...fine if you drive there but would not venture on the street there at night..and I am 6 foot 4

 

most of vegas safe but some of the dark ground level parking lots are not the best

 

but both of you have situational awareness so not too worried about you

 

..don't be embarrassed by not wanting to do the rides on top stratosphere...on the viewing deck there is mesh fencing..I hung onto the fence...the rear fence...60 feet or so back from the edge. go up just before sunset so you get both daylight and evening views

 

also good view from the eiffel tower at the paris hotel..mon ami gabi restaurant directly overlooking street level has decent steaks at fairly decent prices

 

..may have to go to Vegas even though was just there in Feb

way too late to book med cruise..airfare will roast you....but on the other hand this will give you something to plan for...half the fun of cruising is the plans.

 

since mobility is an issue that will also take planning...cinque terra and other scenic parts of Italy are cobblestone and not scooter friendly

 

 

I would suggest a cheap caribbean cruise...lots of last minute deals out there. Cruise critic rules do not allow suggestions as to agencies so just look around lots. google is your friend

 

we recently did the Oasis and the ship is an attraction to itself

 

hope you find something good.

 

congrats to your daughter..she obviously can delay gratification so planning for a med cruise should give her a goal too...

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/blm_special_areas/red_rock_nca.html

 

red rock canyon..since you will have a car this is a great drive

 

since you are going to silverton there is a bass pro store right next door...plan on having a bit of time to shop there..even if you do not buy anything..amazing store

 

have a great time

been there lots...we also do not gamble much...so if you need any hints fire away...owe you lots for your reviews

 

tip #1..check out the Bellagio conservatory

#2 you probably will like the rides at the top of the stratosphere

got in trouble with cc once for even suggesting that somebody email me direct so I could tell them who we book with. I find this rule very odd but have to go along with it. Can only suggest that you shop around. our local travel agents quote full brochure prices. have never paid that. they have cruise travel fairs locally at least a couple times a year. we attend to see what is new..but even promotions are higher than what we can book elsewhere. so shop around.

 

one suggestion is a re-positioning cruise..these can be great deals...we did one from LA to Vancouver that was a week long and really cheap.

 

big saving on excursions. profit center for ships. they arrange with local tour operators and add a %. makes life easy but you can do the same or similar tours on your own in most cases.

 

other suggestion is to watch you onship expenses. really easy to run up a bar tab etc when your room key is your credit card.

 

good hunting

Love Hawaii...even though I got married there (kidding sweety)

 

We have done the Hawaiin cruise. Have done several Med cruises. To see anything in Hawaii you either have to do the ships tours or try and rent a car for the day. neither the best way to see Hawaii. Europe on the other hand means well developed infrastructure for tours and public transport.

 

Sailing into Istanbul one of the coolest things we have ever done. Greek Islands are great especially Santorini. Other than Amalfi coast which is a traffic nightmare we have gone off on our own. Booked ships tour for Amalfi coast as ship will wait for their tours. Our tour was late and the ship waited.

 

2 years out way to soon to book. but you can start the planning. pick out the ports you really want to see and then shop for cruises as it gets closer.

 

shoulder season - spring or early fall best for the med. crowds are down a bit. prices are better. weather still good. our last med cruise was in Feb last year. weather great..but as we are Canadian our expectations are lower for that.

 

have done Israel and Egypt as part of med cruises. if things settle down there in a couple of years that could be an option too.

 

have fun planning

should be ok...you will be travelling opposite direction of those coming in to Rome.

 

watch out for the gypsies "helping" you with your luggage.