tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219513822024-03-07T23:18:19.758+00:00Italy HeavenItaly Heaven Blog: Italy news, updates, travel tips and comments from <a href="http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/">www.italyheaven.co.uk</a>Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-74304319782364612452021-12-03T09:05:00.011+00:002021-12-10T13:54:41.192+00:00Travel from the UK to Italy: Covid tests, Green Pass, Day 2 PCR and more As soon as I write this kind of article, it risks being out of date - but here goes. I travelled from the UK to Italy on Sunday 28th November, hours after the red alert was raised over the Omicron variant, with cases freshly found in the UK and Italy. Travel rules were changing by the minute as I packed, not knowing if I'd be allowed to travel. Even at the airport the next morning, waiting Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-90418150166125134752021-09-03T08:51:00.007+01:002021-09-03T09:12:09.965+01:00Back to Italy? Where to travel nowI wrote a similar article a year ago but the resurgence of the virus ended hopes of travel for most of us. Now Italy is in reach again for many would-be travellers, with quarantine requirements dropped for vaccinated visitors from the UK (negative test also required). Hopefully this time the revival of travel will not be cut short. So where to go?Favourite placesIf you have a favourite placeItaly Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-70467021356884268082020-11-26T11:19:00.027+00:002020-11-26T17:18:44.997+00:00Aromas of Rome: scent and memory, from perfume shop to stadiumEarlier in this year of lockdowns I opened a new bar of Nesti Dante soap named 'Roma'. With an image of the Colosseum on the wrapping, it was designed to evoke the Eternal City, its scents oleander, zibbibo grapevines and fig. It started me thinking about the scents that say 'Rome' to me, the smells I remember from living in the city and the perfumes that can transport me back to Rome when I'm Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-2294157847647193572020-09-28T10:46:00.006+01:002020-09-28T11:25:05.042+01:00Thinking of Italy? Where to go now At the time I'm writing this most British citizens are free to travel to Italy with no restrictions or travel warnings and many have recently travelled (like me), have booked travel or are considering it (readers in lockdown areas should check local guidance). Travel to Italy is also straightforward for residents of many other countries, although sadly some of my readers will be limited to Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-83001844208918638042020-09-02T09:33:00.002+01:002020-09-09T10:25:51.869+01:00Unusual Times in Venice: the New TourismI visited Venice in the last week of August 2020, to discover how the city was emerging from the months of lockdown and pandemic, and what the situation was like for visitors.Atmosphere and visitorsI usually enjoy Venice in early July, avoiding the crowds by visiting islands and the beach, but August is a time I avoid. When I lived part-time in Venice all year round, I would often spend August Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-18834505862185523222020-09-01T17:58:00.007+01:002020-09-08T20:58:25.031+01:00Flying in a Time of Covid Part 2: The Return Leg and Venice Marco Polo Airport. After a fairly successful flight from London Heathrow to Venice Marco Polo last week, I had fewer concerns about the return leg.> My outward Heathrow-Venice flight report in detailThe reality, though was a little less comfortable than the outward journey. My Alilaguna ferry journey was fine, and the skipper made sure it didn't get too crowded. The only bad point was the inadequate Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-8927618088998735202020-08-25T09:18:00.005+01:002020-09-01T21:10:46.695+01:00Flying in a Time of Covid - British Airways London Heathrow to Venice After being grounded for six months, it felt wonderful to get back in the air yesterday, and back to Italy. Things aren't quite the same now, and the situation is obviously far from settled, but in what is either the start of a return to 'normality' and the opening up of travel, or a window of opportunity before the shutters close again, I booked British Airways flights three days ago and Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-64267886014468903852020-03-03T13:28:00.000+00:002020-03-03T17:16:34.815+00:00Coronavirus - should I travel to Italy?Anything anyone can write about coronavirus and its impact on travel may be out-of-date and redundant within 24 hours, but for what it's worth here are my thoughts, and my answers to questions I've been asked. I've been a resident of Italy, a traveller to Italy and make a living from tourism in Italy so see the problems from several angles. I'm not an expert so these are just my personal Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-88035840975541793142019-07-04T10:07:00.005+01:002019-07-04T11:35:55.357+01:00Stromboli - a fiery attraction
Violence, terror and the fiery wrath of the planet - yesterday's explosions prompt the question of why humans are drawn to volcano tourism
Our boat was one of several bobbing up and down in the twilight offshore from the great grey scar which runs down the flank of Stromboli, the Sciara del Fuoco. It was ten years ago, and I was visiting the Aeolian islands for the first time. Most of theItaly Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-24473009055961636182019-02-07T07:49:00.000+00:002019-02-07T07:58:56.512+00:00Novecento Boutique Hotel, Venice - review and photosThis week in Venice I've been on a mission to visit and photograph some of the city's striking and stylish interiors: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ihvenicestyle/.
As part of the project I decided to book a night at a hotel in Venice that does something a bit different with its interior design, the Novecento Boutique Hotel. This was a cheap time for hotels in Venice, and I Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-8228144526307144722018-08-11T15:25:00.001+01:002018-08-11T15:43:39.673+01:00What to buy in Italy - women's clothes and accessoriesI've indulged in some spending sprees in Italy over the last few months - on planned purchases in favourite shops, and on fortunate chance finds. In this article I'll share some of my current favourite shops and boutiques, along with suggestions for good things to purchase - specifically in Venice, Rome and Sicily, though some of the ideas and brands will be relevant to other Italian destinationsItaly Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-83388540012874519362018-07-18T21:03:00.000+01:002018-07-18T21:03:05.533+01:00My best new travel kitI've written about my packing, top gadgets and travel tips before, including a list of really useful travel stuff for Italy, and a sample packing list.
This year I've made a few new purchases which I've found very successful for travel so I'll share them here.
Please note that Amazon links are to Amazon.co.uk and are affiliate links - that means Amazon will pay a tiny percentage commission to Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-91357029756773543572018-05-03T14:23:00.000+01:002018-05-03T14:23:06.256+01:00iQ Hotel Roma - Rome hotel review: Impressive 4-star in convenient location
iQ Hotel Roma is a modern hotel in the centre of Rome, with good, comfortable rooms. Customer service is of an international standard rather than traditionally Italian, which will be a benefit for overseas visitors, and a nice luxury for those used to Italy. If you're looking for something characterful and quirky, this might not be the best choice, but if you want the relief of collapsing in a Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-82073979925674501452018-02-13T14:23:00.003+00:002018-02-13T16:05:16.194+00:00Ten Reasons to visit Venice in winterI often write about how great Venice is in winter - in case any reader hasn't already got the message, here are ten good reasons why this is a really good time to visit.
1. No crowds
Since I first fell in love with an empty winter Venice a decade ago, tourism has increased all year round. You won't ever find the city empty of tourists now. But the quietest times are still in winter, when Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-42069024402269757162018-01-01T21:50:00.001+00:002018-01-01T21:59:16.822+00:00Italy 2018 - Where to go, month by month
January
Venice is wonderful in winter - at its quietest and most 'local'. January begins with the last celebrations of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany, and this year it ends with the first weekend of the famous Venice Carnival. Inbetween you have a great opportunity to explore the city without crowds and linger in its churches, museums, restaurants and cafes. With potential for sunny Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-61986564970219142352017-12-31T20:03:00.000+00:002017-12-31T21:46:51.211+00:002017 highlights and hotelsAs usual I've had had some rewarding travels in Italy in 2017. Here are some of the highlights, along with the hotels/B&Bs I've stayed in and would recommend.
Venice
Venice is always a highlight and as usual I spent time there throughout the year. The best bits included spring when wisteria spills over walls, a summertime laze on the beach, and finally hot chocolate, empty calli and Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-37631886502231117492017-11-03T21:37:00.002+00:002017-11-03T22:33:26.167+00:00Forte Marghera, mainland VeniceThis afternoon I made a brief trip to Forte Marghera, a 19th-century fort constructed by the Austrian and the French rulers of Venice on the mainland edge of the lagoon nearest to Venice. Built to defend the city from assaults from the land, it was a heavily armed and carefully engineered island fortress, built to an angular design and protected by a network of canals. It's a strange and Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-14093864400047079832017-07-25T15:57:00.000+01:002017-07-26T13:15:59.963+01:00Where to stay in Venice in summer
As I've just been writing about how to enjoy a summer trip to Venice, I've picked out some good accommodation options for when the weather is hot and the city is crowded. Most are mid-range (3-4 star) options where I've found decent rates, often at short notice. It's important to note that the majority of properties in Venice don't have any outdoor space. Even those that do, rarely have more Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-49497304657613730842017-07-19T16:34:00.001+01:002017-07-31T14:40:18.288+01:00Holiday capsule wardrobe for Italy in summer
If you have time before a trip, it can be an enjoyable part of the anticipation to plan a practical and effective capsule wardrobe to take. I find it very satisfying to have all my clothes hanging in a hotel wardrobe ready to wear, and know that they can all be combined to make appropriate outfits whatever my plans for the day. (I daydream about having a capsule wardrobe at home, but know I Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-24767456707548954852017-07-19T14:53:00.001+01:002017-07-19T17:08:10.951+01:00Packing for Italy in summer - a sample packing listI usually travel alone and move between locations, and this affects my packing lists. I need my luggage to be as small, light and manageable as possible, and I aim for simple clothing which won't draw too much attention. If you're planning glam romantic meals or have small children to tumble around with, you'll probably want to tweak the list. If you have assistance with your luggage, or are Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-46892569923983376322017-07-19T14:23:00.001+01:002017-07-31T13:59:40.934+01:00Really useful travel stuff - packing for Italy
Planning what to pack
I travel often, and my Italy trips fall into a limited number of categories. For example: "islands in summer", "ten days touring" or "winter in Venice".
A few years ago I created a ‘master’
packing list on my computer and now I simply amend it for specific occasions, and
save each one with a name which will help me refer to it in future,
e.g. "Venice July 2017". Next timeItaly Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-56735482623022202142017-07-17T21:47:00.003+01:002017-08-09T18:26:42.071+01:00How to be a 'good' tourist in Venice (and enjoy the city without infuriating the locals)Every year Venice begs tourists to behave themselves and respect the city. This year's campaign is #EnjoyRespectVenezia and includes helpful advice for visiting.
Unfortunately the Bad Tourists are usually day-trippers thinking themselves in a Disneyland, who will not do any research, won't have a clue about the real city, and whom these messages will never reach. Life in Venice for Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-41181415141639215502017-05-07T22:22:00.002+01:002017-07-17T12:03:21.872+01:00Venice Marco Polo Airport Lounge (BA) - UpdateVisiting the Marco Polo Lounge at Venice Airport (VCE) at the end of April (see my previous report), I was delighted to find that the new areas of the lounge were partly open after refurbishment.
*** NOTE - Summer 2017 update included at the foot of article ***
Inside the Marco Polo Lounge
The most striking
addition is a covered ‘winter garden’ terrace with low basket
seating and greenery, Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-87329446296763611122017-05-02T14:37:00.000+01:002017-05-02T14:46:26.759+01:00BLOC Hotel at Gatwick Airport - Review
Before an early flight from Gatwick Airport last year I stayed in the Yotel at Gatwick South Terminal, where I spent the night in a very clever little cabin which nevertheless left me slightly claustrophobic. This time I tried the BLOC Hotel which has a range of room and cabin types, some with windows and slightly larger, and some designed for families. I booked a standard double room without a Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21951382.post-30871589737569538672017-04-20T22:14:00.003+01:002017-04-20T22:39:22.785+01:00British Airways flights to Italy 2017The season for summer flights has started, and some very appealing Italian destinations are now only a short journey away. I usually travel by British Airways and it's frustratingly hard to find a comprehensive list of their flights to Italian destinations along with dates and frequency. If you know where you want to travel, you can carry out a search to find the best flights for your dates. To Italy Heavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226825524352732232noreply@blogger.com0