Well, actually we are all going - me, DH, DD (23) and DS (21) but they have forbidden me from talking about it so here I am.
The four of us have been to Disney World 5 or 6 times since our first trip in 2005 and DH and I have gone alone every Fall for the last 5 years but my lifelong dream has been to go to Europe.
Last December DH and I took our first cruise on the Dream for our 25th wedding anniversary and then the kids flew down and met us at AKL for 4 nights.
We had a nice time on the cruise but told everyone when we came back that we preferred just going to DW and would probably not cruise again. Then, DS says "I wouldn't mind going on a cruise" and the next thing I know we are all booked on another 4 night on the Dream for December 15, 2013. And even though I didn't think we would be going on another cruise, DH and I are both all excited now about taking the kids.
About a month after that I start trying to think of something special to do for DH's 60 birthday next year. We had thought about going to Disneyland but then I thought Med cruise! It took me over a week to convince him (and of course we had to bring the kids - $$) but I finally booked the 7 night for June 7, 2013. I'm going to EUROPE!!! And we will be in Florence for DH's 60th birthday.
Once I booked the trip I started to get pretty anxious about the expense. Our TA booked us in a category 9B gty. THe kids agreed to pay for their airfare so I opened a US air master card and when the flights were available I booked right away (non stop Philadelphia to Barcelona) and was then able to pay off half of the total bill with their contribution.
I had originally wanted to stay one night prior to the cruise and one night after in Barcelona but then our TA said that we would need two rooms for the four of us and that would be $800 on each end of the trip at the Renaissance. I thought that sounded excessive from what I had read here but she said that she checked with Disney so that was that.
I did some research and found that we could get one room at the Hotel Colon which is across from the Barcelona Cathedral for around $350 euros a night so I cancelled the Renaissance and we are now flying directly in on the morning of the 7th and letting Disney get us to the ship but after the cruise we will make our way to the hotel via taxi and spend one night there before flying home on Sunday.
DH is very easy going and is open to pretty much anything as far as excursions go. He has been to Rome before but not to Florence so we are going to do the tour that goes to the Accademia to see David, and then the Best of Rome. I have been reading all of the trip reports that I can find and see how many people arrange their own excursions with private companies but for these two "highlight" ports we are going to go with Disney.
To pay for the excursions each one of us is purchasing a $50 Disney gift card every month. We started in May so by June 2013 we will have $2600. It is a pretty painless way to save.
DS wants to see Pompeii and I am intrigued by Villefrance and Cap Ferrat so I think on those days we will venture out on our own. I have a copy of Rick Steve's Mediterrnean Cruise Ports so will follow some his tips for getting a taxi in Naples to go to Pompeii and the walking tour from Villefrance to the Rothschild house on Cap Ferrat. We can all get pretty cranky if we get too tired so I am concerned about overdoing it even though there is a part of me that wants to see and do everything! That is why they won't let me talk about the trip anymore - I have done nothing else for the past three months!
One of my favorite planning activities is to go to google maps, put in the address of one of the walking tour starting points, voom in on satellite view and then "walk" the streets of Naples, or Barcelona, or Florence. I will say "the Valor chocolate cafe is right next to our hotel in Barcelona" and they will tell me I am ruining it for myself and they do not want me to spoil it for them, but I want to know where I am going so I will feel comfortable in my surroundings. I am pretty sure they won't be complaining when I can take them anywhere they want to go! Isn't planning half the fun?
The four of us have been to Disney World 5 or 6 times since our first trip in 2005 and DH and I have gone alone every Fall for the last 5 years but my lifelong dream has been to go to Europe.
Last December DH and I took our first cruise on the Dream for our 25th wedding anniversary and then the kids flew down and met us at AKL for 4 nights.
We had a nice time on the cruise but told everyone when we came back that we preferred just going to DW and would probably not cruise again. Then, DS says "I wouldn't mind going on a cruise" and the next thing I know we are all booked on another 4 night on the Dream for December 15, 2013. And even though I didn't think we would be going on another cruise, DH and I are both all excited now about taking the kids.
About a month after that I start trying to think of something special to do for DH's 60 birthday next year. We had thought about going to Disneyland but then I thought Med cruise! It took me over a week to convince him (and of course we had to bring the kids - $$) but I finally booked the 7 night for June 7, 2013. I'm going to EUROPE!!! And we will be in Florence for DH's 60th birthday.
Once I booked the trip I started to get pretty anxious about the expense. Our TA booked us in a category 9B gty. THe kids agreed to pay for their airfare so I opened a US air master card and when the flights were available I booked right away (non stop Philadelphia to Barcelona) and was then able to pay off half of the total bill with their contribution.
I had originally wanted to stay one night prior to the cruise and one night after in Barcelona but then our TA said that we would need two rooms for the four of us and that would be $800 on each end of the trip at the Renaissance. I thought that sounded excessive from what I had read here but she said that she checked with Disney so that was that.
I did some research and found that we could get one room at the Hotel Colon which is across from the Barcelona Cathedral for around $350 euros a night so I cancelled the Renaissance and we are now flying directly in on the morning of the 7th and letting Disney get us to the ship but after the cruise we will make our way to the hotel via taxi and spend one night there before flying home on Sunday.
DH is very easy going and is open to pretty much anything as far as excursions go. He has been to Rome before but not to Florence so we are going to do the tour that goes to the Accademia to see David, and then the Best of Rome. I have been reading all of the trip reports that I can find and see how many people arrange their own excursions with private companies but for these two "highlight" ports we are going to go with Disney.
To pay for the excursions each one of us is purchasing a $50 Disney gift card every month. We started in May so by June 2013 we will have $2600. It is a pretty painless way to save.
DS wants to see Pompeii and I am intrigued by Villefrance and Cap Ferrat so I think on those days we will venture out on our own. I have a copy of Rick Steve's Mediterrnean Cruise Ports so will follow some his tips for getting a taxi in Naples to go to Pompeii and the walking tour from Villefrance to the Rothschild house on Cap Ferrat. We can all get pretty cranky if we get too tired so I am concerned about overdoing it even though there is a part of me that wants to see and do everything! That is why they won't let me talk about the trip anymore - I have done nothing else for the past three months!
One of my favorite planning activities is to go to google maps, put in the address of one of the walking tour starting points, voom in on satellite view and then "walk" the streets of Naples, or Barcelona, or Florence. I will say "the Valor chocolate cafe is right next to our hotel in Barcelona" and they will tell me I am ruining it for myself and they do not want me to spoil it for them, but I want to know where I am going so I will feel comfortable in my surroundings. I am pretty sure they won't be complaining when I can take them anywhere they want to go! Isn't planning half the fun?
