Trip motivation
We have a potential Europe trip planned for Winter 2021, so I’m reminiscing about past Europe trips we’ve done. We’ve never taken the kids, but Ben and I have been to several cities and countries across the pond. In 2016, we took our first trip, and it has been a yearly tradition since then to spend some time across the pond. My parents flew in from Hawaii to watch Carter for 10 days (He was 1.5 years old at the time). My sister-in-law was also living with us at the time and we felt that was a good age where he was sleeping well, not on a bottle, able to walk and would be relatively easier for my parents to manage. He went to daycare daily, so my parents weren’t on full time alert, but it was still a lot to ask of them and we are so appreciative.
As many know, being a parent often means burnout as you get less sleep, less time to yourself and even when you’re not directly providing care, your brain is always on alert, thinking and preparing (especially true for moms!). We love our kids and love traveling with them. However, it is glorious to take trips with just Ben and be able to enjoy the cities, wine tours, museums, and all the things we couldn’t do or would have to prioritize differently with a baby in tow. If you’re able to, I highly recommend taking time to dedicate to an adults-only trip. Now, on to our adventure! (Scroll down if you want to skip the logistics of how we flew there)
Flight: Nashville (BNA) to Rome (FCO) and Venice (VCE) to Nashville (BNA)
(Note that this is what we booked and not what we actually flew due to cancellations):
Getting There: Nashville to Rome Sat 1:10p-8:10a (1.5h layover IAD) (12 h)
Coming Back: Venice to Nashville Mon 10:55a-9:12p (5h layover EWR) (17h 17m)
Using United Miles
Ben + Jenn: 120,000 United miles + $117.22
We used points accumulated from years of Hawaii trips and two Chase United card sign-ups. It was pretty straightforward to find and book our flights using United Miles. Currently, both the United Explorer and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card are offering a 60,000 bonus. You can transfer Chase points to United using the Chase portal. See more tips on using points and miles here.
Airport Delays and Credit Card Benefits
Our flight from DC to Europe was canceled due to mechanical issues and we were rebooked on an alternate flight. Instead of flying directly to Rome and arriving first thing in the morning, we arrived in Ireland with a 8 hour layover and then arrived in Rome later in the evening. There was no cost to rebook and Ben and I enjoyed a random quick adventure to an Irish castle and back to the airport. When we finally arrived in Rome, we were informed our big luggage bag never made it. We spent some time in Rome buying new clothes (My favorite dress I still wear is from an H&M in Rome). Eventually, our bags met up with us 2 cities later, and the airlines reimbursed us for some essentials purchases. It definitely added stress to the beginning part of our trip. This is a good reminder to be flexible and kind and patient with service workers. And also to put the trip on a credit card that offers delay and baggage insurance. You can file a claim and get reimbursed. The Chase Preferred and Reserve are both good options.
When traveling with layovers or to new cities, we always check the website of the airport and the Priority Pass Lounge website prior to the trip. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card (in addition to others) comes with Priority Pass, which gives you access to lounges at various airports. Often, it is more common internationally. This trip was prior to our Chase Reserve and priority pass benefit. The Venice airport has a priority pass lounge called the Marco Polo lounge
Another perk we get from several credit cards is Global Entry/PreCheck. Global Entry offers customs when entering the US. In addition, for flights out, there are PreCheck benefits such as separate lines for PreCheck travelers, and you don’t have to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, etc. It is amazing and has saved us so much time. For more on this benefit and how to use a credit card to receive it for free, see here.
Planned Itinerary Overview
I love planning trips, especially through well-traveled places where there’s a ton of information to read through and make plans for. Rick Steve’s book was a great resource. We also asked advice from friends who had made a similar trip and used some of their recommendations. We spent 2 nights in Rome, 1 night in Cinque Terre, 3 nights in Florence, and 2 nights in Venice. We took trains between cities and took trains and cabs within each city. (Plus a Vespa Tour in Florence). Ahead of time, we made reservations for the trains between cities and made a few museum tour reservations: A Vatican tour in Rome, and Doge Palace in Venice.
International Logistics
After customs at the airport, we stopped by a stand and purchased a sim card for our phone. We used our bank debit card to withdraw Euros. Back in 2016, only one of our credit cards was able to be used with their chip system, but all cards should work now. (Also, watch which of your cards has foreign transaction fees as those can add up.)
We relied on trains and subways to get around the city. Although Ben and I had taken a short Italian crash course, we didn’t need it in any of the cities. Google translate is often a lifesaver for communication, as is just being kind. At the very least, learn how to say ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ and be kind to those around who help.
Accommodations in Each City
We relied on booking.com to find hotels for each spot. We found a balance of being close to transport, being inexpensive, and being safe. In a future trip, we would look at AirBnb options or see where we can use our accumulated points, probably at Hyatt or Hilton.
Rome: San Pietro Suites
Cinque Terre: Da Baranin
Florence: Palazzo Benci
Venice: Ca Santa Spirirto
Final Thoughts
To read highlights and see pictures of each city, see this post here.
