Europe May 2010 Trip Planning Thread.

[BrooklynCPA]

Hey Dan. Your website has helped me out with so many things in the past so I’m happy to finally have the opportunity to reciprocate!!

I was in Venice this past May and it was absolutely beautiful. I stayed at the Westin Europa (using all points as cash & points wasn’t available) in a beautiful new Junior Suite on the 6th floor overlooking the canal.  I am only Gold but I emailed the GM before I came letting them know I was there for a special occasion and making sure he knew I would post a review on Trip Advisor. As they had gotten some recent negative reviews they were anxious to make us happy and went out of their way for us. This room would have cost us a fortune had we paid cash.

I would definitely recommend staying at one of the Starwood properties as the hotels near the Jewish Ghetto are expensive and dumpy. It is also in a much better and more central location right near St.Marks Square. We walked to the Ghetto and back Friday night and Shabbos morning and it really wasn’t that bad. It is the nicest and most interesting shabbos walk you can possibly take. The first time took a little longer as you can get a little lost in the maze but once you know where you are going it is about a 20 minute walk. And the Chabbad Rabbi did tell us that the eruv was OK.

Shabbos in Venice is a great experience!!! The meals at Gam Gam are amazing and davening in some of the oldest shuls in Europe is not an opportunity you get every day. You can PM with any questions and I’ll be happy to help you out.

[Dan]

Thanks guys, sounds like Venice for Shabbos is a must!

And thanks BrooklynCPA for the hands-on writeup!
Do you still have the GM's email address?

[BrooklynCPA]

I do not remember. I think I erased the emails but I'll try again when I get home. You can call the hotel and ask them for the email to the GM. I always do this before I arrive at hotels and it works wonders!!!

By the way, the Danieli, is a nicer hotel and not that much further but it is a Catagory 6. I went into the Gritti palace and was not very impressed. I dont know why it is a catagory 7 (I think it was an actual palace in the past)


When I was walking to the Ghetto on Shabbos I noticed that there was one shop that was closed with a mezuza. I asked the Rabbi about it and he told me it was a smoothie place owned by Israeli's and that the basic fruit smoothies were kosher. We went there after shabbos and it was amazing!!

[Dan]

The Westin Europa and Danieli are both sold out of standard rooms for the first 4 days, so I think it will be Paris after all for Shabbos and then Venice Sunday-Tuesday.

[BrooklynCPA]

I remember when I wanted to go origionally it was also sold out. I waited and things opened up. Did you try calling the hotel directly?

[Dan]

Asking for the person in charge of reservations gets you punted to some Starwood Europe number...

[SuperFlyer]

Asking for the person in charge of reservations gets you punted to some Starwood Europe number...

Mention code "superflyer"  it goes a long way.

[Dan]

Mention code "superflyer"  it goes a long way.

Lol, wanna call for me?
I have the 12th booked on cash and points, and the 14 and 15th on points (no cash and points available) 
The hotel is sold out on the 13th.

[Dan]

My latest thoughts...Feel free to chime in!
On the stopover the main question is how much time I want in Paris or Venice and whether to fly Swiss or Lufthansa.
We'll get into Paris on Thursday afternoon so should we stay until Monday or Tuesday afternoon?
Tuesday night-Thursday night is Shavuos, so there may not be that much time in Venice to do activities if we go Tuesday.
And the return I can't find exactly what I want either so I threw in a couple wacky options there.


Outbound: 1 option
We 05/12 UA 5703, CLE-IAD, 10:13am-11:28am, Coach.
We 05/12 LH 419, IAD-FRA, 5:45pm-7:40am, First.
Th 05/13 LH 4224, FRA-CDG, 12:10pm-1:20pm, Business.


Stopover: 4 options
Mo 05/17 LX 633, CDG-ZRH, 9:50am-11:10am, Business
Mo 05/17 LX 1662, ZRH-VCE, 12:55pm-2:05pm, Business
Or
Mo 05/17 LH 4245, CDG-MUC,1:05pm-2:35pm, Business
Mo 05/17 LH 4098, MUC-VCE, 3:30pm-4:30pm, Business
Or
Tu 05/18 LX 633, CDG-ZRH, 9:50am-11:10am, Business
Tu 05/18 LX 1662, ZRH-VCE, 12:55pm-2:05pm, Business
Or
Tu 05/18 LH 4241, CDG-MUC, 8:45am-10:15am, Business
Tu 05/18 LH 4096, MUC-VCE, 11:10am-12:10pm, Business

Return: 3 options
Su 05/23 LH 4091, VCE-FRA, 7:20am-8:45am, Business.
Su 05/23 LH 540, FRA-IAH, 10:50am-2:25pm, First.
Su 05/23 US 1978, IAH-CLT, 3:30pm-7:02pm, First.
Su 05/23 US 948, CLT-CLE, 7:48pm-9:20pm, First.
Or
Su 05/23 LH 4091, VCE-FRA, 7:20am-8:45am, Business.
Su 05/23 LH 402, FRA-EWR, 1:15pm-3:40pm, First.
Su 05/23 CO 111, EWR-CLE, 5:30pm-7:10pm, Coach.
Or
Su 05/23 LH 4091, VCE-FRA, 7:20am-8:45am, Business.
Su 05/23 LH 540, FRA-IAH, 10:50am-2:25pm, First.
Su 05/23 US 587, IAH-PHX, 6:00pm-7:01pm, First.
Su 05/23 US 35, PHX-LAX, 8:10pm-9:37pm, First.
Su 05/23 CO 634, LAX-CLE, 11:35pm-6:53am, First.

[Dan]

Aeroplan is refusing to book the ticket as it "exceeds the maximum mileage allowed for a Europe redemption."
Basically they don't seem to let you go back and forth within Europe as I wanted to.
Always knew their 100,000 mile first class ticket seemed too good to be true.

Anyway I have the following itin now on hold at USAirways for 125,000 miles for 3 days.  The USAir agent was extremely nice and helpful! Taxes on the itin are $173/person and of course USAir charges their ripoff $50/person "award redemption fee."  At least they waive the phone fee because it can't be booked online!

Super, do you approve? How does this look?

We 05/12 UA 5703, CLE-IAD, 10:13am-11:28am, Coach.
We 05/12 LH 419, IAD-FRA, 5:45pm-7:40am, First.
Th 05/13 LH 4214, FRA-CDG, 9:40am-10:50am, Business.
Mo 05/17 LX 633, CDG-ZRH, 9:50am-11:10am, Business
Mo 05/17 LX 1662, ZRH-VCE, 12:55pm-2:05pm, Business
Su 05/23 LH 4091, VCE-FRA, 7:20am-8:45am, Business.
Su 05/23 LH 402, FRA-EWR, 1:15pm-3:40pm, First.
Su 05/23 CO 111, EWR-CLE, 5:30pm-7:10pm, Coach.

4 nights at the PH Paris with faster free nights, 1 night at the Westin Europe Venice with SPG C&P (4,800SPG+$90) , and 5 nights at the Westin Europe Venice with 5th night free (48,000 SPG)

[SuperFlyer]

To deal with your school issue, you might want to change this (unless you've bribed the teacher) and get rid of the long IAD stopover:

WED  12 May CO 230 CLE 19:30 BOS 21:15 Coach

WED  12 May LH 421 BOS 22:00 FRA 11:05 +1  First

THU  13 May 2010 LH 4218 FRA 12:10 CDG 13:20 Business

you might want* to visit another city or so on you way back.

*not looking at the calendar for shavuos.

[Dan]

To deal with your school issue, you might want to change this (unless you've bribed the teacher) and get rid of the long IAD stopover:

WED  12 May CO 230 CLE 19:30 BOS 21:15 Coach

WED  12 May LH 421 BOS 22:00 FRA 11:05 +1  First

THU  13 May 2010 LH 4218 FRA 12:10 CDG 13:20 Business

you might want* to visit another city or so on you way back.

*not looking at the calendar for shavuos.

The BOS connection looks a little tight and the BOS-FRA flight is on an Airbus A340 instead of a Boeing 747.  First class on the 747 looks like it's better according to seatguru (92" vs. 85" pitch)

With Shavuos being Wed/Thurs it doesnt look possible to add in any other cities except maybe on Monday the 17th.

[SuperFlyer]

Check out the Vce-bru route

[Dan]

Super is there anything on LX or any other airline besides LH in F for the outbound or return around the dates that I'm currently holding?

[SuperFlyer]

Super is there anything on LX or any other airline besides LH in F for the outbound or return around the dates that I'm currently holding?

you mean for a change in scenery? will have quick look, its getting late here.

Remember, I' more advanced then you....   

[SuperFlyer]

I looked, very very briefly, and i dont see a LX availability, an d I wouldnt know which other F pays off. United has F, but its a us based airline, so Im scared to advice it. However, if you like check out:

UA 917 FRA 12:20 IAD 14:58 First

[Dan]

I looked, very very briefly, and i dont see a LX availability, an d I wouldnt know which other F pays off. United has F, but its a us based airline, so Im scared to advice it. However, if you like check out:

UA 917 FRA 12:20 IAD 14:58 First

Just landed Swiss in First!  Actually there were a few other Swiss options I got over the phone that I couldn't find anywhere using my free tools...always call! I just wish there was a good way to check Swiss online!

DO NOT use the "infant trick" on US.
It did not extend my hold and they could not delete the infant without canceling the entire ticket.  Luckily all segments went immediately back into award availability after canceling so we were able to make a new res and get 3 more days!
Incidentally adding an infant ticket would cost $1,600 for my itin (10% of $16,000 paid F)

Currently held itin:
Tu 05/11 UA 799 (A320), CLE-ORD, 5:13pm-5:39am, Coach.
Tu 05/11 LX 9 (A343), ORD-ZRH, 7:20pm-11:00am, First.
We 05/12 LX 638 (A319), ZRH-CDG, 12:35pm-1:50pm, Business.
Mo 05/17 LX 633 (A320), CDG-ZRH, 9:50am-11:10am, Business
Mo 05/17 LX 1662 (A319), ZRH-VCE, 12:55pm-2:05pm, Business
Su 05/23 LH 4091 (A321), VCE-FRA, 7:20am-8:45am, Business.
Su 05/23 LH 402 (B744), FRA-EWR, 1:15pm-3:40pm, First.
Su 05/23 CO 111 (B738), EWR-CLE, 5:30pm-7:10pm, Coach.

[eliteflyer]

LX in F is pretty!

[Dan]

LX in F is pretty!

Sure is, I just wish I could find A333 availability instead of A343.
LX F availability actually is pretty good once you call in.
Does anyone know of an accurate way to check it online?

[ChaimB]

Just landed Swiss in First!  Actually there were a few other Swiss options I got over the phone that I couldn't find anywhere using my free tools...always call! I just wish there was a good way to check Swiss online!

DO NOT use the "infant trick" on US.
It did not extend my hold and they could not delete the infant without canceling the entire ticket.  Luckily all segments went immediately back into award availability after canceling so we were able to make a new res and get 3 more days!
Incidentally adding an infant ticket would cost $1,600 for my itin (10% of $16,000 paid F)

Currently held itin:
Tu 05/11 UA 799 (A320), CLE-ORD, 5:13pm-5:39am, Coach.
Tu 05/11 LX 9 (A343), ORD-ZRH, 7:20pm-11:00am, First.
We 05/12 LX 638 (A319), ZRH-CDG, 12:35pm-1:50pm, Business.
Mo 05/17 LX 633 (A320), CDG-ZRH, 9:50am-11:10am, Business
Mo 05/17 LX 1662 (A319), ZRH-VCE, 12:55pm-2:05pm, Business
Su 05/23 LH 4091 (A321), VCE-FRA, 7:20am-8:45am, Business.
Su 05/23 LH 402 (B744), FRA-EWR, 1:15pm-3:40pm, First.
Su 05/23 CO 111 (B738), EWR-CLE, 5:30pm-7:10pm, Coach.

 WoW, they let you go back and forth like that thru ZRH, not bad most others wouldnt allow you to backtrack like that. Did U do it via US?

 The best thing about VCE is getting lost walking around