Here We Come! | Italy | MJ2026

Day-by-Day

• Day 1– Depart for London
• Day 2– Arrive in London
  • 🏨 Conrad London St. James – 3 nights
  • Viator Options for London
• Day 5– ✈️Vueling Flight London Gatwick to Florence
  • 🏨 Grand Hotel Baglioni – 3 nights
  • Rosso Crudo Ristorante
  • 🍷Wine Windows –
  • Option: Giotto’s Bell Tower Tour
  • Option: Galleria Dell’ Accademia
  • Option: Uffizi Galleries Tour
  • Option: Leonardo Interactive Museum
  • Option: Verona Day Trip
    • Churches Walking Tour
• Day 8– 🚅Train TBD to Venice
  • Option: Tour of Doge’s Palace and Basilica
    • 🏨 Hilton Molino Stucky – 3 nights
• Day 11 – 🚅Train TBD to Rome
  • 🏨 Best Western Premier Hotel Royal Santina – 4 nights
  • Option: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Tour
  • Option: Colosseum, Forum, Platine Hill Tour
  • Option: Castel Sant’ Angelo
• Day 15– Return to Cincinnati

Cincinnati – Italy Clocks
Euro Currency Converter
Italy Webcams

Day 1 | Fri., March 14, 2026
Departing Greater Cincinnati Airport
Delta 3160 at 1:35 pm

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Day 1 | Arrive Atlanta Airport | 3h 26m Hour Layover
Friday, March 14, 2026, at 3:04 pm

Day 1 | Depart Atlanta | Delta 5998 for London
Monday, May 27, 2024 at 8:05 PM

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Day 2 | Arrival in London
Tuesday, 3/15/26 at 6:25 am

What’s nearby? (map)

Big Ben 0.2 miles	Houses of Parliament 0.1 miles
Buckingham Palace 0.2 miles	St. James’s Park 0.1 miles
Central London 0.1 miles	Westminster Abbey 0.1 miles

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Day 5 | Arrival in Florence
Wednesday, 3/18/26

✈️Flight from London Gatwick to Florence 10:25 am

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Arrive Florence Airport at 1:40 pm

Here are your best options to get from Florence Airport (Amerigo Vespucci) to the Grand Hotel Baglioni:

🚆 Option 1: Tram + Walk (Fastest & Cheapest)

• Tram Line T2:
  • Board at the airport (stop: Peretola Aeroporto)
  • Ride to Unità stop (about 22 minutes)
• Walk:
  • From Unità tram stop, walk 2 minutes to the hotel (200 meters)
• Cost:
  • €1.50 (~$1.65 USD) per person
• Tickets:
  • Buy at tram stop machines or use contactless card

✅ Best choice for budget travelers and light luggage

🚖 Option 2: Taxi

• Direct ride from airport to hotel
• Duration: ~15–20 minutes depending on traffic
• Cost:
  • Fixed fare: €22 (~$24 USD) + €1 per bag
• Taxi stand: Right outside arrivals

✅ Best for travelers with heavy luggage

🚗 Option 3: Private Transfer

• Booked in advance via Welcome Pickups or hotel concierge
• Duration: ~15–20 minutes
• Cost: €35–€45 (~$38–$49 USD)
• Perks: Meet‑and‑greet, English‑speaking driver, help with bags

✅ Best for VIP or stress‑free arrival

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🏨 Grand Hotel Baglioni – 3 nights

The Grand Hotel Baglioni is located in Florence, near the central train station, Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN). The hotel is approximately 200 meters from the station. To reach it, head towards Piazza dell’Unità Italiana as a reference point.

Florence Taxis Stands (map and list) – Taxi4390 or call +39 055 4390

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Days 8-10 | Venice
Saturday, 3/21/26 to Monday, 3/23/26

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🏨 Hilton Molino Stucky – 3 nights

Enjoy your Executive room, 291 sq. ft, king size Serenity bed, 40-inch HDTV, marble bathroom, and Murano-glass chandelier. Enjoy your exclusive access to the Executive Lounge, with complimentary drinks and snacks.

Your stylish room is in a fully restored flour mill on the shores of picturesque Giudecca Island. The hotel is accessible in just a few minutes by a private shuttle boat from Piazza San Marco. Enjoy breathtaking views of the town’s historic center from the highest rooftop bar in the city, take a dip in our summer rooftop swimming pool, relax in the spa and discover local and international flavors in our restaurants.

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Venice Tours

From Venice | Day Trip to Verona

You can take the train from Venice Santa Lucia Station for your trip to Verona for the day.

Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica Tour

The meeting point is next to the post office San Marco (opposite side of the Saint Marks Basilica). Look for the yellow sign “Meeting point” on the wooden kiosk and the Turive assistant.

Your Doge’s Tickets Include the Museums Below

Museo Correr: an art museum located in the heart of Venice, Italy, offering a deep dive into the city’s art and history. Established in 1830 and situated in St. Mark’s Square, the museum showcases a vast collection bequeathed by Teodoro Correr, a Venetian nobleman passionate about collecting art and historical artifacts reflecting Venice’s past. The museum’s collections include works from the Neoclassical period, including pieces by the renowned sculptor Antonio Canova, as well as exhibits that portray Venetian life and culture, with significant paintings, maiolica, glass pieces, and bronzes that tell the story of the Serenissima Republic.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale: a prominent archaeological museum boasting Greek and Roman sculptures, ceramics, coins, and stones dating back to the 1st Century B.C.

The Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana: a testament to the city’s rich cultural heritage, showcasing a stunning collection of classical texts within a beautiful building designed by Jacopo Sansovino. Visitors can marvel at the grandeur of the noble double staircase, the vaulted roof, and domed tops, as well as the valuable works of renowned artists like Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto. The library’s integration into the Museums of St. Mark’s Square allows for a seamless exploration of Venice’s historical treasures.

You can contact me to make the booking (preferred) or use my Viator link to book.

If you book any activities using the links, please email me your confirmation.

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Tuesday, 3/24/26 | DEPARTING VENICE

From Hilton Molino Stucky

The hotel is located on Giudecca Island, so you’ll need to cross the lagoon to reach the main island where Santa Lucia station is.

Walk to the hotel’s dock (Molino Stucky pier).

Take a Vaporetto (Water Bus)

Board ACTV Vaporetto Line 2 from Molino Stucky → Piazzale Roma.

Travel time: ~20–25 minutes.

Vaporetto tickets: €9.50 (single ride). You can also use a multi-day pass.

Walk from Piazzale Roma to Santa Lucia Station

Once you arrive at Piazzale Roma (the bus terminal), it’s a 5–7 minute walk across the Ponte della Costituzione bridge to Venezia Santa Lucia station.

You can also take vaporetto line 1 from the Piazzale Roma stop to the station.

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With your Giotto Pass you have a timed entry to Giotto’s Bell Tower at 4:30 pm. You also have single visits over three days (through 6/2/24) to each of the following: the Baptistery, the Opera dell Duomo Museum, and Santa Reparata.

Suitcases, backpacks, parcels, containers and large and medium-sized bags and other types of objects (see the complete regulation at this link) are not permitted when you climb the Bell Tower. There is a luggage storage area at Piazza Duomo n. 38/r.

Return to Day-by-Day

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MEETING POINT: On the square in front of the gallery- Piazza delle Belle Arti. The exact address is Via Ricasoli 39. There is a big flowerpot where you can find a white-blue flag ItalyPass and a host who will assist you. Arrive at least 15 minutes in advance.

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Return to Day-by-Day

Day 8 | Depart Florence

Monday, June 3, 2024

Check the partenze. Partenze means departures in Italian, whereas Arrivi means arrivals. Find your train number under the Partenze column and go to the correct platform for your departure. Knowing your train number is key because the Partenze will display the final destination of the train. If you are traveling from Florence to Rome, your train might actually keep going to Naples – so it will be Napoli which shows on the board. If you keep watching, all of the stops will scroll by in the smaller letters next to the main destination.

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• 2–3 minute walk across Piazza della Repubblica
• No transit required — ideal for early departures or late arrivals
• Direct access to Metro Lines A & B, airport shuttles, and regional buses

Nearby Attractions

• Baths of Diocletian & National Roman Museum – 2 min walk
• Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore – 6 min walk
• Colosseum & Roman Forum – 25 min walk or 2 Metro stops
• Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps – ~20–25 min walk

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Rome: Castel Sant’Angelo with Reserved Ticket

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Click here for some history on the Castel.

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Vatican Museums and Basilica

The itinerary includes Pio Clementino Hall, Laocoon and Apollo Belvedere, Maps Gallery, Candelabra Gallery, Tapestries Gallery and the most celebrated Michelangelo’s masterpiece: the Sistine Chapel!

After exploring the Vatican Museums, the tour will continue into St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world and symbol of the Catholic religion, where it will be possible to admire iconic masterpieces such as La Pietà by Michelangelo and the huge Baldacchino by Bernini.

The tour ends in St. Peter’s Square, dominated by Michelangelo’s imposing Cupola and surrounded by the famous Bernini’s double Colonnade.

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Colosseum – Forum – Palatine Hill

With this “VIP” guided tour, you will save time with priority entry and have access to the arena floor through the Gladiator’s Gate. You will learn about the history and architecture of the Colosseum before moving on the civic and religious buildings in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Fast-track tickets allow for time to visit three ancient sites in one tour, with a guide to help you avoid getting overwhelmed. Small-group tours make for a more relaxed pace and individual attention.

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Rome Taxi- Guide to Taxi to/from airport and city center.

Day 15 – Depart Rome, Italy at 11:00 am

Arrive JFK Airport at 3:50 pm – 2h 55m Layover

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Depart JFK for Atlanta at 6:55 pm
Delta Flight DL5023

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Arrive at 9:16 pm at Greater Cincinnati Airport (CVG)

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Currency Exchange

Foreign currency exchange is the act of exchanging one type of currency for another. For example, if you’re planning an international trip to Europe, you may want to plan ahead and exchange U.S. dollars for Euros so that you are prepared to cover cash expenses as soon as you arrive without having to stop at an exchange office at your destination. Two hundred euros should get you through until you get to an ATM.

Making ATM Withdrawals – USE A BANK ATM!

The best way to get cash in Italy is to make an ATM withdrawal when you arrive. The Visa or Mastercard exchange rate applies and is better than any rate you’re likely to get exchanging currency at an exchange office or a bank.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to select the option for conversion by your bank. It’s a good idea to check with your bank for specific details about their foreign ATM conversion fees and any other charges that might apply.

Italian bank ATMs are called bancomats and some don’t charge a local ATM operator fee — but avoid using independent ATMs. These third-party ATMs charge like a wounded bull, and it’ll be obvious which ATMs are affiliated with a bank and which aren’t.

Cash and Currency Tips for Europe by Rick Steves

Foreign Currency Exchange Services (pnc.com)

How long does it take to receive foreign currency bank notes that are ordered at a PNC branch?

Standard foreign currency orders entered before 4:30 p.m. ET will be delivered to the branch by the end of the next business day. (during business travel season please allow 1 – 2 additional business days)

Customers may request overnight delivery for a $15 charge. Overnight delivery foreign currency orders entered before 4:30 p.m. ET will be delivered to the branch by noon the next business day. Overnight delivery is only available Monday through Friday and isn’t available on bank holidays.

Foreign Currency Exchange | Fifth Third Bank (53.com)

Fifth Third customers can buy and sell foreign currency at their local branch with competitive exchange rates. And when you return from your trip, Fifth Third can buy back any unused foreign currency, exchanging it back into U.S. dollars.  Contact your local branch if you have questions about a particular currency carried.

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Links for More Information

GetYourGuide – Please book through this link.

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🔗Click to read my post on traveling by train in Italy

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