Italy was great - service was terrible
We waited a long time for a meeting with Mother Europe, and finally got together. We paid for the STANDARD program, i. e. accommodation in the center of Rome, for breakfast and dinner.
So: Day one. The flight went perfectly, this time Transaero was at its best, a glass of champagne as a gift, smiling flight attendants, cleanliness and comfort.
And here we are in Italy. We immediately went to San Marino. On the way we were told not about Italy, but about shopping and purchases that we need to make in given stores. In addition, it was proposed to pay 100 EUR per person for the New Year's dinner. Paid dinner went nowhere.
At the hotel in Rimini, where we were brought somewhere at 19-30, a representative of the De Luxe Travel company, a certain Elena, said that we would not have dinner, because. everything is closed or ordered, if you want to eat, go to a banquet, the cost is 90 euros per person. (As a result, after talking with tourists from other groups, someone paid 70 euros each). There were 52 people in our group and all with paid dinners, 8 people bought into the banquet.
The holiday was spoiled. They spoke to us in raised tones.
Closer to 8 pm we met Andrei Nevsky, who was our guide until the end of the trip. An intellectual, with the right speech, calm and self-possessed, he tried as best he could to smooth out the conflict situations that constantly arose among tourists.
Day 2. Breakfast, if you can call it breakfast, but generally bearable. Transfer to Rome, accommodation at the Portomaggiore hotel, which was presented to us as the center of Rome. Overview of Rome.
We had a wonderful guide IRINA, thank you very much, she managed to make us fall in love with Rome, but then things that were completely unacceptable in our opinion happened. We were offered to get to the hotel on our own ! ! On 2 modes of transport, while not even carried out to stops. There were also single women. We were not provided with a bus to return to the hotel. My husband and I traveled to the hotel on foot for 2 hours and 40 minutes. Now try to convince me that we lived in the center of Rome. Not speaking the language, in the dark, to the hotel, which is not on the map, because there is an advertisement. Horrible. . . But we hoped to eat and rest.
Eat?? ? So dinner. On the table are chipped plates and a glass with traces of someone else's lipstick. Changed. Hooray! ! They bring soup with lentils. They spilled it. The soup is cold, even slightly warm, it is impossible to eat. The plates were set aside. We are waiting for the second course. Bring.
Octopus salad with pieces of ice and just lettuce leaves soaked in vinegar so that it drains from a spoon. We call Andrey, explain the situation, he reassures us that it will be hot. As a result, it turned out that it would not. Looking forward to dessert. 40 minutes pass, half of the group goes to rest, because I thought that was all. in general, they bring pieces of cake, but when they see that there is not enough for everyone (for those who remain), the portions are divided into 2 parts, in the end we get something smeared, but I must admit it is delicious.
So we have not something that foreigners and animals are not fed. It's a shame that there are such hotels in Rome.
Finally got to the bed. There were no special complaints about the room. However, we got drunk about sleeping. The audibility is such that it seems you are yelling over your ear. At 3-4 in the morning, emotional conversations of Italian drivers began in the hotel courtyard, where the garage is located. Outcome. We didn't sleep at night.
Day 3. Free time in Rome. It was one of the best days of the trip. did not provide for any cooking. From 9 am to 8 pm we walked around BEAUTIFUL ROME, ate very tasty and inexpensive in some cafe and returned for dinner. We hoped that after yesterday's incident, something had changed. Alas and oh! For the first serve pasta. I touch the waiter's tray to make sure it's hot. As a result, the waiter ignores me and fundamentally does not impose food on me. I am indignant. I call Andrey from the table. He explains to me that the waiter understood my gesture as a refusal. They put pasta. But in vain, they were dipped in boiling water, but they are undercooked and creak on their teeth like chips.
They brought the second one. A piece of chicken with cold chips. where is this stink? This chicken exudes subtle aromas. Again without dinner? ? Well, you guys got excited.
The night was calmer, apparently the drivers on the flight needed to be later.
Day 4. Breakfast. Excursion to the Vatican Museums with the incomparable Irina. I would give her 10 points out of 10. Departure for Florence.
Introduction to the guide. This is some kind of nightmare. Her name was Alexandra. First, she burbled. Secondly, her speech abounded in parasite words, and thirdly, she constantly giggled hysterically. As a result, the review was spoiled. The information was not received at all. I don't believe it was a licensed guide.
Evening. Transfer to Montecatine Terme.
Hotel "Lazzerine". They were frightened like a nightmare. Everything turned out to be exactly the opposite. Clean, warm room, normal plumbing, delicious!! ! Oh miracle!! ! dinner. Yes, free Wi-Fi in the room does not work, but at the reception please. In general, everything is fine. Finally.
Day 5. Paid excursion to Siena. The guide is good. I liked the town. Moving to San Giminiano. Why we went there, I don’t know, we didn’t like it there. Probably because it was pouring rain. There wasn't much else to do there besides shops.
Return to the hotel. Normal rest. And again a very worthy dinner.
Day 6. Free day in the morning and shopping. In the afternoon departure to Bologna.
On the way, we were optionally taken to lunch at a private farm. For 18 euros per person. Everything was delicious, there was plenty of wine. We think the lunch was worth it.
The overview of Bologna was good, there were no complaints about the guides and the accompanying person.
4 star hotel in Bologna. Holiday IN. The hotel is good, but the food is so-so, especially dinner, but in any case everything is fresh, hot and edible.
Day 7. Early in the morning transfer to Venice. We arrived early. I didn’t like the glass factory. Some wiring. Thanks to Andrei Nevsky, he didn’t bother us with purchases, but advised us to just enjoy the production process itself.
Then again the problem with the guide. The guide is Italian-Russian translator. Some madam flew up, as it turned out to be a Russian-speaking guide, made a scandal, promised to call the police if they didn’t stop the tour. In general, extreme.
Everything else in Venice is a miracle. Bright sun! The beauty! Fabulous, unusual Venice.
The evening ruined everything. We were asked not to be late for the boat. The group was very disciplined. Nobody was ever late. What was our surprise when, in the dark, in the piercing wind, we waited for more than an hour for the bus on which we arrived with our things and documents, carried tourists from other groups to their buses outside Venice. The bus was dirty, our pillows, packages, were simply lying on the floor. So "De Luxe Travel" again saved on transport at the expense of tourists. It's a shame, gentlemen.
Output. Italy is beautiful in its appearance and historical places, but the host country should think about the quality of service for Russian tourists.
