August 19, 2020

REVIEW – Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel [COVID-era]

It's been a long time since I visited ANY hotel that misses so many of the basics. Even 4* airport hotels which I spend a single night in will tick all but one (with feather pillows and separate shower and bath being the most 'at risk'). To visit a hotel that clearly regards itself so highly yet falls so short on even the basics is an unusual experience. Cognitive dissonance reigns supreme at the Rome Cavalieri hotel.
August 19, 2020

GUIDE – Visiting Rome during COVID

Since becoming one of the worst hit countries at the very beginning of the COVID pandemic, Italy has seen a massive reversal in its fortunes. It is now one of the safest countries in all of Europe and has seen a steady influx of tourists, willing to adjust their behaviour in order to enjoy the piazzas, galleries and trattorias without the crowds. Rome was our first stop on this trip and as such it became the gauge by which we measured the rest of our time in the country.
August 21, 2020

REVIEW – Lupaia (Tuscany)

This stay exceeded all of my expectations, so much so that on our first morning, after having one of the best sleeps of my life, I decided to cancel our stay at Portrait Firenze. This meant foregoing a visit to one of my favourite cities in the world, in order to extend our stay here to 5 nights.
August 26, 2020

REVIEW – Frecciargento : First Class – Train – Florence to Venice [COVID-era]

Santa Maria Novella train station was almost unrecognisable when we entered. It honestly looks like the zombie apocalypse has hit and the military have taken over. The station has been sectioned off with barriers and arrows have been placed on the ground to ensure that passengers only walk in one direction. There are armed police on regular patrol and temperature monitoring stations set up to scan every passenger that boards a train...
August 19, 2020

REVIEW – Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel [COVID-era]

It's been a long time since I visited ANY hotel that misses so many of the basics. Even 4* airport hotels which I spend a single night in will tick all but one (with feather pillows and separate shower and bath being the most 'at risk'). To visit a hotel that clearly regards itself so highly yet falls so short on even the basics is an unusual experience. Cognitive dissonance reigns supreme at the Rome Cavalieri hotel.
August 19, 2020

GUIDE – Visiting Rome during COVID

Since becoming one of the worst hit countries at the very beginning of the COVID pandemic, Italy has seen a massive reversal in its fortunes. It is now one of the safest countries in all of Europe and has seen a steady influx of tourists, willing to adjust their behaviour in order to enjoy the piazzas, galleries and trattorias without the crowds. Rome was our first stop on this trip and as such it became the gauge by which we measured the rest of our time in the country.
August 21, 2020

REVIEW – Lupaia (Tuscany)

This stay exceeded all of my expectations, so much so that on our first morning, after having one of the best sleeps of my life, I decided to cancel our stay at Portrait Firenze. This meant foregoing a visit to one of my favourite cities in the world, in order to extend our stay here to 5 nights.
August 26, 2020

REVIEW – Frecciargento : First Class – Train – Florence to Venice [COVID-era]

Santa Maria Novella train station was almost unrecognisable when we entered. It honestly looks like the zombie apocalypse has hit and the military have taken over. The station has been sectioned off with barriers and arrows have been placed on the ground to ensure that passengers only walk in one direction. There are armed police on regular patrol and temperature monitoring stations set up to scan every passenger that boards a train...