Apartment Toscanini Review (Barcelona)

Skye and I rented Toscanini Apartment for a week in Barcelona through Friendly Rentals.  (Click for link to website & pictures of Apartment).   It was right in the heart of Eixample, which is a great area of Barcelona to stay in.  I would highly recommend this apartment.  The price was great, the location was great & it was modern and clean and had an elevator.  We had access to our own private roof deck with fantastic views.  The building itself was very quiet.   Across the street there was a market and a grocery store.  And when I say market, I mean like the largest green market you have ever seen.    The apartment was a little smaller than it appeared on the website due to the wide-angle lens used to take the pictures, but otherwise the pictures were extraordinarily accurate.   I am sure that any apartment you rented from Friendly Rentals would be great.  I would definitely rent through them again. 

Renting an apartment can be done for as few as 3 days.  You can stay longer & make day trips to the Costa Brava or surrounding areas, or if you just want a taste of what Barcelona has to offer, 3 days is a great amount of time.    Having an apartment will only enhance your experience.  Being able to take home and eat the food in the Boquerias will make you wish our green markets were larger.  It gives organic a whole new meaning.  YUM!

Villa Scarpariello Review (Amalfi Coast, Italy)

If you are heading to the Amalfi Coast Villa Scarpariello is the place to stay.  I have definitely found heaven on earth.  It was the first villa that I rented.  I was in charge of putting the trip together, so it had to be perfect.  Villa Scarpariello surpassed every expectation I could have had.  First let me say that the pictures on line are EXACTLY what you get.  The villa sits on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean (I could stop right there).  It contains 10 apartments ranging in size from 1 bedroom to 3 bedrooms.  Every villa has an ocean view.  The floors are beautifully tiled and the rooms are elegant, yet comfortable.  The kitchens are equipped with everything you need to make a fantastic dinner.

You share the pool, grounds and the ocean with the rest of the guests, but each apartment is very private and we never heard anyone being noisy or felt that we didn’t have our own space.  I went and picked the fresh figs from the trees outside our door to have with our cheese and prosciutto.  I also had fresh lemons and limes at my disposal.  By the way, the lemons do not taste the same in Italy.  They are so sweet you will swear you have never had a lemon before.  And did I mention they are the size of Oranges!

Piero and Dominick, who run the place, are incredibly friendly and helpful.  I am going back there again this year and can’t wait.   If you are looking for the vacation you will never forget you should go here.  It is truly a little slice of paradise.  It was so amazing I almost want to keep it my little secret!

The Lightest Luggage With the Highest Quality

I have been to several luggage stores around town, talked to the knowledgeable sales people, read reviews online and have come up with some great light suitcases for every travelers needs.

Just to give you a scale of what you are looking at, Tumi’s LXT 28” upright weighs in at 22lbs empty.  Rimowa weighs 6 lbs.  Now that there are weight restrictions, our luggage needs are different.  Airlines will allow you up to a 50lbs bag and 51 lbs they will start charging.  Why would you want 22lbs of an empty suitcase?  Here are some great lightweight, yet high quality options.

Rimowa Salsa Air
I think hands down everyone said that the lightest suitcases on the market are the Rimowa Salsa Air.   They are the leaders in this lightweight Polycarbonate material suitcase and apparently also the best of that kind.  The suitcase is not only light as a feather (weighing in at 6 lbs) but is available in a great array of sizes to suit just about anyone’s needs.  The 26” ($475) and the 28” ($495) seemed to make the most sense for what my travel needs are.

They also have a great travel size.  They come in bright colors so that they are easy to spot at the airport and apparently the lock is very secure and hard to break into.   They are available at Amazon as well as luggage stores.  I have not seen them in Department stores yet.  Other manufactures are coming out with lines similar to this, but most sales people have told me, not as successfully.  I am sure others will improve with time.

Eagle Creek HC2 Hovercraft Luggage
Another brand that was suggested to me was Eagle Creek.
The construction is light yet extremely durable.  The largest Bag is 28” and weighs in at 10lbs.  The 25” bag weighs 8 lbs 8oz.  Suggested retail is $275.  It was available on Amazon for $193.78.  It comes with a life time warranty.


Victorinox Swiss Army Werks Traveler
Victorinox not only makes great watches but also apparently great suitcases.  They are incredibly durable and should last you a very long time.  The 24” expandable bag offers great room inside.  I was told that part of the reason this bag has more room is because there is one pole for the handle which ends up taking up less of your inside luggage space.
It weighs in at 11lbs and prices at around $349.00.  It is available on Amazon and at most major department stores.

T-Tech by Tumi  (Exclusively for Crate and Barrel)
Tumi just came out with a line for Crate and Barrel.  The largest bag is 27” and weighs in at 10.56 lbs and will cost about $345.  Tumi makes excellent bags so I’m sure these are no exception.  It is too soon however to get real reviews on them since the line just came out but it is certainly one to watch.

Al in all, if you are going with a bag larger than a carry on, I tend to think that the bags between the 24” and the 26” are you best bets.  If you have more space you will generally use it, and it is so much easier to travel lighter!

Great vacation books

Maisie Dobbs (Book 1) by Jacqueline Winspear.  This is the first in this great series of mystery novels that take place in time before and after WWI, leading into WWII.   If you like historical fiction, you will love Maisie Dobbs.   You will fall in love with the characters who are fantastically alive and wonderfully rendered.   There are now 7 in total in the series.  The next installment is due out next spring.

Maisie, the daughter of a struggling greengrocer, was 13 when she was sent to work for a wealthy London Aristocrat.  Little does she know this is an event that will change her life forever.  After working her way through Cambridge she goes and serves as a nurse on the front during the Great War.  Now 10 years later, she opens her own detective agency.   Her first case will take her on a trip back in time, back to the war and ghosts she had left behind.

Tips from the over-packer

Why is it when we go on vacation that we always think we are going to wear something that we don’t?  Those shoes you never get to wear, that cute dress that you used to love and haven’t worn all season?  Now is a perfect opportunity!  Wrong!!!  I learned many years ago when I went on my first national tour as an actress, that nothing good can be gained from over packing.  We wear the same things all the time.  And yet most of us lug suitcases full of things we never look at all over creation.  And now the only thing you need is a massage, because your suitcase was so heavy!  Skye and I have compiled a list of things to pack and things not to pack to help relieve you of the burden of bringing that “what if” thing (or things) that you will never use.  Before we give you the list, however, here are a couple of tips:

Never pack when you are tired or drinking.  The kitchen and the bathroom sink become intensely appealing when drunk or tired.  You are not clear headed and in your diligence not to forget something, you inevitably over pack.  Give yourself a treat and have a drink when you are done!  Or take a nap first.

Set out what you think you want to take with you and then put it half of it back (unless you are already an amazing packer).  Really ask yourself what you cannot live with out and be truthful.  If you are going away for 7 days, you don’t need 12 outfits to wear.  You will wear your favorite jeans or pants throughout the whole trip and that seems to be true for most of us.  

Shoes are my big downfall, especially in the summer.  I have so many sandals I love.  However, what I do is pick 2 going out shoes that will go with everything, my flip-flops and my sneakers.  In the winter I do one heeled boot and one flat and my sneakers.  You have to give yourself a limit.  Shoes take up a lot of space!  And again, you will wear the same thing you wear in your day-to-day life.

Buy sample size products or travel size containers.  CVS has a great line of all the containers you could want.  So if your products don't come in travel sizes, you can scoop out your favorite moisturizer and put it into a smaller container.  Buy stuff like shampoo and conditioner there.  It will really free up some space!

Pack Military style.  Rolling things up really allows you to pack more in.  Don’t get the extra large suitcase.  If you can’t fit everything you want into a medium size bag, then you have packed too much.

Rent a villa! It’s cheaper than you think!

So you probably look at Travel & Leisure Magazine (one of my personal favorites) and wish you had enough money to rent a villa?  It always seems like one of those things rich people do.  But come to find out, it is actually cheaper than a hotel in most cases.  Renting a villa or apartment is the way to go.  Here are some great reasons:

First, you have space.  How often do you want to sit and relax in your hotel room?  Imagine having a living room and a kitchen to enjoy some down time before going out.  Or just having a nice night in.

You can rent a villa with as few as 2 people or as many as 20 +.  That is myth a lot of people believe, that you can only do that with a group of people.

Next, you can really immerse yourself in the culture of wherever you are.  In Europe, for example, they have fantastic markets and wine stores.  When you are in a hotel you can’t really buy anything.  Where are you going to put it?  Or cook it as the case may be.  When you are in an apartment or villa you can go to the markets and get fresh cheeses, meats, fish and enjoy the local wine.   You can enjoy a snack before going out, or stay in and cook yourself a fantastic meal.  So many more options!  And if you have a group, cooking a large meal on vacation with friends is really a lot of fun.

Lastly, despite what you probably are thinking, it is cheaper, in most cases than getting a hotel.  There are villas and apartments for every budget.  You can get more space and pay less.  And save money on eating out, if you so choose.  Do you really need another reason?  Go for it!  You won’t regret it.

The little things.....

Skye and I went looking for the outlet for the Joid’art jewelry store and were pleasantly surprised to find this hidden little square called Plau di Pi in Las Ramblas.  There you will find a square with cute little shops and free concerts.  There are so many little streets in Las Ramblas you should try to explore them all, but this one is a find!

Definitely have a street map with you at all times.  Streetwise maps are fantastic.  They are sold at Barnes & Nobles and Amazon.  I found Barcelona a little confusing to navigate,  so having this will make a huge difference.

Buy your stamps at the local tobacco store.  There were not a lot of mailboxes around but they are bright yellow, so if you know that is what you are looking for, you will find it easily.  It took us a day or so to realize that is what they were.

La Sagrada Familia......OMG!

For all the hype that you hear about La Sagrada Familia, nothing will prepare you for how awe-struck you will be when you see it.  You really get to appreciate not only the full scope of Gaudi’s work, but also the magnitude of something this grand being built in this day and age.  Wow!!!  How amazing it must be to be one of the artisans building it.  Do not miss this!  I am definitely going to go back and see it finished in 2030!  If you had read Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, you will feel transported back in time.  (If you haven't read it, you should put that on the top of your book list.)

We opted for the audio tour because we had missed the guided tour.  You can’t buy your tickets in advance and then come back.  You have to stay there and wait.  If you really want the guided tour (admittedly, I think it would have been great had we not had to sit and wait for over an hour) plan to arrive about 30 minutes before the tour.   Tours are daily at 11am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm.  However, the audio tour was really well done.  Also consider doing some of his smaller museums first.  It will help you to understand what he did so uniquely before seeing his his most spectacular work of art.

Great websites for renting Villas or Apartments

www.rentvillas.com - They have select villas and Apartments in Europe, Turkey and the Caribbean.  They have tons to select from, anything from 2 people to large groups.  They have been around since 1984 and are very reliable and have stuff in every price range.

www.villeinitalia.com - A great site for anywhere in Italy you might want to go.  They offer everything from Luxury rentals to weddings and affordable villas.  Their pictures are quite extensive and their prices are very specific.  No hidden costs there.

www.summerinitaly.com - Another great site for Italian Vacations.  Again they offer lots of pictures.  Italians who really know the areas and have people who have seen all the villas run it.  I had great correspondence with them and they would continually help me try to find what I was looking for.

www.vrbo.com  - This site is great.  It has been around since 1995 and it was started by home owners who self-mange their second home rentals, ie Vacation Rentals by Owner.  Make sure you get a lot of pictures if you use this site!  They don't always have a lot on the site.  I like to see as many as possible before renting.  I have found some really interesting villas from vrbo.  I rented my first villa from a site that I found through them.

www.tendencygroup.com - I used them for Apartments in Barcelona.  They have some really great stuff.

www.friendlyrentals.com  - I have booked an apartment in Barcelona with them.  Their apartments are great, however you need to ask for measurements if size is an issue.  They are a little smaller than they appear in the picture.  Not an issue, just a little smaller.  But overall exactly what you are expecting.

www.villascarpariellorelais.it – My first true love.  This villa is spectacular in every way.  There are 10 apartments in the villa, all ranging from 1 bedroom to 3 bedrooms, most come with their own kitchens.  Basic daily cleaning is included.  You will feel as though you stepped into a fantasy when you stay here.  All the rooms have ocean views.  There is a salt-water pool and access to the ocean (which you share with the other apartments).  The staff is wonderful and I can’t wait to go back this year.  Completely affordable and in my opinion, Ravello is the most beautiful place to stay on the Amalfi coast.

I am sure there are others out there, but the ones I have mentioned have reasonable prices and great apartments and villas.  Also Fodor’s travel guides have some good sites listed in their books for apartment rentals.  There are plenty of sites out there that are geared towards those with unlimited budgets and they are listed in Travel & Leisure and other travel magazines.  I decided to focus on amazing accommodations on any budget (you will think you can’t possibly afford it! Oh how wrong you are).  I will keep you posted as I find more.

Getting to and from the airport in Barcelona

There are 2 ways of getting to Barcelona from the airport.  Barcelona has excellent public transportation to and from the airport.  First there is the Subway.  It is easy, it will drop you close to your apartment and it is cheap.  However, there are tons of stairs, and if your suitcase isn’t as small as Skye’s you will hate the subway option.  

The second is the bus.  You can get the A1 bus right to Placa de Catalunya for 5 Euros.  It runs every six minutes and takes a ½  hour to 45 min.  (45 min in traffic).  There are no stairs and it is super easy.  I personally think this is the best option if you have a relatively heavy suitcase.  From Placa de Catalunya you can get on the subway, walk or jump in a cab to your accommodations.  We didn’t find out about this bus until after we had taken the subway in when we first arrived.  I felt it was definitely the way to go with a suitcase.

Questions to ask & things to look for when renting a villa or apartment.

1.  Pictures, Pictures, Pictures.  The more pictures you see, the more likely you are to get what you are looking at on the internet.  You can always ask if there are more pictures available if you like a particular property. Definitely get as much visual information as possible.  Sometimes you will see that a site has the same pictures for the different apartments they are renting.  Be wary of those apartments and be sure to ask for more pictures of the specific apartment you are interested in.

2.  See if there are reviews out there.  A negative review here and there should not deter you.    You are looking to get a good sense of what the majority of people have to say.  TripAdvisor is a good source for that.  Some sites offer their own testimonials as well.

3.  Check out a lot of sites.  I will discuss later some great sites that I have found, but the more you see, the more you will have an idea of what is available to you.

4.  Pictures of the villa or apartment are often taken with wide-angle lenses.  The effect is that the rooms in the apartment or villa will appear larger in the pictures than in person.  If you want to be sure of what you are getting size-wise, ask for the square footage or measurements.  This way you will have accurate information about the size of the place you are renting.  I find this to be more crucial with apartment renting than with villas.  If you are like me, and don’t necessarily have a great picture of what square foot measurements look like, measure your bedroom.  You can go on line and use a square foot calculator.  Then compare the measurements of the apartment to the measurements of your bedroom.

5.  Ask if there are any charges not included in the published price.  Things like heating & air conditioning may cost extra.   Also some places require that you have cleaning during your stay and that you pay for it.  That is not to say that you don’t want to rent that place, just make sure you know what all the costs are so there are no surprises.

6.  If you are really interested in renting something but it is a little more than you want to pay, offer the price that you are willing to pay.  There was a villa for 6 that I wanted and we dropped to 4 people.  I asked if there was any way that they would drop the price so that the price remained the same per person.  They agreed to that.  This is especially true if it is getting within the 2-3 month out range.   Often they would rather rent it than have it empty.  It is always worth asking.

7.  Ask to see if there are other people sharing the grounds with you.  Sometimes bigger houses are broken up into different apartments so that they can be rented to a couple of smaller groups as well as one large group.  You also might be sharing the grounds with the owner (who might live next door) and that may not be the experience that you want.

8.  See if there is a map of the exact location or a description of how far away you are from the town.  That could be a deciding factor, especially if you are not planning to rent a car.