Published on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 by Barbra Sundquist Wondering what to see on your first trip to Italy? I recommend these three wonderful places: Venice, Florence and Rome. Those cities are the three biggest tourist destinations in Italy, and for good reason. If you can only spend a week there, I would suggest two days in Venice, two in Florence and three in Rome. While staying in Florence, you can book a Tuscany bus...

Published on Monday, March 19, 2012 by Barbra Sundquist Ponte Chiodo is a charming guesthouse in Venice that is a great alternative to staying in a standard hotel. I've stayed there twice and just love it. In fact, my husband and I can't wait to go back to Venice and stay there again. If you make up your mind to stay at Ponte Chiodo, you will have to decide between getting a garden-facing room or a canal-facing room. ...

Published on Friday, February 3, 2012 by Barbra Sundquist Visiting Venice on a budget? There are plenty of things to do in Venice that don't involve spending money or waiting in lineups. Simply seeing the canals, bridges, old buildings, shops and sidewalk cafes is enough to keep you delighted for days, if not weeks. The best thing you can do in Venice is just wander the streets. Try exploring it on your own without all t...