Florence, Italy
Italy remains on the top of the list in terms of places we want to return to or even live there! We have been to Florence before but it was a day trip on the train from Figline Valdarno in Tuscany. That was part of Rome to Venice trip with a few cities in between. Even in that short time it was obvious this was a magical place. We finally got back there last year for several days, and the next trip will have to be a week at least. It's a great city for walkers and it's not too overwhelming in terms of the size. You can walk across the city center in an hour or two at a very leisurely pace. We went in the spring and it was still packed with tourists. Having advance tickets was key for the main museums, etc. If you wing it without reserving tickets, just be prepared for long waits in lines. I didn't buy tickets for the Galleria dell’Accademia in advance and I had a 2 hour wait. It was of course worth it, but I learned a valuable lesson to remember to book everything early and slot in our entry times. The Duomo in person is quite unbelievable. Boboli gardens and Palazzo Pitti cannot be missed. There is so much packed into this reasonably sized city. My top flight search always has FLR in the second position. ( or Rome if we want to take the easy train ride from Rome Termini station. )
Cairo - Fairmont Nile City
If you go to Egypt, you can stay in fantastic places for a fraction of what they would cost in most countries. This is where you should splurge, and you may be pleasantly surprised at how reasonable / inexpensive some of these 4- or 5-star hotels are. Service was great and the perfect place to relax after long days out and about. If or when we go back to Cairo there is nowhere else, I would stay. Cairo can be a confusing place to get around, so it is suggested to be part of a tour or hiring a local guide. Knowing someone locally is the most ideal as was our situation. We found little language barrier because it's such a tourist heavy destination. Most people spoke English well enough to communicate with. The Khan Al-Khalili is a must-see market in the city. It is an enormous labyrinth that is quite an experience. The sales tactics are very aggressive, but the people at their core are very friendly. If you find a way to accept the pushy vendors, you'll really enjoy it. The key word is to bargain when shopping there. That is their culture, and you will be shocked at some of the low prices you can pay for high quality goods. There are the usual junk cheap souvenirs, but also incredible shops with handmade items that you will not see in other places. The US dollar goes very far here. I bought so much at this market I had to buy another piece of luggage so I could transport things home more easily.
Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa
We headed to Luxor after a few days in Cairo. The flight takes about an hour. The Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa was a great place to stay after the more luxurious modern Fairmont in Cairo. We had great direct views of a different area of the Nile. The ultimate stay in Luxor is the Sofitel Winter Palace, but there was no availability when I booked. That is not a resort like the Hilton, but a more elegant place to stay. We were here in April which was an ideal time. The weather was great without being too hot.
Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet, Istanbul
One of the most unforgettable places to stay anywhere. Service was unsurpassed with a great location close to everything. I felt like I was staying in a fortress where no expense was spared. I still think about the quality of the materials in this hotel. Even the door hinges were memorable.
The Leo Grand, Vienna
Another 5 star experience in the best location. Incredible boutique hotel worth every penny. The room prices were very reasonable compared to some of the other higher ends hotels in the area. Incredible dining within a very short radius. 2 minute walk to St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Athens, Greece
Athens in November was a great time to visit. Weather was warm and the monuments were not busy. We stayed in the Plaka area, which was a short walk from our great AirBnb in one of the best areas in the city. The food was fantastic and reminded me of Italy.
Santorini, Greece
After Athens we headed to Santorini for a few days. The weather was New-England like for one of the nights, but the place was empty. Many stores and enough restaurants were still open so it was still a good time to visit. It was still warm and sunny and it was nice not experiencing the over-tourism they experience in the summer months. Every view was a postcard. We stayed in a rental on the caldera side with amazing views. I will never forgot those treacherous stone stairs walking up to the main street overlooking the water!
