London/Bologna/Venice/Gibraltar tips?!

[NOGoddess]

So my little sis is getting married in Gibraltar on March 12th, and thus we are taking a 2 week European vacation that, while we can barely afford, is a much welcomed respite from the reality of post-Katrina New Orleans.

So... any must do recommendations from all ya'll out there? We'll be spending two nights in London with friends, then flying to Bologna, Italy to spend a couple of days with some other friends. Then 2 nights in Venice - that's the part of the trip we really can't afford, but who can pass up Venice?! Though coming from New Orleans it might be a bit freaky to be in a city where the streets are made of water.

However, any tips for cheap and cool places to stay/things to do in Venice would be much appreciated.

After that we are headed for Malaga, Spain, where we're thinking of renting a car for our last leg down to La Linea, Spain - 5 days there (or in Gibraltar... La Linea is where you cross the border).

So... let loose with the suggestions (and/or the envy!). Also, if anyone had good tips for inexpensive 15" Mac notebook enclosures, that'd be helpful (we will be flying on some cheapo flights within Europe with severe weight limitations, so hauling my usual laptop briefcase could reduce my clothing allowance down to little more than a couple of changes of underwear).

[zeppo2]

Ok, in Venice you've gotta do St. Marks, but pass on the treasury, which costs and isn't that cool. Spend the euro for pigeon food. At cafes, buy your coffee at the bar--it's cheaper than if served to you at at a seat. The Doge's Palace is sort of necessary, although it costs a bit. The most important thing to do in Venice, though, is to spend time just getting lost and walking through the city. If you're there for more than a day, consider buying the day pass for the water bus (vaporetto?). Walk through churches and take the Vaporetto out to one of the outer islands. Saving money in London is just about impossible, although you can go to http://www.london2for1.com/ and download 2 for 1 coupons for many of the big sites. You're supposed to have a train ticket to use them, although I've only been asked once to produce the ticket. If you're worried, go to one of the main stations and look for a discarded ticked. Take a London Walks Tour--although 5 pounds, it's cheap for two hours of entertainment. The evening pub walks are great.

[Racer X]

I love bologna, especially with good mustard and some nice baguettes.

[NOGoddess]

Thanks much for the tips, zeppo! That's exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for. I'll definitely look into the day pass for the water bus. And wandering around getting lost is exactly how I like to see places (well, except when I don't mean to be getting lost - then it's not so nice).

LOL, Racer X. However, I assume our Italian grandma friend in Bologna will not actually be serving us bologna

[davester]

Bologna (the city) 's italian nickname translates to "The Stomach" because it is the center of italian gastronomy. It probably has the best overall food of all Italy. A good friend of mine teaches at the U of Bologna, and lent us his apartment when we were there a couple of years ago. He took us to all sorts of great places that I can't remember how to get to, but stay near the city center (definitely inside the old city walls) and there are plenty of great walking and eating neighborhoods. I really enjoyed going through the food markets near (behind as I recall) the cathedral. Make sure to have plenty of gelato. Italian ice cream is the best in the world.

Venice is just plain wonderful to wander around. Make sure you have good walking shoes. The water taxis are very cool but expensive...the water buses are much cheaper and go to the same places.

[chopper]

Man, if you need a quick bite, that McDonalds on Indepenzia (Bologna) features food a US McDonalds--and many 3 star US restaurants-- can't hold a candle to. I've eaten lunch there 3-4 times over the past 10 years. Seems sort of odd to be in a fast food restaurant in Bologna but most of the customary lunch places do not serve on a tight schedule.

It's on the right side of the street, in the basement, when walking towards the Cathedral.

The employee cafeteria at Ducati features good food served quickly as well. Access may be a problem.

Bologna: where every ratty used bicycle goes to die in Europe. Some of the bikes ridden by students there could not get stolen in the US.

Chopper

[Ca Bob]

Bologna is an amazing place, but not as well known as a tourist destination as other northern Italian cities are. It has important archeological and art holdings, but it is also a place to walk around. Go over to the university section and walk around under the portico, buy cappucino, wander through the produce market section. Since you have friends there, you don't need to be your own tour guide.

As to Venice, you can arrive by train and go to the tourist office right inside the train station. They can try to find you a room based on your price point, but don't expect to find a fifty dollar room the way you would on interstate 70. You can also try to go through one of the better known online systems. This would be the time to ask your friends who live in Bologna to find something for you. Can't miss: the Academia Gallery has one of the best collections of art in the world. The English language tour is worth doing, and doesn't cost all that much. Buy the 24 hour boat pass (works for the vaporetto system of boats and also for buses.

Since you are traveling from Gibralter, I wonder why you aren't planning a stop in Florence. It is reasonably tourist friendly, and you can find reasonably priced hotel rooms near the train station -- again, you can go to the tourist office in the train station, or try to find something in advance. The Uffici Gallery is one of the best in the world for all kinds of paintings, and the Florence version of the Academia has Michelangelo's David along with numerous other pieces. Note: the Italian name for the city is Firenze. Walk around outside the cathedral (known as the Duomo). Eat at the trattoria's.

Mid March is pretty much off-season, so it should be easier to find rooms and to travel.

[davester]

A tip for going to Italian art museums: You can call ahead (I think a few days ahead is sufficient) and reserve slots. It won't cost you a penny. This can save you many hours of standing in line (especially places like the Uffizi and Academia in Florence). You might even be able to do this online now. It feels great to walk by a line of tourists that stretches around the block and be whisked right in as though you are visiting royalty (or a visiting goddess).

[NOGoddess]

Thanks again everyone for your tips! Sorry it's taken me a day or so to actually post a thank you - been a bit busy getting everything in order before taking off.

Davester - luckily Bologna is one of the stops where we have friends, so we'll be staying with them (they are actually in Forli) - and trust they will know all the good places to take us and feed us well! And yes, we're bringing good walking shoes for Venice, though we may pick up a 24 hour pass for the vaporettos as it's not too expensive (and much much cheaper than a gondola ride). And thanks for the tip about calling ahead to reserve slots for the museums - I wasn't aware you could do this and that would certainly make it more possible to see a few museums during the brief time we'll be there. I will be booking the Doge Palace and Clocktower tours before we leave - don't think they'll be sold out, but I don't want to take any chances!

Chopper.... lol, never would have imagined I'd get a recommendation to eat at McDonald's in Italy. While I pretty much never eat fast food, who knows, perhaps we'll check it out. I'm sure my husband would get a kick out of that! As for ratty old bikes getting stolen... you obviously haven't lived in New Orleans...

Ca Bob - Thanks for the hotel tips, but we've now got that worked out. Found a relatively affordable little guesthouse to stay in in the San Marco area of Venice, not quite equidistant between the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco. And I will be having our Italian friend in Bologna call ahead to make absolute sure our reservation is confirmed. We'd love to go to Florence as well, but we can barely fit in what we are already doing - and most of the trip is on the way down to Gibraltar - after the wedding in Gibraltar we have to head straight back to London for our flight back to the states. I'm sure after this trip we'll be planning a much longer trip to Europe when we can afford it!

Thanks again, everyone! Exactly 48 hours from now we should be heading off down the runway...