Ciao a Tutti,
As has happened in the past, the thoughts start swirling in my head about returning to Italy. My process begins with thinking when I'd like to go. This time it's September. Then I start flirting with the research of checking out flight costs and apartments. Before I know it, everything is booked and I'm like 'holy shit I'm going to Italy!'
Phase 1 of my process started a couple of weeks ago when I took myself to dinner with laptop in tow. I started perusing the sites and created an excel document with details, ideas, possibilities and daydreams.
Phase 2 started shortly after. I had to decide where I'd start in Italy, but who am I kidding..it will always be Firenze. Hello, have I met me??? Once that decision was made my next step was to check airlines and AirBnb's to see if I could coordinate. This is always a tricky part as some compromising is necessary. For instance, the apartment that I wanted was not available for the dates that I'm traveling. But that's for another blog.
So flights....first, let me preface this by saying that I am not an expert on this at all. I'm just sharing my process in case you are a solo traveler like me who is a bit of a control freak, and may find some of this information useful. And my experience is only with Italy, so things may be different with other destinations.
My main go to for flights is Momondo.com. A friend who travels extensively turned me onto this site a couple of years ago. I find them to be the best both in price and variety of flights. A few things that I keep an eye on when booking are:
- Watch the flight times. Sometimes the price is great but you're traveling for 22 hours to Italy! Not worth it as far as I'm concerned.
- If you have a connecting flight, as I always do since I go straight to Firenze (please expand the airport Firenze!!), give yourself at least 1.5 hours for changing planes. Otherwise you'll find yourself running through the Zurich airport, pushing old ladies out of the way, and then find yourself sitting next to said old lady on the plane all the way back to New York. Almost true story. I didn't actually push her down. A quick aside as to why we were delayed leaving Firenze. We were waiting for the man whose job it is to escort a wheelchair-bound person to the plane. When he finally showed up, rumor had it that he was out having a coffee and a cigarette. If you've been to Italy, you know that this is a very likely possibility. Ahhh gotta love Italia!
Sitting on the bus, so close, but waiting....waiting....
- I'm always torn between a window or an aisle seat. With the window you get to lean while trying to sleep, and this may afford you some additional comfort. But as someone who can't sleep on the plane, it's handy for me to have an aisle seat for those frequent visits to the toilet without disturbing my sleeping companion. Whichever you choose, be sure to book your seat in advance so that you don't wind up in that dreaded middle seat! oh the horror!!
- As much as it seems like fun to have cocktails on the plane, it's really a big no-no. Save the imbibing for when you reach your destination. Alcohol dehydrates you something awful. Stick with water...lots of it....choose the aisle seat. (wink)
- Be sure to do little arm and leg stretches throughout the flight and get up and walk around once in a while.
- And lastly, pray that you don't get one of those inconsiderate a*holes in front of you who reclines his/her seat as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off and keeps it there for the entire flight. And if you do, well I tend to kick their seat and pull on it strongly and annoyingly each and every time I get in and out of my own seat. Very passive aggressive I know, but it's the little cheap thrills that get you through.
- There used to be some clear cut rules for booking less expensive flights, such as a Saturday night stay over, Tuesday's are the cheapest, etc... I tried every combination and the price was the same, $740 roundtrip. Pretty good! I think the key is, if you see a good price, don't hold out hope it will be reduced even further. It's generally not more than $50 less, but can jump two or three times in price. So grab it while you can.
In closing I'd like to say, when flying, just kick back, relax and enjoy. Daydream/journal about all the adventure that's about to happen. You're writing a new chapter in your life and that is freakin amazing!! Buon Weekend & Big Love, PatriciaG
Swiss Alps
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