Travelmanagers - John Labella

27/01/2025

A day in Singapore before heading home. Stayed at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, lunch in the Arab Quarter and enjoying the wonderful views from ION Sky.

26/01/2025

Stayed in a mixture of hotels and air bnbs throughout more journey.
- Paradox Singapore Merchant Court
- Mercure London Bloomsbury.
- Air BnB in Paris, in the Montmartre area
- Air BnB in Milan, near central station
- Air BnB in Florence, near the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
- Hyatt Centric Milan Centrale
- Air BnB in Rome, behind the forum
- Air BnB in Benevento
- Trevi Beau Boutique Hotel
- Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
Paris and Milan AirBnB’s were the standouts with the Rome close behind. Locations were ideal for us, great facilities like washing machine, bottles of water in fridge and actual coffee.
Trevi Beau Boutique Hotel was my favourite overall!! 2 bedroom apartment, located 100m away. Restaurants and shops all there and the hotel also offers breakfast. Bathroom amenities, as well as tea and coffee facilities. Beautiful street views. No elevator though.

26/01/2025

The Italian rail is amazing. Both Frecciarossa and Italo are great, with service, seat comfort and with business class, food (snacks, panini, biscuits) and beverages (tea, code, soft drinks, some alcohol) included in the price. A couple of delays, but no major issues and important to note, business class with either carrier doesn’t not include lounge access. Free wifi was easy to connect and consistent. Trains and toilets were clean, staff friendly and they do the ticket checks. Train operating times and cost will determine which carrier I’d book for my clients. 🇮🇹

24/01/2025

Food, glorious food of Rome!!! Cacio de pepe, carbonara, meats, osso bucco, street food, wine and gelati. Definitely put on your list to visit the area of Trastevere. To walk around and eat, especially at night. A very lively neighbour and you can get the tram from Venezia station near to Monument Victor Emmanuel II Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II

24/01/2025

Off to Benevento for some family time. So goo to introduce Taliyah to her cousins and for me to see them again after so many years. Dinner at Agriturismo Castello for the first night then family lunches and dinners for the rest. And yea, the waistline took the full brunt of it.

23/01/2025

An amazing dinner at Bistrot at Roma Luxus Hotel A Casa Tua, located behind the ruins of Mercati di Traiano Museo dei Fori Imperiali. Our waiter Christopher was another level. His menu knowledge and customer service makes you feel like you are in a 6 star restaurant and the food didn’t disappoint. Charcuterie and cheese, Cacio e pepe (because we are inRome), Fettuccine with fried artichokes and Fillet beef with a cream of green pepper, Saltimbocca veal with a side of mashed potatoes washed down with a bottle of Pinot Grigio roeno. This was not a budget meal, so be prepared to pay if you wish to eat here.

20/01/2025

Thank you to Valeria from Atlas Tours & Experiences for the amazing underground Colosseum and Roman Forum tour. I try to get all my clients to do the underground experience and I’m glad I do. What a thrill. Seeing the walkway that connected the colosseum to the Ludus Magnus (Gladiator school), where they walked through, the passageways to the arena above. 65,000 Roman’s watching your every move. The noise. The tour also allowed you to walk on the replica floor level of the arena. A sense of all those eyes upon you. Valeria also pointed out the 2 spots where the Caesar’s box could have been. Then made our way to the Roman form and Valeria explained, before the marble and granite, was mud huts and marshes. The story of Rome is from humble beginnings before its raise to dominance. Afterwards, I had free time and found Casa de Augustus Caesar. So good!!

18/01/2025

We did a Haunted Role Ghost Tour with E&D Tours (formally More of Rome Tours) with our lovely host Amber. Starting in the shadows of Castel Sant’Angelo, we heard the horrors of what happen to prisoners during the medieval ages. Being hang as a spectacle after Sunday church service under the rule of Clemence II (Pope that let people live according to the bible) Under him, citizens could accuse their neighbours of unchristian activities and have that person thrown into jail and killed with not trail, if they didn’t have the money. When crossed Ponte Sant’Angelo and learnt about Beatrice Cenci (girl on the bridge), who lost her head. Them down Via del Banco di Santo Spirito and the heroics and self sacrifice of
Thomasso Abatte (WW2) how saved hundreds of Jews by snipe ring officers and distracting authorities to chase him while the Jews escaped. The story of Giulia Tofana (poison) who had a perfume empire, but a specific perfume was purchased by women who were suffering domestic abuse, to kill their husbands. Walked past the women’s prison, Chiesa di Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte (church of death) and learnt about the dead pope trail (https://daily.jstor.org/the-cadaver-synod-putting-a-dead-pope-on-trial/) and finishing in Campo de Fiori where heretics where burnt at the stake. Amber was amazing with her narration, energy and knowledge. We wished the tour went longer than 90 minutes as there are so many more stories and sites to visit. &dtours

16/01/2025

A personal bucket list ticked the other night. Watching Inter Milan play at the San Siro. The atmosphere, noise, the smells of the pre and post game food stalls, even the 1c weather didn’t dampen my excitement on the night. The fact I was able to share this moment with my daughter made it even better. Whether you support a European football team or a sports fan, attending a football game in Europe is a must. ⚫️🔵

16/01/2025

Food in Florence has been amazing, which is no surprise. Everywhere we have been in Italy so far, the meals have not disappointed. Panni’s from I Fratellini | Panini e Schiacciate dal 1875, Burrata with prosciutto , Pici al ragu di chianina, Potato ravioli with black truffle and Bistecca alla Florentino con filetto, ravioli with pomodoro, prosciutto panni, hot chocolate and espresso from Caffe Astra al Duomo and our final dinner at Bella Italia Ristorante-Osteria where enjoyed Tagliolini al tartufo, ravioli, pizza, Italian salad and caprese.

16/01/2025

14/01/2025

A magical day exploring Cinque Terre. The sun was shining and even though the temperature wasn’t double digits it is a sight to behold. Between towns, the train operates in each direction every hour during the winter and during the summer it is every 15 minutes. Boarding the train in La Sepzia we got our national park pass which allowed us unlimited train journey for the day and entry into public toilets at the train stations only. First stop was Manitoba, followed by Corniglia which you can get a bus from the station to town or walk up the stairs. Then, on to Vernazza, Monterosso and finished off with an amazing sunset in Riomaggiore. Be warned, Riomaggiore is step, so may be difficult with baggage. Chris from Walkabout Tours is an amazing guide. Plenty of information provided not only on Cinque Terre but the towns of Luca, Pistoia and La Spezia as well.

12/01/2025

Milan, you have been wonderful. Beautiful city to explore history and modern marvels. Shopping, eating, even a side trip to Como as well, but the most import part to me, catching up with my Zia, Zio and cousins and introducing them to my daughter, while enjoying home cooked meals. A wonderful memory created.

12/01/2025

Da Ciccio e Paolo was so good, we ate there twice for lunch!!! The quality of ingredients, promptness of service and value for money exceeded my expectations. 2 young lads doing great piazzas in Milan.

12/01/2025

In the evening we did a tasting walk tour of Bologna with our host Marco, from Withlocals. Marco is larger than life and not because he is 6 foot 6!! Wonderful personality, immense knowledge and great tour leader. - Mercato delle Erbe (sampled a variety of local food I.e.: Bellei Borettane Onions In Balsamic, prosciutto, Gorgonzola)
- Giusti Boutique Bologna (Balsamic tasting)
- Forno Quadrilatero (mortadella, sun dried tomatoes, pesto sandwich)
- Trattoria del Rosso (tortellini and Tagliatelle Artigianali Alla Bolognese)
- Cremeria Cavour (lemon and strawberry gelato)

10/01/2025

First meal in Milan, lunch at Bel Paese (Via Soperga, 32, Milan). Close to central station, the meal cost was 55euro which included bruschetta, marinated anchovies, spaghetti carbonara, bucatini all’amatriciana, Margherita piazza, bottle of wine and an espresso. Great value for money and we were full. Servings were great sizes, wonderful tasting food and a good vibe within the restaurant.

08/01/2025

And wonderful day exploring Venice sites, sounds and food with my fantastic host Claudia from Withlocals. We visited, Campo Santa Margherita, Banksy Graffiti, area of Santa Marta/ University of Architecture, Church San Nicoló dei Mendicoli, Zattere, Squero San trovaso (gondola making and restoration location), Vaporetto Ride to San Giorgio Maggoire, Chiesa dei Miracoli, Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Riato Bridge + Rialto Market area, St Mark Square, Accademia bridge and had some amazing food at 1) Ostaria al Squero
Fried Mozzarella, Meatball, cicchetto Alici Marinate, https://maps.app.goo.gl/n3xAB97Nsz85tQZA9 2) pastry shop
*Pasticceria Didovich*
Small pizzetta, savoury snack, hot chocolate
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VMrDoViM5Vts5yJ56 3) *Osteria al Portego*
Risotto with pumpkin, pancetta and black cabbage, cicchetto Baccalà Matecato, oven backed sardines (al graten), arancino, Valpollicella red wine
https://maps.app.goo.gl/udxBefV4AnncuEps7 4) *Sepa*
Octopus in Umido (coocked in tomato sauce), Baccalà alla Vicentina (baccalà coocked in milk, cheese and capers), cicchetto of Musetto with lentils and white polenta, lentils and musetto sufflé, baked potato cake and carrots with Gorgonzola end Mascarpone topping, marinated Radicchio, stuffed artichoke heart with ricotta and beef ragù filling, Pistacchio Tiramisù, white wine =Friulano
https://maps.app.goo.gl/avMW2fhm58K18vHc6