DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Checking in to the JW Marriott: We were near the front of one of the hotel check-in lines at around 1:30PM. When we got to the check-in desk, they did not have a reservation for us! They said our reservation had been cancelled 9 days prior to our arrival. We had a confirmed reservation through Viking well before we embarked on the cruise. They didn’t know what had happened, or whether they had room for us, as there was a large wedding party at the hotel. To say we were upset was an understatement. Viking didn’t know what had happened either. It took about 3 hours of mostly sitting around in the hotel lobby, when we could have been in “Venice proper” rather than on the private island where the JW Marriott is located. By the time we got checked in and settled in our room, it seemed too late to take the hotel boat to San Marco, so we ended up having dinner at the hotel. Fortunately, it was one of only two significant issues of the 33 days (the other being our hotel in Sirmione two days later).

The hotel is about one mile from St. Mark’s Square and is spectacular, among the best we've ever stayed in. The hotel has boats (included) to take you to and from San Marco and run on a regular schedule of once every 30 minutes. The property is huge, with olive trees, bungalows (part of the hotel) and other features. However, we were there to see Venice and didn't have enough time to explore the property. Oh well.

Due to the delay in checking in, we decided to eat dinner at the alfresco rooftop restaurant (Sagra) on the 4th floor, rather than go to the main island of Venice. The views were great, as was the food and we saw a beautiful sunset. Not a total loss, and we went back to Venice 11 months later for 3 days. We had also spent 3 days in Venice in 1973.

My previous post can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-804614-1.html, while the first post of this series (that includes a map of all of the places where we stopped) can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-801137-1.html

Next up: More of Venice

From our room

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Casual dining on the rooftop

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Sunset from the restaurant

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The hotel is on Island of The Roses. We are on our way to the dock for the hotel boat to San Marco.

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On the hotel boat to San Marco, about one mile across the lagoon

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Our ride to San Marco

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On our short walk to Piazza San Marco

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NMGal Loc: NE NM

You had a good time regardless of the snafu.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great series, Dennis.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thanks NMGal. All things considered, on a 33 day trip with two cruises, 4 pre- and post-cruise extensions, and flights to and from Europe from the west coast, things went as well (or better) as could be expected. Also, we were back in Venice for 3 nights 11 months later.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thank you Earnest. Many more posts to come, as this isn't quite half-way through my posts of this adventure.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

A beautiful start to Venice, Dennis.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thanks Mike!

srfmhg Loc: Marin County, CA

Another great set Dennis. I love #6. Lost reservations is second to flight cancellations in things that piss me off while travelling!

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thanks Mark, glad you enjoyed my photos; it's great being on or near water, like we were almost every day of this trip. We would have been VERY upset if we had not been able to stay there, especially considering that we have Marriott Titanium Elite status because of how much we own with Marriott Vacation Club. We were expecting an upgraded room, not the possibility of no room. At least it worked out and we only lost some time, though it was time we would have spent wandering around the main part of Venice. You will see that all was not lost (and a couple of things gained) in Venice in my fifth and sixth posts of Venice.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Fine images Dennis. Glad things worked out at the hotel.

Don

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thanks Don. It was just a small "bump in the road" and we had a very good dinner with a great view and wouldn't have found out about where we had dinner the next evening had we not eaten at the hotel.

Tommy 86 Loc: East TN

Another outstanding post, Dennis, and a great example of the importance of rolling with the punches that are bound to land now and then when traveling.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice shots.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thanks Tom. It would have been very unusual if there had not been any glitches on a 33 day trip around and through Europe. When we went for 11 weeks in 1973, we left home with no reservations, just a general idea of where we wanted to go, student Eurail passes, some travelers checks (remember those?), a couple of travel books and 13 rolls of 36 exposure 35mm color slide film for my Minolta Hi-Matic 7. The whole trip was essentially "rolling with it" even though the luggage in those days didn't, as it was before they put wheels on luggage. The two suitcases we brought with everything in them weighed 44 pounds total.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thanks John. I just posted another set at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-804767-1.html