I do not have many regrets about my travels to the charming city of Venice in Northern Italy. Even missing out on a gondola ride through the canal didn’t leave me feeling all empty inside. What did leave a vacant spot in my soul was related to a famous bar and its even more famous cocktail. The bellini at Harrys Bar in Venice.
Drinking the Famous (& Pricey) Bellini at Harry’s Bar in Venice
My biggest regret after leaving Venice was that I did not drink a bellini at Harry’s Bar.
We took the Valporetto, my pseudo gondola ride, to the birthplace of the bellini, Harry’s Bar in Venice. The boat ported practically at the front door, which I took as a subliminal message. Besides, my hands were slightly frozen and surely a libation would warm them up.
We entered a room full of bellini laced tables. That should have been a sign.
But, I was being my frugal self that day and at 16 euros ($22) each, it wasn’t the bargain beverage I was looking for. I did briefly question my euro-to-dollar conversion, because even when dining at the pricey Ritz Carlton drinks were cheaper than Harrys Bar in Venice. The calcuation was spot-on, unfortunately.
Instead, I ordered an eleven dollar glass of prosecco, one of the cheapest drinks on the menu, next to sparkling water.
As I waited for my drink to arrive, I nibbled on an olive antipasto and was forced to watch as the bartender lined up the bellini glasses for all the patrons who were not as economical as me. A mild form of torture.
My Italian champagne beverage was very good, but tainted by the desire for the assembly-line made drink of the house. Certainly, I could have forgone a half dozen espresso drinks to spring for a memorable experience of a lifetime.
What is your biggest travel regret? Have you had a bellini at Harry’s Bar in Venice?
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Book Your Flight
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Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
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Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
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10 Foods for your Italy Bucket List
Stay in a Tuscan Villa in Italy
Walk on the Via Dell’Amore Trail in Cinque Terre
Drink a Bellini at Harrys Bar in Venice, Italy
11 Things Restaurants in Italy Do Differently
Scale the 463 Stairs of the Florence Duomo
Things to do in Florence in a Day
Bucket List of 6 Amazing Northern Italy Views
Italian Adapters, Converters & Voltage (AKA: The Flat Iron Dilemma)
Five of The Best 10-Day Itineraries for Northern Italy
Italy’s Medieval Monteriggioni Castle in Tuscany
Not to worry. You just need to put it on your bucket list, come back to Italy and have a few drinks there :) or I can do it for you and send you photos :P
I can’t imagine never going back to Venice, but you can send me photos too :)
It's always those small things you miss out on when your trying to be save money while travelling that you miss. For me it's souvenirs, I am like no I shouldn't spend my money on that and then I regret it later, when I am looking for a gift to give someone.
So true. I typically just take pictures of the souvenirs that I should have bought ;)
Just discovered your blog via link on someone else's (isn't that how it goes?) and since Google Reader pulls the last 10 posts I saw this one and had to pipe up! I was just thinking about some of my travel regrets the other day. Aside from the biggest being just simply not traveling ENOUGH, my biggest regret is that I lived in Paris for 6 months and never made it to Giverny to see Monet's gardens. I tell myself it's just a sign that I have to return :)
Now that is the perfect reason to return to Paris (along with a thousand others). Not backpacking through Europe after college is probably one of my biggest regrets. I can still do that in my 40s…right?