Category: Worldwide Travel

The Best Rooftop Bar in Venice, Italy - Venice Nightlife - Views toward San Marcos from the Island of Giudecca and the Hilton Molino Stucky

Venice Nightlife – The Best Rooftop Bar in Venice, Italy

The Hilton Molino Stucky wins the award for best rooftop bar, if only because it sits overlooking the waterway between La Giudecca and San Marco, with views of all of Venice. The food and drink menus compliment the open views, and whether you’re staying at the Hilton or just coming over for the rooftop bar, you’ll find it easy to get here and even easier to stay all night long. The Skyline Rooftop Bar sits on the 8th Floor and is one of five restaurant and lounge options at the Hilton property. From April to October, the Rooftop Bar is open from noon until 1:00 am; from November to March, hours shorten from 4:00 pm until midnight.

The Best Place to Stay in Venice, Italy - Hilton Molino Stucky - A view of the front exterior of the Hilton Hotel on the Island of Giudecca, Venice. The hotel maintains a private taxi service to San Marcos and sits just 10 minutes from the bus station and cruise ship docks.

The Best Place to Stay in Venice, Italy – Hilton Molino Stucky

The Hilton Molino Stucky, on the Venetian island of Giudecca, wins our pick for the best place to stay in Venice. The hotel not only provides fantastic amenities like a rooftop restaurant and bar with views of Venice, a rooftop swimming pool, a Hilton Honors executive lounge with one of the best hotel breakfasts we’ve ever had, and comfortable rooms in a remodeled flour mill. The Hilton Molino Stucky also provides a water taxi shuttle to and from St. Mark’s Square and sits just 10 minutes from St. Mark’s and the bus terminal near the ship docks, so you’re only ever about 10-15 minutes from any point of departure and adventure in Venice.

Venice Airport Transfer - Airport Water Taxi - A private water taxi approaches in the water near Venice, Italy. Wooden boats serve as private transportation throughout Venice, but are much more expensive than public transportation options

Venice Airport Transfer – Airport Water Taxi

Generally speaking, you should expect to pay around US$30-35 ( € 27-30) for a shared, one-way water taxi and a whopping US$215-290 ( € 200-265) for a private water taxi that will pick you up or drop you off right at the airport. (Prices to and from the bus station and cruise ship port are a little less for private water taxis, but about the same for shared transportation). So save your money, enjoy the ride around and through Venice, and drink an extra spritz Veneziano or crisp Pinot Grigio for us with all the money you save by NOT booking a private taxi to or from the airport!

Placemats at the deCanto Wine Bar, in Venice's Maro Polo International Airport.

Venice Airport Restaurants – Marco Polo International Airport

Marco Polo International Airport sits on the mainland just over 4 nautical miles from the city of Venice. Although check-in and security are streamlined and relatively easy to get through, international passport control can take a frustratingly long time to get through. We’ve narrowed down restaurant and food options to our #1 pick at Marco Polo, deCanto Wine Bar and Restaurant, just around the corner from passport control.

Air Canada Terminal Pearson - Toronto Airport. 'Tilted Spheres' art installation in Terminal 1. The public art had to be installed before the roof of the Terminal Building could be completed.

Air Canada Terminal Pearson – Toronto Airport

You’ll find the Air Canada Terminal Pearson at the Toronto, Ontario International Airport a bit isolated from the rest of the airport. If you don’t want to just sit and watch people while your phone recharges, take our advice and check out public art installations like “Tilted Spheres” (the piece had to be installed before the roof of Terminal 1 could be finished), eat Udon Noodles at Lee Kitchen, and sip a glass of wine under one of the more interesting chandeliers made up of brightly-colored hand-blown glass and steel at Marathi Wine Bar.

Welcome Figures by Joe David, 1986, at the Vancouver International Airport.

Vancouver Airport First Nations Art

The Vancouver, British Columbia Airport (YVR), contains an impressive collection of regional First Nations art. Divided into pieces that represent land, sea, and sky, the YVR art collection reflects not only the ancient Haida and other first nation traditions throughout British Columbia, but also the prominence of indigenous culture and experience here and elsewhere in Canada. From Bill Reid’s Spirit of the Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe (1994) to Joe David’s Welcome Figures carved in the Clayoquot tradition of the Nuu-chah-nulth people, First Nations Art transforms the otherwise typical contemporary airport facility into a remarkable collection of national importance.

A young girl smiles as she holds a small monkey on her shoulder while wearing a pink-brimmed straw hat. The monkey is part of the various tourist attractions at the Pre-Colombian Mayan ruins of Tulum, Mexico, overlooking the Caribbean Sea on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Things to Do in Riviera Maya and Yucatán

Our 4-Day Itinerary for the Riviera Maya and the Yucatán Peninsula includes adventure-filled days at Puerto Morelos and Playa Paraíso, the Mayan ruins at Tulum and Chichén Itzá, and plenty of downtime by the pool.

Stone carvings stand out against gathering clouds near the Temple of the Warriors at the Yucatán Peninsula's Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá.

Chichen Itza Tours: Ek Balam and Chichén Itzá

Day 4 on the Mayan Riviera: Today we are visiting the Mayan ruins of Ek’ Balam and Chichén Itzá, near the Central Yucatán Peninsula and the city of Valladolid.

A view of a glass sculpture at the Grand Mayan's luxury club on the beach near Playa del Carmen, Mexico, in the Yucatan Peninsula

Coba Ruins: Cobá and the Grand Mayan

Day 3 on the Mayan Riviera: Today we are visiting the Mayan ruins of Cobá before enjoying the Grand Mayan resort’s luxury club pools and beach between Cancún and Playa del Carmen.

A view of the main stone structure at the Pre-Colombian Mayan ruins at Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The stone structure sits on a cliff overlooking the turquoise-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. A white sand beach, rock outcroppings, and dark green foliage fill the foreground.

The Best Beach in Tulum: Playa Paraíso

Day 2 on the Mayan Riviera: Today we are visiting the Mayan ruins of Tulum before relaxing at Playa Paraíso, one of the best beaches in Tulum.

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