I celebrated one of those 'significant' birthdays a couple of years back and my husband Malcolm asked me to ensure keeping a couple of days either side of the big day free as we were going away.
This was both a brave and extremely difficult request of a travel consultant that has free reign and control when it comes to making our holiday decisions.
Suddenly, I had no idea what was happening, where we were going or what he had booked without my input and as much as I trust him implicitly, I confess to a little apprehension.
He excelled and even exceeded all my expectations with a short break in Venice, a city that had long been on my bucket list and the perfect destination for a special birthday and romantic break.
Venice is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. There are no roads, only canals, and it is easy to lose count of the amount of bridges that you will cross in any one day.
The main canal, the Grand Canal, is buzzing with endless boats and gondolas travelling around the city, which is lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces.
The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains the famous St Mark’s Basilica, tiled with Byzantine mosaics and its Campanile Bell Tower offering fantastic views of the city’s red roofs.
Although a small island, Venice is very well connected to the mainland. Marco Polo Airport is just over four miles north and there are then four options into Venice: a private water taxi, the Alilaguna waterbus, a land bus or a land car transfer to Piazzale Roma.
Water taxis are the most expensive option, but they are the quickest and do provide for the most amazing arrival experience. If your hotel doesn't have a direct landing point. you will be dropped off as close to your accommodation as possible.
The Alilaguna offers different lines that are clearly colour coded and you simply take the one that stops closest to where you are staying.
If taking a bus or road taxi, you will alight at Piazzale Roma, where the road traffic ends and then take a vaporetto (public waterbus) - they operate 19 scheduled lines within Venice.
Couples will love Venice. Being punted down the waterways whilst being serenaded by the gondolier before alighting to enjoy a romantic meal in one of Venice’s traditional restaurants is something very special.
But it’s far from just couples who are drawn by the city’s charm; the historic buildings and spectacular architecture are perfect for those looking to experience Italian history and culture.
Venice has a wide variety of accommodation choices, from cosy family run bed & breakfasts along quiet backstreets to the opulence of a former noble family residence with lots of hotel choices in between.
For a luxury and elegant stay, look no further than The Gritti Palace, situated just 500 meters from St Mark's Square. Dating back to 1475, it overlooks the Grand Canal and boasts one of the most enthralling views of the lagoon city.
There are 82 unique guest rooms and suites with antique furnishings, precious fabrics and Murano glass light fittings, embraced by walls which bring back to life memories and anecdotes from over five centuries of history.
My Top Venice Tips
Book a private speedboat from the airport to your hotel. We felt like we were in a James Bond movie, speeding across the waterways towards the city and the experience will set you up for the rest of your stay.
Speak to the hotel's concierge or staff as soon as you arrive and get suggestions for local restaurants, which they will happily pre-book. We were given a helpful map with highlighted recommendations.
Wear flat comfortable shoes. You will walk lots but as everything around is so breathtakingly beautiful, you won't notice.
Before travelling, book a small group tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica. We booked a VIP behind the scenes trip with an extremely knowledgeable guide, taking us to exclusives areas, including several secret passages, as well as the cell Casanova famously escaped from.
If you don't pre-book a tour, then be prepared for a lengthy wait to enter. The tourist queues wind around St Mark’s Square and we did feel a little smug walking past them and straight in with our guide.
No trip to Venice would be complete without a ride along one of the canals in a gondola and yes, we did very quietly sing 'just one cornetto' - it is impossible not to.
Enjoy the gelato - it's got to be the best ice cream I've ever tasted.
When choosing somewhere to grab a light lunch, go away from the main tourist centres where you will find small local sandwich shops and can take away filled rolls and homemade cakes. Then simply find a quiet area to sit, eat and relax, overlooking one of the backwater canals.
Take a water bus to one of the outer islands. Murano, Burano and Torcello are the most visited and frequent services operate from the main island. We visited Murano, famous for its glasswork and where every shop has different styles and colours and at many locations on the island, you can also observe the glassware being made.
Avoid travelling in the height of summer, as high temperatures can make walking hot and hard work.
I had the best time in Venice and if you're after a touch of romance in Europe, I would seriously consider it as an option. I will be more than happy to play cupid and do the necessary organisation.
