I started to plan my 50th birthday present today!!!!

[theantiquetiger]

I turn 50 in Aug 2018. I am going to Europe for my present to myself. My wife is not going, she will not fly, so I am taking Maddy, who will be over 14 years old by then.

I watched "Roman Holiday" last week and it sold me, we are going to Rome for 3 days and Paris for 3 days (plus travel days).

I am super surprised how inexpensive AirBnB is in Europe. I am talking $50 a night or less.

I am not completely sold on Paris yet, I may just stay in Italy the entire time or maybe Vienna instead.

This will be a fotog vacation, so lots of walking.

We are planning on going in May 2018.

And before you ask, my wife turned 50 this year. Her present was a Lexus RX350 (over 10x the cost of this trip)

[Runmonty]

sounds like a good plan

you should have a look at these Italy Photography Workshops | Jeff Curto : Photographs - Workshops - Podcasts

[asnow]

As much as a Lexus would be nice, it seems to me that you got the batter of the deal. Time with your daughter in Europe is priceless. Memories that will last a lifetime.

[theantiquetiger]

sounds like a good plan

you should have a look at these Italy Photography Workshops | Jeff Curto : Photographs - Workshops - Podcasts

That looks great but it would be $10,000 plus flights for me and Maddy.

I plan on doing this for around $5000 for the both of us (including flights). Everything except food/shopping/etc

[theantiquetiger]

I have decided to just stay in Italy (Rome, Rimini, & Venice).

What was the name of the member here that lives in Rome? He was an amazing photographer but hasn't posted in 3 or 4 years.

[asnow]

Are you thinking of ArtphotoasiA ?

[theantiquetiger]

Are you thinking of ArtphotoasiA ?

No, he had a short name. He was an AMAZING post processer. He could make a bad image look like Ansel Adams took it.

[Runmonty]

I think you are thinking of vyeko, but he was in Romania I think

just looked up his profile - was in slovenia

[theantiquetiger]

Vyeko, that's it. I thought he lived in Rome.

I just went back and looked at some of his work. His images are amazing.

[Iguanasan]

When checking out the Airbnb listings look for the phrase "Airbnb Verified" on the bottom left of the photographs. If that's there then the images were taken by one of Airbnb's independent contractors which should give you a little more confidence that the place you are looking at actually looks a fair bit like the photos. This will help avoid surprises.