A Quick 24 Hours in Milan Hitting The Highlights!

08/02/2025wareontheglobe 1 Comment

Our big Italian vacation with Dan’s Uncle and Aunt ended with a fast 24 hours in Milan. We ended in Milan solely because we flew out of Milan on Emirates’ MXP – JFK evening flight. This post explains what we did in those quick 24 hours!

ARRIVAL TO MILAN VIA TRAIN

We trained from Florence to Rome on Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa train in Business Class mid-morning. The train ride was less than 2 hours – much faster than driving. The Business Class seats were spacious and super comfortable, and we received complimentary wifi (that actually worked), as well as a snack box and a non-alcoholic beverage of our choice. Needless to say, we loved the train. It’s the best and quickest way to get between Florence and Milan.

Dan’s Uncle & Aunt in Business Class on the Frecciarossa.

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Airport Lounge Review: Sala Montale, Milan Malpensa, Terminal 1

04/02/202513/06/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

On our way out of Milan in October 2024, after a fabulous trip to Cinque Terre, Lucca, Florence & Milan, we spent 90 minutes in the Sala Montale lounge in Milan Malpensa’s Terminal 1. This post reviews our time at the Sala Montale. In sum, Sala Montale was much nicer than I expected, especially for a lounge on Priority Pass, and we had an enjoyable experience. I would certainly return, but I would not leave extra early to visit the Sala Montale Lounge. There is better food and drink to be had in Milan!

Here is the group on our trip to Italy!

THE SALA MONTALE LOUNGE

The Sala Montale Lounge is one of five “Vip lounges” (that is a brand, not description) in Milan Malpensa’s airport. As of October 2024, it was not associated or run by any particular airline. Rather, any person flying can purchase lounge access online. Sala Montale is also on Priority Pass, which is how we accessed the lounge.

The Sala Montale Lounge is located in Malpensa’s Terminal 1, post-security in Boarding Area B. Sala Montale is only open to Non-Schengen flights. There is a maximum stay of 2 hours per both its website and a sign on checkin. I would note, however, I am not sure who this policy could be actually enforced given the size of the lounge.

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Cheese Fondue in the Maldives?

01/02/202513/06/2026wareontheglobe Leave a comment

Cheese fondue in the Maldives? The warm, island destination off the coast of India? Yes, you read that correctly. The Conrad Rangali Island offers a cheese themed fondue dinner twice a week in its Wine & Cheese Bar. This dinner is incredibly fun and very tasty. We highly recommend it at the Conrad Rangali.

Conrad Rangali Island.

THE WINE & CHEESE BAR

The Wine & Cheese Bar is one of the Conrad Rangali Island’s numerous restaurants. The Wine & Cheese Bar offers two dining options: a tasting menu and a cheese fondue set menu. The cheese fondue dinner is usually held twice a week and only seats 10 people. The cost as of November 2024 is $160 USD per person. We love this dinner and do it every year. We also agree that this is one of the best, and certainly the most reasonably priced, “experience dinner.” In contrast, the Wine Cellar dinner is $385 per person.

Conrad Rangali’s Wine & Cheese Bar.

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Eating around San Spirito in the Fall!

26/01/202526/01/2025wareontheglobe Leave a comment

You probably already know that Dan and I love a food tour. This post details the food tour that we took with Eating Europe in Florence. It was quite good, and we were successful in trying delicious food, getting a bit off the insanely crowded tourist path and ordering from a wine window!

Dan and I in DiVin Boccone on the tour.

STOP 1: PROSECCO IN PIAZZA SANTO SPIRITO

Our tour began right in Piazza Santo Spirito. Piazza Santo Spirito is a well-known Florentine square in the Oltrarno neighborhood (i.e. just across the Arno from the main tourist sites). The piazza dates back to the 1200s and it is still a popular square for both locals and tourists. You’ll find a handicraft market on certain weekends and local children often play soccer in this square. The piazza is also ringed by restaurants, bars and cafes, making it an interesting stop in Florence. We started our tour with introductions and a glass of dry Italian Prosecco.

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Restaurant Review: Osteria Miranda, Lucca, Tuscany

21/01/202515/03/2025wareontheglobe 1 Comment

This post reviews our dinner at Osteria Miranda in Lucca, Tuscany in September 2024. We highly recommend this tasty restaurant!

Lucca. Late September 2024.

OSTERIA MIRANDA

I found Osteria Miranda when trying to make a dinner reservation at Osteria Cantine Bernardini in Lucca – a restaurant that we dined at and looooved in 2015. Osteria Cantine Bernardini remains open but was temporarily closed during our visit due to a “water issue” according to staff (and I hope that is all it was!). Osteria Cantine Bernardini suggested its sister restaurant, Osteria Miranda, instead and made us a reservation. Done.