Real Reviews By Real Happy Travelers

Buongiorno Tommaso,

We just wanted to thank you and your staff again for all the wonderful work everyone did planning this fabulous trip. Absolutely every part of our trip was thought of to make it the best for us. The thoroughness, and caring, and planning of every aspect has been truly amazing. Al and I are so grateful to you. I tell everyone about you every time I talk about our trip, with the thought that if they ever go to Italy, they will know to contact you!

Again, thank you so much, you will get at least one postcard from us, maybe more!!

Warmest Regards,

Kathy and Al

Ciao Ana,
We are all set for tomorrow morning.
What a lovely surprise we found this evening when we got in. Thank you so much for the delicious cake and champagne! Dennis was very touched. We are having a wonderful time and still can’t believe we are in this beautiful and magical land.
Be well,
Susan and Dennis S.

Tommaso,
Coming to and end of our Rome portion of our trip. We are so pleased. Our tours have been phenomenal. Todays tour was the ruins with Simone. He was the best guide you could find. His knowledge and passion for the tour was outstanding.

The food tour with Valter was a perfect introduction to the area. We loved the food and the guide was spot on.

Just wanted to give you our thoughts

Have a nice day and keep doing what you do

Tricia L.

Hi Tommaso-

We really loved our trip and you made everything very easy for us. The transportation was classy, everyone arrived on time and made things move smoothly. The stop in Verona was a perfect way to break up the long drive and we enjoyed the walking tour. Venice was great too, we liked the hotel location and setup for our family worked really well. The mask making was a really special highlight for our kids who loved making them. The walking tour of Venice was great, though perhaps a little long to keep our kids attention, but otherwise really cute. Murano was very special and we ended up buying a few things (they do put on the pressure to buy though!).
We liked Burano as well and our guide took us to a fantastic place for cookies.

Overall, we will recommend you lots! Made our trip really fantastic. Thank you again!

Michael C. & Family

Buonjiorno, Tommaso!
Oh my goodness, Peter and I had a MAGNIFICENT time!
Our entire trip went smoothly and mostly better than expected! Our trip did start with a little excitement, though. After we boarded our flight to Chicago, heading then to Zurich, the pilot came out to say that there was damage to the luggage hold, and if they can't fix it, they would have to cancel the flight! We had to deplane and wait until they eventually fixed the issue. This made our connection in Chicago VERY short, so we sprinted through the airport, but were able to make the flight JUST in time! Whew!

Once in Venice, were able to find the car rental place with no issues. We ended up with a Renault. It was comfortable, and Peter drove like a champ. (once we got used to the toll plazas!)

The rest of the trip went so smoothly that it was almost unbelievable! Our hotel in Verona was fantastic! They were so extremely helpful and friendly, and our room was very comfortable and quiet. On our first full day our guide, Stephano, was super, and we really enjoyed our walking tour. Between the tour and our own exploration, we walked over 20,000 steps that day! We left our car in the garage at the hotel for our entire stay and opted to walk everywhere. Great exercise and a wonderful way to see the city!

The Opera was unbelievably beautiful. My only complaint was that I felt a bit underdressed. We were in the rear "orchestra" section, and there was no dress code there, but I would have preferred to be a bit dressier. (The people in the forward orchestra section were extremely well dressed (evening gowns). Next time, I would bring a cocktail dress. There was a tremendous thunderstorm with heavy winds just before the performance. They actually took the security gates down and they were going to cancel the performance if it didn't stop in time. Luckily, it did stop, and we were able to see La Traviata as we'd never seen it before! After the opera, we strolled through Piazza Bra and enjoyed a drink at one of the cafes.

We ate at two of the restaurants that you recommended, Il Cenacolo and La Vecia Mescola. Both were FABULOUS. We especially loved Risotto Amarone!! We were pleasantly surprised with the cost of meals. Very reasonable!

We took the train to Trento one day. It was a great way to be able to enjoy the magnificent scenery. I have been there before, but it was really fun to show Peter my father's hometown. It was beautiful there with quite a bit of Austrian influence.

The stop at the Mille Miglia museum in Brescia on the way to Como was super fun and interesting....and then Como....what can we say? It was like a dream come true. So beautiful!! The weather was perfection, and of course, the Tremezzo was magnificent. Massimo was a fabulous guide! We all really loved him and had a very fun day on the lake with a delicious lunch in Bellagio. You must miss YOUR lake every single day!!

Our hotel in Parma, was very comfortable and quiet. It seemed a little tired in some ways but was really beautiful in others. It was well located, and the staff was very helpful.

Parma was probably the most informative part of our trip. Michelle, our guide, was truly amazing. She was just full of interesting facts about the Parmesan cheese co-op producer, the dairy, the balsamic vinegar cellars, and the prosciutto suppliers. We ended our very long day at a winery and had the most amazing conversation with the owner. It turns out that he and Peter had some common connections. GREAT fun!

On our second day in Parma, we had a walking tour with Luca. He was very nice, but was a bit challenged with English. Once we got used to his speech pattern, it was much better! We were able to use more Italian as the week passed. If we were there for a month, we would be able to carry on conversations in Italian. (Peter is much better than me!)

We took a little side trip to Brescello on our last day. Peter was able to reconnect with a distant cousin that he hadn't seen in 45 years! His family asked us to stay on for dinner, and it was truly a memorable end to our beautiful trip.

Returning our car on a Sunday was a bit difficult. There was no one at the Hertz return kiosk, and luckily someone passing by told us to go into the airport office where they would help us. It turned out ok. The person that was supposed to be manning the kiosk didn't show up to work that day, and they were able to help us inside the airport. BTW....Bologna airport was crazy! (but we survived!! :-)

The ONLY thing that really went wrong on our trip was that it went by too quickly! So much more to see. We'll just have to do it again!

Tommaso, Peter and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for arranging this trip for us. We both feel that we could not have had this amazing experience without your guidance. When we return, we will DEFINITELY call you again, and we will highly recommend you to our friends. We will also add excellent reviews on Yelp, etc.

With sincere gratitude,

Laura & Peter C.

Dearest Tommaso,

Our trip was lovely! The best tours we had were the ones you planned for us! The Vatican was amazing! We thoroughly enjoyed the food tour as well! The coliseum tour was fantastic as well and our guide was so accommodating to limit steps as our legs were wearing out from 14 days of tours and excursions. Italy definitely has our heart - we enjoyed it more than Greece for sure! The drivers were on time and it was so nice knowing that transportation was taken care of during the trip! Thanks so much for all of your help! We will definitely reach out to you for our next Italian adventure however we need to restock funds for a year or two 🤣!

Cheers,

Shannon

Hi Tommaso,

All in all, the trip was wonderful. I will give you Brad and my overall comments:

All tour guides were wonderful, especially the tour guides from Parma, Mantua, and Maggiore.
All our drivers were wonderful too! Especially when we had to pick up and drop off our cars.

Best,

Linda R.

Buongiorno Tommaso,

Our trip was wonderful!! Although exhausting at times, we thoroughly enjoyed our trip! The itinerary that you and your staff set up for us was perfect! We were able to see a lot in 2 weeks!

Most tours we thoroughly enjoyed. Some tour guides were beyond excellent. The tour guide in Verona was the only one we didn’t enjoy as much as the others. She used her microphone and speaker when it was just me and Hannah, it wasn’t necessary and it was too loud. That is the only complaint we have about our tour guides. Matteo was our tour guide in Venice and he was fantastic! The Tuscany wine tour with Dario, was amazing! The food tour in Travestere was SO good! The food was beyond excellent!

It was hard at times getting into restaurants for dinner. It was very crowded. We wanted to avoid touristy places and find authentic Italian cuisine. Seems that a lot of tourists felt the same. Everyone knew the places to go.

You and your staff have been a pleasure! Everyone has been friendly and helpful. We could not have asked for more! The only suggestion I would have is to put the length of time of each tour on either the voucher or sheet with the map of the meeting place. It doesn’t have to be exact but an approximate time would be helpful.

As you probably know, I left my iPad behind in the Naples airport. Giulia has been so wonderful in doing everything she can to help me. I know she doesn’t have to and I truly appreciate it!! I don’t know how I would be able to communicate with them. I know it’s going to be a long process and that’s it’s possible I may never see that iPad again, but I appreciate all her help tremendously!

Grazie!!

Kim & Hannah T.

Good Morning!
We jumped right back into the rhythm of our crazy life - while recovering from the jet lag!
Thank you all so much for creating an unforgettable experience, full of flavor and wonder, just what we wanted.
The food, the people, all of the excursions, the sights, all top notch! I have already recommended you to all that have asked about out trip!
Rome was my personal favorite, I feel like I could spend weeks there and still discover so much. I loved the location of our hotel, we walked everywhere! Navigating the train was fun - we almost missed the first one to Naples, jumped on with only a few minutes to spare! Once we figured it out, it was easy.
Naples has a different feel than Rome, but unique and special all its own. Next time I go, I’d like to see Pompeii with my kids, I think they would love that as much as me - we will be in touch! Florence and Tuscany were gorgeous!
I found the best feeling and energy from the people across the Arno River. It was quiet and less busy, the views of the city at night were spectacular from the Piazzale Michelangelo. It was the perfect end to perfect 4oth birthday!
Thank you all so much for creating the best first impression of Italy.
We are already discussing what we want to do and where we will go the next time we visit. I’m trying to figure out how to live there and plan to learn Italian during our time in Singapore!

Dear Tommaso,
Where to begin! Our Italian Honeymoon was one to remember for a lifetime!

You brought us to so many places all perfect in their own way. We were able to see the touristy and historical vibes of Venice, Rome, and the Vatican City but were also charmed by the Tuscan countryside and Florence as well as truly tasting Italy in Bologna.

Every detail of our trip from the guided tours to the free wine/champagne at every hotel and the restaurant recommendations was done with such care and thoughtfulness to making our trip absolutely perfect.

We wouldn't have wanted our trip planned by anyone else. Ciao e Grazie!

Rachel and Chase Krueger

Emily did an OUTSTANDING job planning the honeymoon of our dreams.

We were completely blown away by the organization and preparedness. This was our first time traveling to Europe and we felt so comfortable and at ease knowing everything was taken care of for us. When The few minor mishaps we had occurred, both our emails and phone calls were answered immediately and we felt so well taken care of. Our honeymoon was everything we could have asked for and more. We visited Venice, Florence, Sorrento, the Amalfi coast & Rome.

My husband and I agree our favorite excursions included the boat trip to Capri and the wine tasting in the Chianti region of Tuscany.

Every tour and tour guide we had was outstanding and I would truly give this company and every company they used a 5 star rating.

We could not have asked for a better honeymoon or an easier planning experience.

Thank you Emily and Trips 2 Italy for planning the trip of a lifetime!

Allison & Joshua K. - Columbus, OH

Emily,

First off, thank you, thank you, thank you. The trip was fabulous. All the plans were set up perfectly, everything went off like clockwork. We really appreciated the special service we received everywhere we went. (Walking out to the canal, when we were leaving Venice and having the water taxi drive up at exactly the scheduled time was perfect. The topper was when he called out, are you Michael, just made us feel like we were special.)

Our favorite tour of all was the food and wine tour in Rome. The tour guide really knew her stuff and the places she took us were so interesting. The food was authentic and locals were unique and memorable.

The cooking class in Florence was fabulous. By luck only 8 people were signed up, so we had a small fun group experience. The chefs were entertaining and really made the cooking a joyful learning experience.

Our least favorite tour was the food and wine tour in Venice. It lacked excitement and the choices of locals she took us to were less than stelar. While this was our first tour, the rest of the trip more than made up for one mediocre experience.

Each hotel location was excellent. The staff was helpful, cheerful and really took care of us well. We asked a lot of them to recommend where they would eat to keep us away from the obvious tourist eateries. We were not disappointed. In fact, we ate really, really well. (Do you have an after trip diet program?) We know that the Agriturismo that we went to was a new location for you, so we wanted to let you know how excellent it was. This was our favorite spot of all and it was truly difficult to leave. Next time, I’d plan more time to just enjoy the countryside and pool. (Oh by the way, make sure you tell people to pack a swimsuit. I didn’t and that was my only disappointment).

We would not hesitate to recommend your services to anyone. You were professional and your attention to detail was amazingly helpful. It took our worries away and made our experiences that much more enjoyable.

We would be remiss in not telling you our one huge complaint…The trip was too short and we had to come back to reality.

Thank you for everything.

Ciao

Robin and Michael

Bless you, Tommaso, for planning the honeymoon of a lifetime. We can't imagine a more perfect way to start our life together! From the beaches of Sorrento to the history of Rome and the streets of Florence, everything has been absolutely perfect! You all are the dream team!

Tommaso and Trips 2 Italy, thank you once again for another unforgettable trip and for our Dinner at the Baglio. We are already thinking about our next trip to Italy!

We don’t know how you do it! You designed this trip to be exactly what we wanted. Three and a half weeks is exactly what is needed to see Sicily and we loved each and every minute of it. The food, wine, sites, drivers and tour guides made for an amazing trip.

If I wrote about all our experiences and excursions, it would take several pages so I will try to hit the high lights.

To begin, our stay in Tropea was unforgettable! The hotel was breathtaking, as were the beach and the church on the mountain. Riding in the Tuk Tuk was a lot of fun too! Having lunch in Zungri with Franca C. and making pasta with Anna at the Brattiro Winery were both great experiences.

SICILY – what can we say!
Making arancino in Taormina with the wonderful staff at Porta Messina was amazing. Seeing the Greek Theatre was amazing, the cannolo I had outside the theatre was one of the best. Riding the cable car up Mount Etna and walking the Silvestri Crater were once in a lifetime experiences.

The open market in was like nothing we have ever seen. We had lunch at Antica Sicilia a delicious little restaurant recommended by our guide.
Walking the market in Ortigia (Siracusa) was lots of fun. Our lunch at the Open Market gave us a chance to sample many of the local foods.
Ragusa, with our guide Marco was wonderful. Walking down the steps to Ibla was breathtaking. We did take a taxi back up to our hotel. The chocolate of Modica was delicious. While in Noto, they were marking the streets for the flower festival.

It was amazing to see “original” mosaics from the 17th century at the Roman ruins near Piazza Armerina.

Agrigento - The Vally of Temples was unbelievable. But even more exciting was the view of them from our hotel balcony of the Temples, especially at night.

Erice, who would have thought we would be going to an individual’s home to cook the local dish, fish couscous and making pastry in a local shop, all in a town of 200 people.

Our stay at Baglio near Marsala was absolutely amazing. The grounds, food, wine, service, pool, views – we could go on and on.

Palermo – So glad we returned the car when we got here! The drivers are absolutely crazy!! But it is a great city. Our visit to the Cathedral of Monreale was exceptional. You could spend hours looking around. It was one of the most beautiful cathedrals we have seen.

Wonderful views on our final tour. Making caciocavallo with Giovanni near Piana Degli Albanesi was a lot of fun. He is the biggest Italian we have ever met and he makes really good wine too! More fun making cannoli at la Piana delle Bonta. Visited the mafia museum in Corleone – very sad!

Cefalu – Loved, loved, loved the beach and the town. We even got to hear the coconut man sing his song!

Barbara & Michael B.

Dearest Tommaso,

Our trip was lovely! The best tours we had were the ones you planned for us! The Vatican was amazing!

We thoroughly enjoyed the food tour as well! The coliseum tour was fantastic as well and our guide was so accommodating to limit steps as our legs were wearing out from 14 days of tours and excursions.

Italy definitely has our heart - we enjoyed it more than Greece for sure!
The drivers were on time and it was so nice knowing that transportation was taken care of during the trip!

Thanks so much for all of your help! We will definitely reach out to you for our next Italian adventure however we need to restock funds for a year or two 🤣!

Cheers,

Shannon S.

Hi Tommaso,
Overall we had a great trip!
We were very lucky that none of our flights or trains had any major delays or cancellations and everything went very smoothly. A few scattered thoughts about the trip --

Both hotels were great. Both food tours were great. The one in Florence was especially spectacular because it was in a much less touristy part of the city that we wouldn't have explored otherwise and since it was mid-morning there really wasn't anyone else out and about. We actually ended up being the only ones on that tour because everyone else had rescheduled or cancelled so it ended up being a private tour which was fun. I do think it might have been nice to do the Florence tour at the beginning of our time in Florence but really not a big deal. I will forever dream about the gelato place our guide took us to.

I would have preferred to be on a guided tour at the Academia Gallery.

All the guided tours we went on were excellent. We loved that everything was small groups.

The early morning Vatican tour was definitely worth getting up so early.

The only hiccup was the Colosseum tour but in the end we still got to go into the regular part and our guide was great. It would have been very cool to see the underground part but we weren't too upset about it especially since it wasn't anyone's fault except the company who owns the colosseum.

We really appreciated your team organizing the trip to Pagani. It was cool to see the cars at the Lamborghini museum but the little exhibit Pagani had gave more insight into the history of the company and seeing the actual factory was spectacular.

All of the food places we went to that day were wonderful too. It was cool to see the cows, the dairy where they make the cheese (as they were making it) and the aging room at the parmigiano farm and the prosciutto factory was next level. The man who did the tour at the prosciutto factory (the owner's son?) was a wonderful guide and the meal we had there was delicious. The balsamic place was really next level -- I don't know what we really expected but it surpassed all expectations. Our driver that day was also great.

Our contact from your team in Italy (Julia) was very helpful and kind. I read her first message wrong and thought she was based in the US so one night around 10pm Italy time I messaged her through WhatsApp asking a question thinking it was still business hours in the US and she answered right away and was very helpful. I felt awful once I realized she was not in the US and I had messaged her so late and I apologized profusely. She was very nice about the whole thing.

Clara and Zachary S.

Everything was excellent!
Zero complaints
It was so well planned thank uou!

Saghar

Everything was amazing.
You took care of every detail.
I will definitely use you again.

Thank you
Francine

Hi Tommaso,

All in all, the trip was wonderful. I will give you Brad and my overall comments:

- All tour guides were wonderful, especially the tour guides from Parma, Mantua, and Maggiore.
- All our drivers were wonderful too! Especially when we had to pick up and drop off our cars.
- We didn’t like the location, neighborhood of the in Parma. However, we didn’t see many hotels in that area.

Best,
Linda R.

Buongiorno Tommaso,

Our trip was wonderful!! Although exhausting at times, we thoroughly enjoyed our trip! The itinerary that you and your staff set up for us was perfect! We were able to see a lot in 2 weeks!

Most tours we thoroughly enjoyed. Some tour guides were beyond excellent. The tour guide in Verona was the only one we didn’t enjoy as much as the others. She used her microphone and speaker when it was just me and Hannah, it wasn’t necessary and it was too loud. That is the only complaint we have about our tour guides. Matteo was our tour guide in Venice and he was fantastic! The Tuscany wine tour with Dario, was amazing! The food tour in Travestere was SO good! The food was beyond excellent!

It was hard at times getting into restaurants for dinner. It was very crowded. We wanted to avoid touristy places and find authentic Italian cuisine. Seems that a lot of tourists felt the same. Everyone knew the places to go.

You and your staff have been a pleasure! Everyone has been friendly and helpful. We could not have asked for more! The only suggestion I would have is to put the length of time of each tour on either the voucher or sheet with the map of the meeting place. It doesn’t have to be exact but an approximate time would be helpful.

As you probably know, I left my iPad behind in the Naples airport. Giulia has been so wonderful in doing everything she can to help me. I know she doesn’t have to and I truly appreciate it!! I don’t know how I would be able to communicate with them. I know it’s going to be a long process and that’s it’s possible I may never see that iPad again, but I appreciate all her help tremendously!

If there are any other questions you have, please feel free to contact me.

Grazie!!

Kim

Hello Tommaso:

I just wanted to write and thank you for another wonderful visit to Italy. The lakes were beautiful, the weather fine and the people at the hotel gave us excellent service. Thanks also for sending me the copy of the Voucher which I was missing for my last tour.

I plan to visit Italy again - this time Naples & Southern Italy where I have a friend who I may also visit in Capri. I will certainly contact Trips2Italy again when I am ready to make arrangements.

Thanks again for your service.

Rita Z.

Buongiorno Tommaso,

We enjoyed our trip very much! It was an unforgettable experience. The busy streets of Florence along with the amazing historical architecture were a sight to behold. My wife was more in-tune with the luscious green hills on our drive through the beauty of Tuscany. We both agreed that one thing we would like to do next time would be to rent a small villa in the hills and enjoy more of nature while making the needed trips to the city. Our favorite shopping experience happened within the walls of San Gimignano. If I could, I would totally live there.

We both enjoyed every inch we travelled in Venice. Every corner was unique and although it was also busy, the walking experience had a different feeling than that of Florence. The architecture and unique crafts within Venice were something that hit close to home for me. The gondola ride was a most memorable experience. The drinking water from the aquifers was superb and refreshing. I found a similar taste in the water at Cinque Terre. We both would have liked to have spent more time in Venice. Overall, I found the history in each town we visited to be something that not only shaped the region but stayed with it.

We enjoyed the welcome we received in Venice where a tour guide explained how the city operates and what we were seeing as the boat took us to our hotel. The local people from both Florence and Venice were very welcoming, and we were very delighted by the hospitality shown to us by all of our tour guides. Special thanks and shout-out to Brando and Matteo for their kindness, generosity, and overall awesome personality!!

This is definitely not our last trip to Italy.

Thank you and your team for helping us enjoy your beautiful country!
Grazie Mille,

Ricardo & Eva M.

Tommaso and Trips 2 Italy Team- we did mail your post card from Bari ( card was from Termoli) just a quick note on the trip-Tried to be quick!!

Rome is always Amazing, you could spend a life time in Rome and yet need another life time to see and enjoy it all.

Hotel your picked for us was an excellent location, service was very good – Breakfast was excellent each day-

We found a restaurant just around the corner from the hotel, Ristorante Esperia, Via Firenze 16- you should add it to your list –

Excellent service and Food I mean Excellent ! The Food tasing Tour was amazing- great food knowledgeable tour guides and made several new friends. The wine vineyard tour was not only informative but very “tasty” we are still awaiting the Order to arrive home from the Vineyard. Then the tour of Frascati with the lunch also amazing- Trin ride was pretty cool too.

Campobasso ( we did enjoy the car ride even with the one speeding ticket I had told you about ) very happy too have had the chance to see where the family came from at the turn of the last century - Sadly I do not recall the Personal Guides Name but he was FANTASTIC not only what I would call a Dr on Campobasso and the area, But it was a Rainy day – Wife had not packed any type of rain gear, we followed him to a shopping center he actually assisted in the store finding her a jacket- and never rushed us, then a wonderful tour – ( lots of Steps in Old Campobasso!! ) with a great Coffee café ending it ! The Hotel was Nice but the Staff also Fantastic – we actually had dinner there all but one night because the staff and food was so good I do need to mention one person in particular Francesco M. ( may have the last name a bit wrong but I know he said it meant Cow in Italian ) this young man is truly an asset to the team at the hotel = served us – recommended local foods just a wonderful person – Also the folks at the desk one of the and sadly his name I do not recall recommended the one resurant that we ate at beside the hotel that was an “in old part of the town, and also Great) we also drove to roman ruins that you can walk around in (name begins with an S ) really interesting and grate that you can just roam around - And we did go to Ristorante Del Colle 15 min outside Campobasso ( the owners Father bought it from a Del Colle ) we had the entire place to our selves the owner – one waiter and the owners 2 year old grand son- he turned on the fountain outside( he was very proud of it) took pictures with us showed us a scrap book with pictures of a trip he made with his family to NYC some 30-35 years ago – really Nice people turned a meal, and a great meal at that – into more like a family experience .

The drive to Termoli, we decided to stay off highways – speeding tkt and all -so it took about an Hour more but we also went up a very very winding road to an old castle walked around again like we owned the place wonderful experience stopped at a couple road side coffee shops made it a nice drive, NOW you were 100% correct about the size of the car and old Termoli – after missing turning into the old part 3 times despite what the navigation said, we did so- we have pictures where my wife has her arms outstretched and shes touching the walls of the homes we drove between – good advice on not getting a bigger car - Hotel was great with a great view of the bay the owners are truly nice folks Great breakfast each morning they will pretty much make you what ever you want. Lost of roaming around eating and Wine – There is a Pizza place Diez Pizza – family’s young chlidern, excellent staff and food this too you may want to add to your recommended list – and amazing relaxing time in Termoli ( got to touch the Adaric Sea knock another thing off the bucket list !) Did the same on the drive to Bari stayed off highways stopped a few spots – Hotel in Bari also a great choice staff was great and very accommodating also great breakfast - we actually had sandwich’s from a place a block away La Porchetta Di Ariccia – best sandwich ever.

Then back home via Munich.

Sorry for the length of the e mail But felt we needed to tell you and your staff what an Great Trip you set up for us!

We can not thank you enough and you made it very very easy !! when you say “Live Italy, Don’t Just Se it!” you are telling the complete truth !

I could go on and on but will not – thank you again and you now have customers for Life !

When we are in the tire kicking stages for that Family vacation we had briefly discussed I will reach out to you

Please stay well thank all your staff for us – if you can reach out to the hotels – tour guides and destinations and let them all know how wonderful a time the Del C. ’s Had When we get some time well go to each place and your site to do Great Honest reviews !

Again thank you stay well ( and you need to stay in Business for at least the next 20 years so we can see all of Italy we want too!!)

Sincerely

Wally and Yvette Del C.

"Buonasera!
Grazie for a fabulous Italian Vacation! Your program and organization are masterful and you are to be commended! The two weeks were completely different so let's deal with them separately.1. Sicily. Of course it was amazing and beautiful. The highlights, for us were Palermo and the BDF… The tour guide for the custom escorted trip, Marco, was lovely… We thought you showed us a wonderful taste of Sicily with regard to scenery, history and food.2. Milan and Torino. We loved it!!!! The staff at the… were amazing. Very helpful. We also had one of the most spectacular meals of our life at Emilia and Carlo... The agenda, tours, guides and hotels were fabulous. Our biggest problem was how to get all the cheese, vinegar and chocolate home.
Grazie per una vacanza indimenticabile!!!"

“We knew we were in good hands since you took such good care of my niece Michelle 5 years ago. The trip was terrific, enjoyed the diversity of nationalities, etc. Staff was accommodating and welcoming and we felt secure that everything was taken care of from your end. The blue book was helpful… Thanks again.
Cindy P."

"Tommaso,
Thank you for helping us plan our wonderful Italian adventure.
We loved it all.
Everything we discussed worked with precision just as you laid out for us before we left. We especially loved Florence, our cooking class and our trip through The Chianti region and our wine tasting.
Your company helped make a fabulous trip possible.
We appreciate it all. Next time... southern Italy !!!
Thanks again."

" Amber,Thank you for your help in planning and helping us have a great time in Rome. It was well organized and well executed through your organization. You even did a reasonable job of providing good weather for us. I believe that we saw the major highlights that one would wish to see in a three day visit to Rome.
Thank you again,
Richard and Bernice "

“… I want to thank you for the wonderful job you did planning our trip. I am really impressed with your knowledge about travel in Italy… I wanted you to know everything went beautifully.
Richard T."

"Buonasera Giulia,
We had a marvelous time in Italy...Our trip worked out just a planned. Our flights were all good, connections worked out. Rental car and driving was easier than we anticipated...Liguria was beautiful. Cesare in Monterosso was a great host. The apartment we used was large and very nice, we were spoiled for the rest of the trip... The people at the ... Winery in Monterosso are very kind and nice. The winery is up the hill from ... B & B and the wine tasting offered was very nice. We spent a delightful afternoon at the winery. The train between the 5 towns was efficient and convenient. The boat trip was “touristy.” The truffle exhibit was fascinating! The sights and smells in the exhibit hall were fabulous. The food and wine tasting was great...Thank you so much for the tickets to the Palio. We were unsure what we were getting into, but the staff at the hotel and shop below (especially Francesca) were very helpful and encouraged us to go for the entire event. The skits presented by each of the districts in Alba were interesting... The donkey races were just about the funniest thing we have ever seen. We laughed and laughed, what great fun! Our tours were just as we anticipated. The guide, Alexandra, was knowledgeable and very pleasant. Her English language skills were very good. She was well spoken and understandable. The drivers were professional and very familiar with the roads.We hope this feedback is helpful. We had a great time on our Italian vacation. Thank you and all the staff at Trips 2 Italy!
Best regards,
Rick & Cara M."

"Hello Veronica,
First of all I would like to say thank you for making our trip so great! Kevin and I had a great time in Italy and can't wait to go back!"

"Dear Tommaso, thank you for setting up this wonderful vacation for us. We are having a great time.we have finally slowed down for a few hours. We are sitting out on our balcony, in Positano. Overlooking the blue water, just beautiful. Thanks Again"

“ Had a great trip. We really enjoyed all of it…We would give high marks to the hotels and the the tours… Our only stumble was the weather in Venice… Could have used another day in the Florence/Tuscany area, really nice. Rome time was perfect amount, with the day we added… I recall you saying that you had minimal experience with the tour company out of Houston. We thought they did a great job not only with the agenda, but the pre trip call (very helpful), and the gondola follow up… Thanks again for all your work!” Mark M. – Brighton, MI

“… we had a wonderful trip and are very grateful for your excellent planning. It was such a relief to know you had handled every detail and we simply had to show up and present vouchers. We loved all the tour guides and gained much from their wealth of knowledge on Italy, art and the culture of each city… The hotels were all excellent with great breakfast and accommodations. We were close to the historical monuments, museums and churches which were beautiful and amazing… I agree with L, the tour to Chianti was the highlight. Our guide was charming and shared the background on the region as we drove. I loved the winery tour and everyone we met. We have already been recommending you to our friends and will continue to do so. Thank you for a memorable trip. It was fun, inspiring and relaxing because you had handled all the details… Thank you!” Fay C. –

“Thank you once again Tommaso for helping my clients have the best experience possible in Italy!”Susie B. – Town & Country Travel –

"I wish we had taken similar trips on all our stops. Please tell Tommaso that we were delighted with his guide and driver, and really enjoyed the day with them." …The Islands were beautiful and I will have wonderful memories of this trip."Johnnye S. –

"The tour you arranged in Florence was wonderful, we really appreciated the ability to be on our own without the crowds and to see that area from a local's point of view" The Holloways

"By far, the best tour service we had was the one you arranged for us to Florence and Pisa. Our guide in Florence was great, and we really enjoyed our driver who was very funny and skilled with all the traffic!" The Scotts

“The tour you set up for us in Florence/Pisa turned out to be one of our favorites. The guide was very interesting and we enjoyed him very much." The Tabors

“We did have an amazing time! Everything was so well-planned, we did not have to worry about a thing! All of our hotels had excellent service, good location, and were very clean. We enjoyed all having the perfect amount of down time between tours. All of the accommodations for drivers were convenient, friendly and spoke English! Of course we enjoyed our night tour guides in Rome having Prosecco for our birthdays and the champagne in the room! You guys are the best :) Overall great trip and very well-planned, now if only the rest of my travel breaks can go that smoothly…” Dakota H. –

"We did have an amazing time! Everything was so well-planned, we did not have to worry about a thing“Cooking class was the best I have been to. Lella is amazingly talented and her translator was charming… Car booking was done perfectly. Hotel in Florence was a great location but 1-2 stars lower than my preference… The tour booklet you made was excellent. The half day tour perfect: excellent driver, and a good, quiet wine place is where he took us, plus 2 ancient villages. Thanks again.”John F. �

“We had a marvelous time in Italy... Our trip worked out just a planned. Our flights were all good, connections worked out. Rental car and driving was easier than we anticipated... Liguria was beautiful. Cesare in Monterosso was a great host. The apartment we used was large and very nice, we were spoiled for the rest of the trip. You told us Liguria required a lot of walking, but we were not prepared for the walking up or walking down or the distance we had to drag our luggage from the parked car. I encourage you to give stronger advise to people regarding the walking and the cost of parking... the Albergo San Lorenzo was a disappointment. The service and people were outstanding and very helpful. The room was small – even by European standards... Our room was on the 1st floor and was extremely noisy... The truffle exhibit was fascinating! The sights and smells in the exhibit hall were fabulous... Our tours were just as we anticipated. The guide, Alexandra, was knowledgeable and very pleasant... The drivers were professional and very familiar with the roads... We hope this feedback is helpful. We had a great time on our Italian vacation. Thank you and all the staff at Trips 2 Italy!” Rick M. and C.J. P. -

“We cant thank you enough for the great job you did scheduling every thing with No issues… Arrival after a great Italia flight was good and driver was on time… Guide at Collesieum was very good. The Vatican tour guide was out standing and she couldnt do enough to show us everything. Day trip to Pompei was super as driver Marcos was the best and gave us a private tour and brought us to a great lunch…Hotel in Bolonga… was very good with great front desk people with a nice room. Breakfast was very good. Guide in Bologna was good & helpful and very nice. Ist day driver to Parma was nice but limited English but our guide was outstanding Michelle could not have been better…I would highly recommend your service to anyone…”Paul & Maryann M. �

“…Tuscany was all that I had expected. I have never seen such glorious light!! Elisa, the tour guide in Florence was wonderful as was the guide in Sienna… Your country is so rich in history. Thank you for choosing the perfect tour of Tuscany. We even saw men harvesting olives outside Monterizzorei. We were there at dusk. Did I mention the glorious light? We tasted and bought the best chianti I have ever had. I could return to Florence, a wonderful, beautiful city… Even with the acqua alta Venice was enchanting…The hotel in Venice is lovely, beautifully remodeled. Our only concern is that the mattresses on the beds were uncomfortable… All in all, we had a fantastic time and did everything we hoped to do and more. If we are fortunate enough to return to Italy we will call on you again… Thank you again for your guidance.”Christine B. �

“Enjoyed staying at the selected hotels, especially… in Sienna. Beautiful view from the 7th floor terrace at night of the city. Trips 2 Italy had first class drivers who met us at the airports, train stations, and tour guides for all of the excursions. There was really not one glitch during the trip. One of our drivers was a little late due to traffic. My only regret was not taking an earlier train to Florence or Rome so that I could enjoy the scenery during the day. Would use Trips 2 Italy again if I were to travel back to Italy.”Matsie L. - - Thanksgiving week 2012

“The planning information provide prior to the trip the documents sent and the entire experience was fantastic. It was a wonderful trip. We will certainly use you again when we return. Which other countries had agents such as yours. It made life so much easier with your planning.”Lynn H. � – Thanksgiving week 2012

“We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Italia. The tour guide was great and the local tour guides were excellent… The size of the group was perfect… It was a trip of a life time for us and thank you … for all your help. We couldn't have asked for more.”Susan T. -

“…it all worked out. We're on the plane to Houston. I will come by one day when Giulia is back during lunch and fill all of you in on the details. Thanks for everything. It was a great trip. You guys did a great job putting this together.”Stuart N. �

“I just wanted to let you know how much our group enjoyed our tours of Rome with our guide... She was fantastic! Both days were so interesting and the "skip the line" tickets were definitely a must! She was quite knowledgeable, very friendly and a pleasure to be with. The photos and instructions that were provided for our meeting places were very much appreciated and helped the whole experience go smoothly… Thanks again for all your help and we will certainly recommend your services to our friends.” Carolyn E. -

“My daughter and I have been home from our wonderful trip to Italy... We had such a great time. Wanted to let you know our guides for tours were fantastic… The cooking classes in Florence and Rome were the best. The chefs at both locations were so personable and welcoming! … We came home with wonderful recipes, new friends, and great memories… All of your planning worked well with no mishaps…Thank you for planning so well and making our first trip to Italy such an enjoyable experience! We can't wait to return and explore the country more.”Donna C. and Susan D. B. -

“I wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful time! We can't thank you enough for everything. It was so organized, it made everything less stressful than it would have been if we tried to do it on our own… Our tour guides both days were very informative and did a really nice job… Honestly, we had an exhausting, wonderful trip and would highly recommend you to anyone going to Italy. You covered everything we wanted to see. I can't imagine anything we didn't see that we could have added to our trip. The vouchers were easy, convenient, and made our trip so organized. … We had a wonderful trip visiting a beautiful country.” Warren and Sue M. -

“We had a WONDERFUL trip! I totally fell in love with Italy. Everything went so well… I totally totally LOVED Rome; we stayed 4 nights but I would have liked to have stayed longer… Then, the 3 days trip we booked with you was also great; Stefano, our tour guide was Amazing!! He surely went out of his way to help/guide everyone with any kinds of details/situation. The hotels were also nice, you were right about that!... Thank you so much for your patience, assistance and kindness. I will surely pass the word around to anybody I know who wants to go to Italy!... Ciao!"Nathalie H. and Family �

“What a trip! We hated to come home but were so tired that we needed to! We absolutely love Sicily, it's beautiful… Thank you so much for the planning… You are the best!!!!!"Delinda S. -

“We had a wonderful time and so much of it was due to your hard work. We are so grateful!!! I will recommend you to everyone I know. Here are some comments:Venice: gorgeous, loved it, loved the hotel, loved the location, loved everything about this… Florence: Spectacular. Loved the hotel, loved it all. Drove to San Giaminiano and Siena and loved these day trips. Magnificent…The driver from Naples to Sorrento and back was really nice and really safe. Great job… Went to Pompeii and it was superb. Highly recommend this day trip… So.......that is the scoop. It was one of our best trips ever and we are so grateful!!!!!!!!!!!” Ellen C. and Family �

“…We had an absolute blast… overall we loved our trip and I would totally recommend you to friends who would be considering a trip to Italy. We loved both hotels that you selected for us. Nice location, the staff was friendly and the rooms were clean… I truly enjoyed our private wine tasting tour. Our driver… was fantastic and deserves his own company! … He truly loved his country and it showed when he explained the history and the culture. I learned lots from him… I liked that we had things planned, but we also had free time. I would love to go back to Italy and would use your company again!” Ashakia G. and Maya S. - Orlando, FL and Bowie, MD

“We loved everything about the trip… The second day was the day we were scheduled to do a walking tour of the Colosseum and Ancient Rome. We easily found our tour guide… The tour guide was wonderful. She was a native of Rome and an archaeologist… We eventually arrived in Sorrento. We were taken to our hotel only to fall in love with the hotel, the marina it was located in and everything about Sorrento… Day five we ventured out to the bus stop and waited to board a bus to Amalfi… The bus quickly filled up with the last person to enter being an older, local gentleman. He stood on the steps in front of us and proceed to become our personal tour guide. He pointed out many sites to take pictures of and gave us the names of the various islands, towns and places… While discussing the trip, Scott and I felt the favorite things were the people as they were surprisingly charming and kind, and the ability to just walk everywhere and enjoy the views…We feel we have more to see and explore on our next trip to Italy…The only thing that we did not enjoy was the trash we noticed in Rome. Thank you to you and your company for all you did to make this great trip happen. We have and will recommend you to all we know.” Scott and Valerie C. �

“The room we got … with your help ,was all we could ask for… There is no way we were going to get the room we did if we had tried to book it ourselves. That is definitely an advantage of using a company such as yours where you have built up a relationship with a hotel… tours were very well done! They were very organized, small groups which was great, and our guides both days were very personable and both were archaeologists so they really knew their stuff … “I am so happy I was able to find you guys. Your professionalism, care, concern, and knowledge were fantastic. You always said, you want us to relax and let you do the work-well I should have listened. You did it all… We could not have asked for anything more… Thank you again for all that you and Tomosso and Ana and all did for us. You truly made our trip the most special trip we have ever taken!”Mr. and Mrs. David L. �

“Italy was great, full of history and warm people and of course the food was delicious… Milano- Big city with the main attraction the Duomo and surrounded shopping area. We walked everywhere which is the best way to really see any city in Italy and its people… The lakes were huge and with splendid views… Bologna- Great food and the restaurant that you guys recommended around the hotel was very good. The Hotel was the down side since the AC was not working properly and it was hot in Italy… All the tours were great and very organized. The most fun was the Vespa tour and wine tasting… “Andres T. -

“…I just want to thank all of you for making such wonderful arrangements. We had a great time in Italy and everything went smoothly. Can't wait to return to see another part of the country. Too bad we missed the last tour but no big deal! Again, thank you for everything!” Mr. and Mrs. Torrence -

”Overall we had a great time. All the Guides were great and we really enjoyed all the places that we visited. The first Hotel, in Sorrento… although nice and comfortable with a nice view we found a few things that could be improved upon… Our favorites of the vacation were the Amalfi Coast Drive, the Cooking Class in Sorrento, the Market in Palermo , the drive to and time spent in Erice, Sicily and the various spots in Rome e.g. Sistine Chapel, The Pantheon, The Trevi Fountain etc… One final comment, Trips2Italy provided a great itinerary and excellent details of each location to further our enjoyment, I would, and already have, recommended using your Travel Company if traveling to Italy.”

“We had a fabulous time during our time in Italy. Lovely country to visit with so much culture and history to absorb. My favorite parts of the trip were the lovely Amalfi coast…I also loved the day my daughter and I spent 6 hours walking in Cinque Terre. Absolutely beautiful! As always the food was fabulous and the dining experience is always an adventure. I would highly recommend Trips2Italy to anyone planning an Italy vacation. All of the transfers were prompt and efficient. Not one glitch in the entire vacation.”Martha D. �

”The trip you planned was perfect. We enjoyed staying in the countryside… We loved exploring Tuscany. We loved the cooking class. And we totally appreciated having a driver one day to take us wine tasting…We enjoyed our stay in Florence, walked too much, ate too much, but that is the charm of that beautiful city… I'd say the best part about the trip was traveling in beautiful Italy with top notch accommodations, lovely people at every turn who all speak English… and wonderful drivers and break out trips… Everyone you connected us to was delightful… So thank you for your thoughtful and responsive itinerary. We hope to get back to Italy in a year or so and will contact you again. Many many grazie's!”Susan M. �

“We enjoyed our vacation so much! Thank you all for planning our guides and excursions. All of our guides were very good. They were all very informative. Rome was probably our favorite.... although Florence and Venice offered equal excitement. Needless to say we walked our legs off! Fabulous sums our whole trip up!!!! Will definitely recommend your company to friends who plan on traveling to Italy! Thanks so much!” Angela M. – Bellaire, TX

“We had a very good time and appreciate the hard work you and your team put out getting us a very nice honeymoon. Everything went very well… Again, thanks for arranging a fantastic honeymoon.” Carl M.

“Ciao, ti ringrazio molto per un tempo così grande che abbiamoavuto a Courmayeur.Tutto era grande, l'Italia, la gente, meteo, Sci,grappa, genepy, sole, neve. L'intera esperienza è stata una settimana di felicità!!!La ringrazio molto di nuovo!!” Mark K. and Co

“Thank you very much. We had a wonderful trip… The planned tours could not be better. Trips2Italy did a fantastic job… Bravo.” Patricia D.

“Had a wonderful time. Food was out of this world. Saw everything in Rome!… People very warm and friendly! Tuscany I fell in love with! Our hotel in Florence was beautiful and the staff very helpful… My next trip I would like to go to Sorrento, Capri and the Amalfi Coast… Thank you for all your help!” Jessica S.

“Thanks for setting up a wonderful trip. You were on target with suggestions and everything flowed smoothly. It was nice to get a flavor of many different facets of Italy!” Kurt G.

“…Because of our trip2Italy we come back with a many good memories of your glorious homeland. We enjoyed each City: Rome, Florence and Venice for different reasons… Each City left us with impressions, not just about the culture, but about her histories, impressive leaders and artists and geography. Our “dislikes” are so minimal they are not worth mentioning; our “likes” could fill a small booklet… Your help in setting this “Trips2Italy” up gave us the “gift” of an unpressured safe trip. We found ourselves “sitting back” and enjoying the rides, sights, sounds and sensation that is Italy.” Orlin and Judy H.

“In summary, it was a GREAT trip! I am very happy that we went through you to plan everything for us. Everything went as planned with no surprises and you did a great job. Grazie!... Thanks again for organizing a WONDERFUL trip for us!” Bruce and Carole B.

“We had a wonderful time in Italy! Florence and Rome were amazing… Our Vatican guide, Maxmillian, was a very knowledgeable young man, and we felt very special having him show us the treasure of the Museum and all of St. Peter's… I wish I would have gotten the last names of all the guides we had because we would certainly request them again… Thanks for all your help it making our trip to Italy so memorable. We will surely pass your name to our traveling friends!” Carol and Herman V.

“We want to thank you again for the wonderful trip to Italy. We had a great time!... “We can not thank you enough for such a wonderful experience. The restaurants that you suggested were as great as your schedule. Your guides were very helpful and informative. It was the perfect blend of relaxation and busy cities… You made our trip personnel, epic and a perfect anniversary” Robert and Donna A.

“We wanted to let you know that everything was FANTASTIC! Honestly, we have not one complaint! The hotel in Venice was very quaint and we loved the tour you booked… The hotel in Rome was in a great location… you truly did a wonderful job planning this trip for us andwe have already recommended you to everyone we know… We will definitely contactyou the next time we plan a trip to Italy - our new favorite place!!” Heather and Anthony E.

“We just wanted to shoot you a quick email to tell you that we LOVED our trip! We had a great time and your blue book helped us find things to do as well as helped us get around. We met another couple on a tour who said if they ever did it again they would plan it themselves because their travel agent failed to mention important things as well as forgot to actually make the reservations and misspelled their names on important documents. We, of course, gave them you to use next time because we had no problems. We can’t thank you enough for making it easy and fun filled. We loved Florence and the coast the most… Thanks again for everything!” Dana and Miles Z.

“The trip was great. The family and I had a great time… Thanks for setting up a vacation of a lifetime. Good Job!!” John A.

“We had a wonderful trip to Italy. And without a doubt, our whole family enjoyedLake Como the best !!! The lake and environs are stunning and … was one of themost lovely and relaxing hotels we have ever visited. It was a perfect way to end our vacation. While we certainly enjoyed our entire trip and all of the arrangements you assisted us with, I would have to say that the visit to the winery in Chianti was a highlight. The owner was charming, the setting lovely and the food and wine exceptional… Thanks again for all of your help.” Michael and Maria A.

“Melinda and I had a spectacular time, and several times, we commented on what a fantastic job you did on our itinerary and the high caliber of individuals we were involved w/ on your behalf! It was just an ideal agenda, and we had a tremendous time – and of course, the cooking class was one of our favorite activities!!... Great job, and an incredible trip for us to have so many fabulous memories – thank you!” Dana B.

“Wonderful trip, Rome was beautiful & the Hotel… was more than we expected. Location was close to all the main tourist sites & attractions… We would… like to express our gratitude & appreciation to both you personally and also Mr. Tommaso De Poi for ensuring that what we had hoped would be a great trip, turned out to be a FANTASTIC one.” Jim & Chris B.

“We had a great time and everything went very smoothy. It was incredible and very historical. I wish I could go back in time. You did a fantastic job planning our memorable vacation together. It worked out perfectly. I loved Rome and Sorrento and would love to go back… I don't think anyone could have organized it better. You have given us some great memories with my parents. It was a great pleasure working with you and I hope we can do it again." Patricia Z.

“…Were do I begin? Rome, was incredible…WE LOVED THE PEOPLE, FOOD, WINE, EVERYTHING ABOUT ITALY!!! Can't wait to do the beaches!... Thanks for a life time of memories. I look forward to working with you again… Ciao” S. L.

“…we had a wonderful time on our Honeymoon… Everything was planned perfectly…We saw everything we could in those 12 days… Thank you and Tomasso for all your recommendations of what to do and where to go !!! We will definitely use you again when we go to Italy...” Dirusha D.

“Italy…was GREAT!! So BEAUTIFUL!! So much history and art! We LOVED it!!... Thank you for all your help in making this dream vacation become a reality! All the hotels were so close to the train station and the museum reservations saved us so much time. The trains were so nice and comfortable. Everything worked out perfectly…” Ysenia and David L.

“Just wanted to thank you for your time spent with us in planning our trip and sharing with us all of the joys of Italy. The trip was beyond our expectations. Each day we found something more beautiful than the previous day. It was truly a remarkable and very enjoyable and relaxing vacation. Everyone at the hotels was very helpful. I don't know what could have made the trip better…Special thanks should go to the tour guide in Florence… Also in Rome the walking tour of Ancient Rome was perfect… Thanks Again for a wonderful trip.” Donald and Janette K.

“…Thank you for the accommodations at the … Hotel. We had a two story room fit for royalty overlooking the Gulf of Naples. It was more than perfect… Our driver that picked us up from Naples Airport could not have been nicer or more eager to please us… We look forward to working with you on our next Italian adventure to Rome, Florence and Venice. Thank you for your great service.” Charlene S.

" Come va? We are having a wonderful time. Rome was awesome. So much to see. The accommodations were blast. We have been eating very well. Too many good restaurants to eat at. Looking forward to Sorrento."

"Good Morning Tommaso, Spoke with the T… today and they wanted me to be sure I let you know that their entire trip was just perfect...they wouldn't have changed a thing!The hotel was so perfect that they agreed that if they went back, they would stay at the same place. They also thought breakfast there was amazing. Getting around from the hotel was so easy as it was so centrally located to all that they wanted to do.Ray and Vicki were so happy to have had the private car, especially when they arrived. They were very punctual and the transfers were very smooth.And the cooking class...that was the one thing Vicki wasn't sure she wanted to do. But in the end, it was the favorite of both Ray and Vicki of all the things they did in Rome! Definitely what they keep talking about the most as they got a little tour along the way/return of parts of Italy that most tourists don't see.You did WONDERFUL Tommaso! Can't wait to use your services again! Thank you for making me look good :) "

" Buongiorno!Como va? We...va bene! Roma et Firenze magnifico! La cucina d'italia brava. This has been an awesome street so far! See you in a few days! Brian and Michelle"

"Hi Tommaso, just wanted to send you a card + say thanks. Not just for the travel arrangements Rome tours were great. Thanks again!"

"Tommaso and Giulia, thank you so much for your help with our trip. It has been perfect. I got the days mixed up, so we didn't get to try your suggestions for steak, however, we have been several of other restaurants. They have all been great! Thanks again. Ciao"

"You are fantastic!!!! Were do I begin? Rome, was incredible, seen it all... loved the coliseum & of course the Vatican, … loved the fountains, the people the food oh my God, the food…Orvieto was wonderful… on to Radda a very small town known to Americans who like to ride their bicycles up the mountain, crazy, glad we had the car. beautiful sceanary, the vineyards were in full glory. Siena, what can I say, I fell in love! we missed the horse races by only hours (next tme). On to Florence, THE SHOPPING MECA! I'can't wait to go back there. Pisa was everything you said, but I'm glad we went. The Statue of David we put with Pisa it is one of those things you must do. Venice... glad we went after all it is the only city in the world on water... The Churches, gave me chills… What can I say they were breath taking!! WE LOVED THE PEOPLE, FOOD, WINE, EVERYTHING ABOUT ITALY!!! Can't wait to do the beaches! You are great I will tell everyone about you!!!! …Thanks for a life time of memories. I look forward to working with you again. Ciao"

"What a place to fall in love! The wonder coast is a painting, people here are so friendly!"

"Hi Giulia and Tomasso –… Well, we had a wonderful time on our Honeymoon. The trip plan was perfect. We did do quite a lot, so next time we might take breaks in between everything. So let me start with the private transfers, they were all very nice Mercedes Benz sedan or the van. They were on time and very nice. Our hotel in Sorrento was nice in the fishing village. … we just ate dinner in the fishing village at Trattoria Emilia and it was great (One of Tomasso's recommendations) We really liked going on the day trips… Train was nice from Naples to Rome. Rome was amazing as always. The receptionist was from Sri Lanka and he was very helpful and nice. The hotel was very nice and in a perfect location. The only thing was the bed was hard. Breakfast was nice as in all the restaurants. Bathrooms were very clean. We had a great Vatican Tour… We LOVED the cooking class. Fabio and Dario were great. Fabio did the walking tour everywhere from the Jewish Ghetto, to the Trevi, to the Campo Di Fiori, and then the class was fantastic. Dario taught Paul and myself how to make Ravioli… The whole meal was DELICIOUS! … So, then off to Florence. Our hotel in Florence was the best. Very comfortable and the friendliest staff and good location. One staff member even dropped us off at the train station they day we were going to Venice and it was very nice of him… We did the San Gimigano, Siena and Chianti tour and that was from 9 to 7 so that took up that day and we were exhausted since it was quite long, but it was a great trip. Really enjoy the Chianti farm we went to and seeing the winery and learning about how they make the wine, olive oil, honey, lotions, etc. This farm did everything. We brought back 10 bottles of wine …. Everything was planned perfectly. We might need a resting vacation now, but we really had a wonderful time, and thanks for organizing everything. It went very smoothly. It was good to start from the South and go up to Venice. I could eat pizza, pasta and gelato everyday and not get tired and that's what we did! We did a lot of walking, but the buses were very handy to go around everywhere. We saw everything we could in those 12 days. Thank you and Tomasso for all your recommendations of what to do and where to go !!! We will definitely use you again when we go to Italy and refer friends to you…"

"Hello Giulia and Tommaso, we are having a wonderful time here. We went to Positano and Pompei today. They were both amazing!! We took so many pics!! Look for the circle on front, we had a gelato and and drinks here while looking at the sea. It was a beautiful drive. Today, we are going to Capri. We will see you later! Ciao!"

"Dear Tommaso, I Picked this card because I trip my hat to your excellent service and you should wear a crown!Thank you Ciao I love Italy"

“Just wanted to thank you for your time spent with us in planning our trip and sharing with us all of the joys of Italy. The trip was beyond our expectations. Each day we found something more beautiful than the previous day. It was truly a remarkable and very enjoyable and relaxing vacation. Everyone at the hotels was very helpful. I don't know what could have made the trip better…Special thanks should go to the tour guide in Florence… Also in Rome the walking tour of Ancient Rome was perfect… Thanks Again for a wonderful trip.”

"Thank you for the accommodations at the … Hotel. We had a two story room fit for royalty overlooking the Gulf of Naples. It was more than perfect… Our driver that picked us up from Naples Airport could not have been nicer or more eager to please us… We look forward to working with you on our next Italian adventure to Rome, Florence and Venice. Thank you for your great service.”

"Hi Tommaso, we are in Venice on the final day of our Italian Honeymoon. We have had such a wonderful Vacation!We toured the coliseum and ancient Rome as well as the Vatican during our stay in Rome. We checked out the uffizi gallery and numerous churches in Florence. We even got to see part of the Florence marathon. The sienna tour was beautiful W e had some rain but the delicious wine more than made up for it. Today we are going to head over to the Ponte di Rialto and stop in some shops. Thank you for putting together such a terrific honeymoon for us. We could have never done it on our own! Ciao!"

"Dear Tommaso and Julia, Noi amiamo l'italia!! grazie"

"Dear Tommasso, We returned from our Italian vacation last night. Let me just say thank you for the accommodations at the T… Hotel. We had a two story room fit for royalty overlooking the Gulf of Naples. It was more than perfect. Room 216 will remain in our memories as one of the nicest hotel stays ever! Our driver that picked us us up from Naples Airport could not have been nicer or more eager to please us. After a long flight he was just what we needed to get to our hotel. The driver that brought us from Sorrento to Naples was so informative and had a fabulous command of the English language… Our Naples Hotel worked well for the final 2 days of our trip with its proximity to the airport and Pizzeria Brandi. We look forward to working with you on our next Italian adventure to Rome, Florence and Venice. Thank you for your great service."

"Buongiorno,Just wanted to thank you for your time spent with us in planning our trip and sharing with us all of the joys of Italy. The trip was beyond our expectations. Each day we found something more beautiful than the previous day. It was truly a remarkable and very enjoyable and relaxing vacation. Everyone at the hotels was very helpful. I don't know what could have made the trip better. While downloading the 500+ pictures, it made me want to go back!!Special thanks should go to the tour guide in Florence. She was very interesting and we spent almost the entire day with her. So great tour!!! Also in Rome the walking tour of Ancient Rome was perfect. The tour guide (she had a doctorate in archeology) was very informative and gave us plenty of time to explore the Coloseum…Thanks Again for a wonderful trip,"

"Tommaso,This thank you comes a bit late as I have been struggling with the words to express what a fabulous trip we had to Courmayeur, Italy and more significantly, the service you provided for us. The … hotel in Courmayeur was perfect, both in the accommodations and the professionalism and personal service of the staff and its’ location close to the ski lift and to the main shopping promenade. The … in Milan was over the top, gorgeous hotel, proximity to the underground metro, and the exquisite service by the staff, particularly the Guest Relations Manager … He was very concerned to make our stay memorable and he even gave us his cell phone number to call if Deb got fatigued during the day due to her injured knee. As you indicated, the hotel even went and procured the wheelchair for us and it was waiting at the hotel upon our arrival. We know all of this would not have happened without your arranging the trip, picking the hotels, and coordinating logistics for my wife with her injured knee. Your professionalism is exemplary! Thank you for a trip that, according to our children, “we will remember for the rest of our lives.” If you ever need a testimonial, please do not hesitate to give me a call, I’d be glad to give one (or several!)."

"Buongiorno, we are having a great time. we went to Isle Capri, going to Pompei today. the weather is warm here in Sorrento. Travelling in Tuscany was a challenge, we did get lost in the countryside. You have a beautiful country! Grazie e Ciao"

"When we split up with the kids at JFK, each of us returning to our respective corners of the world, the quote from L. and A. was, “Thanks, Dad. This is a trip we will remember for the rest of our lives!” The trip was fantastic with the only downside being Deb hurting her knee and we couldn’t get the parachuting scheduled.Tommaso… did a superb job in lining up the transports to and from the airport and the hotel in Milan – the drivers were always on time and very efficient. The … in Courmayeur was top notch with very friendly staff, professional service and excellent food. The hotel in Milan … was just that, a palace with impeccable service and beautiful rooms. When we arrived the front desk knew who we were and the manager… greeted us … He also offered his cell phone number in case Deb got tired during the day as we could call him and he would have a cab pick us up. What a neat experience! If you ever need a testimonial or someone to call as a reference for others that would want some feedback on Ski2Italy just let me know as we’d be glad to give an excellent rating and share the positive experience we had… Thanks for all your help in arranging one great memory."

“Just wanted to thank you for your time spent with us in planning our trip and sharing with us all of the joys of Italy. The trip was beyond our expectations. Each day we found something more beautiful than the previous day. It was truly a remarkable and very enjoyable and relaxing vacation. Everyone at the hotels was very helpful. I don't know what could have made the trip better…Special thanks should go to the tour guide in Florence… Also in Rome the walking tour of Italy…was GREAT!! So BEAUTIFUL!! So much history and art! We LOVED it!!... Thank you for all your help in making this dream vacation become a reality! All the hotels were so close to the train station and the museum reservations saved us so much time. The trains were so nice and comfortable. Everything worked out perfectly…”

"Tommaso, fabulous! We are having wonderful time + so far everything has been perfect"

“… I want to thank you for the wonderful job you did planning our trip. I am really impressed with your knowledge about travel in Italy… I wanted you to know everything went beautifully.”

"Buongiorno, to date we have visited Todi, Florence = all around Orvieto (what a beautiful town plus country side) Today we head to Siena + Castello Banfi."

"Buon Giorno, having the trip of a lifetime. everything could not be any better. Thanks for all of your help. Ciao e a presto!"

"Tommaso + Giulia, thanks so much for putting together our honeymoon trip to Italy, we had a great time!"

"A wonderful stay! Dolomites are simply wonderful!"

"Dear Tommaso and Giulia, we are on our way to Venice on the train. We have enjoyed our honeymoon in Italy...the art, the beauty, the landscapes and of course the food and the wine. We tried wines at the winery, even the olive oil and salsa etrusca. Thanks for all your help and recommendations."

"Buongiorno! hank you for exceeding our expectations. Our room is spectacular with a great view of the Canal. We are having a fabulous honeymoon. You have helped make it very special. Next stop...Roma!"

"Having a great time! Your private tours are the best. Taormina is beautiful. Ciao! (today's tour was perfect)"

"Dear Tommaso, we are having a wonderful time! Thank you so much for everything. Just about to tour rome today. All of your suggestions have been perfecto! We can't wait to see what comes next."

"Hello from Italy! We are having a wonderful time...you planned and prepared us well! Thank you! Hugs"

"Tommaso, we had a great day on our trip to Volterra! We are having a great time"

"Tommaso and Giulia, Orvieto is exactly what we were looking for. A quiet respite after big city Rome many beautiful + impressive sights but too many people, cars + crazy drivers! It was a challenge, but we finally found our way out of Rome and here. Looking forward to more good times. Thanks"

"Tommaso, we are on our last leg of our journey. Our cooking class was unforgettable your selection of restaurants are absolutely the 'the best" the churches and museums are breathe taking. Our only regret is we need more time. So we will have to return someday and put our destination in your hands."

"Ciao Tommaso and Giulia, we have a wonderful trip. From Alberobello, Pade Pio, Monte S.Angelo, Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi, Ravello and more to see and do, you have plan everything."

"Tommaso, the trip is wonderful, driving out of Rome is nerve whacking! The villa is beatiful it would have been perfect for my brother! Tuscany is sublime every village is a gem, Luciagno is our favorite so far. Tomorrow we go to Florence. Thank you for helping!"

"Hi Giulia, I just wanted to thank you for everything! I Had a fantastic time in Rome. The Hotel and the tours were great. Don't worry I threw my coin in Trevi so I will be back in Rome. And when I plan my trip you'll be the first to know. Thanks again Ciao!"

"Tommaso e Giulia, it is beautiful here. You should visit the area sometime someone would have to be crazy to leave here and move to someplace like houston. But it is hot about 40 C (100 F for you)! Every time we go we scream out "mamma mia" "mamma mia" but nobody comes..only th polizia."

"Trips 2 Italy, thanks for your help in planning our honeymoon."

"I'm having a little trouble with the language. I misread your "italian Phrases" sheet and thought "come va" meant "what is your name" the lady at hotel Villa Maria said "bene", so I thought her name was benny, after that, I,d say "Ciao Benny" and " Buonasera Benny" Now I know she thinks I'm a complete idiot."

"Tommaso and Giulia, Italy is so wonderful! The people and food are spectacular. We have been in Venice, beautiful, Florence cathedrals are incredible. Yesterday we went scuba diving! We are in Isola d'Elba. what an incredible, beautiful island! We travel to Roma today, after the beach in Procchio. Ciao!"

"Tommaso and Giulia, we are having a wonderful time . So much to see we'll have to do it again one day. You did a great job We are not ready to come back. Long line at the post office so we'll back before you got this.Ciao!"

"Hello Tommaso, me and Kevin had wonderful time in Italy. Thank you so much for helping us plan a perfect, romantic vacation!"

"Giulia - This is our last night in Siena. We are really enjoying Siena and all the other close towns. Visited Montepulciano today take a wine tour. Thanks for all of your help in planning our trip."

"Greetings from Venezia! We have been enjoying our trip to Italy! Thanks for all your help and recommendations. Your choices of restaurants are just fabulous! My favorite was in Siena - Taverna San Giuseppe"

"Dear Tommaso, we are all having a great time in Italy. Venice was great and so is Florence. Your hotel selections and restaurant recommendations have been uniformly excellent, we ate a restaurant last night in Florence that I found that we would like to reccomend to you. We had a bottle of wine there that was a better vintage and less expensive that what we saw at a local wine store."

"Dear Tommaso and Giulia, ciao from Tuscany! We are in love with this beautiful wine country. Casabianca is such a wonderful hotel. And the "vino nobile" is by far our favorite. Thank you for helping us with this trip. We couldn't be happier! Talk you soon!"

"Tommaso and Giulia, Italy is a way better than Germany!We are in our way to Venice for our last stop on the best trip of our life! Varenna was our favourite stop. We almost sent you a postcard saying "we are staying here. Sell all our stuff and send us the money!" We plan on returning to Lake Como as soon as life allows! Thanks for all of your help. You're the best!"

"Thanks so much for all of your help with our flight and bags problems. We are loving the trip so far. Great Job! Ciao Roma!"

"Hi Tommaso, we are really enjoing the vacation of our lifetime that you make it happen!Thank you! Very much!"

"Buongiorno Tommaso, we are having a very great time. Saw Genova, Portofino and Cinqueterre. It was Beautiful. Next we will see Monaco + French Alps. Wish you were here to enjoy with us. Arrivederci!"

"Buon Giorno Tommaso, we have enjoyed your lake and country! Bellagio and its surroundings are breathtaking and we love the hotel metropole. We couldn't have asked for a better 5 year wedding anniversary. We are off to Tuscany tomorrow!Thank you for arranging such an amazing trip."

"Hi Tommaso + all, Italy is more beautiful than i remeber. we are having a wonderful time eating and drinking at every opportunity. Spent the day in Siena and at wineries. Hope the rest of our trip will be as good as the rest."

"Ciao Tommaso, we made it to the beautiful Lake Como! We are so happy to be here. The hotel is amazing!Thanks for every thing Ci vediamo!"

"Tommaso e Giulia, Hotel Vittoria e Porto Santo Stefano fantastica!! Grazie mille! More pui tarde."

"Buon Giorno Tommaso, we had a wonderful time in Vatican City!we spent extra money and went with an american tour guide skipped the long line and she was very informative. Even the baby goats enjoyed it!Very hot here much like Houston! Hotel is nice but A/C lacking!will write again at the future stops! Ciao!"

"Hi Tommaso, Rome was certainly amazing but now, in San Stefano, we are really on vacation. Wish we could stay here longer. John has gotten the hang of driving here while I close my eyes. Ciao!"

"Hi, Paige and I are having a great time despite our rocky start!Already we have seen the forum, Colosseum,Palatine, Trevi fountain and too many others are on the list. Tomorrow Pompei and Naples. Thank you!"

"We have had a awesome time. Is beautiful here! Thank you!"

"Buon Giorno Tommaso, we arrive + begun to explore Italy. What a grand place to be in the world! We expect each day here will only get better + better! Thank you, Grazie!For having this experience possible for us! Arrivederci!"

"Buongiorno Tommaso, we finally got our luggage and everything is great!The guides have been superb! We toured the countryside yesterday. Ciao!"

"Ciao Tommaso, ci siamo divertiti molto! grazie per tutto! The tower was beautiful and our drivers + guides were excellent! We had a great times. I will reccomend you to all my clients who wish to go to Italy."

"Dear Tommaso, we are all having an amazing time! Sicily was beautiful and exciting to see all the ruins and sights. We are enjoing Rome now such an amazing trip for all!Grazie!Thank you!"

“We had a very good time and appreciate the hard work you and your team put out getting us a very nice honeymoon. Everything went very well… Again, thanks for arranging a fantastic honeymoon.”

"Tommaso, we are having a wonderful time on our trip. We just left Sicily and are enjoying our day in Sorrento."

"Signore Tommaso, a wonderful trip, so far. The owner and the staff at Agriturismo Gigliotto have been extraordinary.Beautiful location and wonderful service. Also, Mauro, a concert pianist, has played piano. Ciao"

"Hi Tommaso, what a trip! I'm now sitting outside my room looking at the valley of the temples writng the notes "amazing" Mary and myself have enjoyed every day. See you soon!"

“We enjoyed our vacation so much! Thank you all for planning our guides and excursions. All of our guides were very good. They were all very informative. Rome was probably our favorite.... although Florence and Venice offered equal excitement. Needless to say we walked our legs off! Fabulous sums our whole trip up!!!! Will definitely recommend your company to friends who plan on traveling to Italy! Thanks so much!”

“The Lakes tour with the ferry round Lake Como, and the boat ride around Sirimione was especially memorable. The G… Hotel was an excellent choice, as it is near the Metro, and its a beautiful hotel, one of the better ones I have stayed in. Although the tour in both the Liguria and Lake Tour were mostly from Argentina, and could hardly speak English, and slightly older set, some were very nice… Thanks for arranging the tour.”

“We just returned from Italy yesterday and wanted to let you know how pleased we were with your services.The transportation services were perfect and the hotels were great. The M. L. and C. G. were excellent choices. The rooms were very nice, well maintained and the service was even better. In particular, the CG’s staff were so warm and welcoming that we felt at home right away.Thank you so much for your help and be assured that I will recommend Trips 2 Italy to anyone who might need your services… “

“Our trip was wonderful. Highlights were the tours with our excellent guides Max in Rome, and Ana in Milan. Our arrival in Rome was chaotic -- we ended up in the wrong area looking for our luggage, then had difficulty finding our way to the right area without breaching security. That was the only "glitch" - after we found our driver, everything went smoothly the whole time we were in Italy. The accommodations were good at all three hotels -- we loved the staff at the Hotel… in Rome, and… Guest Relations at the …Hotel … in Milan was wonderful… The visit to TC winery was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we enjoyed it immensely. Pompeii was amazing, and the excursion to the five villages was fun (and exhausting). The drivers were prompt, courteous and helpful. The trip was beautifully arranged. This was my first visit to Italy. When I return there in the future, I will certainly contact you for help in planning another great experience! … “

"Tommaso, Venice, Florence, San Gimignano, Siena were wonderful! Just arrived in Rome. Ciao!"

"Hi Tommaso! We had a great time dining around Tuscany and staying in Sicilia. Thank you for organazing our trip!Cheers!"

"Dear Tommaso, having a wonderful time here! Claudio + Carlo are wonderful, warm, people who treats you like royalties. The view of the countryside from our window is spectacular. We have been to Pienza, Monteriggioni, Siena, Cortona, San Gimignano and Certaldo. Ciao!"

"Dear Tommaso and Associate, Gregg and I are having a wonderful holiday, thanks to you for all suggestions. Enjoying Florence after the rather hectic and crowded Rome, Food + Wine is fantastic! Best regards"

“This is music to my ears, when clients really enjoy their holiday, and this is what keeps them coming back. Tommaso, your people in Italy contributed to their enjoyment, thank you. It is good to have such a reliable connection to work with.”

“"I wish we had taken similar trips on all our stops. Please tell Tommaso that we were delighted with his guide and driver, and really enjoyed the day with them." …The Islands were beautiful and I will have wonderful memories of this trip."

"The tour you arranged in Florence was wonderful, we really appreciated the ability to be on our own without the crowds and to see that area from a local's point of view"

"By far, the best tour service we had was the one you arranged for us to Florence and Pisa. Our guide in Florence was great, and we really enjoyed our driver who was very funny and skilled with all the traffic!"

“The tour you set up for us in Florence/Pisa turned out to be one of our favorites. The guide was very interesting and we enjoyed him very much."

“Ciao, ti ringrazio molto per un tempo così grande che abbiamo avuto a Courmayeur.Tutto era grande, l'Italia, la gente, meteo, Sci, grappa, genepy, sole, neve. L'intera esperienza è stata una settimana di felicità!!! La ringrazio molto di nuovo!!”

“Finally heard back from James & Jamie this morning … In her words..."This was an amazing trip! Wonderful!" She also commented about the champagne in Venice to celebrate their anniversary. Thank you so much for arranging that for them, as it was truly a treat for them! Jamie is the one that had the injury. Not sure what exactly, but something to do with her foot. She said that the insurance they had took care of them wonderfully so it didn't slow them down and they didn't miss a thing. Tommaso and Giulia, THANK YOU once again for all your hard work and making me look good to my clients! You two are the best…”

"Buon Giorno! We are having a wonderful time. Everything has been perfect. Thank you so much for all of your help. You all did a great job! Grazie + Arrivederci"

"Dear Tomaso! Unfortunately I do not know you personally, but what you did for us was perfect, including snow and weather conditions. And so I'm on my own and my family wants to thank you wholeheartedly. “

“Thank you very much. We had a wonderful trip… The planned tours could not be better. Trips2Italy did a fantastic job… Bravo.”

“Had a wonderful time. Food was out of this world. Saw everything in Rome!… People very warm and friendly! Tuscany I fell in love with! Our hotel in Florence was beautiful and the staff very helpful… My next trip I would like to go to Sorrento, Capri and the Amalfi Coast… Thank you for all your help!”

“Thanks for setting up a wonderful trip. You were on target with suggestions and everything flowed smoothly. It was nice to get a flavor of many different facets of Italy!”

"Tommaso, this is a wonderful trip!Thank you for all your work! Perfetto!"

“I had a wonderful time, would love to be there now… We loved all the hotels and people were so warm and helpful… With lots of love and admiration. "

"Dear Tommaso & Co, thanks for the wonderful trip! Next time we'll ship Venice and go straight to Tuscany. what a magical place."

“…Because of our trip2Italy we come back with a many good memories of your glorious homeland. We enjoyed each City: Rome, Florence and Venice for different reasons… Each City left us with impressions, not just about the culture, but about her histories, impressive leaders and artists and geography. Our “dislikes” are so minimal they are not worth mentioning; our “likes” could fill a small booklet… Your help in setting this “Trips2Italy” up gave us the “gift” of an unpressured safe trip. We found ourselves “sitting back” and enjoying the rides, sights, sounds and sensation that is Italy.”

"Trips 2 Italy friends plus staff, Thank yo for assisting with our travel we are having a lots of fun."

“In summary, it was a GREAT trip! I am very happy that we went through you to plan everything for us. Everything went as planned with no surprises and you did a great job. Grazie!... Thanks again for organizing a WONDERFUL trip for us!”

“We had a wonderful time in Italy! Florence and Rome were amazing… Our Vatican guide, Maxmillian, was a very knowledgeable young man, and we felt very special having him show us the treasure of the Museum and all of St. Peter's… I wish I would have gotten the last names of all the guides we had because we would certainly request them again… Thanks for all your help it making our trip to Italy so memorable. We will surely pass your name to our traveling friends!”

“We want to thank you again for the wonderful trip to Italy. We had a great time!... “We can not thank you enough for such a wonderful experience. The restaurants that you suggested were as great as your schedule. Your guides were very helpful and informative. It was the perfect blend of relaxation and busy cities… You made our trip personnel, epic and a perfect anniversary”

“Buongiorno Tommaso! … We wanted to let you know that everything was FANTASTIC! Honestly, we have not onecomplaint! The hotel in Venice was very quaint and we loved the tour you booked, there was a lot to see, but we got to enjoy a lot of free time to shop and sight see on our own. Riding in a gondola was wonderful… The train ride to Rome allowed some time for recuperation. The hotelin Rome was in a great location - we spent a lot of time in the area below the Spanish Steps, in and out of all the great shops. The tour company you used was also great... The Vatican tour guide was especially fun and enthusiastic… and I would recommend her to all English speaking guests. The Colosseum Tour was also great - we were blown away by all the sites and history. The tour guide, Fabrizio really knew his stuff! We absolutely loved having dinner and wine in Piazza Novana at night and we really enjoyed the restaurant you recommended ... Our favorite part of the trip however was our time is Sorrento. The private car was a great way to travel from Naples and really enjoy the scenery. The hotel you chose was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. We would definitely stay there again. The view from our room was unbelievable and the breakfast every morning overlooking Mount Vesuvius was incredible… The tour of the Amalfi Coast was a great way to see the different towns - we loved Amalfi and Ravello. That tour guide, Giovanni, was also a lot of fun… Tommaso - you truly did a wonderful job planning this trip for us and we have already recommended you to everyone we know. I have attached a few photos of our trip for you to see! We will definitely contact you the next time we plan a trip to Italy - our new favorite place!!”

“We just wanted to shoot you a quick email to tell you that we LOVED our trip! We had a great time and your blue book helped us find things to do as well as helped us get around. We met another couple on a tour who said if they ever did it again they would plan it themselves because their travel agent failed to mention important things as well as forgot to actually make the reservations and misspelled their names on important documents. We, of course, gave them you to use next time because we had no problems. We can’t thank you enough for making it easy and fun filled. We loved Florence and the coast the most… Thanks again for everything!”

“Buongiorno Tommaso,The trip was great. The family and I had a great time. All went well except for missing the train to Florence which wasn’t a big deal just cost me more money and put us into Florence around midnight. The family thought that the Florence side of the vacation was better than Rome. They enjoyed Rome but thought it was very crowed. They enjoyed the tour of the winery the most out of the whole vacation and second was the Cinque Terre. Third was limocello…ok that was just me… Thanks for setting up a vacation of a lifetime. Good Job!!”

“The trip was great. The family and I had a great time… Thanks for setting up a vacation of a lifetime. Good Job!!”

"Tutto perfetto! Grazie!"

"We had a wonderful time in Italy. Italy is a magical and beautiful place!!!The only thing I was disappointing in was we didn't have a view of the Colosseum from our room in the Gladiatori… Thanks again for all of your help."

"Thank you so much for putting our trip together! We had a fantastic time in each leg of our journey. We really loved the hotel del mare! You did a great job and made our vacation memorable!"

“We had a wonderful trip to Italy. And without a doubt, our whole family enjoyed Lake Como the best !!! The lake and environs are stunning and … was one of the most lovely and relaxing hotels we have ever visited. It was a perfect way to end our vacation. While we certainly enjoyed our entire trip and all of the arrangements you assisted us with, I would have to say that the visit to the winery in Chianti was a highlight. The owner was charming, the setting lovely and the food and wine exceptional… Thanks again for all of your help.”

"Ciao from Milano! This is an incredible city! The hotel was wonderful. Thank you for your help with all our travel."

"Dear Tommaso, our trip to Monteriggioni yesterday was magical a step back in time. Driving has been fun and we are glad we brought our GPS! Last night we walked in the rain and found Grotta del Gallo Nero and Had exactly the medieval meal you promised. Today San Gimignano! We have already decided that one trip to Italy is no enough. Ciao!"

"Dear Tommaso, Ah! Amalfi, Sorrento, Positano! So gorgeous and such a perfect ending to our trip. Tomorrow Pompeii, Thursday Capri and then a very early 3.45 Am start to an endless Friday. But we will leave very happy and very glad we came to Italy!"

"Dear Tommaso, we are in Roma, sourrounded by catholics (like ourselves). The historical structures are breath taking and the narrow streets near death experiences (American humor). Our bus tour put it alla together after the two great walking tours. We are doing our fair share of strolling, wine and great food."

“Melinda and I had a spectacular time, and several times, we commented on what a fantastic job you did on our itinerary and the high caliber of individuals we were involved w/ on your behalf! It was just an ideal agenda, and we had a tremendous time – and of course, the cooking class was one of our favorite activities!!... Great job, and an incredible trip for us to have so many fabulous memories – thank you!”

“…Thank you very much for managing our trip for us. There is so much to do and so much to see, it can be hard to make the choice about how to spend the time… Everyone in the group was happy with the choices. The guides were very helpful, knowledgeable and very friendly and personable. We enjoyed interacting with all of them. The only part that did not seem to add much was our stop off in Naples on the way to Pompei but we understood the reason for that and it was good to get a taste for Naples.Our group really enjoyed seeing Pompei, it was such an amazing experience for all of us. And of course the Vatican and the Uffizi were just overwhelming in the magnitude of art and wonder. And of course being in the Colliseum was beyond imagining.All of the particulars of the trip went off without problem which was very helpful in saving time and energy.The cars, the hotel, the car rental and the connections were all well managed and greatly made our trip enjoyable and stress free. The hotel was very good, a good location and very helpful and friendly staff.We did get to Chiribiri in San Gimignano and it was a good suggestion, very good, friendly and enjoyable staff… can't wait until we get a chance to go back.Thanks again from the whole group…”

"Buongiorno Tommaso! We're having a great time! Tuscany is beautiful + the food +wine is delicious. There was so much to see in Rome + Pompeii was fascinating I think we are going to stay here! Thanks for your help. Grazie molto bene Mr. Davide"

"Dear Tommaso, we love Venice!Just when we are falling most in love with this unique city, it is time to depart to Siena. Hotel Dimora was great first stop, no jet leg problem at all."

“...Where do i start… All i can say i had a great vacation in italy and i met some of the nicest people, it was money well spent, thank you for let me enjoy your country, like it was mine!”

"Tommaso, Buongiorno once again you created a fabulous holiday. we love it here. we always speak highly of you."

“Dear Tommaso,… we just wanted to thank you for all your work and arrangements. Everything you arranged worked perfectly- despite our weather delay. The car we wanted was waiting in Venice, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Cortina. The snow conditions were wonderful, and we ate lunch at several of the "refugios" on the mountain… The Hotel… was very pleasant and convenient and the entire staff was very friendly and helpful. We had an exciting drive… for our morning drive to Bolzano. It was the most beautiful snow- not stormy, just magically white. We were particularly grateful for the printout of the train schedule to Innsbruck, as the one at the station was for M-F service, but we just trusted in your paperwork and the Saturday train appeared as scheduled… Without exception, everyone was very kind and helpful to us and we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Italy. We are thinking of going to a cooking school in Tuscany with some friends next spring, so I'll be in touch once we know our plans.Hope you too had a wonderful vacation in Italy, and again, thank you…”

"Hello! Tommaso, Venice Fantastico Fabuloso, Gracias"

“Hi Jeannie,Wonderful trip, Rome was beautiful & the Hotel… was more than we expected. Location was close to all the main tourist sites & attractions. We saw everything we wanted to see and then some. Please tell Tommaso … of Trips2Italy that his choice of hotel & transportation arrangements in Rome were great… Now, about Hotel… in Venice, location on the Grand Canal was exciting, the rooms were above our expectations, with an excellent hotel staff, especially Ms. Francesca... She gave us good advice about using local transportation around the city, recommended some fine dining areas, answered all our questions, made sure we were comfortable and without a doubt, helped us have a wonderful time in Venice. Bravo ....We would (and I am sure that Mr. & Mrs. B. would also agree) like to express our gratitude &appreciation to both you personally and also Mr. Tommaso… for ensuring that what we had hoped would be a great trip, turned out to be a FANTASTIC one. We will be recommending yourself, Trips2Italy & both Hotels to our friends for future travel. Also I will be making an entry on Tripadvisor.com recommending Trips2Italy & both Hotels. Once again, THANKS !!”

“We had a great time and everything went very smoothy. It was incredible and very historical. I wish I could go back in time. You did a fantastic job planning our memorable vacation together. It worked out perfectly. I loved Rome and Sorrento and would love to go back… I don't think anyone could have organized it better. You have given us some great memories with my parents. It was a great pleasure working with you and I hope we can do it again."

" Tommaso, Great trip so far, Vatican was fantastic!Having great time!"

"Once again you have exceeded our expectations! Perfect location for beach lovers like us. Plenty of fantastic food and limoncello! People are friendly and helpful. Transportation a breeze. Trip to Capri planned for tomorrow. Next day the coast highway drive. Thanks!"

“…Tuscany was all that I had expected. I have never seen such glorious light!! Elisa, the tour guide in Florence was wonderful as was the guide in Sienna… Your country is so rich in history. Thank you for choosing the perfect tour of Tuscany. We even saw men harvesting olives outside Monterizzorei. We were there at dusk. Did I mention the glorious light? We tasted and bought the best chianti I have ever had. I could return to Florence, a wonderful, beautiful city… Even with the acqua alta Venice was enchanting…The hotel in Venice is lovely, beautifully remodeled. Our only concern is that the mattresses on the beds were uncomfortable… All in all, we had a fantastic time and did everything we hoped to do and more. If we are fortunate enough to return to Italy we will call on you again… Thank you again for your guidance.”

"Hi, we are having a wonderful time. All has worked wonderfully, loved the cooking school!"

“Enjoyed staying at the selected hotels, especially… in Sienna. Beautiful view from the 7th floor terrace at night of the city. Trips 2 Italy had first class drivers who met us at the airports, train stations, and tour guides for all of the excursions. There was really not one glitch during the trip. One of our drivers was a little late due to traffic. My only regret was not taking an earlier train to Florence or Rome so that I could enjoy the scenery during the day. Would use Trips 2 Italy again if I were to travel back to Italy.” Thanksgiving week 2012

“The planning information provide prior to the trip the documents sent and the entire experience was fantastic. It was a wonderful trip. We will certainly use you again when we return. Which other countries had agents such as yours. It made life so much easier with your planning.” Thanksgiving week - 2012

“We had a marvelous time in Italy... Our trip worked out just a planned. Our flights were all good, connections worked out. Rental car and driving was easier than we anticipated... Liguria was beautiful. Cesare in Monterosso was a great host. The apartment we used was large and very nice, we were spoiled for the rest of the trip. You told us Liguria required a lot of walking, but we were not prepared for the walking up or walking down or the distance we had to drag our luggage from the parked car. I encourage you to give stronger advise to people regarding the walking and the cost of parking... the Albergo San Lorenzo was a disappointment. The service and people were outstanding and very helpful. The room was small – even by European standards... Our room was on the 1st floor and was extremely noisy... The truffle exhibit was fascinating! The sights and smells in the exhibit hall were fabulous... Our tours were just as we anticipated. The guide, Alexandra, was knowledgeable and very pleasant... The drivers were professional and very familiar with the roads... We hope this feedback is helpful. We had a great time on our Italian vacation. Thank you and all the staff at Trips 2 Italy!”

“Buongiorno Guilia,We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Italia. The tour guide was great and the local tour guides were excellent. Our companions on the trip were from Australia and New Zea land and they were delightful people . The size of the group was perfect .We had a wonderful time in Venice although it was a bit rainy. The accommodations were good and the breakfasts were plentiful. There were so many sights and history that it's hard to comprehend it all. I guess we'll have to go back… We enjoyed our train trip down south to Vericarbo.We didn't have any trouble with the train system it was clearly marked where to go... My relatives were glad to see us .I don't think we have ever eaten so much wonderful food. We were having trouble figuring out what my 89year old cousin prepared in a delightful sauce. Her son finally got it across that it was wild rabbit! It was delicious. The homemade wine was molto buono. It was a trip of a life time for us and thank you Guilia for all your help. We couldn't have asked for more… Grazia a mille”Susan T. – Templeton, MA

“Thank you for helping us plan the trip. It was a wonderful experience and trip of a lifetime”

“The 'Trips to Italy' people did a great job. Everything went off without a hitch; drivers were where they were supposed to be and on time; the hotel in Florence was well-located and the personnel cordial and helpful. The walking tour was well-done and thorough and the bus tour covered more than we expected… We would not hesitate to recommend 'Trips to Italy'"

"Buongiorno! he hotels in Rome Venice and Florence were all very nice. Giulia in your Milan office helped us with some issues, as Phill's wallet was stolen to Rome. We are off Tuscany for a week. Today's adventure will be driving out of Florence."

"Having a great time, thanks for all the help putting this together Everything is going flawlessly. I want to come again!"

“…it all worked out. We're on the plane to Houston. I will come by one day when Giulia is back during lunch and fill all of you in on the details. Thanks for everything. It was a great trip. You guys did a great job putting this together.”

“I just wanted to let you know how much our group enjoyed our tours of Rome with our guide... She was fantastic! Both days were so interesting and the "skip the line" tickets were definitely a must! She was quite knowledgeable, very friendly and a pleasure to be with. The photos and instructions that were provided for our meeting places were very much appreciated and helped the whole experience go smoothly… Thanks again for all your help and we will certainly recommend your services to our friends.”

“My daughter and I have been home from our wonderful trip to Italy... We had such a great time. Wanted to let you know our guides for tours were fantastic… The cooking classes in Florence and Rome were the best. The chefs at both locations were so personable and welcoming! … We came home with wonderful recipes, new friends, and great memories… All of your planning worked well with no mishaps… Thank you for planning so well and making our first trip to Italy such an enjoyable experience! We can't wait to return and explore the country more.”

“First of all I would like to say thank you for making our trip so great! Kevin and I had a great time in Italy and can't wait to go back!”

“What a FANTASTIC trip!!! We love Italy and I could see myself living there someday. Your organization is absolutely first class, from start to finish, every detail was perfectly executed… you and the rest of the entire staff were and are tremendous, true professionals and we are so very lucky Trips2Italy made our Italian experience a customized, once in a lifetime experience!!!”

“… We had a fabulous time in Italy. Rome was wonderful. Capri was amazing, the Blue Grotto was spectacular, the wine tasting in the Tuscan region was so much fun… Venice is so rich in history, we loved it… Thank you so much for all you help putting it together and for taking care of us.”

“We are now home and wanted to thank you for arranging such a wonderful trip. We had an amazing time!!! Everything you arranged for us worked out wonderfully - we were very pleased with the hotels and our tours; transfers and trains were easy too! Our favorite was the walking tour of Rome. We loved our trip to Italy and will surely recommend your services to anyone we know who will be visiting Italy in the future, and will of course contact you when we go again!”

“Your expertise of traveling in Italy was so valuable to our trip being such a success! The extreme amount of time we spent corresponding about what I wanted to see in Italy, what areas to visit, what tours to take, what kinds of hotels to stay in really made the experience of seeing Italy a truly customized experience… My son and I got to see exactly what we wanted to see, along with wonderful suggestions from you, and in the manner we wanted to see it! … Thank you so much! I hope I have given you enough information to know that we had an incredible and unforgettable time! … The vouchers for the trips were great! And having telephone # to call was so valuable!! Going over the entire trip with me over the phone a week before we left was so informative and helped me to understand the flow of the trip.”

“I wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful time! We can't thank you enough for everything. It was so organized, it made everything less stressful than it would have been if we tried to do it on our own… Our tour guides both days were very informative and did a really nice job… Honestly, we had an exhausting, wonderful trip and would highly recommend you to anyone going to Italy. You covered everything we wanted to see. I can't imagine anything we didn't see that we could have added to our trip. The vouchers were easy, convenient, and made our trip so organized. … We had a wonderful trip visiting a beautiful country.”

“We had a WONDERFUL trip! I totally fell in love with Italy. Everything went so well… I totally totally LOVED Rome; we stayed 4 nights but I would have liked to have stayed longer… Then, the 3 days trip we booked with you was also great; Stefano, our tour guide was Amazing!! He surely went out of his way to help/guide everyone with any kinds of details/situation. The hotels were also nice, you were right about that!... Thank you so much for your patience, assistance and kindness. I will surely pass the word around to anybody I know who wants to go to Italy!... Ciao!"

“What a trip! We hated to come home but were so tired that we needed to! We absolutely love Sicily, it's beautiful… Thank you so much for the planning… You are the best!!!!!"

… “Thank you for arranging such a memorable trip. The hotels were very nice and conveniently located and the tour guides and drivers very professional. I have highly recommended you to others who are considering a trip to Italy. We hope to visit Italy again ouselves and will definately keep you in mind.”

"Dear Tommaso, we had a wonderful time in Sorrento and have enjoyed Rome! We're on our way to Beirut but will always have great memories of Italy."

"Ciao a tutti, we are having a wonderful trip. the family are all enjoing all of the trip also. The kids are having a blast. We are in Florence but are taking our day trip in Lucca and Pisa Today. Talk soon."

"Having a fabulous time ! Everyday is a new adventure. is a trip will always remember."

“We had a wonderful time and so much of it was due to your hard work. We are so grateful!!! I will recommend you to everyone I know. Here are some comments: Venice: gorgeous, loved it, loved the hotel, loved the location, loved everything about this… Florence: Spectacular. Loved the hotel, loved it all. Drove to San Giaminiano and Siena and loved these day trips. Magnificent…The driver from Naples to Sorrento and back was really nice and really safe. Great job… Went to Pompeii and it was superb. Highly recommend this day trip… So.......that is the scoop. It was one of our best trips ever and we are so grateful!!!!!!!!!!!”

“…We had an absolute blast… overall we loved our trip and I would totally recommend you to friends who would be considering a trip to Italy. We loved both hotels that you selected for us. Nice location, the staff was friendly and the rooms were clean… I truly enjoyed our private wine tasting tour. Our driver… was fantastic and deserves his own company! … He truly loved his country and it showed when he explained the history and the culture. I learned lots from him… I liked that we had things planned, but we also had free time. I would love to go back to Italy and would use your company again!”

“We loved everything about the trip… The second day was the day we were scheduled to do a walking tour of the Colosseum and Ancient Rome. We easily found our tour guide… The tour guide was wonderful. She was a native of Rome and an archaeologist… We eventually arrived in Sorrento. We were taken to our hotel only to fall in love with the hotel, the marina it was located in and everything about Sorrento… Day five we ventured out to the bus stop and waited to board a bus to Amalfi… The bus quickly filled up with the last person to enter being an older, local gentleman. He stood on the steps in front of us and proceed to become our personal tour guide. He pointed out many sites to take pictures of and gave us the names of the various islands, towns and places… While discussing the trip, Scott and I felt the favorite things were the people as they were surprisingly charming and kind, and the ability to just walk everywhere and enjoy the views…We feel we have more to see and explore on our next trip to Italy…The only thing that we did not enjoy was the trash we noticed in Rome. Thank you to you and your company for all you did to make this great trip happen. We have and will recommend you to all we know.”

“The room we got … with your help ,was all we could ask for… There is no way we were going to get the room we did if we had tried to book it ourselves. That is definitely an advantage of using a company such as yours where you have built up a relationship with a hotel… tours were very well done! They were very organized, small groups which was great, and our guides both days were very personable and both were archaeologists so they really knew their stuff … “I am so happy I was able to find you guys. Your professionalism, care, concern, and knowledge were fantastic. You always said, you want us to relax and let you do the work-well I should have listened. You did it all… We could not have asked for anything more… Thank you again for all that you and Tomosso and Ana and all did for us. You truly made our trip the most special trip we have ever taken!”

“Italy was great, full of history and warm people and of course the food was delicious… Milano- Big city with the main attraction the Duomo and surrounded shopping area. We walked everywhere which is the best way to really see any city in Italy and its people… The lakes were huge and with splendid views… Bologna- Great food and the restaurant that you guys recommended around the hotel was very good. The Hotel was the down side since the AC was not working properly and it was hot in Italy… All the tours were great and very organized. The most fun was the Vespa tour and wine tasting… “

“…I just want to thank all of you for making such wonderful arrangements. We had a great time in Italy and everything went smoothly. Can't wait to return to see another part of the country. Too bad we missed the last tour but no big deal! Again, thank you for everything!”

"Tommaso, Tuscany is more beautiful than i imagined. having a wonderful time. Irene was both a delightful person and a fine guide! In Florence we had a "certified" guide who was not nearly as good as Irene."

"Tutto fantastico! Grazie"

"Buon Giorno Tommaso, everything is perfect we enjoy Venice and also went to Pisa and we are now enjoying Florence thank you!! a lot for everything. Ciao e a presto!"

"Dear Tommaso and Julia, thank you so much for arranging our trip. we have had a blast! Going on Turin today! Thanks again!"

"Tommaso, muchas gracias por toda nuestra Honeymoon esta super linda, Venice es bellissima hos falta Florenze and Roma. Te callingue cuando lleguemos para que veas fotos. Ciao e a Presto!"

"Tommaso we are having a wonderful time! Everything has been great so far, thanks again for all your help! We look forward to the rest of the trip!"

"Greetings from MonteCassino!Everyone is having a good time. Talk soon!"

"Ciao! Come stai? We are having a wonderful and busy time. Our tours were excellent. Mary, the owner, Angelo and Alberto have made our stay in Rome a wonderful and memorable one. Arrivederci Roma! Grazie"

“We cant thank you enough for the great job you did scheduling every thing with No issues… Arrival after a great Italia flight was good and driver was on time… Guide at Coliseum was very good. The Vatican tour guide was out standing and she couldn't do enough to show us everything. Day trip to "Pompei was super as driver Marcos was the best and gave us a private tour and brought us to a great lunch…Hotel in Bologna… was very good with great front desk people with a nice room. Breakfast was very good. Guide in Bologna was good & helpful and very nice. Ist day driver to Parma was nice but limited English but our guide was outstanding Michelle could not have been better…I would highly recommend your service to anyone…”

"Buongiorno Tommaso, we are having so much fun in Italy. We love all our tours, but our favorite would have to be cooking with Fabio. We learned a lot and meal we cooked was wonderful. Everything went smoothly in Italy thanks to you. Ciao!"

“We had a fabulous time during our time in Italy. Lovely country to visit with so much culture and history to absorb. My favorite parts of the trip were the lovely Amalfi coast… I also loved the day my daughter and I spent 6 hours walking in Cinque Terre. Absolutely beautiful! As always the food was fabulous and the dining experience is always an adventure. I would highly recommend Trips2Italy to anyone planning an Italy vacation. All of the transfers were prompt and efficient. Not one glitch in the entire vacation.”

”The trip you planned was perfect. We enjoyed staying in the countryside… We loved exploring Tuscany. We loved the cooking class. And we totally appreciated having a driver one day to take us wine tasting…We enjoyed our stay in Florence, walked too much, ate too much, but that is the charm of that beautiful city… I'd say the best part about the trip was traveling in beautiful Italy with top notch accommodations, lovely people at every turn who all speak English… and wonderful drivers and break out trips… Everyone you connected us to was delightful… So thank you for your thoughtful and responsive itinerary. We hope to get back to Italy in a year or so and will contact you again. Many many grazie's!”

“Ciao Tommaso,Thank you again for all your help in organizing our fantastic family trip to Italy. As promised, everything went smoothly which made the trip even more enjoyable. We didn't have to worry about anything thanks to your planning and organizing every last detail in advance. It truly made the trip even more memorable… Thank you again for everything. I will definitely be recommending Trips2Italy to others! Hope you enjoyed your trip to Como.”

“…Where do I begin? We enjoyed Italy so much. The hotels were a good choice. Rome is truly a walking city! The city was great and the food was amazing… The train trip to Florence was amazing! Business class was most comfortable and it was not difficult to figure out the train station. We fell in love with Florence!!! The piazzas were beautiful and the tours that you set up for us were great. Our wine, cheese, and oil tasting ended up being a very private class...just us and the owner… Because we were offered the VIP cooking class, time did not allow us to see the David. So that is definitely a reason to go back!!!Venice was lovely...a bit more expensive and not quite as friendly as the other two cities, but lovely nonetheless. It was amazing to see a working city with no cars and only boats for transportation. I think the order of the cities was perfect. By the time we got to Venice we were ready to just relax and take in the sites. The timing of the tours and the transportation worked out very well and having the agent in Venice meet us at the train station was a great help!!!Overall, my experience with working with you and your staff was very good. I have already shared my experience with other friends and family and would highly recommend Trips 2 Italy to them.”

“It was an amazing trip – your company is wonderful… I could not have been happier with everything.”

“Italy was amazing! We had so much fun. The history is evident everywhere you turn… We were able to see so many facets of Italy: the Mediterranean coast, the busy city of Rome, the Tuscan city of Florence, and the canals of Venice! What diversity!We had a pizza making class in Sorrento that was one of the favorite things we did! We were treated like family. It was amazing!... Our visit to Pompeii was so educational. Our tour guide, Francesco, was so passionate about the history and telling us what life was like there… Rome was an anomaly with its ancient ruins standing in the middle of a busy city! The Coliseum, Roman forum, and of course the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica were astounding! The Trevi fountain was under restoration, so there was no water in it. That was a little disappointing The Pantheon was beautiful too. Instead of Orvieto we stopped in Pienza. What a darling little town. The views of Tuscany were breathtaking. Florence had the Palazzo Vecchio where the statues were unreal!... Padua was a nice stop. Scrovegni Chapel and St. Anthony's Basilica were beautiful.Venice, how is it above water??? The islands were unique. Watching the glass blowing on Murano was so interesting. Burano's little fishing village feel was cool. Torcello was pretty, The gondola ride was fun, and taking water taxis everywhere was pretty exciting.I can't say enough about the tour guides or the drivers. They were so helpful, friendly, and informational! They wanted us to be happy and get the most out of our trip. We did not have one bad guide. They were so fun, always smiling, giving us an education as we went…We should have stayed longer!... Our travel was seamless. There were no plane delays or issues, everyone was there when they were supposed to be to pick us up with one exception in Rome. He apologized and notified the guide so she knew we would be late. All of the guides were on time as well. The nicest part of this vacation was having everything planned for us! Like you said, we did not have to think about anything except having fun! I can't imagine having taken this trip any other way! You made our vacation a memorable one! Thank you so much Tommaso!... I am happy to give you and your company a review. Be assured that it will be glowing! You do excellent work!”

“It was wonderful. Definitely one of the best vacations we have ever taken. We spent 5 days in Rome, 5 days in Positano, 8 days in Sicily and 3 days in Venice. Everything was great and each location was different. We were very impressed with the amount of history and the number of ruins in Sicily. There was so much to see with a great variety. The weather was also outstanding.”

“Tommaso;We returned from our trip on a week ago Friday and I just wanted to thank you very much for everything.Everything turned out absolutely perfect and Casey and I had a wonderful honeymoon. Thank you so much for the bottles of wine and the quick response regarding the coliseum tour.A couple of really high remarks go toward:You and your team for planning an outstanding trip with great service. Our Drivers in Napoli and Florence. They were both outstanding. The Cooking Class The Wine Tasting outside San Giovanni/Sienna Again, thank you for making our first time in Rome a really special memory.”

“I wanted to do something special for my sister’s 50th birthday. A party? A cruise? Nothing seemed to fit until I contacted Trips2Italy. They offered a lot of amazing group rates, but I really wanted something customized. Maria listened, asked questions and really understood what I was trying to achieve. She created a trip of a lifetime that fit my budget and schedule perfectly. My sister and friend enjoyed five days in Rome, one day in Naples and five days in Florence. Whether it was seeing the sculpture “David” or touring Pompeii, Trips2Italy made our travel dreams come to life. We enjoyed wine tastings and food tours. We visited museums and medieval towns. Most of all, we laughed and enjoyed each other’s company for nearly two weeks. There are many ways to celebrate life. I am so glad I chose Trips2Italy as a way to celebrate my sister’s special birthday. It was more than worth it. In fact, it was priceless.”

“Dear MariaJust to let you know we all had a wonderful time in Puglia, thanks to your superb itinerary and organization.Our driver, Daniele was waiting for us at the airport on arrival and became our driver for the rest of the trip, he was always on time and was very kind and thoughtful, going out of his way to make sure we were looked after. Ana our guide was also excellent, very knowledgeable, kind and friendly and they both made sure we made the best of every moment. We swiftly became very fond of them both.The tours you suggested Maria were wonderful and we really enjoyed them. We felt as if they gave us the perfect insight into a very beautiful and relatively unknown part of Italy and gave us the opportunity to see and learn a lot about Puglia in just one week. As well as the superb service you gave us during the planning stage, along with your very informative brochure on the area, we were very impressed with the care you took regarding the weather alerts for us. All in all Trips2Italy arranged an excellent holiday for us in all respects and we would like to thank you for planning it all for us. We will definitely be in touch again when we next plan to take a trip to Italy, however next year we hope to come to America!!Many thanks to you all”

“Hi Maria. We can not say enough good things about our trip. You did a fabulous job. The tour was great. Our guide Franko was so informative and interesting. The hotels were beautiful and the food was perfect. The car service was a family company and they were very friendly and always on time. It was all good. We would love to use your services again. Also we would be happy to recommend you and your company. Thank you again for all your work. We had a wonderful vacation.”

Birthday and Wedding Anniversary - Rome, Florence, Venice (September 21-30, 2014)“My husband and I just wanted to thank you (and your whole team) for a truly wonderful blessed experience of our trip to Italy. WE thank you for going…. Above and beyond! The scheduling of drivers pick-up to and from the airports, to the tour guides, and all the tour guides was amazing. We were bumped up from all the other tour groups and had easier access compared to the other people visiting the sites. It seems that people gave us top priority and treated us with respect throughout the whole trip. We want to thank you for creating the perfect vacation for us. My birthday celebration and wedding anniversary was truly a dream come true.I must say we had the time of our lives in your beautiful country. The trip was absolutely amazing! We loved all of the places, we were treated so well, and everything was so organized. Thanks again for arranging it all and making it happen.Again, many thanks for all your efforts and I look forward to working with you on plans for future trips to Italy soon.Mr. Tommaso De Poi gave us excellent advice on what to wear, eat, and how to handle money exchanges. The whole team from Trips2italy are from Italy, so please use their advice. To others that will read our comments in the beginning, I was skeptical on going, but I would have missed a life time trip of my dreams. The trip was absolutely amazing! We loved Rome, Florence, and Venice. Please take the tours of the different places and learn about the people and culture. The food was amazingly good. The hotels were top notch. On our wedding anniversary night returning from dinner my Lord, the room had rose petals from the door entrance, bathroom, floor and bed, large box of delicious chocolate candy, and bath robes with slippers.There really are not any words to explain our trip to Italy.”

“Thanks Maria. We had a wonderful time and we appreciate everything you did to make our trip special… The Hotel… in Sorrento is fabulous. We would definitely recommend it. The… in Rome was also nice, but not overly so... All the tours in Rome were also wonderful.The tour in Pompeii was also wonderful. However, it would have been nice to spend more time there… The Amalfi bus tour was interesting as it allowed us to see different towns along the coast… Our guides in Rome and Pompeii were all very good, and we would recommend the tour outfits to your clients. The personal drivers were also friendly and always on time.Again, thanks for a wonderful trip. We would definitely use you again and recommend your services to our friends who are interested in Italy.”

“Buongiorno Maria,I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know the trip to Italy was PERFECT! Everything was scheduled timely and efficiently. The tours were great and the sights were breathtaking. You and your staff did an EXCELLENT job! I will be sure to recommend you to anyone that I know that is planning a great trip to a wonderful country!Thanks again!”

“Maria, Okay, you girls are just truly fantastic professionals. The vacation was perfectly organized and went off without any problems. We enjoyed ourselves completely. We want to thank you especially for all the nice little touches like the wines at the hotels when we arrived and the wine on my birthday. Now I will tell you the things we most liked and why. First, the hotel in Rome because of the super friendly and helpful staff and its great location… which gave us inexpensive access to the whole city… I should also mention Federica who was our favorite tour guide of the whole trip (colosseum and ancient rome)… We loved the hotel in Florence because of its close location to the train and car rental, friendly staff and lovely bathroom… Our favorite lodging was the apartment at the Borgo… I cannot even describe how beautiful and peaceful that place is. The wine tasting tour on my birthday was one of the high points of our vacation. We also loved the hotel in Venice… it had a large balcony patio where we could sit outside, eat and drink and watch all the activity on the grand canal… if I was a wealthy man, I would buy an apartment in Rome and a Borgo in the Tuscany…Thanks again for every thing. It was all we dreamed of and more.”

“Good morning Maria,I wanted to thank so much for the tour you put together for us. It was outstanding. The hotel, the cooking class, the wine tour and cinque terre were all wonderful…We were able to enjoy the full four days that you planned out for us but that was it.Thank you once again"

"Dear Tommaso, Trips 2 Italy crew thank you so much for planning such an amazing on year anniversary trip for us! We are so glad we went, it was so worth it! I ate tons of tiramisu (10 to be exact). Florence was our favorite! Thanks again"

"Maria,The trip was great! Planning was flawless. The drivers, hotels and restaurants were top notch. No problems except for a little jetlag / lack of sleep. Favorite restaurant was Trattoria Der Pallaro in Rome (Campo de’ Fiori). Meal was family style and the service and food were excellent. Favorite drivers were Leonardo (day trip to Lucca / Pisa) and Vini (Amalfi Coast). I would request both drivers for your clients in the future. They were fantastic! The tour guides were all very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. I don’t think we would change any aspect of the trip. We will recommend Trips2Italy to friends in the future. I already sent your contact info to a friend yesterday."

"Thank you for everything! The trip was amazing. We had such a great time. My favorite part was Rome and Carey's was the time we had in Tuscany. I loved Rome because I love Roman history and it was amazing seeing all of the sites. Florence is such a beautiful city… We went to Cinque Terre for the day and it was beautiful. Of course the food and wine was great. The cooking class was a lot of fun and Venice was very relaxing. The hotels were great and we really appreciated the wine in each hotel. We can't wait to book on next trip to Italy through you guys. The next time we are thinking of southern Italy and Sicily. Thanks again!"

“Tommaso,Finally, Amy and I connected… Her Family Italy Vacation was wonderful. She couldn’t say enough nice things about the trip, the plans and how great it was to have the private driver!!!!! YEAH!She wanted me to pass onto you that their guide in Rome – Simon- was outstanding. He was great with the family and the kids. He definite added value to their tours. She was so pleased to have had such an informed and interesting guide. I guess he interacted with the kids, too. Sort of quizzed them on what they has seen. Lots of fun.Their favorite hotel was in Venice. They loved Venice. It was not what they had expected and were pleasantly surprised. Mr. N. admitted that they could never have seen and did everything, had they tried this alone. ?The loved the Midevel Village Tour and were very happy that it was done this way…They had a wonderful time and she will happily refer my name onto others going to Italy!!!Very successful. Thank you for all your help… I look forward to my next client going to Italy.”

"Thanks Maria for organizing our trip to Italy in June.It was everything and more than we expected.Your attention to detail was excellent and everything went as planned.We particularly enjoyed our tour of Pisa and appreciated your hard work in organizing the tight scheduled. Greg and I were delighted with the time and effort you placed in makingthis a special trip for us. "

"We had the time of our lives in Italia and loved every wakening moment of it. We did everything that was schedule, and also scheduled a three island tour while we were in Venice!... Absolutely breathtaking and gorgeous! We had a full day in Venice and wanted to plan something while we were there. It fit perfectly in our schedule before the amazing gondola ride- which was definitely one of our favorite things. We seriously loved everything! But our top favorites were the food and wine tour in Rome, the cooking class in Florence (we actually were able to bump up to the VIP cooking class where we went to a villa in Tuscany!) and of course the Gondola ride in Venice. There honestly was nothing we disliked. The schedule flowed perfectly! I cannot believe how flawless everything was. We could not wait to wake up the next day and start our new adventure together. It was the trip of a lifetime for us.I want you to know that we are so thankful for your help. We loved the Prosecco that was at each hotel from you too! So thoughtful of you. I would love to recommend this travel agency to anyone going to Italy. Everything went so well and we loved it. We will be talking about this trip all of our lives. Thank you again! …"

"Thank you for a wonderful Italy vacation experience. We all agreed it was our best vacation yet. The total length of time was just right, as well as the time spent in Florence, Pisa, and the Cinque Terre.The flights over to Italy were seamless, with just the right amount of time in between the connections…The Hotel… personnel were very pleasant and accommodating. This was a nice location and made for easy walking to the tourist sites. The room was accommodating, and we enjoyed the breakfast foods. On Sunday, we really enjoyed the small group walking tour and the tour guide – who was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was very nice to be in a group of about 8 people, instead of a large group of 30 or so as we noticed as we walked around… Monday's Tuscany tour and wine tasting were lots of fun, and Kelly purchased some wine to ship home!... The transfer from Hotel to train station, navigating the train station, and riding the train were pretty easy.Our arrival at Pisa, connection with the tour guide, storage of the luggage, and actual tour were perfectly timed. We also really enjoyed the tour guide and her descriptions of everything. Thanks for arranging the climb of the Pisa Tower! The tour of the Pisa cathedral was also fascinating… The train ride to Monterosso Al Mare was easy too. The Hotel… was easy to find, and in a great location! The daily breakfasts were great too. Your pick of this town and the hotel were superb. We really enjoyed our free time here. On Wednesday, we hiked between Monterosso and Vernazza, took some fabulous pictures, and then trained to the other towns for more touring, eating, and shopping. Thursday and Friday, we enjoyed sunning on the beach, relaxing, and enjoying the town.Friday’s departure from Monterosso was good. The hotel was extremely accommodating by offering us a guest bathroom / shower to get cleaned up before departing the city. Again – a perfect place to stay here!Our arrival and stay in Genoa was OK, but we were glad we didn’t have any more time spent there. The big industrial environment, shipping port, etc. were not to our preference. The…Hotel… room was very nice…Again, overall, we had a GREAT vacation. I really appreciate your patience through all of our planning questions, and your attention to detail for us to have such a wonderful experience. I am already recommending your services to friends!..."

“We just returned from our 12 day trip to Italy and wanted to tell you all at Trips2Italy that it was FANTASTICO! Everything went extremely smooth and we had nary a hiccup during our travels. All arrangements were spot-on from the moment we left Houston to our return.Each hotel was just as expected and the staff at each hotel was great. Our drivers and taxis were always prompt and courteous and our tour guides were well informed and pleasant to be with. We even had our driver in Florence take us somewhere that was on my agenda that he had never been to and he was excited and inquisitive and enjoyed it so much that he gathered all the information so he could share it with future customers!Thank you all so much for the putting together one of our best vacations ever.”

“Our trip was everything we could have hoped for and more! Despite getting off to a bit of a rough start (we were jet lagged on the first day which caused us to sleep through our first scheduled tour for the Colosseum) everything else was great! We ended up being able to join another small group tour… and our tour guide was very good. We really enjoyed visiting the Vatican - everything was very beautiful and our tour guide was very attentive and good at leading us through the museum and the basilica while providing a lot of details about the history… We really enjoyed our hotel in Rome - the staff was very friendly and upgraded us to a Deluxe room upon arrival because our original room wasn't ready. The location was great and we walked everywhere… which ended up being a great way to explore the city…The trip and transfer to Sorrento went very smoothly. I must say, it was so nice to have the transfers set up for us at each location (airport, train station, etc). Our bed and breakfast was very quaint and the owner, Sergio, was extremely welcoming - he had cookies and beers waiting for us at arrival! Plus, he had homemade treats for us at breakfast every morning as well as plenty of local travel advice if we asked for it. We loved that we were located near the Marina Grande which had great views and access to many local restaurants and the beach during the day. At night we would stroll into town to do some shopping and look for a nice restaurant for dinner.The tour to Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii was good but not great. The tour guide was a bit difficult to understand and the tour group was large which meant things moved very slowly… However, we did learn a lot and successfully made it to the top of Mt. Vesuvius where the view was incredible!Thank you so much for helping to plan such a memorable trip for my husband and I. Your suggestions and travel advice were very useful. Also, it was very helpful to have everything organized for us in the travel packet you sent before we went abroad. The hotels were in a great location and the staff went over and above to make our stay enjoyable. I already can't wait to return to Italy and explore some of the other cities!! Do you have a tripadvisor page where I could leave feedback? I would love for other people to be able to use your services! :) Thanks…”

" Hello Maria! Wow? We had an AMAZING time in Italy and it exceeded every expectation we could have had. We could not get enough of the food and the wine was wonderful. We tried new foods and continually were amazed and the atmosphere everywhere we went just made us feel so comfortable and truly happy to the deepest parts of our soul. Rome: The Hotel… you reserved for us was perfect! LOVED the location, our room was magnificent, the staff was wonderful… The tour operator you selected for our tour of the Vatican was excellent. The Vatican was a wonderful tour. Coliseum also was a wonderful tour and very busy. Tour guide for that one not as personable as the one for Vatican. But, that was a larger group, though.Florence: Never having been to a train station, we did not know what to expect. It is much easier than we were expecting once we figured it out… Room was very nice and the small hotel had such great personal service and so friendly… Guest should be prepared for the street noise, with such a fantastic location, there is a lot of activity out there! We loved it! Florence has amazing architecture and we loved all the various plazas. Also wonderful shopping! Venice: Venice was our favorite. Getting to hotel was tricky since it was a small door down a small alley and those alleys are busy! This is a city unlike anything we had ever seen in our lives… Gondola ride, unfortunately, was the only ill weather we experienced through our entire trip. It rained at that time and was kind of cold, but our guide was fun and the ride was very pleasant. You planned our trips and travel beautifully and our hotel accommodations and locations were perfect. Your advice you provided for us was spot-on and our experience with Trips2Italy was first rate. We encountered no issues or problems our entire trip. Everyone, seriously, everyone we came into contact with and met along our journey was so friendly and so wonderful and nothing about our trip was in any way unpleasant (gypsies were annoying at train station, but that’s it?). It was a vacation of a lifetime and we had the time of our lives…Thank You for all of your help in setting it up for us!!!"

"Derek and I really enjoyed ourselves. I am glad that we didn't pack all of our days full of tours. It gave us time to look around the city and see other things and get more familiar with the place. Both the Hotel and the Bed and Breakfast were wonderful. Sergio was excellent and went above and beyond to make us feel at home. He recommended a wonderful place for dinner, The 5 Sisters. The food was very light and delicious. All of our tour guides were wonderful, too. Overall, we really enjoyed ourselves. Thank you for all of your help!"

“I am home now and have nothing but praise for my Italian tour.There were sixteen of us when the bus left Rome. We discovered we were all on different itineraries, which was an interesting concept, but our tour director, Pierre Luigi, looked after us all individually. At the end, only three of us were left, with Pierre Luigi and the driver, which was very pleasant… The guided tours at all the different places were very interesting, especially as the guides were telling us about the places where they had been born and brought up. I think I liked the Sienna one best but they were all good. Everything was very efficiently organized and went according to plan. I have been very impressed with the whole vacation. Italy is fascinating, so full of history and wonderful works of art, including the churches and other buildings.On the last day Giulia was worried when Pierre Luigi changed the transfer plans for getting to Malpensa. However, he was solving my problem of how to get my luggage from the station to the Hotel…, suggesting having the car meet me at La Scala where we were finishing the Milan tour. Giulia was afraid I would be missing out on Milan. However, I was very happy with the new arrangement… Thank you, Giulia, for asking Reception at the S… to see if I needed help at the terminal. It was good to feel I was still being looked after… Thank you, then, Trips2Italy, for giving me such a fantastique holiday…"

"Buongiorno Tommaso, siamo a Capri! We took a hydrofoil here these morning. we took a bus to Anacapri and then took the chair lift up for the beautiful views. Fortunately it has been sunny + beautiful. Everything has been very far so far. We hope to be able to bring our girls back. Ciao!"

“Grazie! I had an AMAZING time. It was better than my last trip. I find it hardto even find something that I disliked. Alessandro was an amazingguide! He was very impressionable and knowledgeable. I would like tohave him for other tours. All the cites were amazing especially Pisa.It was a lot of walking. I see why Italians are so fit compared toAmericans. The cooking unreal. The cooking studio was amazing. I lovedlearning how to make the different foods. I now make my own butter. I'mworking on buying the tools to make pasta. I would love to do thecooking class that again. The markets are unbelievable, the look andsmells. Thank you once again for an amazing trip.”

“Thanks Maria, we had a memorable time.My wife really liked being picked up at the airports, train stations, and the hotels… I thought getting and using a taxi in Rome was pretty easy and affordable…We really enjoyed the "welcome" bottles at each hotel… As for the other "sparkling" bottles, we arrived at such a time we enjoyed them right away… Although all the hotels were nice, the Florence room was amended the best and had the best view (of the river)… The Ancient Rome and Vatican tours were the best quality. Cyndi enjoyed the Tuscany day the best because she got to rest on the bus. The other tours were fine and we went back to the museums and basilicas ourselves afterwards, like the Doge Palace…"Julia" at the emergency number was a big help the very first day when we were delayed out of Houston (airplane broke...4 hours late--she alerted the driver) and out of Rome (train line difficulties--she alerted the driver again). … if we know anyone visiting Italy, we will definitely recommend you. We enjoyed each detail that you arranged for us and felt like a VIP. Thank you for all your attention.”

"Decided to share this wonderful video with some more of my favorite people. We made pasta from scratch at a cooking class in Siena, drank wine and ate pizza all across Italy and had a wine tasting of Brunello wines… in Montalcino, had a Parmesan Cheese tasting in a wonderful little shop in Pienza, had a gelato almost every day, same with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and prosciutto, no espresso but lots of cappuccino, and I'm pretty sure I had truffles on my pasta one day. But we did so much more than eat and drink. The Tuscan country side was breathtaking, the basilicas, cathedrals and museums put us into cultural shock. (David hasn't changed a bit since I saw him last!) We toured villas with breathtaking frescoes, visited the Abbey di Sant' Antimo in Montalcino where we heard chanting by the monks, attended Easter Sunday Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Basilica, which was definitely one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen and the choir was amazing - they ended Mass with the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah! (one of my all-time favorites). We walked so much I doubt any of us gained any weight. We took God only knows how many pictures and when we couldn't get a good picture, we bought the post card. Of course, we picked up a few souvenirs. I could go on forever...... Tommaso and Ana, thank you so very much from the four of us for planning such a wonderful trip and making things so much easier for us with your attention to detail… My love to all of you! Ciao,"

“We had an amazing time in Italy! Every second was truly unbelievably great! all the tours and activities you set up for us were appreciated, enjoyed, and loved! a couple highlights of the trip were the Vespa tour through Tuscany and the awesome cooking class with Lucia in Sorrento! we loved each city that we stopped in, had a great experience with all the travel accommodations and hotels. we couldn't say there was anything we disliked, the food was incredible, people were nice, easy to communicate even though we don't speak any Italian, and learning the culture and the different ways we live from each other was cool and something we'll never forget! we cant even begin to thank you enough for your services! we don't know what we would have done with out you setting this entire trip up for us! we will definitely use the next time we get the chance to visit Italy again! I have already recommended you to multiple friends looking to plan trips! Thank you so much!!!”

" We had a wonderful trip! We weren’t quite ready to come home yet when we left.…We very much enjoyed both the Amalfi coast ride and the trip to Capri. During the Amalfi coast tour we were able to take a boat and cruise down the coast from the water, it was fantastic. All of the dining recommendations were great, we enjoyed Il Buco very much. The… was great! The personal tour of Pompeii was great, our guide was very good.Rome: It was a bit more difficult finding the Hotel… from the train station, but we eventually did… We enjoyed seeing all of the sights (Coloseum, Vatican, Piazza Novana, etc) and our favorite place to eat was Trattoria Del Pallaro. The Hotel was good, and the people were very nice. I think we decided we liked a slower pace better.Getting out of Rome in the car was tricky, but we did it. We did get an Alfa Romeo! We enjoyed the drive and did stop in Oriveto. It was very pretty. We enjoyed the small size of Siena. The second day we drove around Chianti and stopped at two wineries... It was one of our favorite days of the entire trip. The wine tour the next day was fun as well. All restaurant recommendations were great, and the bed and breakfast was a great location. Elisa was very nice . We enjoyed a glass of wine at Il Campo and gelato at Grom almost each night.…We liked Florence a great deal even though we stayed a short time. We ate at the restaurant with the “white boar” … it was very good. Highly recommended if we went again. We enjoyed the Uffizi and the Accademia. The folks at Hotel… said to tell you “Hello”.Our train to Venice was 35 minutes delayed which put us in late… We got to the Hotel… with just enough time to make the Opera, which was fantastic. La Fenice is quite a place. We were not as impressed with the Hotel… the staff were not as friendly, and they were the only hotel to not serve us champagne or wine upon our check-in… Overall, we like Sorrento the best with Siena/Tuscany a close second. Next time, we want to spend more time in both of those places and see the Italian Rivera… Ciao"

“Dear Tommaso, …You did a fantastic job working with Pat Thomas to organize a magical trip for me and my husband Derek and our friends Sharon and Jeff back in October!My husband and I were so excited to be able to revisit Italy recently in the company of two dear friends who had never been to Italy before. Our travel agent listened to our every little request, and with your help, Tomasso, presented us with an adventurous itinerary to help us make the most of our days in Italy!Together we walked all over Rome for several days, then retreated to the countryside of Tuscany for more relaxation and discovery. You chose perfect hotels for us! Beautiful properties, friendly staff, conveniently located. We very much enjoyed using your guidebook, customized just for us - full of historical facts, restaurant and shopping recommendations, even recipes! This was such a nice personal touch that I've never seen anywhere else in all my travel experiences.My husband and I have celiac disease and follow a gluten free diet. Everywhere we went, you made prior arrangements to make sure we could dine safely, no matter what meal. This is a special touch that goes above and beyond any traveler's expectations and you made it happen for us. We so appreciate your professional care and consideration for us!Tomasso, thank you again for everything. We all have such wonderful memories to treasure forever and I'm glad you could be a part of it for us! Gratefully,”

"Dear Tommaso: I finally had lunch with Lynn and Sharon and they regaled me with all the wonderful stories of their adventures in Italy.They were 100% pleased with their experience. They loved the neighborhood feel of their Rome hotel, and they received gluten-free breakfast delights every day. The tours were very good, but they found the headphone equipment to be lacking, so they didn’t use them and just stayed close to the guides. The Vatican and St. Peters tour was also delightful.They loved the Lucca Palace and being in Lucca… Their favorite hotel was the… in Florence. They other had balconies with different views and they were enthralled with the city…They said that your booklet with touring information and restaurants was fabulous, so keep doing that! Their flights were perfect, and they can’t stop talking about it….and they wish they were back in Italy already.THANK YOU again for giving them such a memorable experience, and I certainly will be back to you with future Italy travelers…"

"…Both Michael and I had a really terrific time in Italy. I would like to thank Trips2Italy for the wonderful Bottle of champagne that was sent to us. Rome was terrific and we stayed at a really nice place. It was really close to the old Rome, really close to the Spanish Steps… Mr T. was a really nice man who greeted us and even bought me some flowers for our Honeymoon. Pompeii was terrific and so were the Guided tours, really nice people. I loved the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel was terrific, and the tour of the Colosseum and ancient roman buildings to include the Fountain of Trevi. Florence was terrific… The PHL was really nice, The view from our window was terrific. From there we could walk anywhere in Florence. The Tour to Pisa was great.. going up on the tower was a great experience. The whole place was wonderful. Going to the Accademia Gallery Museum was one of my Husbands and mine greatest part seeing the original statue of David. The train travel was great.. once in Milano we toured the city the first day… The Last Supper and il Duomo di Milano were really terrific… After returning to Rome it was really nice to have been picked up at the train station and taken to the Airport.. that made the ending of the trip much nicer. The H. was a really nice choice for hotel for our last night.I have nothing but great things to say… Thank you for all of your help it was a trip of a lifetime and especially thank you Maria, you were very nice and professional..."

"Tommaso,We were amazed to receive the fabulous upgrade to the senior suite in Sorrento that you arranged. We were spellbound upon seeing the suite had three large well appointed rooms and a patio overlooking the Mediterranean Sea… The breakfast at the hotel was opulent and the one evening we stayed for dinner we enjoyed fabulous food & service. We would highly recommend this hotel. We enjoyed Sorrento more than Positano. Not only was the hotel much more luxurious, the city itself was more authentic providing us a glimpse into the Italian way of life. Positano was quite touristy (although the view from our balcony there was also magnificent.) … We loved Ravello - full of charm and flourishing gardens. We were surrounded by breathtaking views on both of these excursions. The tour guides you arranged were EXCELLENT. We especially adored our driver, Vincenzo who went out of his way to assist in discovering my Italian roots both in Atena Lucana and Naples. The high point of the trip was our day in Pasteum and Salerno. Atena Lucana is a lovely little town tucked into the mountains that looks much like it did in the 1800's. Our driver arranged to talk to some local folks and we videoed our conversation to share with my Italian mother… We found the tour of Pompeii fascinating and took plenty of pictures. As you might expect, we indulged in excellent food & wine throughout our stay in Italy. Upon returning, we have begun sharing our stories with friends and we want you to know that Trips 2 Italy has been highly recommended. Thank you very much for all you did to make our stay memorable."

"…MY TRIP WAS PERFECTO! Seriously, people asked how my vacation was and everytime I’d tell them, “It was perfect!” I cannot wait to go back. And, I’ll surely give your name to folks I encounter wanting to plan a trip…Thank you for EVERYTHING!"

"Buongiorno Tomasso!... The trip, as always, was perfect. There was not one single glitch the entire time. Our tour guides in both Italy and Rome were perfect as well. The walking tour in Florence started the trip off just right for Lori & Christine. It gave us all an idea of things to do later during our stay, gave them a better idea of the importance Florence played in modern history, and thanks to our guide… we had the absolute BEST pizza and gelato of the trip… We absolutely loved Allen, our driver for the Chianti day trip. He went out of his way to make sure we got to do everything we wanted to do, including a little stop at the American Military Cemetery outside of Florence, to finding a good vendor for me to pick up my much anticipated wheel of pecorino romano to bring home… The winery lunch and tour was perfect. Very relaxing, excellent wines and food… I think we kept Allen quite entertained and he will probably be talking for a long time about the three crazy American women he drove around--but he will smile when he says it!! Our chef and cooking class in Rome? SOOO much fun! I absolutely LOVED being in the market in the early morning to see all the fresh produce and the people and the colors and smells! We had a blast making the pasta and the rest of the meal… Our Colosseum, Forum and Vatican tour guides were both top notch. We had Valerie for the Colosseum and Forum tours and then a gentleman co-worker of Valerie's for the Vatican. It was still 100% interesting for me even though I had been to all of these places before because our tour guides were so knowledgeable and fun and obviously enjoy what they do.As always, your recommendations for places to eat in each city were spot ON! Osteria… was easily the best meal and the most fun meal of the entire trip. I woke up the next morning still thinking about that food! The schedule you created for us, everything from the flights (enough time to change planes w/out a rush) to the train from Florence to Rome went off without a hitch. It was probably, by far, the easiest travel schedule of all of my trips…Grazie mille for planning such a perfect trip. The girls now see why I am constantly talking about going back! We are already looking at calendars for the future so all of the COUPLES can go the next time! Ciao and happy Friday!"

"Buongiorno Tommaso + Ana, I am in love with Italy! I have enjoyed every place + everything that we see. My favorite is Florence + Siena, I could live here. The People are beautiful , so friendly, + helpful. We are off to meet the family tomorrow. A little nervous, but very excited. I will keep you updated. Take care, chat soon. Ciao"

"Dear Tommaso and Ana, we are in heaven Some of the merchants remember us from the last trip. The weather has been perfect. Today we are sight-seeing. The food is great as your know + we are eating and drinking our way around Sorrento. See you when we return."

Hi Tomasso,(I just received your e mail and it occurred to me that I never sent this note which I had written a week or so ago…..)Just wanted to send you a note as a follow up to our trip. Overall, it was a huge success thanks to your efforts. I thought you might appreciate some particulars. The pickup by Michael for our family transport to Venice was very good. In retrospect, a train would have been fine, but it was nice to not have to worry about that on our first day. Michael was very pleasant and courteous.Hotel Canal Grande was fabulous. While it was not a 5 star (we didn’t want a 5 star) it was really everything we wanted. The rooms were beautiful and the hotel upgraded our room to a canal view suite without any request from us. The view was amazing. The staff was wonderful, accommodating and very friendly towards our family. The breakfast was terrific and very adequate for our perpetually hungry group. This was one of the highlights of our trip. And I hope you pass this along to our friends at the hotel, especially Gianni, Natasha, and Roxanne.Our guide in Venice was Rosanna, She was excellent, friendly, knowledgeable and very warm to our family. I would have liked to spend more time with her.Dinner was great most places though Trattoria Aquasanta was our favorite (near Rialto). Right next to that restaurant was another well-known place called Trattoria Madonna. We would not go back there. Too big, too commercial, food was OK, service was poor. Really poorOur guide in Verona was Katia “something”. She was very good, very friendly, and very knowledgeable. Our trip to Firenze on the train was nice. Our hotel, Santa Maria Novella, was nice as well, though I would definitely not stay there again. The rooms were nice, but far less appealing than Canal Grande. The staff was courteous and kind, though far less so than in Venice. The location of the hotel was nice and close to the train station, but I’m not sure that is so important. The breakfast was excellent. What we did not like was the layout of the hotel. We had 3 different rooms on 2 different floors. Even that was OK, but the floors are actually broken up into different levels so you need to go up AND down stairs on the SAME floors to get from one side to the other, and elevators do not reach all the floors. We stayed there for four nights and were still confused when we left. The lobby and entrance areas were beautiful, but overall, the hotel layout was a bit annoying. Our guide in Firenze was Marco, I do not recall his last name. He was the best. He was extremely knowledgeable, very engaging, charming, warm, and friendly. Our driver to the countryside was very nice and courteous. He was not very engaging or particularly warm and this was just his personality, I feel. Christiano was helpful and patient, but not as wonderful as our other guides. Siena was great, though I wish we had a guide. San Gimignano, though clearly very “touristy”, was worth the trip. The wine tasting was fun, that specific vineyard was a bit of a disappointment based only on my expectations. I was expecting a grander place, but perhaps they are all like that. Our Hotel in Bologna was very good and it worked out quite well. The drivers for our last trip to the airport were timely and everything worked out fine.In all, this was a magical trip that my family will always remember and cherish. We cannot wait to return, and when we do, I will look forward to speaking with you again to plan another extraordinary trip to an extraordinary country. I appreciate all your patience in dealing with the various issues my family had to manage with respect to different arrival and departure dates, etc.Every day, we all long to return to Italy. We LOVED this trip, and we cannot wait to return. If not for education expense, we would be planning our next trip for the fall! Thanks again Tommaso to you and your very helpful staff, and good luck as your busy season returns!John

"Buongiorno Maria! Our trip was amazing and mesmerizing! The whole package you created was wonderful and we loved everything about Italy and our experience there! We will tell everyone about your wonderful agency and how well planned it was and how perfect the time spent there was... I love Italy and will return in 2 years. Thank you and to all the staff at trips to Italy that made this trip for my husband and I unforgettable. Ciao Bella!"

"Maria, Anna, and ThomasThank you so much for your assistance, the Trip Plan and reservations. This personalized tour of Florence and Rome were perfect for the time we had to visit Italy. We could focus on having a good time and not worrying about what to do and how to do it…The train ride from Florence to Rome was beautiful and comfortable.Florence was astounding but we enjoyed Rome even more. The Hotel… was nicely situated away from the center of town but close enough to walk to the Colosseum and the center of Roman civilization. The Tour of the Vatican was our favorite… Our tour guide was easy to understand and with the limited number on the tour we could ask questions and converse about what we saw. The booklet your group put together was excellent. It had many descriptions and tips on the places we visited. This included useful maps of the metro system, stores to visit, interesting history items, and some of your personal favorites of restaurants and walks from someone who knows and just visited the place.We especially enjoyed the water fountains, "roman noses" in Rome. The spring water was abundant, sweet tasting and free.Again, Thank you the most for your personal attention to our needs and enjoyment."

"Tommaso,We had a great trip. Thanks to you and your team! We really enjoyed Italy, especially the people. Everyone we encountered was very warm and engaging. The best part of the trip for us was the time we spend in Siena and the small towns in Tuscany. We enjoyed the Rome and Venice as well, but the crowds were a bit much for us..."

“Hello Friends! We had an AMAZING trip. We cannot thank you enough for all the planning and arranging. You guys are the best. All our guides were wonderful and so knowledgeable… We did a lot of walking and that was great. The best way to see a city, of course. Pasta & gelato & wine - we consumed as much as we could. Mmmm. We saw everything that you booked for us and pretty much walked in the evenings. Nothing extra but the food and the walking. And a bit of shopping. :) I have to say the Palio was a big hit. That day couldn't have been any better. We were visiting the San Domenico church when the group from the Dragon district came in, drums and all. That was a sight… Goose district won the race (as I'm sure you already know!) and then the crowd went out right under our window with the banner and the jockey. And as we walked back to meet the driver, we walked through the Goose district again just as they were parading through with the banner. And then we bought Goose flags, which the boys have hung over their bedroom doors. The apartment was perfect. Cool and they even had food and wine for us. Yay wine!… I think Venice was my favorite for photography. The light there is simply breathtaking… Again, we don't have the words to tell you what a great trip this was. My mom and all of us are thoroughly impressed with all you did for us. From the drivers to the guides - all of it - everything was so well executed. Your timing was perfect on everything. We will definitely be pointing any of our friends looking to go to Italy in your direction. Thank you again for everything!”

"Wow...Venice is amazing !!!..the gondola ride was a once in life time experience…Thank you again for providing us with an amazing experience… See below the comments from Mark M. on his trip to Italy… I'm sure we will do business in the future. I recommended your company to other travel agents who were on our cruise seminar at sea. "

"...our honeymoon was INCREDIBLE! We had the time of our lives... a trip we will remember forever and will look back on throughout our marriage. You and your staff made it all happen. We would recommend Trips2Italy to anybody we met who was thinking of going there. Please let us know what we can do to get the word out on how great you and your staff are! …we would be more than happy to let everyone know what a fantastic job Trips2Italy did for our honeymoon.This e-mail would be way too long if I tried to describe all of the unforgettable experiences we had… We have been told by friends that Venezia is boring but we couldn't disagree more. We had an amazing time there and our itinerary was perfect for us. We will never forget the wine tasting on our last night there. The owner of the restaurant was a fantastic guy and treated us like we were royalty. We also must mention how incredible it was to get such a quick response from your staff when we had that small issue with one of the walking tours on our second day. I believe it was Ana. She got back to us right away, and we didn't realize until afterwards that we had called her at 3AM local time! We… couldn't believe how helpful she was especially given the timing… Again, I can't mention all the great times we had in Firenze and Roma but you could not have recommended a better place for the Fiorentina Steak... Osteria... was amazing… Finally, the cooking class was a perfect end to our trip. We not only learned more than we thought we would but the experience itself was fantastic. Very casual, in a very good way, and the chef was obviously an expert in his field. It was overall a fantastic experience and the food he taught us to cook was divine.We cannot thank you enough for everything that you and your staff did to make our luna di miele the best it possibly could be. Grazie mille!..."

“ Had a great trip. We really enjoyed all of it…We would give high marks to the hotels and the the tours… Our only stumble was the weather in Venice… Could have used another day in the Florence/Tuscany area, really nice. Rome time was perfect amount, with the day we added… I recall you saying that you had minimal experience with the tour company out of Houston. We thought they did a great job not only with the agenda, but the pre trip call (very helpful), and the gondola follow up… Thanks again for all your work!”

“We knew we were in good hands since you took such good care of my niece Michelle 5 years ago. The trip was terrific, enjoyed the diversity of nationalities, etc. Staff was accommodating and welcoming and we felt secure that everything was taken care of from your end. The blue book was helpful… Thanks again.”

"Buongiorno Tommaso, arrived safely and spent the first day walking around city centers. Amazingly beautiful great food Hotel Very nice Looking forward to next week."

“… we had a wonderful trip and are very grateful for your excellent planning. It was such a relief to know you had handled every detail and we simply had to show up and present vouchers. We loved all the tour guides and gained much from their wealth of knowledge on Italy, art and the culture of each city… The hotels were all excellent with great breakfast and accommodations. We were close to the historical monuments, museums and churches which were beautiful and amazing… I agree with L, the tour to Chianti was the highlight. Our guide was charming and shared the background on the region as we drove. I loved the winery tour and everyone we met. We have already been recommending you to our friends and will continue to do so. Thank you for a memorable trip. It was fun, inspiring and relaxing because you had handled all the details… Thank you!”

"Ciao From Roma! Really Enjoy our Trip. Thank you for everything."

“Thank you once again Tommaso for helping my clients have the best experience possible in Italy!”

“We did have an amazing time! Everything was so well-planned, we did not have to worry about a thing! All of our hotels had excellent service, good location, and were very clean. We enjoyed all having the perfect amount of down time between tours. All of the accommodations for drivers were convenient, friendly and spoke English! Of course we enjoyed our night tour guides in Rome having Prosecco for our birthdays and the champagne in the room! You guys are the best :) Overall great trip and very well-planned, now if only the rest of my travel breaks can go that smoothly…”

"Dear Giulia and Gang, we wanted to thank you for the wonderful travel arrangements you made for us. We couldn't have asked for a better trip, well, maybe no rain would have been nice but then we would have missed that experience, we were so thankful to be able to contact someone immediately with her problems the person who helped us was also named Giulia and she was wonderful. Thank you for the bottle of Prosecco. we enjoyed it immensely. we will not hesitate to reccomend your services to anyone going italy. Ciao"

"We did have an amazing time! Everything was so well-planned, we did not have to worry about a thing“Cooking class was the best I have been to. Lella is amazingly talented and her translator was charming… Car booking was done perfectly. Hotel in Florence was a great location but 1-2 stars lower than my preference… The tour booklet you made was excellent. The half day tour perfect: excellent driver, and a good, quiet wine place is where he took us, plus 2 ancient villages. Thanks again.”

"Julia + Friends, thank you for suggesting the trip to San Gimignano + Siena we loved it!We could never have planned a trip as wonderful as this one. Thank you!"

"Good morning Tommasso,We want to thank you and your team for organizing such a wonderful trip. The views were spectacular and the team was very professional. The short duration was somewhat of a tease, but we will certainly want to go back and spend more time.Best regards, Joanne "

"Tommaso: As I wrote in my previous note, we were very happy with all of the arrangements you made for us and I have recommended Trips2Italy to a friend.As far as hotels: Albergo Terminus in Como great location. The Grand Visconti in Milan was an excellent choice – very nice hotel, close the subway, and in a quiet neighborhood with many restaurants for dinner only a short walk away. One place we would recommend to others is Trattoria Mibabbo, which opened a year ago. Excellent, a bit updated version of traditional food and only a couple of blocks away.Hotel Margherita in Monterossa, good location, etc., not fancy but fine. Actually, one of the things we appreciated was the fact they did bulk laundry at a very reasonable price.However, the Sheraton at the Milan airport – a great location of course, but has problems. The air conditioning and TV did not work in the first room they assigned us to. Had to call reception several times. The temp went from 28.1 to 28.8 in two hours as we tried to cool off the room. Finally, when someone came to the room, they immediately gave us a different room. Many places where the A/C does not work in the hotel.Hope these comments are helpful as you assist other people in their travel arrangements.Thank you again. Georgia "

" Tommaso, Denis and I just got into Sheraton hotel at Milan airport.Trip was great and all of your arrangements worked out very well. The guides and drivers were all knowledgeable and charming. The day trip to Turin was an excellent suggestion and the hikes in Cinque Terre got us away from the crowds.Thank you. Georgia "

"We loved the trip to Italy! We traveled June 4 - June 9. We left Rome and stopped in Assisi for lunch (beautiful mountain town), stopped in Siena and then spent 2 nights in Florence (an exciting city on a river and the tour of the Statue of David). Took an afternoon trip to Pisa. Then went to Bologna to walk through the markets and have lunch and stopped in Padua. Spent 2 nights in Venice with a gondola ride and toured the Murano glass factory! On the way back to Rome stopped in Montepulciano (right in the middle of Tuscany) for lunch. Spent 2 more nights in Rome and toured the Vatican - Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Square and Basilica. I loved seeing the countryside driving to each town. I liked stopping in the towns for a couple of hours for a small tour and then some free time. The tour was a good pace. We kept busy the whole time. Lucy,our tour guide, was an expert at knowing how much time to do everything - excellent pace. It was an excellent tour! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to get a good feel of what Tuscany, from Rome to Venice, is like. Ciao!Wendy "

" Thanks for your email! Italy was amazing, I'm so glad we picked the places that we did. Each had it's own personality and we loved exploring them all.We loved walking around Venice, Burano is one of my favorite places in the world! It is so picturesque and adorable. We loved the Doge's Palace tour and walking through the Bridge of Sighs. We found amazing coffee house with live music and good food. The food tour in Rome was one of the highlights of our trip! The places we went to were so perfect and the tour guide (Anna) was amazing. It was such a great way to see the city, I would highly recommend it to anyone. The Vatican was of course incredible and we loved seeing the ruins and walking around. Our Pompeii tour guide (Francesco) was so passionate and informative. You could tell he really cared about his town and his tour, he had so much to say about everything. It was nice to have the private tour and I would continue to use him as a guide, he was really great. Sorrento had to be my favorite city we visited. The Hotel there was the best we stayed in, the view was incredible. The marina grande was so cute and just what we were looking for. The fresh food, gelato, shopping, just everything there was great. This town has an amazing vibe.The only disappointments were cancelled gondola tour but we did appreciate the customer service we received from your team around this. The transportation vouchers were great, everything went off without a hitch and everyone we interacted with was very helpful. It was really nice to not have to worry about cars, the timing, and the trains. It was really easy and well managed. Thanks for your assistance and your planning. It was an unforgettable trip! "

" Buongiorno,What a wonderful trip you planned for us! Grazie, grazie, grazie! And please thank Julia for her assistance while we were there. I am in love with Venice and Tuscany. I now want to study Italian and go there for a 4-6 weeks to travel about.Thank you for the wonderful drivers (although the guy is Bologna was a little scary). Elena was great on the food tour, as were all of the tours you set up for us. We struggled a bit with some of the google maps. The guide in Bologna agreed that the map to get us to her meeting point was pretty unhelpful (just so you know for other travelers).I will recommend your services to anyone I know, and if I really do have the chance to return to Italy, you will be the ones to help me set it up.There's a post card on its way to your office.Ciao,Jan G. "

" Maria, Ana, and Tommaso:Thank you for a wonderful Italy vacation experience. We all agreed it was our best vacation yet. The total length of time was just right, as well as the time spent in Florence, Pisa, and the Cinque Terre.The flights over to Italy were seamless, with just the right amount of time in between the connections. We were very pleased to sit together from Dallas to Amsterdam – so if you’ll changed our seating – THANKS! The smaller plane from Amsterdam to Florence was fine to have split seating.The plane arrived on time in Florence. We had a short wait, as the driver arrived according to his paperwork, about 15 minutes after our arrival. The Hotel Giglio personnel were very pleasant and accommodating. This was a nice location and made for easy walking to the tourist sites. The room was accommodating, and we enjoyed the breakfast foods. On Sunday, we really enjoyed the small group walking tour and the tour guide – who was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was very nice to be in a group of about 8 people, instead of a large group of 30 or so as we noticed as we walked around. It was a bit challenging to find the exact location of the tour guide office. So, for your future clients, I recommend written walking directions from the hotel and/or a more detailed / close-up map on how to walk from the hotel to the office location. We ended up asking the local police for directions.After the walking tour and lunch, we toured the Bargello museum and then the Accademia. We had time to walk around, see some sites, and go back to the hotel to rest. In the evening, we walked to the Michelangelo Plaza and ate dinner at a place on the lower deck, taking in the view of the city as the sun was setting. Monday's Tuscany tour and wine tasting were lots of fun, and Kelly purchased some wine to ship home!Tuesday morning we opted to skip the Uffizi and instead toured the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, and then the Duomo cathedral – all picturesque.The transfer from Hotel to train station, navigating the train station, and riding the train were pretty easy.Our arrival at Pisa, connection with the tour guide, storage of the luggage, and actual tour were perfectly timed. We also really enjoyed the tour guide and her descriptions of everything. Thanks for arranging the climb of the Pisa Tower! The tour of the Pisa cathedral was also fascinating. After the tour, we enjoyed having some time to take a refreshment break and then head back to the train station at a leisurely pace. The train ride to Monterosso Al Mare was easy too. The Hotel Punta Mesco was easy to find, and in a great location! The daily breakfasts were great too. Your pick of this town and the hotel were superb. We really enjoyed our free time here. On Wednesday, we hiked between Monterosso and Vernazza, took some fabulous pictures, and then trained to the other towns for more touring, eating, and shopping. Thursday and Friday, we enjoyed sunning on the beach, relaxing, and enjoying the town.Friday’s departure from Monterosso was good. The hotel was extremely accommodating by offering us a guest bathroom / shower to get cleaned up before departing the city. Again – a perfect place to stay here!We could have left Monterosso an hour or so earlier if needed. Our arrival and stay in Genoa was OK, but we were glad we didn’t have any more time spent there. The big industrial environment, shipping port, etc. were not to our preference. The Grand Hotel Savoia room was very nice.Our Saturday morning departure was early as planned, but I think we would have been OK to have left the hotel later, maybe at 6am instead of 5am. The flight to Paris was fine. However, the connection time to get to the Paris departure flight was very tight, and navigating from a smaller terminal via bus to a second very large terminal, and then walking to a third very large terminal and trying to find the Delta ticket counter was all a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, a customer service representative recognized that we were overwhelmed, stepped up, and assisted us by moving us to the front of the line for a Delta agent to assign our seats and direct us to the security check-in lines. It would have been better to have already had seat assignments and to have been able to check-in via internet the night before. We rushed through the airport, and arrived at the gate which was already boarding passengers. It seemed to us that we had ~5 minutes or so to spare before the plane doors closed. We did get situated and enjoyed the flight back to Minneapolis.For future reference, I suggest travelling from Monterosso all the way to Paris the same day, and spend the night in Paris – assuming flight availability. The next day, then transfer from the Paris hotel to the correct airport terminal for the flight home. I think this would be a lot less hectic.Our arrival to Minneapolis was fine – although there was stormy weather. We had plenty of time to have been on the earlier flight (3-3:30pm) to DFW, but that flight was already booked. Due to the weather, our flight was delayed from 6pm to 11pm. We arrived DFW airport ~ 12:15am on Sunday and safely home about an hour later.Again, overall, we had a GREAT vacation. I really appreciate your patience through all of our planning questions, and your attention to detail for us to have such a wonderful experience. I am already recommending your services to friends!Chow, Dianne W. "

" To Tommaso and the Staff of Trips 2 Italy,Our recent trip to Italy was fantastic. The Lake Como region is as beautiful as we imagined. On our boat trip we visited Tremezzo, where we spent time at Villa Carlotta in the spectacular gardens and toured the villa, followed by a visit to Bellagio, where we bought silk scarves from a local shop. While it was colder than we expected to start that morning, the afternoon sun warmed us and made for breathtaking views. We had the risotto and perch dish you mentioned in Como city - excellent! The trip on the Bernina Express and the return drive were spectacular also. The views were beyond our imagination. At the top of the mountains, it was actually snowing - a beautiful and pristine setting for two travelers from Houston who never get to see snow. After coffee in St. Moritz, we stopped for lunch in Chiavenna, and then a stop in Menaggio for gelato and a stroll around the village. Our time in Milan was too short to take in all that we saw. We enjoyed the bus tour, but had no opportunity to return to any of the places we saw, or explore further on our own. We did get a ride in the Maserati courtesy car to the Galleria. A beautiful way to see the streets and to arrive in style.Venice was such a beautiful Renaissance city. We loved wandering the narrow streets and browsing in the shops. The crowds in and around St. Mark's Square made the tour of the Duomo quite challenging although we did enjoy it. After losing sight of the guide twice, and having difficulty hearing her in the large group, we left the crowd behind to enjoy a delicious and leisurely lunch at a trattoria near the hotel. We loved the Bacari tour, as there were only 6 people plus 2 guides. The small bars we stopped at were interesting and unique; the wines and snacks were wonderful. It was the perfect size gathering for us and a perfect ending to the week's adventure. We tried both the sardines and the cod specialties of the region and thought they were both excellent. We do apologize for the missed train station in Venice. We saw no distinction in the names of train stations, and it took time to understand what we did wrong, and where we went wrong, then buy tickets and try (unsuccessfully, twice) to board a train back to Venice. We could only think, on arriving in Venice, that both of us must have fallen asleep and not noticed the difference in where we thought we were supposed to get off the train. By that day, we were fairly exhausted from the other days of long tours and travel. We are sorry for any inconvenience we caused. We did wave to the family in Colico, from the direction of Bellagio, and as we passed the signs on the way to Tirano. The hotels, and the staff at each of the hotels, were excellent. From 21st century to the 14th century, they were quite an experience; all were comfortable and accommodating. Our luggage did not make the connecting flight in Amsterdam, and arrived late afternoon on Monday, after our arrival on Sunday. While we missed having our warmer coats, it didn't stop us from quickly finding cappuccino and gelato in Como. The airline has been very prompt in responding to our claim for out of pocket expenses. We know with travel, these things can happen. It was a minor inconvenience, made better by a quick purchase of a couple of extra sweaters before going out on the Lake.Overall, our trip was fantastic, memorable and everything we wanted it to be. The down side is that now that we're home, there is no one to bring us cappuccino, and nothing to view except Houston traffic. After some time in the traffic, our thoughts will return to the idea of our next trip to Italy, and we will contact you again. Until then, we will continue to recommend your services to friends and family.Thank you very much for all you've done to create such a wonderful trip for us. Ciao! Kathy & Walker B. "

"Good Afternoon Maria! I apologize for sending this email so late, but better late than never

"Dear Amber,I am forwarding the e-mail that I sent to friends upon our return from our wonderful trip to answer your question: What did you see and do while you were there? Then I will give you feedback about the Rome experience that you planned in such details. Jim and I just returned home from our Rome Adventure. What a coincidence that the movie ”To Rome with Love” by Woody Allen was available on the flight to Rome. Trips-2-Italy, a tour company based in Houston planned our tour of Rome which met my expectations. We took in all the sights that I had learned about in Latin I and II---the catacombs, the Appian Way, Roman Aqueduct. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica was overwhelming. I can hardly fathom that Michelangelo sculpted the Pieta with Mary and Jesus when he was only 24 years old. And according to some critics he believed that the tomb of Pope Julius, which he never completed, was his best work. The focus is Moses. The structure of the Pantheon, the best preserved Roman building, was fascinating. Seeing the Trevi Fountain illuminated at night was mesmermizing. In Miss Morrison’s English II class, I remember memorizing Shakespearean lines such as “And you, too, Brutus?” quoted by Julius Caesar and I was walking over the Roman Forum where this took place—WOW! Finally we wandered thru the Colosseum and it is just that—colossal!We headed to the port to embark the Viking Star, one of cruisings’ most beautiful small ships. I now understand what the Viking brand is and I liked it! We discovered the heritage(It was mindboggling how many countries had ruled each of the islands), culture, history and tasted typical foods of Pompeii, Sicily, Sardinia, Mallorca, Spain, and Valencia, Spain. We learned so much history and marveled at such scenic beauty. We truly experienced Mediterranean Splendors! Ciao. . . AmeliaReview of the Rome experience by Trips2Italy::From the time that your driver met us at the airport and transported us to the Hotel Columbia and picked us up again to take us to the port, your Rome plan did meet our expectations and more as I stated in the e-mail. It was very comforting and secure feeling to have the same driver for all of the transfers. He was very professional, friendly, and desiring of us to have the best experience possible. He was so excited about the big cricket match taking place on Sunday, Feb. 14. That way we learned firsthand how important cricket is in the six countries that were participating in the big match.We were very pleased with our accommodations and service that were so graciously provided by the full staff at Hotel in Rome. They even wrote us a nice note wishing us a nice stay. They would patiently give us directions and answer any questions. We loved going upstairs to the patio for cappuccinos and a snack in the afternoon before heading out to another sight.We loved the walking/eating tour that Thursday night in Trastevere . We learned the history of Rome at the Tiber River. It was a great way to sample many restaurants and the specialty foods that we otherwise would not have had the time to take in. We liked going to the small homegrown restaurants that are still run by the same local families for generations that the Romans choose to eat at. A highlight was Spirito di Vino, which was formerly a Jewish synagogue before the Jewish were sent to live in the Jewish ghetto. Another was Innocenti which had so many mouthwatering biscotti to choose from—an impossible task . Not as many visitors go on the Appian Way, Catacombs, Aqueduct excursion . But I am glad that we did, just for reasons I stated in my e-mail. But I learned so much that made me understand the history of Rome’s commerce and the Christians in Rome. I liked seeing the frescoes, stucco work and graffiti engraved by the Christian worshippers even before the edict given by ConstantineTo see the mighty aqueduct system built by the Romans was amazing. Then to learn that the barbarians destroyed parts of the system to destroy Rome was very informative and mind-boggling.Friday afternoon we visited Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and St. Peter-in-Chains church. To see what Michelangelo considered his greatest work, the tomb of Pope Julius II including the famous statue of Moses was absolutely breathtaking!The highlight for us was the Vatican City Tour City tour. Not having to wait in line, getting started very early, and missing the crowds made for a wonderful experience. The very competent guide who sees educating tourists about The Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica as her passion made this excursion exceptional!Our last tour, Ancient and Old Rome, on Sunday morning before we were to be trasnsfered to the Viking Star, was very informative. We just did not have as much time as we thought we would at The Colosseum and the Roman Forum. It was rushed. Since the security line to get into the Colosseum was so long, we did not have time to actually do the Roman Forum part of the tour.As you can see, we were very pleased with all of the excellent services that Enjoy Rome provided. The guides are well educated, skilled in tour guiding, and passionate about the subject matter. We liked the small bus and walking tours that were more intimate__ as if they were designed just for us. I do not remember the names of our tour guides and driver, but if it is anyway possible, I would like for you to relay our very positive evaluations to their administrative directors for it is the tour guide that really makes a tour successful.Trips2Italy was highly recommended to me and I am highly doing the same to others. I hope to write up this same email as an article and submit it to International Travel News so many more interested travellers will learn about you. Ciao & Grazie,Amelia S. "

" Happy New Year Tommaso!I wanted to let you know that I have heard nothing but high praises for the trip you put together for Dr. F.! They couldn’t stop talking about how incredibly detailed everything was, and how the trip was absolutely AMAZING! I can tell you that he’s not easily WOWED, but you managed to do it, so thank you so much for all the time and effort you took to make this an experience that they’ll always remember!Based on his feedback, I’ve asked L. B., our Director of Sales, to reach out to you about the opportunity to become one of our company partners! Your great customer service, reliability, and the dedication to details, is what we look for in a partner that we can promote to our agents.Thank you again! Debbi D., MCC, LCS"

"Tommaso, thank you SO much for the great t shirt. I LOVE it! I will so be wearing it. I forgot to tell y'all that when I was doing some Christmas shopping I found a luggage tag and iPhone case with Ciao written on them. I had to have them. I can't wait to go back to Italy. Give me a year and we will plan another trip for me!!! I hope you have a safe and wonderful trip back to your Italy with your family. Thank you again for giving us such a wonderful trip. It was beyond our expectations and a trip we will always remember!! Merry Christmas!!! Grazi!! Ciao!! Lisa Y. "

"Hi Tommaso ~Thank you so much for providing us with such a wonderful trip!!! I loved Italy but as usual, didn't have as much time to enjoy some things and would love to go back... We were in Florence for 3 days, my favorite highlights there were the Tuscan Cooking Class and the guided tour with Marco. The hotel was ok and location was good but no wifi in our room. We went to San Gimignano, Siena and Monteriggioni - all were great but wished we had less time in the first 2 towns and daytime at Monteriggioni. We were in Venice for 2 days and would have loved more time there!! Our hotel was very nice, wifi in the room and location were great! We toured Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica which were good. Our trip to Murano, Burano and Torcello - I wish we had just gone to Murano and spent a few hours there, not enough time.We spent one day in Milan and our tour guide, Lily, was great!! Our hotel was fine but we weren't there very long. Thanks again and I will certainly recommend you to others looking for an italian travel agent!!!Ciao,Donna "

"Thank you Tomasso for all the planning you and your team did with Mary. It looks like a wonderful trip. My kids, husband and myself are really looking forward to the trip. You all put a lot of time, effort and planning in it. I just wanted to drop you a quick note. Thanks again! Ciao!Dana M. C. "

"Buongiorno Tommaso!We had such an amazing time!!!! I cannot thank you and your team enough for the fabulous trip you arranged! We were so impressed by every detail. The first thing, of course, I'd like to mention is the fact that we were upgraded in each hotel and given wine and a nice congratulatory note. Each hotel mentioned Trips2italy as well. So we thank you very much for this!We loved the itinerary. We had enough diversity to keep us occupied in each city, every guide did a great job, the tours were easy to find, and they were all interesting. We tried to go a little of everywhere. We thought it was good to start the first night in Rome with the food tour in Trastevere. It gave us a good idea of typical dishes, and the best food district in Rome. We LOVED a restaurant called Spirito di Vino. I recommend this to everyone! Excellent service and food. In Florence we really enjoyed the tour to Siena. It is a really awesome city. We would like to move there :D Another favorite of ours was the cooking class. We had a fabulous time.There is nothing about the trip I would do differently other than upgrade to first class on the flight back. That was the worst part of the entire trip, which means that you booked us a fabulous honeymoon. We have recommended you and your team to everyone who has asked. Thank you very much!!!Veronica and Adam "

"Just wanted to let you know we are having a great time, thank you for the champagne and chocolate on our anniversary... The dinner you set for us was amazing as well!! We have had an amazing trip so far! Thank you for everything!Shawn "

"Tommaso,We had a GREAT trip. Thanks for all your help.Cara and I will get back to you with our comments very soon.Ciao Rick. "

"Heather--Jill and I felt like you deserve some feedback on our trip, so here it is. Feel free to share with Tommaso as you think best.Overall: A+++Highlight: completely unexpected fruit cake and champagne from you and Tommaso in Rome on our anniversary! Thank you so much! It made a very special day even more special!Comments: 1. Trip over went smoothly. For us, perhaps because we're tall, the economy plus seating was well worth the cost. We arrived early, had no questions at passport control and customs wasn't open! Waited about ten minutes for our driver and then a smooth drive to the piazza near the hotel because cars aren't allowed in the piazza in front of the hotel. 2. Enjoyed the Rome hotel a lot. Great location, great view, great windows that, when closed, really blocked out the sound from the piazza. Staff was friendly and helpful, and breakfast had lots of variety and was good. We'd gladly stay there again. 3. Our private driver for the eight hour tour was wonderful. He hit most of the places we wanted to see and offered a few great suggestions of his own. In fact, all of our private tour guides were so great, we've decided that private guides are well worth the expense. We'd recommend Rafael, Dace, and Marco to our friends. 4. Both the Vatican Museum and Borghese Gallery were awesome. Lines at Vatican were LONG, so having a reservation was awesome. And of course Borghese requires reservations. 5. All three train rides were on time and easy. Our cars were full, and luggage space at a premium. We'd travel by train again. Our drivers to and from Siena were on time, courteous, and friendly. In fact, our driver from Siena to Florence went off the direct route to take us to Piazza Michelangelo so we could get that wonderful view of Florence as our intro to Florence. 6. Hotel in Siena was quaint, in a good location, and very nice. We were glad for the extra room that having a suite provided. The ladies who ran the place were very nice, and the breakfasts were quite good. It was the only place that put a smiley face on Jill's cappuccino! We'd stay there again. 7. Dace was a terrific private guide. Her English sounded English! Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and willingness to answer our questions made the tour a great success. 8. We enjoyed the group bus tour to Montereggioni, San Gimignana, and a winery. The salesman at the winery was quite a showman...Luigi! Our stops were too short and we felt rushed, but still worth doing! 9. The hotel in Florence was very, very nice. Great gym, breakfast, and room. Staff was helpful, and view from room was great. We'd stay there again. 10. Marco gave us a wonderful private tour. Gave new meaning to the word extrovert! We loved him. 11. Academia and Uffizi were must sees. Having reservations was a must do...the regular lines were really long! 12. The Vasari Corridor group walk was interesting and we're glad we did it...but wasn't at the level of the private tours. 13. We did Piti Palace on our own and the rooms reminded us of Versailles. Opulent! Very much worth doing. 14. Hotel in Venice was also quite nice with a great corner room overlooking the Grand Canal and a good breakfast. The day clerk at the desk pushed tour tickets pretty hard. We were happy not to be in the middle of all of the tourists and would stay here again...others might prefer to stay closer to St. Mark's, etc. We just took the vaporetto! 15. Of the private tours, this was the closest to very good rather than great. The guide seemed a little distracted to begin with, then warmed up and we really enjoyed it. 16. The Murano/Burano/Torcello group boat tour was fun. Weather was good enough that we road on top. Glass blowing demo was not much compared to others we've seen but showroom was interesting. Burano was such a quaint little town. And the walk in Torcello was nice. Worth doing. 17. The gondola ride was disappointing. Our gondolier followed his buddy, and engaged in a non-stop yelling conversation with him for the entire trip. He didn't talk with us at all. While it was fun to see the buildings from water level, not much ambience. 18. We took a cab from the Rome train station to the hotel. The cab driver turned off his meter part-way there, and then charged us a ridiculously high rate. I refused to pay it and gave him what seemed reasonable. He didn't complain. 19. On our own, we did a tour for the papal general audience. Not worth it. Should have just gone on our own! 20. Driver was right on time to take us to the airport. We got there over three hours before flight time, and it's good we did! Stood in line for United's passport check, stood in another longer line to check in with United, stood in a longish security line, stood in a short passport control line, stood on a bus for quite some time until it took us to our gate area, after maybe 20 minutes stood in line to have ticket and passport checked by United to walk to the ground floor and board a bus for a drive to the plane where we slowly walked up the stairs to enter the plane!As I said, we had a really, really great trip. Many memories to last a lifetime. Logistics went so well it's easy to forget how much could have gone wrong. Many thanks to you and Tommaso for a vacation we'll always remember with great fondness! Jim and Jill "

Tommaso,Sorry for the delay. As I noted in my earlier email, we may have had too much fun (is that possible?) and it took us a while to recover. My responses to your questions are shown below. Bottom line: I had a perfectly wonderful trip thanks to you!How did you enjoy Italy?I absolutely loved it – thanks, in no small part, to your efforts on our behalf. The logistics were spot-on and everything (drivers at airports/train stations, hotel locations, walking tours, wine tastings, museum reservations) went like clockwork without a hitch. The hotels were divine. My favorite was Hotel Palazzo Ravizza in Siena (the room was so spacious, the view was awesome, the outdoor terrace was an unexpected treat that we took advantage of several times a day, and the staff was very kind & helpful); although, the Hotel Santa Maria Novella (Florence) was a close second with its superb location, balcony, and wonderful breakfast buffet. But I also have to applaud the Hotel Columbia in Rome – we lucked out & got a room with a small outdoor patio that did wonders to cure our jet lag (as did your champagne; what a lovely & thoughtful gesture – mille grazie!). The staff at the Hotel Columbia was also outstanding and the rooftop terrace (for breakfast or an evening glass of wine) was delightful.Where do I start? We saw the beginning of civilization as we know it, we saw the birthplace of the Renaissance, we saw awe-inspiring art (how did they carve folds in material in marble and make it seem so lifelike and translucent??), and we saw some (a lot!) of the world’s greatest architecture. Actually, it was mind-blowing; I saw up close and personal places, buildings, and artists I’ve studied my whole life.The wine tastings/tours were a highlight and the ones you reserved for us were outstanding. I really enjoyed doing 2 small-group tastings and 2 private tastings as they were each so different and each so much fun. The Trastevere Food/Wine Tour was fun & enlightening (great tour guide) – small group tours are so enjoyable. We met locals as well as folks from all over the globe.The walking tours were very nice and gave us an overview of each city and its highlights in terms of history, landmarks, and local culture. The very best was the woman (Vivian? Valerie?) who led the tour of ancient Rome. She was an archeologist who had worked on one of the digs and she had the very best stories and really made Roman history come alive. Some of the tour guides’ accents (e.g., Florence, Venice) were hard to understand and follow.Of course, we walked and walked all day, every day. We appreciated the markets, sights, and restaurants you recommended. We roamed down side streets and out-of-the-way places and got happily lost several times – some of our best days!Liked the Most: My absolute favorite was Guglielmo Riggio who conducted our tour of medieval towns, Chianti, and San Gimignano. He was so personable, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable about history (local, Italian, and global!), art/architecture, and local culture. He entertained us non-stop for an entire day and I was sorry when the day ended. He was simply outstanding & I can’t recommend him highly enough!Disliked the Most: That’s difficult since I didn’t dislike anything for 2 whole weeks (bravo to you!). I think the most disappointing was the gondola ride in Venice. Our reserved evening was cancelled due to threat of rain, but they let us come back the next evening. Unfortunately the 45-minute gondola ride was only 15-20 minutes (at most); I don’t know if that’s the norm or if it was shortened because they had to make up for the night before. Overall, it was a superb trip and exceeded my expectations in every way. We very much appreciated your thoughtfulness in having champagne in our room, not just the first night, but the last night, too – such a nice, and totally unexpected, gesture. Finally, Nanci found Trips2Italy on the internet because we kept searching for an in-country group that would take care of all the arrangements (hotels, museum passes, wine/walking tours) and let us travel from city to city by train instead of plane. We had a hard time finding you, which is a shame as you and your group are so spot-on for what we wanted our trip to be. You listened & delivered – it’s almost like your read our minds! I’d be delighted to write a glowing recommendation of Trips2Italy if it would help spread the word about the fabulous service you offer.I can’t thank you enough for make my dream-retirement-vacation come true,Alison "

" Ciao Tommaso,First of all, please accept my apologies for not having returned the email earlier. I had a critical week at work. In fact, the last 2 months have been very busy, mostly finding new projects for next year.The trip was fantastic. Your tours were quite well organized.The tour through the lakes was very good, particularly the guide Andrea - he deserves special complimenti - who took us (not the whole group, only the braves) to the local restaurants both in Como, his hometown, and in Brescia. The boat rides included in this 4 days tour were a must.The hotels selection was very good, particularly in terms of location. The only observation was in regards to the hotel in Firenze: for us was not a big deal, but the staircase at the entrance may represent a hurdle for some people.The guided tour in Siena ended up being a "private tour": we ended up only the four of us with a guide who felt more comfortable in speaking Italian rather than English. And I was glad that Tatiana, Luis and Alice could follow it up.The tour to Cinque Terre was not so nice, but for reasons outside your control: the place was completely packed and, with the boats not running, the trains reminded me of my childhood in Brazil, going to school in a bus for 40 people carrying 120...Besides that, of course the place is fantastic, but I would suggest visiting Cinque Terre out of season peak.As you remember, the tours in Modena I organized by myself, but the hotel was very well located.The trains system was very nice: in time, clean, comfortable.Torino is a case apart. I think I will buy Lottery tickets until the day I win and can retire there. It is, for sure one of the most beatiful cities in Europe. The local guide knew every single detail of everything (se non era vero, era bene trovato...). Oh I should not have forgotten his name, but he was a musician from a group of medieval music. We could have spent hours talking about history, architecture, etc. All of us had two Bicerin, despite the heat.What we liked best: the cities, the monuments and their history, the architecture, gelato, Chianti, Lambrusco, Parmiggiano Reggiano, Aceto Balsamico, Ferrari, Opera, Horse Meat, nature in the landscapes, the weather (we didn't have one day of rain), the lakes, the people, steak fiorentina, grissini, tajarin....did I miss anything?What we disliked: coming back.Next steps: Ski vacation, Sardegna, Sicilia & Capri. One at a time, please, otherwise I bankrupt...Attached: some pictures of our trip. Unexplainable weight increase, as the trip goes by...If you need any of these in high res for your advertisement, website, etc please let me knowTanti Auguri,gli Berardi "

" Buongiorno Mr. Tommaso,I apologize for not answering your email sooner. We returned with a terrible case of jet-lag from which we have finally recovered. It is not as easy as we grow older. Also have been busy catching up with mail, laundry, etc.Where can I begin? Our trip was so wonderful. Everything was planned so perfectly. The drivers and tour guides were so helpful and professional. They went out of their way to make our trip more enjoyable. The hotels were so great and had wonderful breakfasts, clean rooms, helpful personnel, etc. Except for the hotel in Bologna. When we arrived, we were given a room that smelled so strongly of smoke. We were told that we would be put into an interim room until another room was ready. Marvin insisted that they put us into a permanent room immediately, which they did. The room was acceptable but not quite as nice as the rooms provided in all of the other hotels. Breakfast was very good there, however. The hotel is not in the most wonderful location and a rather long walk to the center of town or restaurants.It is difficult to say which place we liked the best. Possibly Portovenere and Cinque Terre. We loved Cernobbio and perhaps could have done without the free day there. Had a great tour of Lake Como and a wonderful guide who went out of her way to take us into the town of Como to get a Tim card for my telephone. Loved Lake Maggiore and Isola Bella. We had lunch at a great restaurant on Isla Pescatore.. While we were in Milan, we saw the Last Supper at Cenacolo Vinciano, visited the Duomo and also the museum at La Scala. We really enjoyed the Eurostar to Torino. Had no difficulty finding our train in Milan but the train station in Torino is very confusing. Although we did enjoy the first class cabin. Thank you for getting that for us. We had a wonderful guide that first took us to a cafe to drink bicerin. It was to die for. The following day, we took the underground to Expo. It was so hot and crowded and was at least an hour wait to get into each pavilion. We only went into one pavilion and then went to Eatily and had "fried pizza" which we had never heard of. We were told that the best time to go to Expo is after 6 p.m. They charge only 5 or 10 Euro (can't remember) and it is much less crowded. The tickets actually cost 39 Euro but we got them for a little less at the hotel. We really enjoyed Bologna. Had a great guide and tour. We enjoyed Ravenna. Such a beautiful city and wonderful guide. Especially enjoyed visiting Dante's tomb and the story of his life and death. We especially enjoyed the tours of the Parmigiano cheese and the Parma ham factories and the wonderful lunch. I never liked prosciutto before tasting it there. We also enjoyed the visit to the balsamic vinegar of Modena factory. Needless to say, we came home with a bottle of it and also a big hunk of Parmigiano cheese. As I mentioned, we loved Portovenere and Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre was on my bucket list! Thank you so much for suggesting that we stay in Portovenere. We love looking out our hotel room window at the Ligurian Sea and also at night, when the city is lit with lights. Loved the wine tasting and will send you a picture if I ever figure out how to do it. We especially loved the wines from that region and I am still kicking myself for not bringing home some of their regional pesto and olive oil. We enjoyed Lucca and also the restaurant high up on the hill over Carara. I was so happy that we added that to the trip. Our driver from Portovenere to Rome was such a gentleman and went out of his way to show us the sights along the way. He drove us through Lerice along the way. What a lovely resort. We also enjoyed Tarquinia. What a good idea to stop there. Our visit in Rome was a bit too long. Originally we had planned to stay there only two days as we have been there many times before, and then go to Campobasso, where my grandmother was born, to visit relatives there. As it turns out, they were on vacation and not available to see us this time. We did take a short trip to Ariccia. The palace was closed, so we had lunch there and headed off to find that road that is an optical illusion, but could never find it. We drove to Castelgondolfo but it was so late in the day that we decided not to visit, and head back to Rome. In retrospect, I would choose to visit Castelgondolfo first and then go to Ariccia. My distant "cousin" in Rome also has a company that takes groups on tours around Rome. We were fortunate that he was able to spend two days with us during our visit and take us to some of the places that aren't so touristy. He and his wife also took us to Tivoli gardens the day before we left. Fabulous! Had lunch at a wonderful restaurant there. Antiche Terme di Dianativolita.We also had a great five days in Germany visiting friends there. Our trip coming and going was great. Loved flying first class. I told Marvin that he would probably never get me on coach again. A word of advice to your senior travelers. Ask for wheelchair assistance while traveling in Europe. We had an horrendous time getting through Heathrow on our way to Milan. I requested wheelchair assistance on the return trip and it made things so much easier, although Marvin says that he gets to ride the wheelchair next time!We especially want to thank Giulia for looking out for us along the way. Please send our best wishes to her. All in all, our trip was perfect and we can't thank you enough for planning such a wonderful itenerary for us. I certainly will recommend your company to friends. Keep in touch.Grazie mille,Theresa "

" Hi Tommaso,It was a wonderful trip and great weather, although very hot. We are all still talking at the end of the trip. I would definitely recommend your agency to anyone planning a trip to Italy. Rome by night on two Vespas was great The next day with Francesca to see ancient Rome was wonderful. Francesca is adorable and I wanted to take her home with me. Monday morning I got sick. Dinner the night before was veal scallopine in lemon sauce and then we shared tiramasu which was very rich. I guess the combination did not agree with me. Therefore, I was unable to do the Vatican tour. Florence was beautiful and hotel Santa Maria Novella with our room facing the square was great. Venice was wonderful but I have had enough water travel to last me a life time. Water bus, water taxi, then three hour catamarran ride to Croatio followed by 1 1/2 hour taxi to ferry to take us across to Cres and then returning to Venice the same way. It was great to meet my cousin, his wife and one of their daughters. To visit the city of Cres where my father ws born and raised was nice. I onlly wish that I had visited a long time ago before so much tourism.The one scare that I had happened when departing the water taxi at the Venice Airport. We first boarded the water taxi and then the hotel person handed the lluggage to our driver. 30 minutes later we got off at the airport and the driver handed our luggage up to us. All in all it was a wonderful trip with lots of great memories!Christina "

"Tommaso,The worst part of the trip was that I had to come home and start spending 12 hour days at work again. What the heck though - that's how I could afford to take such a fantastic trip anyway. Everything was out of the world, but I will find more time this week to give you some details. Pam and I really appreciate that you want to follow up and find out specifics about our experience. Will get back to you in a day or so.Perry"

" Tommaso,Great to hear from you! In fact I was just thinking that I owed you an email now that back home.We had an AMAZING time! It is always perfect when I get to spend time 1x1 with my daughter and to do it in such a wonderful place made it extra special.I had mentioned to you before how much of a fashionista/shopper my daughter always has been, so when we weren't on one of the tours on our itinerary, we were wandering around the city and spending time in and out of the many shops.My favorite things out of the time spent...The Rome Food Tour was fabulous - great food, great guide, great time. Our Tuscan cooking class was another BIG HIGHLIGHT. We received a free upgrade to the small group class in a Tuscan Villa because Trips2Italy is such a good client of the Florence tour company. It was great fun and Amanda and I even replicated the dish (bolognese sauce with home made pasta) when we were back in Berlin. I hope to make it again sometime soon for my sons.We overslept and missed our early entry, small tour for the Vatican museums. Still wanted to see it so we went with one of the public groups. Really wish we hadn't missed our early entry one --- it was very crowded and hot and the groups were so large that although we can say we saw it, we really weren't able to SEE IT!All of the tour guides you arranged for us were very knowledgeable and shared their personal perspective on the cities they were in. I know Amanda wasn't real keen on the guided tour idea, but I think we learned so much more than we ever would have on our own. I especially enjoyed the two points of view on the Florence vs. Sienna preference. After all the years, they both still think of themselves as "better" than their counterpart. Some things aren't easily forgotten or forgiven apparently.We can't wait to go back sometime. I'm sure there are some shops that we didn't find (although judging from the amount of items we purchased, I don't think there are many) and there are places we didn't see --- new cities. We did mention that we should have prepared to take in an Italian Opera while in Italy! The Trevi fountain was under renovation when we were there, so that would be another thing that I would say we missed.Thank you again to you and your staff for putting together our AMAZING trip to Italy!!!! Thank goodness my daughter only turns 30 once --- by credit cards couldn't take another trip right away!!! *;) winkingWarmest regards,Cindy F. "

"Buongiorno!I wanted to thank you and congratulate you on a job well done. Our trip was fantastic. It was everything we wanted and more. Your assistance and coordination of the hotels, private drivers, tour guides, and transportation was flawless. We simply needed our vouchers and everything went like clockwork. Having assurances that everything was taken care of allowed us to have a trouble-free and stress-free vacation. Even Bob was able to relax!I was quite impressed with the professionalism and promptness of everyone involved in our trip. And the icing on the cake was the champagne on our final day. That was a classy ending to a wonderful time in Italy.Highlights:· Sorrento’s Tramontano Hotel· lovely and flavorful l tomatoes· Our driver, Gildo, and our drive along Amalfi Coast· Ravello and it’s gorgeous pottery· gigantic lemons· excellent meal at Caruso’s in Sorrento· Italy’s high-speed trains and their efficiency· our Coliseum/Forum walking tour guide· Rome food tour· going to Sunday mass at the Vatican and seeing the Pope in St. Peter’s Square· San Gimignano (and its gelato)· Uffizi Gallery· David Thank you and I will refer anyone to Trips 2 Italy! If you would like for me to post on TripAdvisor, I will be glad to do so.Barbara "

"Dear Tommaso, I wanted to write you a letter to let you know how much Ryad and I enjoyed our Honeymoon to Italy. I struggled on how to create the perfect honeymoon and from the minute I walked into Trips2italy and met you I knew we were going to have an amazing trip. We had an idea of what we wanted to do and accomplish and you listened and understood and put together something we will never forget. Everything was amazing. There was not one thing you planned for us that we did not thoroughly enjoy. from the cooking classes, to the Tuscany wine tour, (We added another day it was so amazing) to the suggestions of things to do, see and eat on our days that were not planned. It could not have been better.And amazingly enough, everything went without an hitch. Everyone was on time, trains drivers, tour guides. They were where you said they would be when they said they would be there. You provided us a number to call if we had issues. A few times we got confused and if I had to use the number and someone always picked up. Even you one time when it was very early in the morning in Houston. We are already planning to make another trip. And I promise you I will come see you to ensure our next trip is as memorable as our first. Thank you so much for your help, expertise and kindness. If you ever need a reference, if someone is on the fence about using you. Have them give me a call. You will get the sale. Best Regards, Ryad and Angela M. "

“Ciao Tommaso, Thank you again for all your help in organizing our fantastic family trip to Italy. As promised, everything went smoothly which made the trip even more enjoyable. We didn't have to worry about anything thanks to your planning and organizing every last detail in advance. It truly made the trip even more memorable… Thank you again for everything. I will definitely be recommending Trips2Italy to others! Hope you enjoyed your trip to Como.”

“Dear Tommaso, Thank you for planning our recent trip to Italy. It was an incredible experience and created many memories which our family will cherish for years. Everything was well organized and accommodations were perfect. We especially enjoyed our driver, Tomas, in Sienna, as well as our guide, Francesca, at the Colosseum and Forum. While all of our guides and drivers were very professional and knowledgeable, these two shined a little brighter.I would highly recommend your company to others in the future and thank you again for making our vacation memorable!Sincerely”

Hi, our Trip was great, we did pretty much what you arranged for us and ate a lot of Italian Food and gelato. We definitely want to go back in the future.

Hi Tommaso, just a quick note to let you know hoe much the N. (Clients) enjoyed their trip. The only thing they said they would do different is the private gondola tour they did.

Buongiorno, We are here in Rome having a fabulous time. I wanted to send a quick note to say Valeria our tour Guide today at the Vatican was phenomenal. Please send our appreciation to her. We truly enjoyed her knowledge care for us. thank you again Tommaso.

“…Where do I begin? We enjoyed Italy so much. The hotels were a good choice. Rome is truly a walking city! The city was great and the food was amazing… The train trip to Florence was amazing! Business class was most comfortable and it was not difficult to figure out the train station. We fell in love with Florence!!! The piazzas were beautiful and the tours that you set up for us were great. Our wine, cheese, and oil tasting ended up being a very private class...just us and the owner… Because we were offered the VIP cooking class, time did not allow us to see the David. So that is definitely a reason to go back!!!Venice was lovely...a bit more expensive and not quite as friendly as the other two cities, but lovely nonetheless. It was amazing to see a working city with no cars and only boats for transportation. I think the order of the cities was perfect. By the time we got to Venice we were ready to just relax and take in the sites. The timing of the tours and the transportation worked out very well and having the agent in Venice meet us at the train station was a great help!!!Overall, my experience with working with you and your staff was very good. I have already shared my experience with other friends and family and would highly recommend Trips 2 Italy to them.”

“It was an amazing trip – your company is wonderful… I could not have been happier with everything.”

Hi Tommaso, ...I had a great vacation in Italy and really enjoyed the experience. The same applies for my mom too. As you know, we spent 5 nights in Rome, 2 in Florence and 2 in Venice. Along the way we stopped in Asis, Siena, Bologna, Padua and Montepulcano. All of them beautiful places. We really enjoyed spending time in the Vatican. We were able to go to Saint Peters square on Sunday to see the Pope give the Angelus. The tour was very well organized. We enjoyed the hotels we stayed in. The tour guides were nice and knowledgeable people. In summary we were very pleased with the experience. I would highly recommend not only traveling to Italy but also doing so with your company… There was not anything that I disliked, it was all a very positive experience. Great food, wine, birra and gelato!!! … Thank you… for all your help planning this wonderful experience for me and my mom.”

“Italy was amazing! We had so much fun. The history is evident everywhere you turn… We were able to see so many facets of Italy: the Mediterranean coast, the busy city of Rome, the Tuscan city of Florence, and the canals of Venice! What diversity!We had a pizza making class in Sorrento that was one of the favorite things we did! We were treated like family. It was amazing!... Our visit to Pompeii was so educational. Our tour guide, Francesco, was so passionate about the history and telling us what life was like there… Rome was an anomaly with its ancient ruins standing in the middle of a busy city! The Coliseum, Roman forum, and of course the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica were astounding! The Trevi fountain was under restoration, so there was no water in it. That was a little disappointing The Pantheon was beautiful too. Instead of Orvieto we stopped in Pienza. What a darling little town. The views of Tuscany were breathtaking. Florence had the Palazzo Vecchio where the statues were unreal!... Padua was a nice stop. Scrovegni Chapel and St. Anthony's Basilica were beautiful.Venice, how is it above water??? The islands were unique. Watching the glass blowing on Murano was so interesting. Burano's little fishing village feel was cool. Torcello was pretty, The gondola ride was fun, and taking water taxis everywhere was pretty exciting.I can't say enough about the tour guides or the drivers. They were so helpful, friendly, and informational! They wanted us to be happy and get the most out of our trip. We did not have one bad guide. They were so fun, always smiling, giving us an education as we went…We should have stayed longer!... Our travel was seamless. There were no plane delays or issues, everyone was there when they were supposed to be to pick us up with one exception in Rome. He apologized and notified the guide so she knew we would be late. All of the guides were on time as well. The nicest part of this vacation was having everything planned for us! Like you said, we did not have to think about anything except having fun! I can't imagine having taken this trip any other way! You made our vacation a memorable one! Thank you so much Tommaso!... I am happy to give you and your company a review. Be assured that it will be glowing! You do excellent work!”

Here we are raising our glasses toasting to Tommaso for planning such a fantastic trip for our family!Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!Everything was amazing - the trip exceeded all of our expectations!We truly could not have done this many things and coordinated all 17 people without you. Everything ran very smoothly - all drivers and tour guides were exactly where they were supposed to be at the time they were supposed to be there and we loved one tour guide better than the next! All of them were very pleasant and super knowledgable!All of our documents were very organized.All of our hotels were great.The extra book you gave us to travel with was more information than we needed, but we were so grateful to have it to refer to. It definitely enhanced our experience!I will recommend your services to anyone and everyone who asks!The only thing you did wrong was that you couldn't talk us into 2 more days in Sorrento!

Ciao Tommaso, I hear from My Clients the B. Family. They having a wonderful time. Enjoyed their tours in Florence and Tuscany. They loved the pizza making, the guide in Florence and their driver, Tommaso, on their visit Through Tuscany. Matt said they drank and bought lots of the wine on their visit to the winery.

Today was amazing! Thank you so much for the last minute arrangements to add on to our day. We really enjoyed everything, especially dinner! We are becoming Italian. We hate a 6 course meal over 3 Hours. Now we still a bit American because we wanted to eat at 7:30!

Just a quick note to tell you thank you for all your work that has gone into making our trip so special! Everything is great and we are so impressed with all of our tour guides!

Fank got his documents. He said, "man those people are very thorough. Should have used them from the start."So I said there's always next time, and he agreed.

“It was wonderful. Definitely one of the best vacations we have ever taken. We spent 5 days in Rome, 5 days in Positano, 8 days in Sicily and 3 days in Venice. Everything was great and each location was different. We were very impressed with the amount of history and the number of ruins in Sicily. There was so much to see with a great variety. The weather was also outstanding.”

“Hello Tommaso,Our Italian adventure was absolutely, positively perfect in every way! The itinerary was filled with amazing experiences that we may never have found on our own… Each hotel - Florence, Sorrento and Rome - was ideal for our family and all located close to the sights and attractions we most wanted to experience. It would be impossible to write every positive impression we had, but of particular note was the pizza making day… with Luccia, the guide - Elvira - at Pompeii and Pompeii ( ! ), … the day trip to San Gimagnano/Sienna,… and SERGIO who treated us like royalty, and the cooking class in Florence. As you promised, the sites and smells, the freshest food and flavors, the sun drenched colors of Italy were all too good to be true.As you know it was my boys' first trip to Italy… I hope we will all be able to return many times again in our lifetimes. There were so many special moments and experiences that we will never forget. My utmost thanks to you and your staff who created such extraordinary travel for us…You are our travel planning hero and we thank you for all that you did to make our adventure something we will never forget!”

Tommaso,Thank you and your team for everything. We had a wonderful trip. I can't tell you have terrific everyone was - Damiano, Simone, Raphaele, Johne Cenni, Cristiano, Marco, were all fabulous. I know that I forgot the name of the driver who picked us up at the airport - he was great too. The only glitch was the fire at the airport on our return, but we were able to spend most of the waiting time in our hotel room - so not so bad. Can't wait to plan another Trip2Italy!Best,Marita and David

Hi Tomasso!Sorry for the delayed reply. We've been quite busy since getting back. We both really enjoyed the whole trip and your tips came in very handy! We already recommended your company to our friend who is also planning to go to Italy. Favorite thing we did was the food tour in Trastevere the first night. On the subsequent days in Rome we went back to several places that we visited on the tour.Least favorite was the tour to Pompeii. Pompeii we liked but the bus ride was pretty long and we stopped at a very tourist place on each way of the journey. We had plenty of time to see all we wanted in Venice but will almost certainly be back to Florence and Rome for a few more days sometime in the future. Overall the trip achieved all our objectives - we saw many things and still had some time to relax and enjoy!Service was great also. Our flight was delayed arriving. I called the number listed on the voucher and all was sorted out immediately with our driver. Really comforting to know that if our plans were interrupted we had a local contact to sort it out!Thanks,Carl

Thank you again for our first 4 days in Italy. We enjoyed all trips very much. Everyone was on time, courteous and very professional at all times. Each Driver and/or guide was also informative and knowledgeable. I'll let the girls respond with particulars. Bottoms line is that everything went well and we very much appreciated everything. I'm also happy to give any wanted comments or statements upon my return on 5/9. We'll return to Rome via our ship on 5/8 for our final trip back to the airport. Thank you. Jerome

We wanted to thank Trips 2 Italy for our fabulous trip Apr 14-21. Everything was absolutely perfect!Our driver in Rome, Raphael, ended up at the wrong terminal to meet us, which initially concerned us that there would be problems. However, when he arrived - out of breath and so apologetic - everything went smoothly. He gave us a wonderful introduction to the beauty and history of Rome, while driving us around to see some of the sights. From there, every detail was perfect: every reservation, the weather, the hotels were spectacular. The way the trip was planned out, we had plenty of time for our scheduled events, plus plenty of time to wander on our own, or return to the hotels to relax. Language was no barrier - we used lots of hand gestures and smiles, as suggested. The food and wine were excellent, from the street food we found in Florence, to the casual lunches, to the excellent breakfasts at both hotels, to the elegant dinners we enjoyed both in Rome and Florence. In one restaurant in Florence, we discovered the owner had lived in Houston. As fellow "Texans", he gave us a bottle of wine as we left. We enjoyed it with our sandwiches while sitting in the sun in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella the next day. Our day in Tuscany was also a success, especially the lunch at the winery. Our ideas of returning home with wines from Italy was easily accomplished with the shipping they offered, and we added olive oils and balsamic vinegar to our order - a special treat for us in a few weeks from now. The natural beauty of the landscape was breathtaking. The history of the country is brought to life in the beautiful cities and villages we visited. Everywhere the art fills the eye and the soul. Our flights were all on time!! It was our first experience flying on KLM, and their service is first class. The airports were easy to navigate, as were the train stations. All was easy and perfect, as promised, and all went beyond our expectations. Ideas for our next trip to Italy entered the conversation on the flight home. We will return to Italy and to Trips 2 Italy when we are ready for our next adventure. Thank you for everything you planned and prepared for us. We did send a postcard from Florence, but couldn't wait for its arrival to tell you how much we loved our trip.This was the easiest travel experience we've had in many years, and we are sharing our happy stories and pictures with all our friends and family. Gratefully,Kathy and Walker B.

Subject: Best trip ever!!Hi Kim,Unfortunately, I've been under the weather the past few days but, on behalf of Mike and myself, I just wanted to let you know that our trip was simply UNBELIEVABLE!Please forward this to Tommaso and his excellent staff at Trips 2 Italy because we want to let everyone know that all of the arrangements and details that you/they made on our behalf were terrific.Each hotel was a perfect match for us - quiet but centrally located to access tourist sites and amenities.The Grand Canal in Venice is a gem! On the canal, beautiful, and an excellent staff. The front desk manager readily provided a lot of guidance to maps, sites and restaurants and not only was the breakfast wonderful but the service was terrific. Their service and friendliness set a high bar for the rest of the trip.Our guide, Suzanne, was incredible -very knowledgeable and personable! Having spent time with her, we felt that we had a lot of information about Venice and felt comfortable walking around and getting "lost". She easily responded to all of our questions and we came away feeling that we just had a wonderful experience with her! A nice break was the tour of the islands to see the specialities of the Venice culture.The Lucchesi in Florence could not have been nicer - perfect location on the Arno, upgraded to rooms with bedroom lofts, exceptional food and an outstanding concierge to recommend an anniversary dinner for Jim and Gail. We loved the area because we could walk everywhere!Our guide, Marco, provided a terrific tour of Florence - historical details, insights into life and specialities of Florence (beautiful leather)!! He also made sure that we ended the tour at our next destination, the Academia and knew how to get back to the hotel. Our guide for La Cinque Terra, Alejandro , was again very knowledgeable. This was evident in understanding Carrera marble as we passed the mountain quarry, the beauty of the coastal region and the obstacles faced by the people who live there. This tour was outstanding and Alejandro made it fun. As we were driving to our hotel, we quietly noted that we wanted to find time in our schedule to climb to the Piazzale Michangelo for the outstanding view.The next morning who should appear as our driver to Tuscany by Alejandro and our first stop was the lookout at Piazzale Michangelo! This is just one example of the attentiveness of each of the guides. Again, Alejandro demonstrated his knowledge and awareness of Sienna, San Gimignano and the country side throughout the trip. Another fun day! The Uffizi was unbelievable! So glad that we moved it on the schedule so that we could take out time and really enjoy/appreciate the masters. Perfect way to end the evening with the wine tasting at Livio's. Small group experience and his expertise was amazing and the wines, cheese and salami pairings were excellent. Sad to learn that most of the wines are not available outside Italy!!On to Rome and the Nazionale! Again, perfect choice in terms of location (easy to get everywhere) and they also gave us an upgrade to rooms on the 6th floor. Looking out the window, we each had clear view of the skyline of ancient Rome and the Vatican! Our tours in Rome were unbelievable due to the expertise of Simon and Francesca! We learned so much and both of them demonstrated their background in history and archeology. The food tasting with Jasmine was equally excellent - homemade cookies, cheese, pasta. Absolute perfect way to end the trip, fun and relaxing.It is important to note that every tour guide and driver was punctual, professional and personable. Could not have had a better experience. The only weak point was the night tour of Rome - unfortunately late getting off, open air Vespas were extremely noisy, bumpy, inhaling gas fumes, and the recordings in the phones often shut off due to bumps! Good idea but still needs a better plan.Kim, thank you and Tomaso for the most wonderful trip!! We had a great time, experienced Italy, and came home with wonderful memories and photos.It was great working with you on this trip and we look forward to the next time!!Mary and Mike

You are the best! Thank you so very much. I cannot tell you how fortunate I feel to have found your company. You and your staff are a pleasure to work with. Ana was great in trying to help rearrange the tour for the DiBiase party. My clients are very important to me, and it is a comfort knowing that they are as important to you. Grazie milleNatalie

Tommaso,Just wanted to tell you how fantastic our trip was. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.You spoiled us into not traveling any other way. The Proseco at every hotel was awesome. I am looking forward to returning to Italy very soon.

Tommaso,Good morning.I owe you a visit in person, but just wanted to drop a quick note to say thank you for the incredible honeymoon you helped us plan to Italy. And also for the bottle of Prosecco in Florence.We truly had an amazing time and I'm so glad I had your guidance. I will be in touch. Take care.

“Hi Tommaso, As we come to the end of our time in Monterosso, I would like to thank you and the rest of your team for looking after us so well. It was truly a pleasure traveling with you. You've made us feel so comfortable and at ease with all the arrangements and I would highly recommend your services. Ciao e grazie mille I miei amici.”

“Dear Tommaso, Thank you for planning our recent trip to Italy. It was an incredible experience and created many memories which our family will cherish for years. Everything was well organized and accommodations were perfect. We especially enjoyed our driver, Tomas, in Sienna, as well as our guide, Francesca, at the Colesseum and Forum. While all of our guides and drivers were very professional and knowledgeable, these two shined a little brighter.I would highly recommend your company to others in the future and thank you again for making our vacation memorable!Sincerely”

Dear Tommaso,

Jim and I really enjoyed out trip. Thanks for directing us to some of the places we might not have gone to. We thought all the guides were well informed and the drivers all on time and helpful. I cannot pick just one favorite place because they were all great. It was glad to see Cinque Terra and that area never having been before. The wine tasting were all very good and the Trastevere food tour was alot of fun. I think Jim had wished we had planned more "down" time but he has never been on a trip like this before. I know I wanted to see as much as I could while I was there.
I am looking forward to putting together a shutterfly book. Kathy and Tommy got some really great shots. Several people have asked about our trip and I have told them to contact you. Thanks for everything.

Maura M.

We absolutely loved our Italian vacation planned by Trips 2 Italy . Every detail was executed to perfection. From the questionnaire that we initially filled out to the flight home. Tommaso and his team listened to what we wanted to do and filled in the rest of the blanks. The result was an experience of a lifetime. We couldn’t imagine planning another trip to Italy without them and their expertise.

We now know that Italy is not just one country, but many. Each region has its own diverse culture. Wine, food, people, scenery, history and believe it or not...the sky. All combined you have Bella Italia. Our trip included a number of regions. We experienced boat trips, cooking classes, wine tours, food tours and so much more. Opera in Verona, stunning Lake Como (don’t miss this jewel), beaches, history and of course the people. So many pinch me and breathtaking moments. Words can’t describe and pictures only tell a part of the story. You just have to go. We can’t wait to go back. The team at Trips 2 Italy planned the perfect holiday for us and we can’t thank them enough.

How can you improve on perfection?

Deborah & Howard S.

Fabulous! Fantastic! Unforgettable!

This was a 40th anniversary present to ourselves. We could not be happier with the outcome. Tommaso and his team ( Ana especially) were unbelievable. We knew we wanted to visit Italy for the food, wine, culture, history, music and art but were not sure how to accomplish our dream.

We knew from our first conversation with Tommaso that we had someone who was passionate about his country and his clients. We must have gone through 6 or 7 itineraries before deciding on the final version. Throughout the process Tommaso was kind, thoughtful and most importantly patient. His recommendations for when and when not to upgrade were spot on.

We had food tours and a wine tour (that included delicious food). On our last food tour the taxi dropped us at an incorrect location. We called the emergency number and they were already aware of our situation. It was a small group tour and they had already left. The guide was in communication with Trips 2 Italy. We were directed whre to find the group. We found them and had a fantastic tour! Service above and beyond!!

Renting a car and driving from Treviso to Cortina d'Ampezzo was so fun! The Dolomites are breathtaking. We were lived and were married in Colorado and visit friends there regularly. Cortina is no less spectacular if not more so.

Verona was a gem! The Arena, Duomo, Giardino Giusti and of course the balcony of Giullietta.

Toscana/Florence. Cradle of the Renaissance. Michaelangelo, Leonardo, Machiavelli, Botticelli, Rafffaello...all neighbors...what more can you say?

And in between...Lake Misurina, Paso Giau, Mantova, Bologna, San Gimignano, Chianti and Sieana.

The guides gave you a splendid history and background and lots of information to explore on you own.

The restaurant recommendations and places to visit were excellent. And we managed to find some outstanding places and restaurants on our own. I think this is by design....right Tommaso? We would make the trip three times as long!

Karan & David S.

Dear Emily,
We had a wonderful time in Tuscany! Our stay at Poggio Alloro in San Gimignano was perfect - the staff was so nice and helpful, the accommodations were great, the food was delicious, and the views were amazing. San Gimignano is a beautiful medieval village and our favorite out of all the others we visited.

The Brunello and Chianti wine tours were so much fun, our drivers were great, and we met so many people from all over the world. Of course, the wine was exquisite and we can't wait to get our shipments. I had a blast driving around in our convertible Fiat - scary at first but then I got the hang of it. We had a free day to drive around Tuscany and we stumbled upon an adorable village called Certaldo. We then drove through the countryside to Greve in Chianti.
The other villages/cities that we visited were Siena, Monteriggioni, Montalcino, and Castellini in Chianti.The last few days of our trip was in Florence. Wow, what a city. Our first day we got in 28,000 steps! That's because we walked the entire city center, took the 414 steps up and down the Bell Tower, and climbed the stairs to Piazzale Michelangiolo to see that notorious view of Florence.
The Discovering Florence walking tour on the second day was great because we saw many things we didn't see the day before and learned the history of the city, buildings, and much more. We also visited the Cathedral, Duomo, Baptistery, Duomo museum, Mercado Centrale, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia, Boboli Garden, walked over the Ponte Vecchio many times, and much more.The food, let me tell you, was heavenly. I tried wild boar for the first time, shared a 2 lb. Florentine steak with my husband, discovered that I love liver pate, truffle oil, and limoncello! Oh and the gelato, yum!

Thanks for making our trip to Italy so amazing.
It was a dream come true and an experience of a lifetime.Sincerely,

Mya & Brian Burke

Thank you Tomasso, Emily and Ana for arranging the wonderful trip to Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.
We enjoyed the vacation especially because of the planning that you guys had done. Everything went like clockwork. The visits to the cheese and pizza making places were entertaining and fun. The street food walk was fun as well and we soaked in the traditions, culture and history of Naples . We only wished that our transit time between our flight from Frankfurt to Naples was a little longer because 2 hours was not enough. Our flight got delayed 30 min in Houston and so had to wait 7 hours in Frankfurt Airport to catch the next flight. It was very stressful and tiring.
Apart from that it was overall a beautiful, enjoyable and fun filled vacation.
Wazir & Latifa K.

Hi Emily!

We had a trip of a lifetime! We walked so much exploring the cities that my feet hurt towards the end of the trip, but it was so worth it.

Everything was well organized from the transportation to the tours. Everyone was punctual for car/boat pick ups and we loved our tour guides. Jeff and I didn't ride the vespas (sat behind someone), because they were so difficult for me to ride. Actually, while we were learning how to ride them, one person crashed through a fence! But thankfully no scratches or bruises on him!

Aside from the excursions/tours planned, we went to the Bargello Museum and Villa Borghese in Florence, did a tour of the Colosseum, went to the Trevi Fountain, and ate a ton of gelato.
We absolutely loved Sorrento. The Pompeii tour and Capri excursion were top favorites. Also, thank you again for the upgrade on the hotel, it was amazing. The weather was perfect all around.

Our plane seats were not seated together going to Italy and from Paris to JFK, but I was able to switch with someone on the first plane.

We'll never forget this trip and we can't thank you enough for your help. Grazie mille!

Best,Charlene

We loved the entire trip, such an amazing country with so much to see and really felt like three trips all rolled into one. Sorrento was perfect to get started with some fun times on the beach, loved the Amalfi coast and Capri boat ride. Rome was a lot all packed into one, but did a bunch in our few days there, also glad we hit Pompeii on the way. I could have spent full day there but not sure the younger crew could have hung:)

Loved the stop at Orvietto and glad you convinced us to pull that off to break up trip and see if the amazing well there and also hit one of our favorite restaurants we found. To finish the trip off in Siena was perfect, loved the wine tours and also snuck in a day trip to Florence which was great. Thanks so much for arranging this and packing in activities we wouldn’t have known about otherwise, super thankful for your help.

Only hiccup on the trip was the Capri tour, but got that all figured out so all good. Five out of five stars!
Bradley J. Family (Cruise Planners Agency Clientele)

Dear Emily,
I hope this email finds you well upon your return on the 12th. Upon my return from our trip to Italy, I got very busy at work. I now have time to focus on composing a letter that, I hope, relays how perfect our trip was.

In the age of computers, online services, instagramming and texting, one can lose hope that all forms of personable service and hospitality have become a thing of the past. Trips2Italy is proof that one on one customer service is still the key to creating special, memorable moments.

I still recall, as if it were yesterday, when I first called you inquiring about a trip to Italy. I told you I was traveling with my 3 nieces and 1 nephew and what cities I wanted to visit. I told you I needed someone to book all my travel including planes, trains and automobiles and I preferred private short tours to get familiar with the cities and then explore on our own. Without hesitation, you took me under your wings and arranged, what has become, my favorite vacation ever!

Even when we were faced with one of my nieces possibly not coming and having to change around reservation options you all were constantly there for me, my questions and my concerns.

Off we went! Venice first for 2 nights. The water taxi, as arranged, was there to take us to the city when we landed. We were greeted at Hotel Da Bruno, by very pleasant, helpful staff. We were checked in immediately and given maps of the city. The following day, we met with our tour guide. Again, at the exact location and time you arranged for us. She was lovely. Our walking tour was great. Your advice to schedule a gondola ride when we got there was the way to go. The hotel called a reputable gondolier and they walked us over to meet him. It’s beautiful to see the city from the water.

The speedy train you booked for us to get to Florence the following morning left right on time. Your detailed information was right on point!

Hotel Rapallo would be our home for the next 5 nights. You arranged our day trips to Cinque Terre one day, Lucca another day, and a day trip with a private driver (who the kids loved) to take us through Tuscany where we stopped in San Gimignano (we loved this little quaint town) and Sienna and a walking tour of Florence along with tickets to the Accademia Gallery. All of it.....WOW.

The staff at hotel Rapallo were exceptional! I have been in the hospitality industry for over 25 years. Bar none, the service we received in both hotels was the best I have experienced to date. That is saying a lot. I am 51 and have been to 33 states and 20 countries. I travel quite a bit and simply loved Hotel Rapallo!

Emily, all the private tour guides were on time. They were passionate about their cities and so knowledgeable. But most importantly, they were story tellers who engaged my family, ages 13-22, in a manner that left them excited and involved.

There was not a beat skipped. Your booklet of information was exceptional. When I indicated to you I would not be able to have the 2 hour consultation you have with your clients after we receive the packet, you were willing to explain everything to my 22 year old niece.

This trip was intended to just be for me. However, I decided to invite my family along and to see their joy and happiness at every turn throughout the trip was a blessing I will never forget.

I can go on for days and maybe even write a book of it, but the bottom line is this: It was PERFECT! I hope you continue to partner with the same people in Italy for years to come.

I don’t want to end without saying how you, Anna and Tommaso were on hand even when we were in Italy. When I wanted to insure that my return flight tickets were upgraded on the return flight, Tommaso was right there for me even with the time difference and your responses were so quick.

There are no words to describe the beauty of Italy and all the enchanting cities we visited. Cinque Terre on the coast was exactly like the pictures. The ferry and train took us to different villages that our guide seamlessly navigated us through.

AMAZING. PERFECT. BEAUTIFUL.

Please, Emily use any of this on your website or all of it. You are a gem. By chance, are there other countries you book travel to? Might want to take the kids to Ireland and Scotland next.

Again, all our gratitude to all of you. I cannot stress enough how seamless everything went and I’m willing to talk to anyone about it that you need me to! So much we saw during the day and evenings that I haven’t even mentioned like the gardens at Pitti Palace in Florence and please add the restaurant Mamma Gina to your list in Firenze. Fantastic!

I know I’m missing so many more details but we really felt at home wherever we went and with all the people you arranged for us to take care of us.

You’re the best!

May our paths cross again soon.

Best regards for now.

Lulu

Tommaso!!

We can't even BEGIN to tell you how much of an AMAZING time we had in Italy! We are still recovering from the trip! It was more that either of us had ever imagined, and SO MUCH FUN!!
Trying to get back into the swing of having to work again (haha). We will call or visit soon and have a nice long chat!
Ciao!
Becca

Tommaso - Things have been pretty hectic since we returned.
Here's my comments below;

First, the trip was fabulous.

We truly had a wonderful time and experience. The drivers and guides were top notch. Especially our first driver, Roberto in Apulia.
He was very professional and extremely nice. We hated to have to give him up. All the drivers were on time and professional. Even when driving without a guide, our drivers usually gave out information as we went along.
The included meals were fantastic .
We really enjoyed the lunches and the welcome dinner restaurant was really great.
The lunch at L'astore farm and winery was very memorable. The owners were extremely gracious and the food and wine were outstanding.
The cooking school and pizza making experience will be a lasting memory. The lady who was our host was wonderful. She was not only warm and gracious, but had a spontaneous flair that was endearing. She fit the part of a warm Italian mother/cook more that we could have imagined.
A great experience with tasty pizza and wine as well. Not to mention her homemade Limoncella.

Loved everything we saw. All the guides were knowledgeable and spoke excellent English.

We enjoyed all the hotels. They were all very pleasant with good breakfast and nice rooms. They were also in great locations in relation to the city center and tourist sites. The hotel in Sorrento was especially memorable. First, it was in a great location. Just a few steps from the main activity street of restaurnats/shops. Our room with a balcony overlooking the bay was really great. We spent some every evening on the balcony having a glass (or more) of wine listening to the surf and watching the lights across the bay. Even the bar, with its ocean terrace was special. We aslo enoyed the front garden with pleasant seating areas. Can’t imagine staying anywhere else.

Now for the only negatives:
First, the Pompeii visit was way too short. This is such a significant historical site that I think at least four or more hours are needed for the visit. Actually I could have spent an entire day there. Two hours were just not enough time to see much and I think we missed some important parts of the site.
Also, for us, the cave tour was not very interesting. It might be that we have seen other caves here in the U.S. It was a long a difficult walk and did not seem as impressive as we thought it would be I understand it is an important site in that part of Italy and other people might really enjoy it, IN hindsight, I would probably have preferred to visit another village in the area instead.

Despite these two items, let me say again that it was another job well done by you and your staff. As I stated above, the trip was fabulous.
I tell anyone that is thinking to going to Italy that they need to get with you. Everything was so well done that all we had to do was enjoy ourselves. Which we did!!

John

Hi Emily!
Italy was fantastic. Aside from the delays, the flights were good. The hotel was great: great location, good breakfast, and good staff. The hotel was in walking distance or a short Uber ride to where we needed to go, including food, shopping, tour meeting points, and the Roma train station. The staff was helpful and the breakfast was good. Excellent job on the flights and hotel.
The Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican and Florence tours exceeded our expectations. The tour guides we very informative and polite. The weather was perfect. Uber is available in Rome but not Florence or Naples.
We also went to Capri on Friday. Wow!
Thanks again. You did a great job.

Marie J.

Dear Emily,
We had the trip of a lifetime! I fell in love with Italy all over again and my 22 year old daughter now shares my appreciation. I am thanksfui for all the planning that you did to make it a wonderful trip. I particularly appreciated the private car transportation from airport in Venice and to the airport in Rome. Also, the porters were invaluable. The hotel was easily within walking distance but having him meet us knowing exactly where to go with the bags was great.When we were leaving Venice we encountered a group of ladies struggling with pulling their bags up the steps that go over the canals and one of them looked at our porter easily maneuvering his cart up the steps and said to me..”what were we thinking?”. The train directions helped so much as well. Travel by train went off without a hitch (except in Rome – we didn’t realize there were two stops in Rome and out of our car at the first stop. A kind conductor yelled for us to get back on and let us in his coach door. Cant say enough about the service at the hotels.

Daniel in Rome was particularly helpful as were your restaurant suggestions in all three cities. We loved the gelato/pizza class as you predicted. And, we were definitely happy we took the third day in Florence to visit Tuscany. Again, thank you so much for everything!

We are looking forward to a trip to the Amalfi Coast in the future.

Donna & Hope N.

Dear Emily
We arrived back home yesterday after spending an additional ten days in Israel. The whole trip was marvelous. Here is my feedback on the Rome portion:

First, I feel that Trips2Italy was very accommodating. When a delay of our flight in Omaha caused us to miss our connecting flight to Rome, I notified Trips2Italy and they adjusted the time of the airport transfer with no problems.

Second, the people at the Columbia Hotel were very nice and helpful. We enjoyed the breakfasts very much. The room was adequate. We availed ourselves of the rooftop lounge a few nights.

Third, the various tours:

--The tour guide for Ancient Rome was very knowledgeable and we learned a great deal. I think she was thorough and friendly.
--The tour guide for the Jewish Ghetto and Trastavere was outstanding. We were the only two on the tour and she was quite knowledgeable and intelligent. We had a wonderful time. After the tour was over, we had lunch in the Ghetto and then did a tour of the Great Synagogue.
--Overall, we really enjoyed Rome. The city is very pretty. We spent our free time exploring the city, shopping, and eating (lots of eating!). We also did a tour of the Christian Catacombs and went to the Trevi Fountain at night. We took in some opera, too. We found the city very easy to navigate and we think our hotel location was excellent.

Thanks so much for everything. In a few years we hope to do the rest of Italy, so we'll be in touch.

Best,

Donna

Emily,
I can't tell you how wonderful and stress-free it was this year having you all, Trips2Italy plan our Rome and Amalphi Coast Trip. After spending hours and hours of time planning our own trip to England and France two years ago, this was a much better experience. I can't even say I saved money planning my own trip because I didn't know enough information about what to do when. Your quote I thought was very reasonable and the tours were of the finest quality. The hotels had such interesting history and they couldn't have been in a better location. We loved both Hotels!

The private transfers from all of the drop-off points were very reassuring and the guys couldn't have been nicer. They all were dressed professional and made us feel special.

The tour guide at the Colosseum and Roman Forum was great, including the guide, Davide at the Vatican. The most interesting tour was Pompeii, but mainly because I was not as familiar with the history. The most beautiful tour was the boat ride over to Capri. There wasn't any snorkeling offered but we did go swimming directly by the cliffs of Capri. The tour of the Amalphi Coast was good but the traffic was the worst. It might have been the rain that was the most contributing factor to the long lines of traffic. It made the tour much longer than expected. The only suggestion I'd like to make is the tour times for the Colosseum and the Vatican tour were much longer than three hours. The Vatican was over 4 hours. The main reason I mention this is that we had Italian friends meeting us on both days and they had to wait a long time for us to finish our morning tours. We didn't want to have to leave the tour early, but we felt badly that we had told them that we would join them after the three hour tours.The best tour of all was visiting the lemon, olive oil, and cheese farm and making the pizza. It was the best pizza I had ever tasted! My husband gained seven pounds from eating the most delicious food in Italy. This tour ran over 4 hrs. I enjoyed all the tours, I just think the times may need to be changed in the tour booklet.Overall I'd say after visiting over ten countries , this tour was the best, yet.

Emily, you gave such detailed information over the phone each time we talked that it made me feel very comfortable about the preparations for our trip. Thanks again for the most wonderful experience ever!!
Sandra Ward

Tomasso,
Please see the attached Word document for our feedback. Overall, it was a fabulous trip!

You and your team did a phenomenal job on the planning and execution. Like others, we feel the need to go back and see more of Italy at some point.

Rosie and Joel

• Overall rating – Excellent. Exceeded our hopes, dreams and wishes. The trip was outstanding and met our objectives to learn and experience a variety of Italian cities and cultures. We had a good mix of large, medium and small cities/towns.

• We especially appreciate how you fixed the flight change. You made this seamless and provided a good fix. We enjoyed Alitalia more than Air France.
• While Rome, Florence and Venice were interesting, we really enjoyed the smaller towns and cities.
• Orvieto was fabulous, we could have spent more time there.
• Tuscany – Siena and San Gimingano were awesomeo Verona and Lake Garda were enjoyed, could have spent more time there.
• Bologna was interesting and worth the time spent there
• The location of the hotels was excellent, although some rooms were small or not as upgraded. We understand this is a function of their rating/price, and that larger cities like Rome and Florence will be different. We really enjoyed the hotels in Verona (Grand Hotel) and Venice (Giovanelli)
• The tours guides were all very good. Some were exceptional – Giulia, Roberta, Emma and Isabella.
• We enjoyed all of the excursions. Toward the end of the trip, we got a bit “over-dosed” on duomos and museums. The following excursions were exceptional:o Trastevere food and wine tour in Rome
• The winery tour and lunch in Tuscany were phenomenal, and a perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day
• We really enjoyed the cooking classes
• The parmigiana and balsamic vinegar tours were excellent. We found the prosciutto factory to be interesting, but maybe a bit much for the ladies
• The food and wine bike tour in Verona was one of our favorite excursions – a great experience.
• The winery tour and tasting in Verona was just OK. Sylvia did a great job, but Amarone would have been better.
• The drivers were also outstanding. They were always on time, and got us to our destinations as planned. In particular, Fredrico and Luchiana were exceptional as their English was very good and they were very informative.

Emily / Team,
Sarah and I are incredibly thankful to you all for helping to coordinate the honeymoon of a lifetime! Though there was a bit of a hiccup with our initial flight check-in (which was taken care of above and beyond!), the trip was quite honestly perfect.

Each one of our tours, guides, and experiences throughout the trip were incredibly memorable. From our adventures in Rome, the Papal Audience, to the Ancient Rome tour, and then in Florence the pizza and gelato class, walking tour, and all day trip to the Tuscany/Sienna region, and in Venice our tour of St. Marks Basilica, each day was something fun and different. We also appreciated the good mix of leisure time interwoven throughout the trip, and never felt like we were “overbooked” with activities. The freedom to explore or even revisit sites we saw in earlier tours was fun as well. And the thrill of finding a good restaurant to eat at- just a great time!

All of our provided transportation during the trip was appreciated as well- from our private car from the Rome airport to our hotel, the high speed trains which were fun to relax on (and especially enjoyed the first class seat upgrade) and our very early morning water taxi from our Venice hotel to the airport- bookended the trip with a no-worries trip (though the water taxi went quite fast across the water for 4:00am!)

Again, we cannot thank you enough. We do apologize for not writing sooner- life just picked up when returned and we haven’t had a moment until now to reply. But we greatly appreciate and your time and effort in helping to plan our perfect honeymoon! We’ll never forget our first trip abroad, and you helped make it possible!

Thanks!
Zach and Sarah

Good Day Emily,

Hope you are doing well. Say hi to Ana as well. Please find below our review for the Italian honeymoon.
We found out about Trips2Italy with the help of internet. They had a user friendly website and it outlined their
Expertise in conducting Italian trips. I was immediately impressed. I sent an enquiry to their email address. I received prompt response from Emily Martolini.
Then for about couple of weeks we went back and forth with requirements and suggestions.
Finally I was satisfied with the itinerary. I had some difficulty with booking payment owing to foreign remittance.
Emily was very patient and helpful all the way through the payment process.

Two weeks prior to our departure , Ana contacted us through email with travel vouchers, coupons and train schedules.
Everything was well documented and systematic. All my doubts and concerns were addressed as necessary.

The trip itself was amazing in many ways. The clock work like planning by Emily and her team made the trip even more Memorable. There were no delays or lags. The pick ups were on time, the tour coupons were informative and self explanatory.

The chosen tour guides were well versed with the Italian culture and they shared many facts and inside stories about the various Historical sites. The highlight of our Rome leg was the Colosseum. It was spectacular. Vatican was breath taking as well.
At the Roman forum, crowd was excessive. But our guide was smart enough to sneak us through the rear entrance. It saved us a lot of time and energy.

The train journey from Rome to Venice was pleasant and comfortable. Venice was amazing. It was freezing cold when we reached there, but Emily had advised us in advance to carry winter wear. So we were saved. 😊

We were late for the Doge’s palace group tour. The ferry was delayed due to rain. I immediately contacted Trips2Italy and they promptly rescheduled the tour to the next day. Highly appreciate such a gesture.

St. Marks basilica and Doge’s palace were beautiful. The Bridge of Sighs was touchy. The Gondola ride was magical to say the least. Thankfully the weather held up pretty well on Days 2 and 3. The Island tour with Murano, Burano and Torcello was pretty good. The ferry was outstanding.

The train journey from Venice to Rome was comfortable and on time. The next day our pick up arrived on time and dropped us off at Rome airport.

In Rome we stayed at Hotel Columbia twice. Once for 2 nights and once for 1 night before departure. On the first occasion the room allotted was very small. That room will suffice for solo travellers. However for couples I suggest allocate bigger rooms. We had limited space for our luggage. We informed Trips2Italy about this.

They promptly arranged a bigger room for us the next time. Highly appreciate it. The food at the hotel was very good.They helped us with our sight seeing too. Very cordial and friendly staff. Rooms were well maintained and air conditioning was also Good.

In Venice we stated at Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal. It was right across the train station. We got a nice room with a beautiful view of the canal. The breakfast was extensive and well prepared. We loved it.

Overall our honeymoon was memorable and we will cherish it for the rest of our lives. We are ever grateful to Trips2Italy for planning and executing such an awesome trip. Kindly find attached pics from our honeymoon. Grazie mille . Sei il migliore.

Thanks and best rgds
Ullas Krishnan and Nivedita

Emily,
First I want to say how incredible our trip was. Everything was perfect-the hotels, the service, the tour guides, the history, the food the WINE, the lovely hospitality. Jon and I had an unforgettable time!

I can't thank you enough for the amazing itinerary and helping us with the last minute flight changes. You all definitely made travelling oversees easy so we were able to relax. Please pass this along to the rest of the staff there.

I have already reccomended you all to a fellow co-worker.

PS-We sent your postcard in Florence but not sure if you got it yet.

Thanks again!
Savannah

Emily worked with us for the perfect trip. Our pre-vacation planning session was helpful to lessen any anxiety of what to expect when arriving in Venice.
The water taxi transport from the airport to our hotel was seamless. The accommodations in Venice were lovely and in a great location. The wine and cicchetti walking tour was a lot of fun. The water taxi from the hotel to the cruise ship went as planned exactly on time. When the cruise ship docked in Civitavecchia, Italy, Emily had arranged a private tour guide for our day in Rome. Stephano was accommodating and a lot of fun.
It was so nice to have him drive us right up to whatever we wanted to see which lessened needless walking for us.
This is the second time we have used Trips2Italy for our Italian vacation.
They are the best!

Good morning Emily
Our trip to Italy and cruise was amazing and we thank you for your assistance and great organization.
The way you had coordinated our pick ups and travel between hotels and sites was amazing, even to catching the water taxi in the middle of the night in Venice. All our drivers were excellent.
Both hotels worked our great nd excellent location. 700 year old Venice hotel was truly unique.
Tours were most interesting and good timing.
A special note was the wine tour to Salvaterra. We have done lots of wine tasting but this was exceptional. Our guide, can not remember her name paired the wines with outstanding foods for our lunch. We would highly recommend this event.
Thanks once again to you for your coordinating
Have a merry Christmas season
Geraldine And Craig Parker

Thank you for a wonderful planned precruise tour of your beloved Rome. We were able to walk or take the Hop On Hop Off everywhere we wanted to go.
The tours you planned fully educated us about the ancient Roma sights. We also really enjoyed media presentations at the Forums of Augustus and Julius Caesar.
Of course, the Travestere Food Walking tour was a highlight before embarking on the Koningsdam.
Ciao,
Amelia and Jim Strickland

To the wonderful team at Trips2Italy and especially Emily Martolini:Throughout the scheduling process, Emily was not only wonderful to work with but did a fantastic job and we would recommend her and Trips2Italy staff in a heartbeat.
All transportation and trains that were scheduled were flawless.We had such a great time and created some lovely memories to carry forward.
Our favorite was the Tuscany Wine tour. Our tour guides that were set up were awesome individuals.
Should we decide to visit other parts of Italy in the future, we will not hesitate to go through Trips2Italy.
Thank you for making this such a memorable experience.
The Gardners and Samantha

The team at Trips2Italy did a wonderful job planning our trip 5 years ago for our honeymoon and did another great job for our trip earlier this month.
Emily was so quick to answer our questions and planned the perfect trip. When we had some weather related travel issues, Ana got us moving as did the Milan office.
Our hotel was the best we've stayed in so far and all the plans/tours were such fun.
We truly couldn't have planned a better trip ourselves and we will continue encouraging others to use Trips2Italy.

Buongiorno Emily!
Our Italy adventure was amazing.
It was so nice to know what was on the agenda each day and have it laid out, but yet we had down time built in to relax and revisit anything we wanted to see again.
We also appreciate all the help from the Italy staff when the Capri boat tour was cancelled due to weather.
Trips2Italy helped make this a trip of a lifetime.
Ciao e Grazie to all!!!

Scott and Georgetta

Tommaso,
So sorry for the delay in reaching out to you, but being away for 10 days has put me way behind.
First of all our family trip to Italy could not of turned out any more spectacular than it did, from the drivers such as Tony and Cloudio?? to the private tour guides Simona, Irene and Damiano we couldn’t have been set up any better.
Your itinerary worked perfectly and we got a small taste of Italy (especially Lucio’s cooking) that will last us a lifetime or until Jennie and I decide to go back.
Your attention to detail was magnificent and afforded us such a great opportunity to see the Amalfi coast and Rome in the short time that we had.

Again a big Thank You from the entire Marzella family, we added one in Capri on August the 7th when my son proposed to his girlfriend, what a perfect spot.
Ciao
Rich

Hi Emily
Our trip was fantastic! I know our experience was so positive, fluid, and fun because of Trips2Italy!

Every move we made was well thought out and planned out perfectly! Moving from city to city was easy and finding every planned event was even easier. The detailed itinerary was so helpful and much needed. If we had chosen to plan our trip ourselves, I know there would have been many things we would have missed.

Every planned outing just got better and better as the trip progressed! Tour guides were fantastic and incredibly helpful. The hotel choices were great!!

There were so many highlights that were unforgettable and magical that it is hard to pick just one… but with that said the Tuscany Wine Tour definitely stands out as one of the best days in Italy. Going to the small, private owned wineries was an experience we will never forget!

The only thing we would have changed would be the choice of staying in Milan. If and when we go back, I would definitely stay in Lake Como instead of Milan.

Having all the train tickets purchased ahead of time and all tickets purchased for the events that sell out was perfect! There were times we were in line to pick up our tickets and people in line were getting told that tickets were sold out for 2 days or sometimes even longer than 2 days. So we were grateful to have reserved tickets.

We did every planned activity except Uffizi Gallery. We chose to skip this one event because we wanted to rest before moving on to the next city.

Thank you for one of the most memorable trips of our lives!

Kim and Sonny McCurry

Emily,

Sorry for the delay in replying. We have been busy getting settled back into our trip. Congrats and I hope you had a good Honeymoon!!!

We had a great time in Italy. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime and all of our friends and family were very jealous. We couldn’t have asked for better weather while we were in Italy (perhaps maybe not so hot). The whole trip went very smooth and we didn’t have any issues finding where we needed to be, etc.

After landing in Italy we navigated to our water taxi and soon after got our first glimpse of Venice. We soon checked into our hotel and quickly started our exploration of the city. While in Venice we enjoyed eating a many good places! We had squid ink pasta and good wine at Vino Vino, had a great lunch at Vino Vero in Cannaregio and probably our best dinner in Venice was at a little place that I can’t remember the name of in the middle of the city ;-( .
I will find the name of it and let you know! We enjoyed just walking around the city and taking in the beauty. We attended Sunday morning mass at Saint Marks Basilica which was a very neat experience! We enjoyed learning about the history of Venice and seeing the grand craftsmanship during the Doge’s Palace tour as well.

After arriving to Florence by train one of our first stops was Trattoria Mario’s to split a Florentine Steak! We were sat with a very nice German couple who made for good conversation to go along with a tasty steak. That afternoon we enjoyed a walking tour of the city and capped it with a sunset from the Piazzale Michelangelo. While in Florence we did a Tuscany day tour. Our favorite stop on the tour was San Gimignano, where we had time to tour the city on our own and purchase a bottle of wine to enjoy as we sat on the city wall overlooking the Tuscan hillside. The next day we did the Cinque Terre day tour; I think this was our favorite stop of our whole trip. We would love to come back and spend more time in the park in the future. I hope it is able to keep its charm and not change too much with the influx of tourist!
Our final day in Florence we were able to tour the Duomo and see all the priceless art in the Uffizi Gallery.

By the time we go to Rome we felt like we had already seen so much! Nevertheless there was plenty more to see in Rome. The Vatican tour was such a neat experience and one we will always talk about and cherish. The amount of history in Rome is hard to fathom. We very much enjoyed our ancient Rome walking tour, esp. the Pantheon and the Colosseum. I can’t say enough about our guide for the walking tour, she was spectacular! I can’t remember her name but she was South African and had been living in Italy for many years. Her knowledge was amazing. On our final day in Italy we ventured over to Trastevere and we are very glad that we did!
It was great walking around the ancient streets and eating gelato and fried artichokes!

We will miss the atmosphere, café, food, people and the scenery of Italy until we can make it back again!
I included just a few pictures of our many pictures from the trip.

I would really like to thank you and everyone at Trips2Italy for making the trip such an easy and enjoyable experience!
I would definitely recommend you to anyone looking to go to Italy!

Ciao e Grazie!!!

-Lance & Katie

Hi Tommaso,

Wow Friday already! This week has just raced by.

Our mutual clients the McN. and M. families just returned from Italy and I wanted to pass along their comments to you and appreciate the great services to make their trip so special.

" We had a fabulous vacation and can't thank you enough for all your help!
The most memorable experiences were the tours with Trips 2 Italy.
You said Tomasso's company was consistently outstanding and you were certainly right! Ricardo in Pisa, Francesca in Florence, Daniella in Pompeii, and Tony and Marco in the Amalfi coast were all fantastic!! Tony made reservations for us for lunch in a beautiful restaurant directly on the Med in Amalfi. It was heaven!!.... "

Grazie,
Jan D. - CWT Vacations

Buongiorno Emily!

We had a great time in Italy and overall were very happy with all the tours, etc. As far as logistics, all the drivers were on time and we got from place to place as expected.

As far as the guides, all were excellent, with no exceptions - knowledgeable as well as personable. Marco was the driver/guide for Amalfi coast, The Boat crew for the Capri boat trip, Simona in Pompeii, and tour group in Rome. We had the same guide, Serena, for both the Colosseum/Roman Forum and Catacombs tour, and she was excellent. The Vatican tour was good as well - could've used another hour on the tour, but then again time is limited and there's too much there anyway. You have good connections with these tour providers.

As far as hotels, the one in Sorrento was lovely - the place is clean (and had nice towels and plenty of soap and shampoo), the people are nice and the breakfast is excellent. It was also in a good location.

The hotel in Rome, however, was a bit lacking. The location was ok, the rooms were larger than in Sorrento, and the staff was friendly enough. However, they really skimp on services. Our individual complaints seem minor but taken together they show a hotel management that doesn't care about guests, only about saving money. The rooms aren't too clean - ants come into the rooms through the small terrace outside (so no proper bug spraying); the bathrooms were not thoroughly cleaned each day; the towels were thin; the shower curtains were terrycloth (I've never seen that in any other hotel) so they were always damp and musty-smelling; the plastic shower curtain liner in my daughters' bathtub wasn't long enough so the first time they showered water leaked out of the bathroom and into the foyer (then we had to put the terrycloth shower curtain into the tub to prevent the water from getting out); and we had to ask for additional soap bars. They had liquid bath gel/shampoo combination, which isn't good for either a shower or a shampoo. The breakfast room was noticeably understaffed, given the number of guests staying at the hotel.
Overall, it didn't detract from our enjoyment of Rome, but for your future bookings you may want to check further on this particular hotel. It needs to be managed by people who aren't looking to cut corners.

We enjoyed everything on the trip so it's hard to pick a favorite thing, but the highlights for my daughters were the Blue Grotto/boat ride and the Colosseum/Roman Forum tour. The food was excellent and they had gelato every day. We also tried a few of the restaurants suggested in your tour materials.

Thanks again for arranging this tour. We were pleased with your service and would use your company again in the future.

Best, Robin

My husband & I recently returned from the Tuscany/Cinque Terre escorted tour. We had an incredibly wonderful trip!
The itinerary was well planned and included the best that Tuscany & Cinque Terre have to offer. We really enjoyed the classy wine-tasting experiences & the boat ride to Cinque Terre.

In addition to the escorted tour, Trips2Italy assisted us with customization of our own itinerary. We could not be more pleased with Emily at Trips2Italy. Her communication was excellent, including prompt responses to emails and well-researched answers to questions. She organized a terrific trip for us!

During an overseas trip, we have huge peace of mind in knowing that there will be assistance available in case of a problem situation. Trips2Italy gets top marks for this. Due to a minor glitch, we had occasion to call the Trips2Italy 24 hour Emergency Assistance number. Tommaso immediately answered the phone, took care of the issue and followed up with us to assure that all was proceeding smoothly. Emily and Tommaso, thank you for our amazing trip to Italy!!

Tommaso!

First of all, THANK YOU for the most incredible trip we have ever taken! I cant say enough great things about the locations you picked out, the hotel rooms, and even the fine details of what kinds of views our rooms had. We also really appreciated the small touches like the Champagne and treats at each of our hotel spots. No small detail was gone un-noticed. It truly made the world of a difference in our experience!

We absolutely loved Italy!!

Lake Como is hands-down our favorite. We hope to return there again someday. Possibly for an Anniversary trip? :) We hope to spend more time in Como, but also explore some of the other sides of the lake when we return.

We loved the Itinerary. For never going to Italy before, it's hard to know what we would like/dislike, but I think Andrew and I are on mutual agreement that we could have done without Milan. While we appreciate the history, I think we could have stuck to just Florence and Rome for the "city" vibe of our trip. We absolutely loved Lake Como (Like I said) and all of our experiences in Tuscany. I wish we would have done more food tours, similar to the ones we did in Rome, but again, thats not something we could have known without going through the experience. It was cool to eat like a local, and go off the beaten path of tourist spots. We could have also skipped the Vatican. Although it's a one-in-a-lifetime thing to see, we aren't particularly religious people, so the significance of it was sort of lost on us. It was great to see the sistine chapel while we were there though. That, I would recommend.

We stuck to your planned itinerary for the entire trip, which was exceptional. We do not feel like we "missed out" on anything in Italy. With that being said, the schedule was so jam packed that we really didn't have a lot of leisure time to wander the streets, with the exception of 1 day in Como, 1 day in Siena, and our last day in Sorrento. While we feel like we got the most "bang for the buck" with our itinerary, I think we both under-estimated how jam-packed our schedules would be and I think we both agreed that we would have toned down the tours a bit if we were to do it all over again. Again, with that being said, we learned a lot in each place we went and having a guided tour did help us make the most of the time we had in each city, because it showed us what to spend our time on and what to skip. So, I suppose its a catch-22. We certainly feel like we had an incredible experience and each day we learned something more and more valuable to take back and share with our friends and family.

We have a few more friends getting married soon and considering planning their honeymoon. I have already recommended you to one of our couple friends. I cant imagine NOT going through a planner like you for such a trip, and we wished you did trips like this for other countries too!

Thank you again for all of the time, effort, details and special touches you put to making our Honeymoon simply incredible. Your Italy is certainly beautiful, and we feel that you helped us experience it in the best way possible.

Thank you again!!

Kate & Andrew S.

Emily, You did a great job organizing our trips. I can't thank you enough! Peggy A.

Hi,
Rodney and I have to Thank your company for the most wonderful tour, Nicole was so very very good she went over and beyond to make sure we had a fabulous time.
Antonio our driver was also spectacular his Manovering of the large bus around some of the small streets made us feel safe.
The hotels were excellent especially Venice at Hotel Carlton, the meals supplied were great, and the sightseeing arranged were fabulous
We cannot thank you enough for giving us this terrific tour, would recommend it throughly to future tourists
Many many thanks for our Special memories
Rodney and Elizabeth S.

Thank you, Emily; yes, I am happy to reply with our experience.

We enjoyed Italy very much. The vouchers worked perfectly in every case. It was no trouble at all finding all of the meeting places. Every service provided was of good quality.

In Venice, we toured the Doges Palace and learned what was done in order to establish law and order in Venice. We also toured St. Mark’s. Though it was cold and pouring rain, it was worth it. Restaurant Osteria Al Milion, San Giovanni Christiomo, 5841 has quintessential Venetian charm, a welcoming attitude, warmth, excellent cuisine, and service.

In Rome, we toured the City, the churches, the Vatican, and the catacombs. Per your suggestion, Restaurant 34, was excellent. We didn’t know we should have reserved, but were offered a table anyway and received excellent service. The Tagliolini with clams was very yummy. It was fun to watch the waiters buzz around to all the tables patiently, yet with that Italian flair, explaining the dishes in both English and Italian. We walked miles and miles in the daytime and evenings to explore the history and were awed by the cultures of both cities.

We had many favorites…of which is The Hotel Columbia, which abounded in charm, including a chandelier in our room trimmed in beautiful Murano Glass. The service was exquisite. Both hotels were centrally located, so everything was within walking distance. The timing and quality of our tours (all told, we took five) was convenient and the information presented was understandable, and questions were answered knowledgably and enthusiastically. The Hotel Columbia comped us a basket of fresh fruit for my husband's birthday, which was a very nice surprise.
Thank you, also for gifting us the bottle of champagne to help with our celebration. 😊

One of the first impressions was the seemingly endless graffiti defacing the exteriors of buildings all along the train route between the two cities and in many places within the cities, which detracts measurably from Italian charm. An equal, if not more-so a detraction is the pervasive, invasive smoking that goes on in public areas. We were not able to enjoy our meals while seated at table outside of the restaurants for this reason. The only other downside is the aggressiveness of street vendors, who should, likewise be outlawed or at least restricted.

None of these downsides have a thing to do with the service we received from Trips2Italy.

We will ask for your services again in the future and enthusiastically recommend you. Servizio eccellente!

Clara and David G.
Houston, TX U.S.A.

Buongiorno Tommaso and Ana,
Well, today is the day we say farewell to beautiful and exciting Italy.....thank you so much for sharing your passion for this fabulous country and helping to make our trip more complex and pleasurable than we could have ever hoped.
We have so many memories and a journal we are intending to complete as an addendum to our thousands of photos.
This definitely was our trip of a lifetime!!!! Molto grazie......
Jill and John

Dear Natalie,
We are writing to you regarding a recent trip to Sicily that you arranged for us. Before booking our trip, we were told by friends who had already been to the island that it was a good place to visit. Now that we have been there, we agree.

All of the arrangements that you made for us turned out to be excellent and without any problems. We were booked into hotels that had good locations and that were of high quality. The view of the shoreline and Mount Etna from the balcony of the Hotel Diodoro was magnificent. The food and all of the services provided at the two hotels were very good..

We were also well satisfied with our English-speaking private drivers. All of them were punctual and courteous. We appreciated their advice regarding good local restaurants and information that they gave to us as they drove us to our various destinations.

All of the guides at our destination points were also very good. They were well-schooled regarding the sites that we visited, considerate of the amount of time that we wanted to spend at various sites within each destination, answered all of our questions and allowed us to move at a reasonable pace.

We found the information given to us by Tomasso in our private pre-trip phone conversation with him to be very helpful. He was patient and thorough in giving us valuable detailed information on all major aspects of our trip. Any questions that we had were answered to our satisfaction. Our conversation with him (and you in a three-party conference call) was certainly valuable.

Through the literature that you sent to us and through our phone conversations with you, nothing was left uncovered. We benefitted from your good information regarding terminals and gates at airports, foreign currency conversions, taxes, tipping practices and other advice that made our trip easier. You covered everything—even including a present in honor of our 50th wedding anniversary.

Sicily is an interesting place to visit. We highly recommend booking a trip there through Bright Travel Agency and Trips2Italy.

Thank you,
Terry and Bill S. - Clients of Bright Travel Agency, California

Tomasso,
Joe and I cannot thank you enough for arranging our wonderful trip to Italy. It was perfect in everyway and we couldn't have asked for more.
You made our first trip to Italy a dream come true by making all of the arrangements, from our flight, hotel accommodations, customized private tours in Venice, Florence, Rome and every town in between.
Each and every experience was better than the one before, better than we even imagined. By using the vouchers for each excursion, tour, hotel and transportation, there was no worry about being in an unfamiliar country.
We especially enjoyed sitting in a car and being driven around the Tuscan countryside where there was nothing to do except enjoy the experience.
We will certainly share our experience with anyone thinking about travelling to Italy and highly recommend Trips2Italy.
We are already planning our next trip and will certainly be in touch.
Faith & Joe Z.

Tommaso,
I enjoyed the ancient hill side towns and beautiful vineyards and wineries the best.
I took a lot of photographs so I can paint watercolors of the many beautiful views.
Seeing the sculpture and paintings were a lifetime desire. The Each day was different. Our driver was very knowledgeable and fun. He drove skilfully and and had a extensive knowledge of the history of the area He .gave enough time to sell we what the area had to offer, He made stopped so we could take photographs.
The food we were served was excellent and representative of the area. The trip was well planed and very enjoyable.
Thank you for makings special arrangements for me at the airports for getting between the plane and terminal areas. The Airline was very efficient caring out your instructions.
May B.

Hi Tommaso,
Our trip to Italy was fantastic! You did a great job planning everything for us to do. Our driver, Franchesco, was wonderful and so personable. He never stopped smiling and laughing and was so knowledgeable about everywhere we went and we were all sad to see him go. I told him if he's ever in Houston he will have a place to hang his hat and we will show him our city.

All of us thoroughly enjoyed the Saturnia Resort and wished we had more time there. Between the sulfur springs, Turkish bath, sauna and waterfall I swear my wrinkles disappeared! It was so relaxing to see everyone walk around in a robe all day until dinner!
I could kick myself for not making a massage and facial appointment when I had the chance because they were totally booked with no open appointments for anything, but that's my fault and I won't let that happen next time and I hope there will be a next time. The dinner that night was exquisite and the service was impeccable! We felt like we were part of the rich and famous..and it felt good!

Our hotel in Sienna, the NH Hotel Excelsior, was in a decent location and was quite nice with a large room and bathroom. We enjoyed our tour of the town and leisure time to venture out on our own. Each of the wineries were unique in their own way with all of the wine going down very easily. They all served us food whether it be a snack or a meal and everything was fresh and delicious!
As we traveled from place to place none of us could get enough of seeing the beautiful Tuscany countryside and a picture just can't capture the magnificence of it.
Stopping at several of the small towns was just perfect giving us an insight of how the locals enjoy life. It was impossible not to check out real estate ads just to see what our money could buy and boy it is a tempting thought to do just that!

One of the highlights all of us extremely enjoyed was the hands on Tuscan cooking lesson. The chef was so personable and showed us how to make a fabulous meal with such few ingredients. I think every bit of food we prepared was eaten with no leftovers. He had a friend come by who owned an organic winery nearby and we sampled all of his wines and he sent us back to the hotel with what was left in the bottles where we proceeded to finish them off in the hotel lobby while laughing and talking. We drank a lot that night!

The lunch prepared by the butcher was a definite experience. The meat just kept coming and each one was better than the last. I do have to say the Italians do like their meat on the rare side. I would have liked it cooked a few minutes longer, but it all tasted good and it was entertaining to watch the cooks with their preparations. The cuts of meat were something to see and we all left with our bellies full!

Our hotel in Florence, Grand Hotel Villa Medici was very nice. Our room and bathroom was newly remodeled with a nice contemporary style. The hotel was in a convenient location although a few of the streets that led to it seemed a little seedy and deserted to walk down at night. After one night of that we figured out which ones to avoid and got around just fine.
Our tour guide in Florence was very knowledgeable and it was obvious he loved what he did. Our free time was spent exploring which included the Accademia, Uffizi and of course shopping in a shoppers paradise. The market had changed quite a bit since I was there ten years ago, but I guess that's expected.
Lots more immigrants now selling products from China which is sad and I understand why the officials are trying to make some changes to help improve the situation. All of the Italian made pieces are so beautiful it's a shame to spoil them with items with not as good a quality.

Our farewell dinner at the Osteria Di Giovanni was a wonderful restaurant and the food was very delicious. You planned a perfect farewell dinner for us and I thank you for that. They even cooked one of our steaks medium rare and I couldn't get enough of it. From start to finish it was perfect!

Thank you again Tommaso for planning a wonderful trip for all of us to enjoy and remember forever. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime and we will have lasting memories of it forever. You did a fabulous job planning every detail to perfection. I would not hesitate at all to have you plan my next trip and will highly recommend you to friends and relatives. A big thank you goes out to your staff as well as I'm sure all of this could not be possible without them.

Hugs and Kisses,
Sandy V.Tutto Bene Winery Group Tour

Hello Tommaso,
Well we made it back from Italy and had a wonderful time!
Everything went very well except for the small hiccup on the pickup at the Florence airport upon our arrival. But that was resolved very quickly and everything else went like clockwork.

Our first day in Florence was very casual. We did walk around Florence and made it to the Accademia Gallery and saw the statue of David. We also were able to see The Duomo and climbed the bell tower. In the evening, the Pizza and Gelato class was fun with Chef Davide.
The next morning, the Vespa tour of Tuscany was wonderful and it gave us a feel of Tuscany and the beautiful countryside.
We had about 12 people in our group which turned out to be great. We also ran into our Pizza making class Chef Davide during our Vespa tour. He remembered us and it was a nice talk to him again. That night we happened upon one of our favorite restaurants called Da Pinocchio. This restaurant was close to our hotel and the food was excellent and the staff at the restaurant was very friendly.
Our day in Venice was good!
The bullet train to Venice went very smoothly. We loved the canals and the little alleyways with all of the shops and restaurant. Our tour guide of the Doge Palace was very informative. Although the tour of Doge Palace and the church was nice, we would have liked to have had more time touring the city of Venice with the guide, perhaps on the water or seeing Murano. Also, it would have been nice to have known that we were going to go to a church that day so we could have dressed properly. Instead we purchased several scarfs which were hot and uncomfortable. At the end of the day we decided to walk back to the train station through Venice to enjoy the city further. It gave us a better feel of the city outside of the tourist area of St. Mark’s Square.

The following day we loved the tour of Chianti and the medieval towns. Our driver, Francesco, was wonderful! In fact, he was our favorite driver/tour guide. Although he was not officially a tour guide and did not walk with us during our stops, he was very entertaining in the car and was a wealth of information.
He was very interactive with the kids and they loved him too! Francesco gave us the history of each town and its surrounding area, and also gave us tips on restaurants and town attractions. One of our favorite towns was San Gimignano. Francesco also brought us on a private winery tour with one of the winery owners who taught us about the local wines. By the end of the day, Francesco was like one of the family!
Our stay in Rome was amazing. Although Rome is larger than Florence and Venice, it was amazing to see all of the ruins scattered throughout the city. Our tour guide, Alisondra (sp?), was very good. She turned out to be our tour guide for The Vatican also.
It was great to tour the Coliseum and the Roman Forum in which the kids had studied about and could relate to the history of these artifacts.Pompeii and Naples was amazing too. We couldn’t get over how large the ruins at Pompeii were. Our tour guide was very good and she showed us Naples also. We were able have lunch at Sorbillo’s along the coast and taste authentic Neapolitan pizza.

Vatican City was also nice to see.
Overall a fantastic trip! Thank you and your staff for planning this wonderful trip.

In summary:
All of the tour guides were very good and professional. Francesco was by far our favorite guide/driver followed by Alisondra. All spoke English very well so we did not have any problems with communication. Our driver the first two days in Rome spoke limited English, but that did not turn out to be much of a problem.
The Santa Maria Novella hotel in Florence was excellent. Very good service, excellent breakfasts and they turned down our beds every night.
The hotel in Rome, Sole al Pantheon hotel, was nice but older and had smaller rooms and spotty internet connection. We had a room facing the square which was nice; however, we could hear the activities in the square until late at night. We would definitely return to the Santa Maria Novella hotel. However, we may try a different hotel in Rome next time.

It is hard to narrow down one specific thing we liked best, but the following would be high on our list:
• Pompeii (amazing!)
• San Gimignano (beautiful medieval town with shops. Smaller town and not as crowded which was nice)
• Tuscany – tour of the countryside & winery visit
• Venice (i.e. – walking the city – shops and restaurants)

We did try to go to two restaurants which you suggested in your information book. However, due to the time of season, they ended up being closed. That was a little disappointing and it would have been nice to know that they were closed beforehand.
Overall we enjoyed Italy and would love to go back. You and Ana were fantastic.
Thank you for planning such a great trip!
Andrea G. /Vince W. & Family

Buongiorno Mr. Tommaso, Ms. Torres and Ms. Guila,
Grazie Molto!

"Thank you" barely expresses our appreciation to you for making our Italian adventure such an amazing experience! The Hotel Columbia was a lovely place and the staff could not have been nicer or more helpful. All of the transports that you arranged were perfect. The tours were better than we could have imagined. We had a good balance of "scheduled tours" and "free time." Needless to say, we were delighted with our entire trip! Everything went as planned, we encountered absolutely no problems! We were well taken care of, just like you said we would be!
We truly appreciated the bottle of Prosecco that you so generously provided us. We enjoyed it one evening on the rooftop terrace. We toasted you and our new friendships.
Pictures will follow soon. (They are on 4 different phones plus a camera.) Now that we are home again, we continue to view them to keep the entire experience alive!
When we plan to return to Italy, you can be sure that we will be calling on you again. If I know if anyone planning a trip to Italy in the future, I will be sure to refer them to you.
Again, we thank you for arranging a wonderful, wonderful trip. Perfetto!
Most sincerely,
Susan, David, Maria and Nathan A.

Subject: Thank you so much for arranging such a fabulous trip to Italy for our Family!

HI Tommaso,
I just wanted to thank you so much for arranging the best vacation ever for our family! We were so impressed with the quality of the drivers and guides you arranged for us on the trip....all very experienced, punctual and friendly. Massimo was an amazing driver, especially on the Amalfi coast! We loved the private boat tour to Capri and the weather couldn't have been better! Great days in Pompeii, Paestum, Gragnano, Naples, Herculaneum and climbing Vesuvius. We loved all the food experiences...we will never forget the amazing pizza making evening and the very professional and classy white fig tasting.
Note: Buffalo Mozzarella tasting was so good...but no tours on Fridays.
The owner did describe the process verbally. We loved the hotel ....so clean, great breakfasts and perfectly located by the sea, and a short walk to town which we needed after eating so much!
I have never arranged for a private tour before, but would not hesitate to do it again with Trips2Italy!. Here is a picture of our group.
Thank you so much!

Chris, Ken & Family

Hello Tomasso!
Bill and I are sitting on the rooftop of our hotel gazing at the the beautiful doumo and having the prosecco you sent us. It was a wonderful surprise! We are completely thrilled with our visit to Florence! Magdelina was awesome and so informative. She was joy to spend the morning with yesterday. We had our cooking class this morning and can't wait to try to making pasta at home. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Carol and Bill H.

Tommaso,
Andrew and I sincerely thank you for all the work you did to customize an amazing trip to Sicily and for being with us every step of the way to make sure that each of us was being taken care. The customized itinerary far exceeded my personal expectation,s and I loved every moment of this trip. I especially want to thank you for being sure that I was given ample time for photos and for always guiding me to the right spots to capture the great memories.
Our trip home went very smoothly with every flight being right on time. I am unpacked and third load of laundry is running right now, but my eyes are about to close so I am off to bed.
Ciao,
Bessie

Tommaso –
We wanted to sincerely thank you for planning the perfect honeymoon for us. It was the most amazing trip from start to finish, and we can’t thank you and your team enough for everything you did for us along the way. It was such a treat to arrive at every hotel with a bottle of champagne welcoming us, and we absolutely loved every city, which were all unique and wonderful in their own ways. The activities were so much, and we especially enjoyed all of the guide services.
We have been passing your name along to numerous family and friends and will continue to do so. We are already looking forward to planning our next trip back to Italy!
We hope you are having a great fall and wish you and your family a very happy holiday season.
Thanks again and all the best,
Hadley and Johnny

Boungiorno Tommaso,
We had a wonderful time! If you can give us a few days we can let you know what we liked the most and least. Brett took notes on the trip so we just need to go through those. We are very satisfied with what you set up for us. We did get to see a lot of Italy in short amount of time. Next time we go we will definitely cut down on the tours and enjoy spending relaxing time there. We also met and spent some time with Frank and Frizz who are clients of yours. We had a lot of laughs and fun times with them.

Thank you very much for planning our trip. We are so thankful that we went through your company. I don't think anyone could have planned such a perfect trip for us.
Sincerely,
Darlene

PS - We will follow up with notes in a few days.

Hi Tommaso!
Our trip was incredible! Even better than I envisioned- we all definitely want to return & absolutely did not want to leave.
Will be happy to send you feedback & photos this weekend. I have already been sharing your name with everyone I talk to!
sent from my iPhone
Best,
Debbie

Good Morning Stacie and Tommaso,
As Stacie can verify, I posted pictures and my adventures of the trip on Facebook daily. Here are some notes I wrote to my son, Erik. It was truly a trip of a lifetime for me. I loved every minute of it. From the seamless travel of connections and drivers to the locations of the hotels. I will be a walking billboard for Trip2Italy. Thank you so much for everything!!!! It was a fantastic trip. Really, it was!!!
Now back to the trip of my life time…..
This was my first tour into Chianti region. As you can see the rolling hills, the vines, and cypress trees. The lust green country side. This tour had about 30 people and was on a big bus. The kind I did not want to travel on but it only happened once. All the other tours was in small vans or cars. I picked one seed from the tree and now trying to grow it here. It’s got a sprout coming out of it and of course, it’s in an expresso cup. LOL
If a picture could say a thousand words. The right is a photo and the left is my painting of the roof tops. I love Siena and all its earthy colors!
Siena is on top of hill and you can see for miles. I am thinking of painting the roof tops … thinking watercolors. You could see the lines of the city change over time as the walls of 1300’s to protect their fine city grew wider with time. I climbed a tower of the town hall that had over 400 steps up and 400 steps down. The stairwell was narrow and the steps were worn. Can you imagine what these steps could tell you about the history of the town of Siena. The wars, the joy, and sorrow of the town. The black plague was a big influence on the town. Generations were destroyed.
Volterra, Alabaster mined there then Siena Again.
Siena, since the age of the city has very narrow streets. Old fashion lanterns. One of the couples I met on my last wine tour were from Canada, St John Island. After the tour we went out to eat on one of these narrow steep alleys. Well, after tasting a number of glasses of wine. Here we sat at a restaurant that had outdoor seating. Tasha and I had Pici spaghetti with sheep’s guts intestines with a gravy sauce. It was quite good. Well after sharing a bottle of wine with them and the meal ended. I was starting to be effected by this steep narrow avenue. Our stools were cut to feel balance on the hill. I thanked them for the time together and excused myself. I was fine once I started walking back to my hotel. It was a wonderful day and evening but the feeling of falling down the hill.
I think the best part ( besides the expresso, gelato, and wine, in that order) was meeting others from around the world. A number of Australians, Americans, English, Canadian, and Switzerland. Tasha and Steve was my first connection.
Then came Sheila from Switzerland, and Liz from Baltimore. I spend a day with each of travelers and it made it much more enjoyable. We shared experiences and knowledge of the trip and day. I have still connections from Liz. I wrote to Tasha via email and no reply yet. They both might be still traveling. I think they were having a 6 weeks holiday.
Kathrina S. - Travel Time Agency's Client

We loved it!!!
We can't wait to go back one day.
It was everything we thought it would be and more and we definitely did not want to come home so soon. What did you see and do while you were there? We visited the Vatican, (amazing!) The ruins, Pantheon and the Coliseum. Everything was so large and overwhelming (in a good way). We also visited Florence and saw the statue of David at the Accademia museum. So many fantastic sights to see, food to eat and shopping.
We loved everything about Florence the most. It was fascinating to experience the Italian lifestyle from the narrow streets, the little shops, the many, many restaurants and how they extended into the streets for seating. Amazed at the lack of driving rules like we have in America. I like Italy's rules much better. LOL
Also loved that there wasn't music blaring everywhere. We sat and watched people often and noticed that how quiet it was yet still full of sounds. It was the sound of people visiting, walking, quiet traffic and local musicians playing in the piazza's. It was delightful and quite relaxing.
What did you dislike? Loved every minute of it.Just wanted to say thank you for making this the most enjoyable trip we've had. The treatment we received while in Italy from the hotel staff to the airlines was above and beyond our expectations.
The hotel staff at each hotel knew who we were as soon as we walked in the door and both hotels upgraded our rooms to ones with a private patio in Rome and a balcony in Florence.

I had a wonderful birthday on top of the honeymoon and everyone treated us like we were the only people there. Even the airlines brought us treats form the first class section and all the crew (not the pilots) came by to congratulate us on our honeymoon. This was on the trip home as our seats were separated. Norm visited the ticket agent before we got on the flight to see about changing out seats so we could sit together and they went as far as paging other passengers and asking them to move seats. And people DID!! It was awesome!! We honestly had the time of our lives and can't wait to go back some day. There is so much more we want to see next time.
Thank you again for treating us so well and making sure our honeymoon was perfect. We will never forget it or you and Trips2Italy. I'm definitely going to make sure I know more Italian next time. :-)
You can count on us to spread the word about Trips2Italy. You all are wonderful!!
Ciao e Grazie!!
Mr. & Mrs. Norm and Lori M.

"… Where to start... ITALY WAS AMAZING!!! I LOVE ITALY! … Rome breathtaking, historic, just a beautiful city. The people are beautiful and friendly. The city is beautiful. The tour guides were informative and friendly. I was just blown away by all the beautiful historic sites of the city. The food was amazing. I was not a wine drinker but now I am. The hotel staff was awesome, friendly, informative helpful, etc… Naples: Another beautiful city and people. The tour guide was great. The restaurant wear we ate at were extremely friendly and accomodating, especially concerning my food allergies (I received a very nice because of it!) The food was tasty. I just felt the tour of the city was a little short but I understood why.Pompeii: was breathtaking. It was surreal that I was actually IN Pompeii. The tour guide, again, very informative. She did an amazing job fitting all that history in a short amount of time. She gave us time browse the local shops…The country side is amazing!Venice: It was very nice. I did have a few mishaps in going to and in Venice. I actually missed my train going to Venice. I did not realize that there were no escalators or elevators in the train station, so struggling with my bags, I missed the train… Howver, once I was at the hotel. The staff was great. They were friendly, helpful, informative and recommended great places to eat…The day of my birthday, when I entered the lobby that morning, the hotel staff stopped what they were doing and wished me happy birthday! I could do nothing but blush and smile. The manager(?), gave me a piece of cake. It was my second piece, as the night staff gave me a piece of cake as well, after midnight for my birthday. The staff was also a pleasure to talk to and recommened a local restaurant that I frequented when I was there. The manager also arranged for me to have a private tour (I think) to the glass making factory. I was amazed by the craftsmanship! I also received your birthday wishes. Thank you. The private wine tasting tour was amazing as well! They were very catering and the wine and food was great! I went on a gondola ride as well to end my birthday night.… Overall, it was a fabulous trip!... Thank you and your staff so much for making this an amazing trip! The attention to detail and keeping me abreast of any changes in my trip. It was very comforting to know that you did follow up with me while in Italy. It was beautiful experience that I would not change. I…have become a fan of wine and Italian style pizza. I hope that I can plan another trip to Italy soon with you.Thank you so very much for making my birthday an Amazing experience"

We fell in love with Italy, the local passion, history, the ease to move around and food / wine / gelato / pastries / espresso!ASSISI – tranquil ; the perfect environment to relax and start our Italian journey. SIENNA – an enchanting bustle of intriguing streets lined with shops and eateries. FLORENCE – the art, architecture (David) and churches are outstanding – the walk up to the viewing area is worth the effort. BOLOGNA – fresh hand made pasta (tortellini) cooked to order in the laneway market was divine. The market stalls packed with fresh produce was great to have an espresso and watch the locals go by their daily routine. PADUA - the botanical garden was a real treat to see water lined garden with quaint bridges. The passion of our guide Mirjam; the energy driven every day was an absolute delight; insightful, encouraging and supportive of our desire to explore; we had a vision to explore back streets and out of tourist area's - of course this comes with some concerns and doubt; Mirjams reassurance to get lost (in a positive manner of course) gave both Tonya and i the courage to embark on our dream to explore where the locals eat, have coffee, pastries and view daily life in Italy; we walked through the most unforgettable back streets with confidence (installed by Mirjam) and enjoyed food and surroundings that surpassed our dreams (including 100’s of memorable photos). Thank you for coordinating a wonderful and memorable journey for both Tonya and i. I will certainly recommend Trips2Italy to all of my friends and family. The information supplied helped piece together an effortless journey in an unknown country for the both of us. regards Rob and Tonya

Hi Emily, Sorry the reply took so long, I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things!We really enjoyed the vacation everything went very smoothly and we both had a fantastic time! While we were there we saw the Vatican and took the tour, we walked all over Rome and did the Ancient Rome walking tour. We went to Pompeii and saw the ruins. We went to Assisi and saw the Basilica of St. Francis and the castle there. We went to Florence and had a tour of many of the buildings there and then on our own went to the Acadamia and saw the David as well as the Ufitzi museum. From there we went to Padua and Sienna and then on to Venice where we had a tour of St. Marks square and a gondola ride. We then just explored the city and the following day went to Moreno (Murano) and saw the glass blowing I'm sure there was more but those were the highlights!!I really loved all of it but my favorites were probably Assisi and Venice! All of the local tour guides were great, very knowledgeable and friendly particularly our tour for the Vatican Ludvig! All of the connections were smooth and we had no trouble with any of the vouchers. The hotels were all nice and the food was great!!I wish we had seen the David as part of the tour in Florence other than that everything was great. We really enjoyed our trip and we both felt like going with a tour group was the right choice for us it took all of the stress of planning and travel out so we could just enjoy Italy!!Let me know if I can answer any more questions! Sarah

Dear Ana and Tommasso, We want to thank you for the wonderful customized trip to Sicily. It was a trip of a lifetime and a dream come true. Everything about the trip was perfect, including having Tommasso along with us. This was definitely a trip we will never forget.....it was perfect. TRIPS2ITALY is great and we would definitely recommend your agency to anyone wanting to see beautiful Italy and Sicily.

Dear Ana & Tommaso:Thank you....Thank you.....Thank you..... for the wonderful trip to Sicily planned for the Daughters of Italian Heritage. We all had such a wonderful time....the trip was amazing. The time and detail that was put into connecting a lot of us with our families and heritage while in Sicily was something we will all remember for a long time. Francisco did a fantastic job keeping us all together and explaining everything to us along the way. Victor and Vincent captured it all in their photos and video which we will cherish always. And of course Tommaso, made the whole trip even more exciting with all the extra little things he shared with us along the way. TRIPS2ITALY is the BEST. Ciao!

"Tommaso,We enjoyed the trip. We will go back again.The food was excellent and the private tours were neat. It was a terrific trip! Venetia B. "

Emily

I was just finishing up my email to you. By now you know that I am not shy and will share our comments.

Christine D. and I have returned from Italy and wanted to thank you for planning one of our best trips.
The hotels were terrific, but best of all the number of days in each town were perfect.
The guides went out of their way to make sure we saw everything and added their personal anecdotes to make our trip come alive.
The guide in Cinque Terre actually reserved a small boat for us instead of dealing with the large crowds on the ferry - it was wonderful.

We thought we would pass along some comments which may help you when you are planning future clients' trips to this area. These are not criticisms, just comments.

Perugia

Loved this area of Italy - so much to see and learn - would tell people not to skip it.
#1 Hotel San Gallo Palazzo

The staff couldn't have been nicer - helping us with our questions (and we had many!), providing maps, bringing us coffee when we sat on their large veranda reviewing our full day of sightseeing, etc.
Breakfast was outstanding!
Probably the best of the 3 hotels

This hotel was so convenient to the sites that we had no issues walking all over town on our free days and in the evening.
Note: The San Gallo hotel restaurant was not included on your recommended list, but was probably one of the best dinners we ate. You may want to consider adding it to your list.

Siena

#2 Hotel Palazzo Ravizza - we weren't sure if the driver was dropping us off at the correct location because the sign on the building read "Pensione" not Hotel; but we were so happy once inside the building. This mansion's rooms were all redone to provide a different style for most guests. Updated bathrooms, coffee pots in each room, even an iron and ironing board!!!
Since our rooms over looked the garden (thanks to you) we had the most incredible views watching the sun rise through our large bedroom windows. We took a tour of the building which still houses a grand piano, antiques and furniture from the original owner.
The wife of the owner of the NY Frick museum typically stayed here when in Italy.

Breakfast was different than the previous hotel. The salami and cheese was delicious and plentiful. Coffee was magnifique (once we learned to use the machine)!

We had such fun at the cooking school learning how to make pasta and sauces. Of course, we ate too much and have fond memories of the people we met and the Chef who used much more salt and wine than Americans.
ViVace Pizza & Grigila was also not on your recommended restaurant list, but was excellent with a beautiful back terrace overlooking the city lights. This is located right around the corner from the hotel.

Santa Margherita
#3 The Mediterranneo Emotional Hotel was also very nice, located close to everything so we were able to walk to sites and restaurants. Of course, the building was newly renovated.

How can we ever thank you enough for working so hard on each and every detail of our trip. We couldn't stop saying this is the most beautiful site, until we moved to the next one.

So looking forward to our next grand trip. By the way, do you provide trips to other countries in addition to Italy?

Your Very Happy Clients,

Wendy and Christine

Emily,

We had a good time and appreciate all the hard work you put into the planning. Pre plan discussion helped a lot along with the documents you provided us. Lots to share but I will try to give a quick perspective--

Alitalia really needs to update itself, the plane interiors are beaten up and the staff is not really that friendly. I travel internationally and I would put them really at the bottom of choice especially for long hauls. We understand it is the direct route airline but it would be great if there was competition to force better service.

Taxi services- Rome Airport to Hotel leaves a bit to be desired. The driver was late, didn't speak english and he tried but we felt like we were just a package to pick up and deposit. Florence to Airport was ok but felt badly for driver. The driver was doing a favor for a colleague as the colleague was sick. The driver parked down the street vs being in front of the hotel. We were fine to carry our stuff to the car but didn't seem the best. She also had a tour right after dropping us off and was concerned about timing. She was nice and conversant on Florence sites as we went to the airport. We are sympathetic to the circumstances but my sense is the Taxi company needs to handle all these situations to ensure we are not caught up in the juggle. Not fair to drivers. We are easy travelers and these situations were not major issues it just made us think about service.

Rail travel was great in Italy. High-speed service Rome to Florence and Florence to/from Venice was easy and great ride. Train stations are nice, information is easy and there are helpful folks always around to ask questions.

Hotel in Rome was ok. Staff was very nice and the garden area for drinks and breakfast was nice. Location was fine as we were able to access various areas of our interests in Rome. It definitely has the decor of an older era hotel which brings some original character to it. Rooms are a nice size and very tall ceilings. We had a room in the backside of the hotel with a very limited view- the window was in the back corner of the room and looked out into sidewall of an adjacent building. It would have been better to have a window in the center or in a way that provided more look to the outside. We requested a change but they couldn't accommodate. Since we were out and about all the time it ended up not being an issue. We like both kinds of hotels- old ones with history and newer modern ones- but being in a historical city the older hotel is preferable. One aspect that needs fixing is their breakfast. Good spread but hot food especially the eggs were cold and slightly undercooked. Also, some of the staff was not able to communicate very well which resulted in incorrect orders. Outside garden service in the evening was a bit slow.

Hotel in Florence was great. Rooms and reception areas were small but it didn't matter as we thought they did nice job of leveraging the space, the staff was great, very welcoming and always helpful. Breakfast was perfect and the afternoon tea was a really nice touch. Location was fine. We were able to walk to it from the train station and get to all areas of Florence that we wanted to get to. We would recommend Rapallo to anybody.

Rome- when we arrived we wandered around the city during the afternoon- walking past Giardini del Quirinale to Fontana di Trevi, exploring other areas then to P. Venizea, went to the top to see good 360 views of Rome, etc... Next day- the Coliseum/Forum/Pantheon tour was great, the tour guide was good and would really recommend it to anybody. Learned a lot. Glad we had the small group tour. Have to say the big tours were obnoxious as they just would bowl you over as they came thru. Amazing that tours can be so large. Vatican city tour was great and informative.
We got lucky as we were the only ones on the tour. Rome is an amazing city and the history is fascinating.

Florence- walking tour was great but I think given the history and all that resides in Florence I might recommend an additional tour or two to cover some of the other topics. The Tuscany Countryside tour was great. We lucked out to have Pierre as a tour guide. Highly recommend that group. Rebecca and Pierre have a great set up and very nice. We saw three vineyards, had a great lunch with additional tastings from the restaurantor as he and his two brothers produce wine for the restaurant only, and we also made a stop in Greve.

Uffizi and Accademia were great to see. Amazing history and significance. We also went to the Leonardi Da Vinci museum and Santa Croce along with the leather school. We ventured up to the P Michaelangelo and got great views of Florence. If we had time we would have gone at sunset as we can imagine watching the sunset over Florence would be amazing. We walked down and looked at the waterfalls then walked to Ponte Vecchio. Restaurants- where do we start? lots of good times having lunch and dinners.

Trattoria Za Za and Osteria Pastella in Florence hit the top of the list. We will have to look at our list to send along but we had good meals, wine, and enjoyed going out to the restaurants.

Overall, the trip was excellent and have lots of pictures to sort thru. Will send along some.

Stuart

Hello Tommaso,

We had the most wonderful trip to Italy with Mary and Martin C. and we wanted to thank you personally for putting together such a fabulous itinerary. Too many favorite things to list! Such a beautiful place and we want to go back in a few years and hit Rome and the Amalfi Coast. When the time comes, we will make sure and contact you!

Many, many thanks to you again Tommaso!

Sincerely,
Mary and Greg C.

Emily,

I was just bragging about you and ho easy you made everything for us.
The book you sent us was so helpful and it made it so easy for us.

We fell in love with Venice and how nice people are there we didn’t want to come back! We actually went to see a listing for a beautiful house in Tuscany, but they said it was not possible as we were from here.

Tours: Amazing!!

Loved the skip the line, that we were able to choose our preferred language.
They were scheduled perfect and with enough time to do our own exploring.

Transfer services: you made it so easy for us, it was perfect! Everything was so convenient.

Hotels : loved every single one of them!
The location of every hotel was beyond perfect!
Very convenient and accessible to transportation and every tourist spot.
The breakfast included was a huge plus!
Love that they all had hair dryers.

I was super excited to have found a Laundromat literary around the corner from both the hotel in Florence and Venice! (I have ocd so knowing that I had dirty laundry in my luggage was really bothering me lol)

Flights : No complaints.
Personally prefer flights with no layovers. Had a slight issue in Paris , We got to our assigned area and waited patiently no sign of our flight on the boards – I finally asked at 1:10 was told was moved last minute literally to the other side of the airport!
I had purchased some items while we were waiting and that was an issue once we had to go back through security, luckily I had decided to hold on to my receipts and after going back and forth I was able o keep the stuff I had just purchased.

Overall: The perfect dream vacation!

Thank you Emily and everyone at Trips2Italy!!!

Sandra and Luciano D.

Buongiorno Tommaso!

I completed the review on your website. I hope you get a chance to read it!

We had an amazing trip, and fell in love with Italy!

I can’t thank you enough for organizing such a wonderful vacation. The memories will be forever in my heart.

You took the worry completely out of my excursions. Your details were impeccable. I felt completely comfortable traveling to another country from your direction.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderful vacation!

We will definitely go back to Italy!

Rena G. & Family

Emily,

We had an amazing time visiting Venice, Florence and Rome, along with our side trips to the smaller cities!

Our hotels were all nice with friendly staff. Our favorite being Hotel Rapallo in Florence! It was beautiful! However, the location of our hotel in Venice right on the canal was very special as well.

All of our tours were well organized and very interesting! The pizza making and gelato class was a lot of fun also.The one time we had a concern during our trip was because there was news of a train strike. Our hotel manager quickly put us in contact with someone from your team right at front desk and they researched situation and set our mind at ease! So nice to have that support!

Again thank you for the wonderful experiences and memories!

Marsi and Dennis

Emily,The trip was just amazing!!

Everything was stunning and beautiful.

We saw and did a lot of great things on this trip to Milan,Venice, Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast, so it is hard to pick just one favorite thing.

The art in the museum's UNBELIEVABLE! Just took our breaths away. Pompeii - WOW! Our guides on all of of your trips were knowledgeable and friendly. We did have our favorites though, The Vatican guide (couldn't remember her name) was knowledgeable and had the greatest sense of humor. The guide at Pompeii (Michael if I remember correctly) was outstanding. The guide at the Coliseum was outstanding. All the guides never rushed the group . I was always last taking pictures and they were very kind and understanding of that, it was greatly appreciated.The private drivers were all professional and very nice.

At our hotel, Hotel Del Mare, were experienced EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE! We had an issue with our door not locking correctly. My husband went down and made a request to get it fixed. Found out later it was the owner of the hotel. Such a nice man. We ended up chatting with him a few days later explaining our early checkout, he said that he would have the guard get us a little something to eat before we left. We got a wake up call and when we got down to the lobby, everything was there. What GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE, the owner's name is Nino.

Starting with my first phone call to Emily and Tommaso, nothing but 5 star customer service.

Thank you again for everything, It truly was an amazing trip.

Jennifer and Donavan J

Hi Emily,

We had an amazing trip! All went seamlessly.

It an honor to compliment trips 2 Italy for their expertise in travel arrangements!

The team at trips 2 Italy speak fluent English and has an incredible grasp of Italy.

The companies connections with key people in Italy to arrange the tailored needs of our trip is remarkable.

For the most successful touring experience in Italy, I highly recommend trips 2 Italy for anyone's arrangements and travel.

Thank you!

Cheryl C.

Tommaso,

I had a marvelous time in Italy!

You did a remarkable job of connecting all the bits and pieces of the trip that I wanted in order to see my great-grandparents' villages!

Thank you so much for the wonderful transfers and recommendations.

I would also like to highly recommend the Northern Lakes and Dolomites tour. All the hotels were centrally located which was ideal for exploring, no need for taxis, subways, or busses to see the sights.

Grazie mille!

Eileen M.

Tomasso, You promised us that we would have a unique, wonderful traveling experience and you exceeded our expectations.

We are so grateful for your care to every detail and your selection of activities for us.

The cooking class was an especially wonderful and memorable experience. I always wanted to go to a cooking class in Tuscany.

I never dreamed it would be in an outside kitchen surrounded by the beauty of Italy. Making our own pasta was so much fun and topping the delicious meal off with “chocolate salami” was heavenly.

I have already told some friends that you are best in class for arranging trips to Italy.

Thank you for the beautiful memories of Italy.
Irene H.

Hi Emily,

Grazie mille!! Sorry I didn’t send a postcard - I wrote you a note in Rome but never got it in the mail.

We had a wonderful time on our trip, and loved it all. The hotel in Rome was in a perfect location and I can’t express enough how lovely and kind everyone was. We explored the city and found all the iconic sites on our free days. One of our favorite restaurants was just a few doors away from the hotel.
The girl who was our guide for the Vatican tour was amazing, sweet and so well informed and interesting. On our last day in Rome we explored Villa Borghese Park and the National Gallery of Modern Art - both were fantastic, and a nice way to spend a cool, quiet day after the more crowded attractions.

Same in Sorrento. I loved the hotel and location – being so close to the beach. The whole marina area was charming and felt like home. We had dinner there most nights, swam, and walked up into the town on our first evening and free day. The Amalfi coast tour was beautiful, as was the Capri small boat tour.
I was thrilled with the opportunity to swim off the boat in such brilliant blue water. The captain and guide were charming and funny. On our last day we found Gallery Raffaele Celentano which we thoroughly enjoyed, and in the evening stumbled into a music performance in a small church - magical!

I also enjoyed all the wonderful detail in the guidebook that was created for us - not only great information, but proverbs and recipes. :-)

Thanks so much for putting together such a great trip, one that was truly perfect for us. You nailed it!
– Suzanne

We had an amazing time in Italy. Tommaso, you and your team did a phenomenal job planning our trip - we saw so many incredible places, made a lot of wonderful memories, and tasted so much delicious food. And we got engaged!

We are very grateful to Trips 2 Italy for your enthusiasm, professionalism, and helpfulness helping to plan the proposal and our entire vacation. Your communication was excellent and you were so easy to work with.

You really went above and beyond to help make sure everything went smoothly for us on our special day and we can't thank enough for that. You also gave us so many helpful tips during our pre-trip phone call and the materials Trips 2 Italy sent us (vouchers, tickets, a booklet on the places we were visiting) were all top-notch. It was so helpful and informative to have your references, recommendations, and write-ups for each location.

We really loved Verona and Turin in particular. In both cities, we had excellent tour guides that taught us about the history of the cities and also gave us a glimpse into what life is like for the locals there. As an added bonus, both tours featured samples of local drinks and foods. We also had an especially incredible day when we got engaged, as we had a private driver show us the beautiful countryside and vineyards of Verona and Lake Garda.

It was truly unforgettable!

If we could take our trip again, We probably would've liked to have more individual/private tours instead of the big group tours that departed from Milan. We don't blame Trips 2 Italy for this at all, however - we told you our budget constraints and even asked if you could cut the total price a bit. In the future, we'd probably plan on spending a bit more money for private or small tours, since they really offered a unique and enhanced experience.

We had such a wonderful time - thank you again so much for all your help and guidance throughout this entire process. You went above and beyond and we are really grateful for that. We attached a few picture highlights for you and your postcard is in the mail!

Grazie mille!

Evan & Casey

Hi Emily!
We can’t thank you enough for all of the thought and preparation you put into making our trip perfect!

We had a very busy agenda planned and every detail was outlined to make it easy to enjoy.

Before I share the highlights, I have to note how incredibly helpful the entire staff was not only before the trip, but during and in time of need. In a nut shell, our flight was delayed due to weather, missed a connection, re-routed to another country, and lost luggage.
It all resolved by day three, but Emily, Ana and Giulia were there for us at all hours, helping us to rearrange schedules and providing support and advice. Honestly, if it weren’t for each of them it would have been very stressful.

THANK YOU again! I can’t recommend Trips2Italy enough, and that is one of the reasons.

On to the highlights: We stayed in Venice, Milan and Florence as “home cities” and did day trips from each city. These included Verona & Amarone (wine country), Lake Como, Cinque Terre and Pisa. Emily set up private guided tours to see the cities as well. It was the perfect combination of being active, cultural and having time for ourselves.

As mentioned by others, every ticket, voucher, tour, transportation information was detailed down to when you leave your hotel.

Lol You can read about each city on many sites.
Bottom line is I would not change one thing and would highly, highly recommend Trips2Italy for your next perfect trip to Italy!

Tomasso,

the following is what they wrote me:

Melody,

We had an amazing time on our trip to Italy! Thank you so much for helping us create some great family memories.

All of the details in the itinerary and maps/vouchers from Trips 2 Italy really paid off. Every single event went off without a hitch. We found every location without a problem, all drivers/taxi/tour guides were right on time, and having plenty of restaurant recommendations was extremely helpful.

The private Murano glass tour was beyond our expectations and all the tours to historic places including the Vatican were top notch.

The hotels in Venice and Florence were great and we would definitely go back to, but the hotel in Rome was just ok. It was clean and the staff was fairly attentive, but I would not choose it again for the following reasons:

1) location was close to train station but it was on a very busy thoroughfare with lots of street people right outside the entrance

2) the room was extremely small/tight for four adults which would have been ok if there was any lounge or common space in the hotel to go to but there was not

3) when we returned to the hotel in the early afternoon, a lot of the breakfast food was still sitting out in the breakfast area which seemed odd to me

4) it did not have an elevator and the entrance to the hotel was on the second floor, so carrying bags up and down was cumbersome

Otherwise, I would highly recommend Trips 2 Italy! It was so well executed that it really took away a lot of the anxiety of foreign travel.

Jennifer & R. Family


Melody Dochoff Senior Travel Consultant

We loved our Italy adventure and was made so much more enjoyable with everything planned out ahead of time.

All of the staff at Trips2Italy were helpful and available before and while we were on vacation and needed help. Also it was my son's birthday while we were in Italy and you sent us a bottle of champagne to celebrate, which was very thoughtful and above and beyond.

We thoroughly enjoyed working with you and enjoyed all the side trips and adventures along the way that you planned for us.Thanks so much for the memories!!

Beth & Joseph B.

Hi Emily, Here is a more detailed report of our trip to Italy:

Venice:

We took the vaporetto to the Gallerie dell'accademia for the Free Art Night and saw da Vinci's Vitruvian Man drawing and all the other amazing works of art. The boat ride to the museum on the Grand Canal was amazing and the views from the bridge near the museum were amazing. The next morning we took the vaporetto again to Arsenale to see the Museo Storico Navale. The boys loved that museum - lots of weapons, armor and models and real size ships/gondolas. We then, since we were right there, saw part (maybe half) of the Biennale exhibition at Arsenale. It was really interesting and the space it's in complements all the artwork very well, but its unbelievably huge! It must take a couple of weeks to see all of the Biennale exhibitions. After that, we walked to the tour of the Doges Palace, etc. Our tour guide was great - did a great job, but the piazza was incredibly crowded - we could barely walk on the bridges/sidewalks to get there and people were everywhere. Our hotel was very nice and we loved the courtyard in the mornings for breakfast and in the evenings with the bar service. The food we ate was mostly "on the go" and in the touristy locations, but we did have one pretty decent dinner at a restaurant right next door (almost) to the hotel - cannot remember the name, but between the canal and the hotel.


Rome:

In Rome, we loved the tour of the Vatican - great tour guide - saw the Sistine Chapel ceiling with almost no one else in there, thanks to our guide. He made it all really interesting and pointed out all the highlights before it got too crazy with the crowds. Most of all, though (and it was very hot in the afternoon) the boys absolutely loved the tour guide we had for the ruins/Colosseum. We all learned so much Roman history from him - he brought it all to life and was great about including the teenagers in every discussion & quizzing them (they are super competitive). They said he was the best tour guide they had ever had. On our free day (again, very hot in Rome), we walked to all the tourist highlights and then, in the afternoon, went into a museum near the Piazza Navona - the Museo Nazionale Roma - Palazzo Altemps. It was very interesting to be inside the Palazzo and see the original frescos/decoration and the church inside, and the collection was good - we used the English audio guides - and it was nice to be in the air conditioning (barely anyone in the museum when we were there in the afternoon). We didn't go to any great restaurants, but had good pizza - even went to the Hard Rock Rome one night (which was a nice break from pizza and pasta). Our hotel was good and, again, I loved having the courtyard for breakfast and in the evening - you felt like you escaped the craziness of the city in the courtyard - very nice. (Oh, I also went to a cafe near the hotel - Cafe Torino - where I got to see all the business people going to work & had the best cappuccino I've ever had, EVER.) My youngest son was also happy that there was a McDonalds close to our hotels in Venice and in Rome ??.


Sorrento/Positano/Capri:

(oh, as I said before, all the drivers were great and Julia? who helped us via the number you gave us to use for delays, etc. was extremely helpful) The tour of Herulaneum was also just great - learned so much - our tour guide was also so informative and made it all so interesting/brought it to life. It was incredibly hot, so we are happy we went there and not to Pompeii. In Sorrento, our hotel was absolutely beautiful and the service was incredible - it was like the service at the Four Seasons or some place like that. I couldn't believe how great and attentive and helpful they were! We loved the pool and the private beach and the views from our room and our room itself!! It surpassed our expectations - thank you so much! On our trip to Positano, we had a very delicious lunch at Da Vincenzo (service there was great too & they gave us this great table in the window with a view of everything - so beautiful), which was on your list of recommendations, and then spent the perfect amount of time there: I did a bunch of shopping and when boys got bored (cause I was shopping), it was time to to back to hotel. The next day we couldn't believe how nice the boat was for the boat tour and visit to Capri. The small number of people, who were all very fun to be on the boat with, and the amazing boat were great and the 2 tour guides/boat captains or whatever were fabulous hosts - very fun, informative, attentive - and the snacks and drinks were great! Loved the boat ride both there and back! We decided not to tour anywhere in Capri and, instead, rented some chairs/towels and at lunch at Bagni Tiberio beach club, where it was mostly locals or Italians, it looked like. We spent the hot day in the water - boys loved it - and we had a fabulous meal with an amazing view of the water.


Thanks, again, for organizing such an amazing, beautiful and interesting trip on such short notice!

We have incredible pictures, saw everything we wanted to see, learned a lot and loved every minute of it!

I would highly recommend you and your team at Trips2Italy to anyone - so happy that Veronica Jackson recommended you to me!

Best -The Dinges Family

Emily,
Words will never be able to describe how thankful we are for you and Trips 2 Italy.

We honestly had the most incredible trip ever. Everything was perfect from start to finish. We know our trip wasn't the most simple to plan but you did it and exceeded our expectations.

We loved Italy so much it that we missed it the moment we left. Our tours were amazing, the hotels were charming, the transfers allowed us to feel safe and secure, and we truly indulged in the Italian culture.

We can't wait to go back we can never thank you enough.

Grazie mille!!!!!!!!!

Christa & Matt Segal

Hi Jan, just want to thank you and Tommaso again for a fabulous trip!

The package you two put together for us was great and met all of our needs. The driver Salvatore was great and always on time. He went out of his way to help us get information about my grandfather in Alia. He is outstanding!

The tour guides were also all outstanding, very informative, answered our questions and were always on time! Each day went very smoothly! And we appreciated the additional perks/surprises you included for all of us!

Alia, the birthplace of my grandfather, was especially meaningful and emotional for my family. We met the locals and found my grandfather’s birth and baptismal records.

Our tastings and lunches were all great and delicious! And the hotel rooms were spacious and beautiful! Some had outstanding gardens!

Thanks again Jan for a wonderful and memorable trip we will always cherish!

Sue, Curtis and Mandy B.

Dear Jan,

We just wanted to thank you for all your hard work and patience with us during the planning of this trip and throughout the trip.

This was truly a trip of a lifetime. The itinerary was flawless.

Every request for activities were met. Yes, even Adam got some good beach time in Cefalu and Taormina.

The hotels were comfortable and centrally located. We walked to dinner each night and also enjoyed some night life which Mandy and Adam truly enjoyed. The guides were friendly, intelligent, extremely knowledgeable and proud of their respective areas.

We really have a clear understanding of our history and heritage due to their explanations. There wasn't a question these guides couldn't answer.

The men also enjoyed the naturalist tour guides for Mt. Etna. They took us to places in the land rovers that we could not have seen on a tour bus!!!

I have to send a shout out to our driver, Salvatore. He went above and beyond in Alia to help us with the language barrier. He was patient and so very helpful. Salvatore was also a great driver in some of those very tight areas.

Also, the winery tours in Marsala and Mt Etna area were superb! We managed to take a few bottles home!!!!

I could go on and on as there were so many special moments in this tour!!!!

Thanks again!!!

Sincerely,

Bob, Dorothy and Adam T.

Hi Jan:
I hope you are well. This is to thank you for our wonderful Sicily trip! We had a blast! Danny and I really enjoyed our stay in Rome and were able to visit major sites during our short visit.

Also, I was amazed at how our itinerary smoothly flowed during the time with our family members in Sicily! Our driver, Salvatore, all of our personal guides, and the sites were awesome!
You did a great job!

Thanks again!

Sincerely,

Christine I.

Hello Tommaso,

We have received some wonderful thank you’s and accolades from the F., B. family!

I can’t thank you and your staff enough for doing such a splendid job with this family trip to Sicily. It was all they wanted and so very much more.

Your on the ground staff were amazing, attentive and went above and beyond to make the guests feel at home as well as you and your staff in Houston.

I truly enjoy working hand in hand with you to secure such happy results!

Mille grazie!
Jan D. - CWT Vacation - Virtuoso Member

It was a perfect trip!
Thank you Emily for such a wonderful experience from the coordination to the trip. It was one of my best decision ever.

Wonderful communication, knowledgeable, kind, going over and above.

I hope to do it again!!!
Grazie Mille

Lisa & Adriana

Emily,

Wow, what a fantastic trip.

The hotel and location were amazing. The transportation was great and all of the drivers were very knowledgeable and gave history lessons along the drives. The tour guide were amazing. The itinerary and touring suggestions were spot on for our pre-cruise visit to Rome.

Thanks again for everything and we will definitely be back in the future to plan another trip.

Jeff F.

Tommaso,
it was unbelievable,
I’ve never experienced services at this level before and I will never travel without it in the future.

Amazingly, when minor issues arose, my phone rang and I was told the driver was late due to traffic.
The tour guides were incredibly knowledgeable and very well trained, the small groups or private tours were exceptional, especially walking past larger groups!
The food recommendations were perfect, not a bad meal. One recommendation would be to plot the restaurants on a map, in relation to the hotel would be helpful.
Having some meet you at every transfer holding a sign was a gift.

I will recommend you to everyone heading to Italy and will return my self in the near future!
Ciao.

“T"

Emily,
Thank you so much for our unforgettable vacation! Everything followed the itinerary perfectly. Our private tour guides were spectacular!!
Very knowledgeable and super friendly. Transportation drivers were great and always on time. Hotels were perfect and centrally located and very easy for us to walk anywhere. My favorite was Florence - Tuscany(San Gimignano), we loved the wine tasting and lunch at the winery!

My husband and our kids enjoyed Rome the best. The Colosseum and the Roman Forum were spectacular! Francesca (our tour guide) was phenomenal!

Thank you so much for putting together this incredible trip for our family! So much more we want to see and will definitely be contacting you in the future!

Emily,

I have returned! I want to personally thank you, and the entire Trips2Italy Team for an unbelievable, once in a lifetime experience! Everything was wonderful….but, I did want to provide some feedback on my experiences.

Milan – Hotel was outstanding. I discovered an amazing restaurant that I would highly recommend….Il Solferino. Lake Como, despite being the off-season was one of the highlights of the trip. The funicular was well worth it.

Venice – Venice was mind-blowing! It was far more spectacular than I possibly imagined! The hotel was adequate. Everything is Venice was amazing.

Florence – The hotel was adequate. The trip to Pisa and the accompanying guided tour were well worth it.

Rome – The hotel was adequate. Rome was exceptional! So much to see and do! One of the highlights of the trip! The guides on my small group tours did an exceptional job at St. Peter’s Cathedral/Vatican Museum Tour and Ancient Rome Tour. Both guides were outstanding! I look forward to going back to Rome!

Naples – Hotel was very, very, very nice! I was not impressed by Naples! I did a self-guided tour of Pompeii…and, I would not recommend that. The commuter train to Pompeii was a mess. The Amalfi Coast was spectacular. I could not imagine taking a guided tour of the Amalfi Coast….the best part was exploring on my own! I made a point to experience Naples pizza….and, I would highly recommend Da Michele and Gino Sorbillo for the best pizza!

I think my take-aways from this trip are:

I realized I am 4-star hotel person. The lower star hotels were all adequate; however, my expectation was a little greater.
I really appreciated the personal touches you provided at each hotel (i.e. the birthday gift, bottle of wine, biscotti, etc.). These small gestures meant a lot…and, were greatly appreciated!
A non-stop flight to Milan would have been more convenient than a layover in Paris.
I know we spent quite a bit of time debating the use of a rental car in Naples for touring the Amalfi Coast. You shared your opinion of driving in Naples and on the Amalfi Coast were not recommended. After having done it….it was very easy and a much better way to see it than a guided tour! I appreciate you sharing your opinion and advising me; however, the biggest complication was locating and renting a car for my trip. In hindsight, I wish all of this had been coordinated by Trips2Italy in advance. I would recommend making it clear to customers the possible concerns….but, providing the service for them if they wish to do it.
One of the biggest advantages to this trip was that it was the off-season! I can’t imagine travelling to these same places during peak vacation season. I would definitely do the off-season again!

The pre-arranged transportation to/from the airports was a plus! It’s one less thing you need to think about!
We discussed it prior to my trip….but, I would have greatly preferred electronic documents (vouchers, hotels, etc.). At least having everything available electronically as a reference or as a backup would have been much easier!
I had never used a travel agency before…but, I am now a believer. Coordinating all of the details, the educational telephone call before the trip, etc.….were all an enormous advantage. I will definitely use Trips2Italy for my next trip to Italy. I only wish you did more than just Italy.

Overall, the trip was incredible. I look forward to visiting Venice and Rome again in the future…but, I would not need to visit the other locations again. Thank you very much for the outstanding job putting everything together.
Sincerely,

Michael B.

Dear Tommaso,

I just want to say that we had an AMAZING time...it was everything I've ever imagined.
The pizza was amazing...I ate pizza every day :), my husband loved the gelato; and he ate it everyday of course.

Rome was fantastic, the architecture was exquisite and my favorite place in Rome was the Vatican city...all the art it was just beautiful. Hotel Cortina was cozy and very intimate...the personnel were so friendly and sweet...our tour guides were amazing also...every one of them did a fantastic job.

Florence was beautiful...Tuscany (San Gimignano) was my favorite...the view! Chianti and the wine experience...Hotel Baglioni was perfect, we were in the middle of everything and with a walking distance...

Venice was very cold!!! but great experience to finally see the famous canal. Our tour to Murano and Burano was amazing, I fell in love with Burano...to see the color houses wow, Im trying to convince my husband to paint our house purple haha its not working.
Hotel in Venice is beautiful...the check-in ladies were so helpful and friendly...our room was so pretty...
It was the best vacation ever! Cannot wait to go back and see the rest of Italy.

From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!
you did an awesome job, putting our trip together...looking forward to see you again for our next trip to ITALY.

Arrivederci e gracie mille
Olga & Randal S.

Emily

Hello! I'm sorry it took me so long to reply, but the trip was fantastic! Your timing of the flights, the airport pickup, train tickets were all flawless. Your choices for our tours, the tour guides were excellent, and all of the transportation drivers were great. It was a trip Tina and I will always remember, when we got home friends would ask what we enjoyed the most in our trip, we couldn't single out one particular thing, it was all good.

There were only a few small issues I wanted to let you know about. The driver that took us to the Ferrari museum was a half hour late, a little opinionated , and drove, we'll say kinda fast on the way back, I drive a race car, so that might tell you something. The map from the train station in Lucca to our meeting point was confusing, yes we got lost, but our guide waited for us and was awesome. We did get lost in Venice and Rome, but that's our fault, and normal from what I'm told.

I almost forgot to mention that all of the hotels you selected were very nice and well located, and the staff in each of them were very helpful. Your trip coordination with Kelly worked out excellent as well. I have to Thank Tommaso for his help too.

It was a great trip that we will always remember. Thank you so much for your help in planning our vacation!

Joe and Tina P.

Hi Teri! I am so sorry for not letting you know how the trip was! I have been meaning to email you since Thursday last week, but I have been so busy with getting caught up with work and daily living.

The trip was FABULOUS!! We loved every minute! Siena was wonderful and we LOVED the hotel. It was so quaint and charming and the view from the garden patio was amazing. And the breakfast buffet, excellent!
All staff were very helpful and made two dinner reservations from your list. I don't have it in front of me at the moment, but both places were amazing. I can let you know the names if you want me to when I get home. Did I mention the view off the garden patio?? Best hotel ever. :D

The Brunello wine tour was really nice at the winery, although the one at the shop in Montelcino was ehhhh, but we loved Montelcino, although we only had like 15 minutes to walk around (which was disappointing since we got back to Siena 30 minutes early. Beautiful little hilltop town though.
Our Siena small group tour was very informative and our guide was so cute and very proud of her neighborhood. Pisa and Lucca were great. Our tour guide for Pisa was fun and knowledgeable and loved taking our picture. :)

We LOVED Lucca and YES we rode bikes- around twice and my butt was tired. Our driver, Francesco was so friendly and so Italian! We loved him.
We were really glad we had him as our driver for Pisa/Lucca and our next day Chianti tour. Here is where Jeff and Julie joined up with us in Florence. We changed up our towns to visit, going to Volterra (instead of Siena), San Gimignano and Castellina de Chianti. Francesco was up for driving us wherever we wanted to go.

Volterra was amazing and cannot believe they still have an arch from the Etruscian times 700 BC! What!?!

We bought stuff for a picnic lunch, bought a beautiful alabaster vase and of course gelato before going to the Chianti winery. This wine tour was amazing, such a beautiful farm. Having the private tour with the owner was very interesting and we met the his wife also (she being American) and she brought out a few more wines to taste. :) And we met the winery kitty. So that evening for dinner we got the Bistecca alla Fiorentina! Oh yes, come to Moma!! ;)

Let's see, the next day we had Marco as our tour guide through Florence and he was great and very Italian. He took us to some not so touristy areas so that was nice. We did get to the Accademia and were amazed at The David. He is was just so perfect and so much larger than life.
Our trip to Cinque Terre was good. Although if I went again, I would like to do the towns by ourselves. We didn't get to hike the trails between the towns, which we wanted to do to get some of those amazing views and people would be late meeting so that was frustrating. Although, the lunch was fabulous Vernazza! Our poor waiter was run to death though. Taking care of 17 people by himself and being a little larger and unable to squeeze between chairs, made it difficult for him to fully take care of us. That being said, Cinque Terre was just beautiful to experience; the colorful buildings on the mountainside and the crystal blue waters were breathtaking.

Our last day in Florence was most excellent also. We had Gaia as our food guide through Oltrarno. We had such a good time with her and learning about the foods of Florence. And we all ate Lampredotto! Paul and Jeff wanted to go back there for a late lunch. After that tour, Paul and I continued on walking tour through Oltrarno ourselves, ultimately making our way back over the river to the Uffizi. After that, although our feet were killing us, we went back over the river to Piazzale Michelangelo for the sunset view of Florence :D AMAZING!!

Jeff and Julie went to San Miniato for some Gregorian chants and made it for the sunset also.

It was an AMAZING trip that you and your Italian cohorts created for us. We were so amazed at the architecture, the countryside, the food, the wine and the people. Just a beautiful country all around. AND just so you know, I don't think we missed a day without gelato and my favorite was chocolate orange from Gelateria della Passera in Oltrarno.

Julie, anything to add?

Again thank you Teri and Trips2Italy for all your help in putting this amazing 25th anniversary trip together for us. I will definitely recommend you!!
Kelly G. - Travel Agency's Client

Hi Emily,

We loved Italy. Most everything about it.
Hotel Rapello was very nice and I would recommend it to anyone. The staff was great, the room was nice. We walked soo much that when walking back to the hotel was a bit tiring. Not too bad but it may be slightly better to stay closer to the city centre.
Hotel Quiranale was a very nice hotel. Room was nice. Very ornate lobby and surroundings. Breakfast was a buffet that I would say was just fair. I liked Hotel Rapellos breakfast better even though quite a bit smaller. I think we would have preferred the hotel to be closer to the Forum/Coliseum area. As with in Florence, once we got back to the hotel it was a long walk back to areas we tended to want to be. i.e. Trastevere. Don’t get me wrong here, we enjoyed the hotel and had a great time. We just ducked into small streets and found great Trattorias and restaurants. Had lots of great food and wine in Rome and Florence.

The bus tour out to Tuscany was great. Siena, Pisa were all great to see. In addition we stopped at this winery for lunch that was fantastic. Glorious view of the country side and good lunch with wine. The tours in Rome were good too although tiring. The Vatican was amazing and I’m glad we went early as by the time we left it was very crowded.

The tour to Pompei was OK. Of course, the ruins are so well preserved and that was amazing. I would have like to skip so much time in Naples however. The lunch was fair at best and the guide was not the best either. He went off on his political views on the bus and he really wasn’t that personable. It was too big of group as well which makes it hard to “shepherd” them all.

The ancient Roman buildings and ruins just blew me away. There are just so much of them around. We also took a Segway tour on out last day that was a lot of fun. We had a positive recommendation form a group on our food tour. You might think about including those as options for future clients. We went all over and didn’t have to walk!

The food tour in Florence was good. The young man that was the guide was enthusiastic and it was fun see that part of Florence. i.e. “across the bridge”.

The food tour in Rome was excellent. Very good guide and went to interesting places. We went to a restaurant that had a wine cellar that was originally used by the Romans.i.e. 2.000 years old. We had wine and a nice meat dish in the cellar. It was the highlight of the tour.

I could go on as we saw soooo many things and had so many eating experiences. Overall it was a fantastic vacation. Thanks for putting it together for us.

Take care Emily.
Bob V.

Thanks Emily and Trips2italy for a unforgettable vacation for us! Everything went perfectly to our itinerary schedule.

We saw so much and will always remember the people the most. Si motto Bella. Amo le persone.

We appreciate all the extras you included with our itinerary. The best was our driver Francisco who took us on both of our Tuscany trips. We could not have asked for a better guide for sure
We enjoyed the Tuscany trips the most being able to meet the immediate family owners of the wineries and having such personal tours were very special. We’re awaiting our wine delivery to enjoy for the holidays.

We have so many great videos and pics but I don’t know how to attach them.

So we give everyone at Trips2Italy a big thumbs up for their hard work planning everything.
Jackie & Warren K.

Hi Emily!

We absolutely loved Italy!!!

Rome:
Trips2Italy booked a coliseum and Ancient Rome waking tour and Vatican museum tour for us! Our favorite tour here was the coliseum! The Vatican was extremely crowded when we went so hard to see everything!
Our hotel was very centrally located which allowed us to easily walk to other sites such as the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps!

Florence:
Defiantly our favorite city and favorite hotel of the three! Trips2Italy booked us a walking tour and a Tuscany day trip! We loved the morning walking tour. We saw all the Medici palaces and piazza Duomo and the David statue. The Tuscany trip was also well organized and we loved our lunch with wine tasting!

Venice:
Venice is very beautiful but very confusing! Trips2Italy booked us a St Mark’s Basilica tour (favorite church that was saw) that we loved, but our group was too large and it made it hard to stay together!
However, they took part of our group on a Venetian glass tour for free that was awesome!
We also took a gondola ride which was neat but not worth the money for the very short trip!

We also had some great meals and really appreciated the recommendations!!

-The only thing we would do different next time is try to only book tours with a max of 12 people!

We really had a great trip and I have already recommended you for a trip that Ben C. and Rachel L. are taking in December!!
Please let me know if you do trips to other countries besides Italy!!
Thanks,
Casey & Austin T.

Emily,

The trip was absolutely incredible. We are already talking about going back!
You were amazing to work with and it was great to have all of the details taken care of while we were planning our wedding. It was the perfect honeymoon!
I especially want to mention the excellent choices for all of our tours. Every person there was great and you can really tell that it is an excellent group to work with. We will be sure to update comments on the web site as well.

I cannot thank you enough for all of your attention to detail and the hard work you put in to make this the perfect trip for us!
Sincerely,
Eric & Lyndi R.

Tommaso prepared a fantastic first trip to Italy over 10 years ago for us so there was no doubt that Trip2Italy would prepare our return trip.

Emily did a great job. Very professional, listened to our wants and was always available for questions and direction.This trip we wanted to see northern Italy and yet return to see Florence & Rome again. We were gone 27 wonderful days.
Emily designed the trip for us to stay several nights in 6 base cities (Milan, Verona, Venice, Bologna, Florence & Rome) allowing us time to take day trips (via train) to smaller cities from our base cities. All our tours were done by professional guides and did not disappoint. In addition, we always had a day or more of just free time to do whatever we wanted.As a violin player, one of the highlights was our day trip to Cremona and visit the Stradivarius museum.
We also got to visit one on one with a local luthier and I got to play one of her pristine handmade violins.

Amazing!Emily and Trip2Italy once again put together a memorable trip for us. Hopefully we won't wait another 10 years to return.

Wow!
This was truly the best trip my husband and I have ever been on.

Emily was absolutely amazing from beginning to end in planning an exceptional trip. She truly took the time to listen to our needs and planned accordingly.
I am so appreciative of how simple it was and not having to worry about anything, since every little detail was planned.I have already recommended “Trips to Italy” to our family and friends and will use them again.

Thank-you for making this a special trip for us.
Ashley

Good Morning,
Before I forget I just wanted to let you know that my clients LOVED their trip and especially their days in wine country and their private transfers stopping in Assisi. All the drivers and guides were very knowledgeable and fun. They enjoyed the private tours and drivers and said that is how they want to travel in the future!

They absolutely loved your restaurant recommendations especially the one in Venice as they offered the husband a sweater as they got rained on pretty bad and the owner and family danced and sang in the aisles. Thank you for helping put the dinners together!

The only really constructive feedback they mentioned was that they didn't get to see the catacombs in the Vatican below as it was closed before the guide was done with the main part of the church. They would have rather missed some explanations of the art pieces to be able to see that.

These again are just very minor remarks as they loved everything, I just thought I would share with you their feedback

Thank you again for your help and I hope we get a chance to work together in the future. I also gave your information to other agents within my host agency so expect to get some emails.
Thanks
Kara - MTravel

Tommaso and his colleagues are a top notch team of travel experts who assisted us in living an amazing Italian adventure. Over the course of the 7 days we spent our time well with the activities helpfully honed by Tommaso tailoring exactly what was needed to make out experience a memorable and well spent time abroad. His inclusions to experiences we asked about and some we'd never have known about were thoughtfully planned out and required zero effort on our part to make it happen. Tommaso and his team took care of every detail for us, the relief of the stress in planning being removed was the best part of the service of Trips2Italy. The professionalism of what was going on behind the scenes is thoroughly appreciated and not overlooked. We'd use their assistance the next time we go to Italy for sure.

A sure highlight of the trip was the train ride into the Swiss alps aboard the Bernini Express up to St Moritz, Switzerland. Literally hanging out of the window with camera in hand, a bad photograph quite simply could not be taken. The scenery and experience overall was breathtaking. Other key highlights were the private tours of the 2 main cities we decided to stay in. Group tours are convenient but when it comes to really getting a tailored experience having Tommaso and his team compile private tours of the two main cities we travelled to was a once in a lifetime experience. We can't give enough praise to his team for allowing us to have a wonderful time with no worry as to how or where things would come together.... they thought of it all. The most amazing highlight was unplanned and totally unexpected. Tommaso and his team made available a bottle of prosecco and bowl of olives to help me celebrate my 50th Birthday, sent up by the hotel we stayed at and quite literally left me speechless. The thoughtful and kind gesture was what separates a company like Trips2Italy from any we have encountered before.

I can't think of anything we'd do differently for that particular trip but with Tommaso and his team at our backs, I can imagine there are many adventures left to be had that are new and exciting. There are no regrets or what if's, this trip was exactly what we needed to recharge our inner batteries and look forward to our next adventure.

Marie and Michael V. - Port Tobacco, MD

Wow, what can I say.......Our trip to the Amalfi Coast and Rome was flawless and Tomasso De Poi owner of Trips2Italy and his staff exceeded our expectations.
When I contacted him almost a year ago, I wanted to get a good overview of both areas as this was our first time in Italy however, I just wanted to show up and not have to do any of the planning. That is exactly what happen!!! His thorough planning and attention to detail afforded us the opportunity to really experience Italy; the tastes, texture and vibe of each area visited.
The car services,transfers, guides, hotel choices, & flight scheduling and personal consultation with Tomasso prior to our trip were all on point. Staying in locations centrally located was fantastic.

The level of professionalism, knowledge and friendliness from the collaborators he selected could not have done a better job. Dino our driver in the Amalfi Coast was awesome showing us Ravello, Amalfi, & Poisitano. He knew all the alternative routes to maximize the time spent in each location-5 stars Dino!!! Michele Arpa and our driver John Franco and Katherine on the second day were amazing. Great energy,showed us all the sights, sounds and tastes of Naples and Pompei. Michele is a walking encyclopedia on the history of the Naples and Pompeii.... Then came Roma... For the Colosseum Vatican & Roman Forum tours, Grace was amazing....Obviously loves what she does, fun to be with and passionate about the history of her amazing city... .The food tour at Trastervere was the icing on the cake.. All locally own restaurants that love what they do and love having happy patrons.

It is really hard to isolate our favorite or memorable part of our trip......but the following were really special: We had a beautiful day for the boat ride to Capri, Pompeii was mind blowing, we could have spent the whole day there. The overall beauty of the Amalfi Coast while driving on the coastal road took our breathe away and we were all in awe of the Colosseum and St Peters Basilica.

We would add two more days, one extra day on the Amalfi Coast to tour an Olive Oil, Limoncello or Pottery facility and have an additional day in Rome to just play.

Mary Louise, Trace, Josh F.

We just returned from a 2 week trip to Sicily planned to perfection by Tommaso and his team at Trips2Italy. We cannot say enough about how much we enjoyed every aspect of our trip. The Trips2Italy team did not miss a beat. Hotels, guides, drivers, locations, meals, special side trips - virtually everything that they planned and executed exceeded our expectation. Sicily is a wonderful vacation destination and Trips2Italy made our trip to Sicily extraordinary. Ciao!

I cannot say enough about Tommaso and our recent trip.

If I could give him 100 stars, I would. Our vacation to Italy was perfectly customized towards the romance we were hoping to find on our 25th wedding anniversary. It seems as though Tommaso thought of everything. In each city, the details and logistics of travel and hotels, tours and suggestions were perfectly organized.

We did not have to think of anything other than the beauty and splendor that surrounded us in this beautiful country. We were just able to get lost there, knowing everything was taken care of. No lines, no fuss, no confusion. From the shopping in Rome to the ruins of Pompeii, the food tour of Bologna to the unparalleled countryside of Tuscany...each site holds its own special, precious, memory in our hearts. I highly recommend Trips 2 Italy to anyone.

They are very professional and accommodating, and the relief of knowing everything was planned and coordinated was worth its weight in gold and made for a very special and unforgettable trip.

For us, this was the trip of a lifetime. From the moment we began the planning, Emily thought of everything. All our connections were perfect. The hotels had such Italian flavor. The tours were wonderful. As promised, the food tours were our favorites. Will be talking about this vacation . . . until the next one - which I hope will be soon.

Curt and Judy Briggs

Buongiorno Tommaso
What took us so long!!??
When we first met with Trips2Italy we brought a list of places and things we would like to do and see. You guys definitely met those expectations!

To begin, the photo posted is from our hotel balcony in Padula overlooking Sassano! It was breathtaking and certainly away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.We started our trip in the small town of Sassano with our genealogist who was able to find family records dating back to the early 1800's. He worked efficiently and with enthusiasm.

For this we thank you Tommaso!

We visited five towns/cities in all with several side tours in all stops. Between food tours, museum tours, boat tours, our audience with the Pope and bus tours, our days were filled. All of our hotels were excellent, both in location and service.

Tommaso, thank you and everyone working with Trips2Italy for putting together our dream vacation.We will definitely be returning!

Mike and Barbara B.

WOW! What a trip!!!Bellagio, Torino, Milano, Mantova, Bologna, Modena, Verona, Vicenza, Venecia, Roma - and points in between.We will remember the month of September 2018 for a long, long time.Thank you Tommaso, Giulia, and both Ana's

Our honeymoon was in one word...fantastic!

Working with Trips 2 Italy was amazing. You put together a fantastic itinerary for us and every detail was accounted for, making our trip stress free and completely organized.
We did a great deal on our honeymoon and traveled from Lake Como/Bellagio to Florence/Tuscany, and finally Rome. Each experience was uniquely different and all perfectly crafted. We loved the high touch of communication of the Trips 2 Italy staff before we traveled. They truly spent a great deal of time educating us before we left for our trip which made all the difference in the world. We will absolutely be using you again when we return to Italy in the future.

The entire Trips 2 Italy team, your partners, and the trip were all nothing short of stellar!

Lake Como was our "favorite" part of the trip. It was beyond beautiful and we had a gorgeous hotel perfectly situated on the lake. It allowed us after a busy few months with the wedding to relax, enjoy the country, and just enjoy the beauty of Italy. That said, Florence/Tuscany were a strong runner up. We had the best tour guides in each city that made our tours meaningful and we learned so much. The food was fabulous and the tours expertly run. We certainly made special memories in each location. Rome was also a great experience and we took away exactly what we were hoping for in once in a lifetime opportunities.

Our trip was amazing and where TJ and I both agree we would not change any of it, we both think that next time (depending on where we go) there are two things we would consider doing differently. The first would be only direct flights. We connected on the way to Italy and it made the travel so much longer. Overall, the travel experience with the airlines was smooth but it added a great deal of time to travel to Italy. That said, we only had the option for connecting flights out of Boston so we might reroute ourselves next time to fly direct. Secondly, for any trip over a week, we will book hotels that offer spa and fitness services. We both agree if we are going to be away from home more than a week these are important to us. We had these services available at our first hotel in Lake Como and it was wonderful! It simply allowed us when we want to take a break and come back to the hotel to relax to have some options besides sitting in our room.

Your lake was our favorite part! Wishing you a wonderful fall and thank you again for planning the trip of a lifetime for us.
Our Best,

Erin & TJ

Good morning,
I just wanted to say thank you for making my girls trip to Italy a memorable experience. The itinerary planned was awesome and they experienced quite a bit in a short timeframe. You and your team provided exceptional customer service and ensured every detail was covered from start to finish. The girls are safely enroute back to NYC.

We will definitely recommend your company with our friends and family who want to experience Italy, as well as come back to you when the girls plan their trip to the Amalfi Coast in 2020.

Warm regards,

The Allen family

Buongiorno Tommaso,

Our trip was amazing! You are your team did a terrific job with preparing the itinerary and getting us ready for our journey. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide feedback. Overall, we found our itinerary to be planned well with enough time to do things that were not pre-planned. The guidebook was great, especially the restaurant lists. We had very few problems and the one time we needed to reach out to your team for help, Giulia was very responsive.

Attached is a detailed summary of our feedback. We hope it helps with planning future trips.

100% Positive Review:
1. Trastevere Food walking tour – In one word, spectacular. The guide was terrific and the places we visited were so authentic. Based on this tour, we will request 3-4 walking dinner tours on our next visit.
2. Private guide tours in general – Super personal attention; feel like the guides were able to open up and be more relaxed and humorous than with bigger groups. This is a must.
3. Florence – loved the City and the history hidden within the City.
4. Restaurants you Recommended – we ate at 75% of the restaurants you recommended and all positive reviews.
5. Day trip from Siena to Florence stopping in the Brunello region for a wine tasting – our guide was a AAA+ and the vineyard (family run) was beautiful.
6. Galleria Borghese – this turned out to be one of our favorites and we loved the huge park surrounding the Galleria.
7. Pompei – breathtaking – a must to visit. Guide was an AAA+.
8. Path of the Gods Trek - breathtaking – guide was an AAA+. Our trek took approx. 2.5 hrs. It was so pretty that we would have loved a 4-6-hour trek.
9. Capri Boat Excursion – another must and perfect at the end of our trip since very relaxing. The captain and his mate were terrific.
10. Our Travels from North to South – starting in the historic inner city of Siena, to the hidden treasures of Florence, to Rome and its historic sites, to Pompei and finally to the coast was the perfect progression and the right order of seeing the cities we planned.
11. Statue of David – a must! It was by far the most breathtaking and thought-provoking statue we saw.
12. Your Guide & Ticket Books – perfect for planning and information.
13. Having 80% of our Trip Pre-Planned w/Guides/Tours – a must.
14. Train rides from one city to another – the best way to travel. Easy to locate and relaxing (and as a plus, the cars we were in were not crowded).

Tweaks in the Planning:1. Vintage Fiat 500 Tour – took a bit for all to get registered (unproductive time) in order to drive, bike, etc. Driving a 50-year old small auto with a just as old transmission was more fun on paper than reality. Would have preferred to take a small group bus to more than one (1) vineyard for the excursion. In the time it took to register, park, ensure we were all together, etc., we could have visited three (3) vineyards. We would not recommend this Fiat excursion as a way to see Tuscany.
2. Florence Food Tour – based on the 10a start, this tour took up most of our morning and afternoon. After the Trastevere evening tour, our preference would be a similar dinner Florence tour so we would have the entire day to explore other activities – the guide for the tour was AAA+.
3. In Rome, we would have preferred to be in a hotel located closer to the Colosseum. The location of the Palazzo Navona Hotel felt remote from the points of interest we wanted to see (other than the Vatican).
4. Colosseum and Forum Tour – scheduling this tour late in the afternoon (upon arrival) was not great. This was high on our list of “must sees” and we didn’t get to spend any time on our own exploring the Forum area. We spent 2 of the 3 hours at the Colosseum and the Forum was closing 15 minutes after we were done with the tour. Would recommend a morning tour to allow for time to exploring after. The tour itself was breathtaking and the guide was an AAA+.
5. Scheduling the Colosseum/Forum upon arrival in Rome followed by an early start for the Vatican the next day was rough. We crashed after the Vatican tour. We were in Rome for 4 nights – this could have been scheduled better.
6. Layover in Newark – if possible, a five (5) hour layover in Newark would not be our preference after a nine (9) hour flight. We realize this could have been caused by the Air France cancellation.

On a side note, while the Vatican was must, it was not our favorite visit. It was a bit overwhelming and per the time allotted for the tour, an extremely fast paced tour. While we can say that we saw the Vatican, we really didn’t see the Vatican. No question that the number of people visiting makes it a challenging tour.

Thanks again for making our first trip to Italy so memorable. We are already looking forward to our next visit and will definitely reach out to you when we are ready to start planning.

Grazie mille,

Carole & George

Hello Tommaso, this is Susan B., You guys have put together our wonderful trip to Sicily.

I want to thank you for all of your hard work and wonderful planning. We enjoyed every aspect of our trip to Sicily. The informational booklet you provided was suburb! The best I have ever seen. It gave us a great overview of each city. Thank you for that!

We loved the beautiful hotels and grounds! The people were friendly and helpful. And each breakfast was delicious.

Salvatore, our driver was excellent! He went out of his way to help us in Alia to find information about my grandfather. He went beyond our expectations. We also enjoyed each of our tour guides. They love their cities and made us appreciate and love their cities as well.

We loved the tour to Mt. Etna. We felt like we were in a National Geographic movie with the car ride up the mountain. Fabulous!

There were so many Sicilian lunches that were provided and we loved them all! Each city was so beautiful and interesting. We learned so much about our Sicilian heritage and I want to thank you for that!

Tommaso, thank you once again for a fabulous trip to Sicily! Because of you we had a wonderful experience and memories to last a lifetime.

Susan B.

Dear Emily:

I want to thank you for planning such an amazing trip for me and my family. All went as planned, and we experienced no issues - very stress free.

-- the coaching session with Tomaso was very beneficial and prepared us for the unknown;
-- hotels were beautiful and centrally located;
-- the tour guides were knowledgeable, professional and friendly and very passionate about their work; and
-- the drivers were on time, energetic and extremely helpful.
-- We especially appreciated the private tours as each tour guide personalized their presentations. After seeing the large tourist groups following a guide while listening via headphone, I truly appreciated our personal tours.

Thank you so much for taking care of our needs.

Chris Everett

Tommaso,

Wanted to tell you a BIG thank you for our tours.....we had a wonderful time and loved every minute of all 3 tours!

Naples was great....just a very hot day and with being in the sun so much early in the day we wore out earlier! Driver and car were great quality and very nice.....tour guide as good and we had a wonderful time and learned a lot too!

Rome- both drivers and vehicles were good! Our guide was really great and we loved all the information and we were able to experience lots of Rome and to enjoyed every minute of it! We were able to get to St Peters and even waited in line and were able to get inside to experience all the glory and splendor there!!! I know that all my guest really enjoyed having the personal service and by having the car be able to take a couple of our guest who couldn't do all the walking....that was perfect!

Florence- car and driver were great quality here! Our guide was REALLY good and very knowledgeable.....I have been to see the David twice before and he taught me things I had never known before and he even used light humor to keep the everyone entertained too! We LOVED the winery and meal.....I would highly recommend going back to this and we even had 36 bottles of wine shipped back! Gabriella who did our tour was amazing and very friendly....she was a delight to all of us!

I will certainly recommend your services to my staff for our clients and hope that I can send business your way and keep our clients taken care of!!! Private tours are SO much better than the ones the cruise line offers. Thank you again for taking care of all of us and I am home today and back to working!

Bambi Eskew
President/General Manager
Allen Samuels House of Travel

Subject: Our wonderful trip!

Hello Emily, we cannot thank you enough for planning this trip. The hotel in Agrigento had breathtaking views and of course, Gary and I ( below) enjoyed a lovely glass of wine at the bar.
We have just arrived at the Belmond in Taormina and can’t believe the rooms and views here also. It is reminiscent of Sorrento .... great choice!
Hope all is well with you in Houston, hugs, Alice

Thanks Tommaso. We had a fabulous trip.

Thanks for helping plan a great and very memorable trip!

Brandi K.