Our family of 5 adults recently went to Italy on a 9 day trip to Venice, Rome and Sorrento(Amalfi Coast) with private tours, fast train travel, door to door drivers, and great accommodations; which was all set up by Michael.
Michael was very responsive to my communications, very helpful with trip suggestions to make the trip better, and just overall a great travel planner! I was nervous at first, because I have never completely booked a vacation online without ever meeting the travel planner, but it all worked out great!
We were completely happy with everything about our trip, and will definitely reach out to Michael again when we travel to Italy! There were a couple of small issues that arose over the duration of the trip, but they were handled quickly and without further problem to us. So all was good.
Our private tour guides in Rome, Ornella; and Roberta in Pompeii were incredible. Our Venice tour guide, Cynthia, was awesome too, she did a great job! We did a full day 8 hr tour in Rome of the Colosseum and Vatican, and I would recommend splitting that to two half days if you have the time. It was awesome, but a bit much for one day!! Also, we had a full day Amalfi Coast tour by van, with great driver Antonio, which was supposed to go to Positano, Amalfi, & Ravello, but because the traffic is so bad on the roads, there wasn't time to make it to Ravello. So, I recommend either going by boat, which we hear is faster, or allow more time if you want to see all three villages.
Again, a great trip for the memory books! Thank you MIchael and all of the local operators who worked to make our trip such a success!!
This Self-drive journey starts from Rome the capital of Italy towards the Siena Area and continues through Orvieto famous for its majestic Gothic Cathedral and the beautiful Perugia region home of the Baci (world-famous chocolate). Drive along beautiful scenic roads in the Tuscan hills. Explore the village of Montalcino and taste the famous Brunello wine. Then you will reach Bagno Vignoni renowned for its spa with a large swimming pool. Visit Pienza famous for its sheep cheese “Pecorino”. Your last stop of the day will be in Montepulciano where you will have the opportunity to taste local wines. Next day, continue your journey through Chianti Landscape, famous for its wines. Driving ahead towards San Casciano Val di Pesa where local oil and wine tasting is scheduled. Then you will reach Florence. The following day, discover Florence, renowned for Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio with its goldsmith's shops. Late afternoon you will depart for Bologna. The next day drives to Parma and enjoys the visit to the vinegar factory in Modena and returns to Bologna. The following day explore Bologna and in the afternoon drive through Ferrara city with a wonderful castle and reach Padua. Next day, Enjoy a visit to picturesque places in Padua: Scrovegni Chapel with Giotto's frescoes, the St Antony’s Basilica, Prato della Valle and Palazzo della Ragione. Next, you will drive to Venice, also known as The Floating City. Sail the Gondola, an iconic Venetian wooden boat and be amused by the Venice lagoon. This itinerary is a perfect example of what you’ll find in Exclusive Italy tours and packages, combining historic cities, culinary experiences, and iconic landscapes into one unforgettable journey.
I was not sure about the tour but I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. My fellow travelers were really great and easy to get on with. My tour leader was Luke Watson and I cannot fault him at all for the tour as he was quite knowledgeable with his narrations about the upcoming destinations. Also, I have back issues and he was great with making sure that I was comfortable with the walking and would encourage me to take it further. Paulo, our bus driver was the best with his driving skill and his kindness.
This trip will give you the pleasure of exploring some of the most amazing destinations Europe in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Start your journey from Prague where you get to explore the city on a guided tour and enjoy a boat tour on the Vltava River. Then reach Munich and visit the futuristic BMW Welt which has fascinating architecture for multi-use exhibitions of BMW cars. Ahead in your journey to Austria arrive in Innsbruck and visit the Swarovski Museum, the renowned home of crystals. Then cross the border to Switzerland and enjoy an evening in the historic center next to the lake in Zurich. Next, take in the fantastic scenery while you ride up in a cable car in Grindelwald and explore the beautiful Lucern. later continued to Burglen and visited the chapel of the XVI century before reaching Milan in Italy. Next, you will discover the famous city of Pisa and take a little tourist train to the beautiful art complexes of Piazza Dei Miracoli and the well-known Leaning Tower. On your next stop you will reach the Italian Capital of Rome where you will visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the notorious Roman Coliseum among other highlights. Your adventure will continue with a walking tour of magnificent Florence through the historic center, taking in places such as the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Plaza della Signoria. Your journey will end in Romantic Venice, where you will discover the marvelous St. Mark´s Square and the world-famous Murano Glass Factory.
Get ready to see some of Europe's most extravagant castles and powerful palaces with this multi-country tour from Italy to Germany! Your journey will begin in Rome, the ancient capital of Italy. Uncover thousands of years of history as you visit the Imperial Forums and St. Peter’s Basilica. From there you will travel to Florence, the Birthplace of the Renaissance, and the perfect place to see the famous works of iconic Italian artists. Take a boat across the Grand Canal in Venice, the City of Canals, where you will discover St. Mark’s Square. Cross the border into Austria to visit Innsbruck, home to the Swarovski Crystal Museum, and drive across the mountains to the beautiful ski village of Kitzbuhel. Your next couple of stops will be in Salzburg, known for its historic city center and the legendary birthplace of Mozart, and Traunsee Lake, from where you will head on a cruise to Gmunden, known for its spectacular Alpine scenery. Next, travel to Vienna to visit the Schonbrunn Palace, the former home of the Hapsburgs. Cross the border into Hungary with a trip to Budapest, the “Queen of the Danube” home to an astounding 123 thermal baths. Explore Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, known for its rich culture and incredible art scene. Travel to Prague, the Czech capital, where you will head on a scenic boat tour on the Vltava River and see the Prague Castle – the largest ancient castle in the world! Drive through Bavaria, perhaps the most beautiful region in Germany, to visit Lauf, known for its busy market and Wenzelschloss Castle. Your next stop will be in Wurzburg, a famous university city situated on the banks of the Maine River. Finally, you will explore Frankfurt, known for its futuristic skyline, where your tour of Italy, Vienna, Budapest, and Prague will come to an end!
We saw so much of Europe and it was wonderful. A couple of more days in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria would have added so much. My wife and I still enjoyed this trip enormously.
ABOUT THIS TRIP
This incredible journey takes you to the highlights of the most iconic and important sights in Europe. Your journey begins in the capital of Spain, Madrid, where you will enjoy a comprehensive tour through the center, including Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, and Plaza Mayor. On the way to Barcelona, you will go on a guided tour to the Monastery of Poblet, located in northeastern Spain, one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world. In Barcelona, tour the city and discover the iconic Ras Ramblas Street. Your tour continues with driving in the region of Provence to arrive in the charming town of Chamberry. Continue to Switzerland and enjoy beautiful lakes and mountains with snowcapped peaks on your way to Zurich. Your journey continues in Rome, the ancient Capital of Italy, and get to know about its history on a panoramic tour and in the Trastevere area. You will also visit St. Peter’s Basilica in the heart of Vatican City and the impressive Roman Coliseum. Moving to Venice, you will take the boat, cross the Grand Canal to the Island of Venice, and visit the marvelous St. Mark´s Square and the Murano Glass Factory. Then travel along a very scenic road between the mountains on your way to Kitzbuhel in Austria and take a cable car ride up to the high mountains that surround the city with fantastic scenery. Later, you will explore the beautiful Traunsee Lake in Traunkirchen and see four castles. The next stop is Vienna, with its majestic avenues, palaces, and vibrant city center. Here, you will visit the Schonbrunn Palace and enjoy its beautiful gardens. Next, you will continue to Hungary and discover its spectacular capital, Budapest on a Scenic city tour followed by a boat tour along the river Danube. Your journey will end in Prague, where your local expert will provide an informative city tour, and you will discover monuments, including Prague Castle dominates the city, before you take a boat tour on the Vltava River.