Amber Road Tours
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I was lucky enough to be part of this fall's Amber Road Amalfi/Apulia tour and my New Year's resolution was to send my thoughts about the tour to you. I have only positives things to say about it. Luca is a wonderful tour guide: very responsive and helpful and good natured. He's a gem. The local guides were also good. I especially enjoyed Giampaolo who had a really charming way of imparting his extensive knowledge of the places he guided. The hotels and the food were all first rate. The smallness of the group was also a big plus. We got to know everyone easily, getting around seemed so simple and it allowed us to stay in some really wonderful small hotels. And we were taken to a number of places that I would love to return to: Matera, Lecce, Ostuni, Trani. I guess I could go on and on, but I want you to know that I have already recommended Amber Roads to a two different people who are contemplating travel to Italy. And I'd like to also thank you, Jonathan, for recommending Santa Maria in Trastevere as a place to stay in Rome at the start of our trip. What a great place! Thanks so much. Sue Jagels Winterport, Maine Amalfi/Puglia October '09
Even after several months, Peggy and I still think fondly of our most memorable Amber Road Tour. It’s difficult to decide what we enjoyed the most. Certainly the charming, helpful, lovely Mariaelena, our leader, is near the top of the list. But so are the beautiful hotels, and the marvelous dinners and lunches. Our companions were most companionable. You chose the most lovely, sometimes unique, spots in all of Italy for this tour. We heartily recommend Amber Road Tours to anyone interested in small group travel, carefully and thoughtfully arranged, to the villages of Tuscany and Umbria.
You have arranged a very nice tour. The hotels were great, especially the locations right in the center of the old parts of town. I like the way the tour was conducted—Luca provide a short orientation tour, then we had time to explore the towns, followed by the official tour guide. Again, thanks for a wonderful tour. Bob Hayward Leesburg, Virginia Amalfi/Puglia October '09
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I want to thank you for the great tour. I liked everything about it. The places we visited, the hotels we stayed in, the restaurants we ate in all were what I hoped they would be. If I were to pick my favorite places on the tour, they would be Matera and Ostuni. I did not want to leave either. The tour manager Luca is great at his job. He handles all types of personalities very well, is enthusiastic and has a great sense of humor. The local guides were all an asset to the tour. I particularly liked Giampaolo whom we saw repeatedly (Trani, Otranto, Alberobello). Again, thank you for the great tour. Jim Thompson Clayton, California Amalfi/Puglia October '09
Just a short thank you for creating such a wonderful tour of Italy. Often, after being away for a couple of weeks you are ready to head home. However, after our two weeks with Amber Roads we were not ready . . .leaving San Gimignano for the airport we wished, instead, that we were heading for our next village and another great adventure with Mariaelena and Giacomo. She was a real highlight of the tour and Giacomo was always ready with his personal observations . . both were real delights. The times you guys spent with us made the tour that much better. We could not have had a better experience for our first trip to Italy. Hopefully, your Sicily tour will be our next opportunity to join you . . but returning for the Tuscany/Umbria is really tempting. Thanks again for such a memorable tour . . . John Abel & Nancy Smith Floyds Knobs, Indiana Tuscany/Umbria Sept/Oct '09
I loved the tour, an opportunity to see quite a different part of Italy. You guys do such a great job. It was great to have Luca once again as our tour guide. He interacts so well with clients even when we try to teach him some of the Australian vernacular!!! I loved Ravello, a lovely hotel with gorgeous views and opportunities to visit Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo in our free time. I was trying to pinpoint which place I enjoyed the most - amazing Matera, Trani and its Norman cathedral, Gallipoli, Ostuni and all the side trips. They are all so different which adds to the magic of the tour. You have the right formula for showing us the "other" Italy. Ciao…… Adrienne Smeeton Low head, Tasmania Amalfi/Puglia Sept/Oct '09
Thank you for our second excellent Amber Road Tour. Our time in Lucca with the morning's first cappuccino and the historic district's ambiance was only the beginning of a great tour. Then there were the Carrara marble quarries followed by the Cinque Terre hike and the boat trips to San Fruttuoso, Portofino and Santa Margherita on that incredibly blue sea. The outstanding outdoor dinner in Pistoia at Le Botte Gaia with its beautifully lit old world atmosphere was unforgettable. Many thanks to Mario for his ability to always keep things running smoothly, for his sense of humor and providing individual attention to everyone on the tour. He always made a good time even better! Thanks for many great memories. Walter & Maureen Nicholson Likely, California Tuscany/Liguria Sept ‘09
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An incredible experience! As the tour ends, I wanted to thank you all and most particularly our wonderful guide Maria Elena and our astounding driver Vincenzo for a superb time. Sicily is a magical place, with its mix of cultural influences, terrains, foods and archeological wonders. But what makes the tour even more magical is the easy pace that still provides ample time to soak in the sites, yet time to explore, rest or recharge on our own. I cannot say enough good things about my Amber Road experience. Sufficed to say I am already checking my calendar to make time for my next Amber Road adventure. Ginette Daniels Scottsdale, Arizona Sicily October '09
We just came home from our second Amber Road Tour and once again we are singing your praises. We could not have asked for a better guide to Sicily than Mariaelena. She is smart, sweet, funny and attentive. She makes everyone feel that being a tour guide isn't a job but her passion. Somehow you manage to attract individuals to your tours who are compatible with each other. There were participants from Australia, New Zealand and all parts of the U.S. and we all got along well and enjoyed each other. We love the balance between organized touring time and time on our own. Ditto with the meals. We thought that the meals that were included were very special (too much food, but special) and we loved finding our own little trattorias on the nights when meals were not included. In each city we visited, the local guides spoke English very well and were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what they were showing us. You provide a unique, small group touring experience that we think is perfection. We saw many other tour buses that were the same size as ours but had double or even triple the number of participants. Bravo to you for keeping the groups small and personal. Herb, who as you may recall, hated bus trips with groups, has loved both of the Amber Road Tours. Thank you again for all you do to make these trips so special. Also thanks again to Mariaelena - she is a gem!
Excellent time. Fantastic experience. Mariaelena Ciacci just perfection - efficient and knowledgeable and interested and interesting. The local guides also very good. Wonderfully organized. Thrilled that you took care of all local guides so that we would not spend any time wondering about tipping, etc. Loved that there was no hustle for shopping or going to specific restaurants. Will recommend you highly and wish you were in more countries! THANK YOU! Ellen Tarlow Hermosa Beach, California Sicily October '09
Our recent trip to Tuscany/Umbria with Amber Road was one of our best travel experiences ever--all we had hoped for and more. The back roads and small hillside towns of both areas afforded us spectacular landscape vistas and wonderful examples of the art, culture, and history of the country. Our guide, Mariaelena, was the most delightful tour guide we have ever had with a sparkling personality and wonderful sense of humor. She was a fountain of knowledge about everything Italian: history, culture, politics, food, wine and people. What a gem she is! She and our driver Giacomo were attentive and considerate at all times. We were amazed at the bounty of food and wine offered at the included lunches and dinners, and all of it delicious. The hotels we stayed in were also outstanding and a marvelous change from the ordinary European hotels. A few people have asked me if Tuscany was like what they had seen in the movies and I can only say, "It's much better, you should go!" Thanks to Amber Road for offering such a great travel experience. Terry and Ellen Meier Defiance, Missouri Tuscany/Umbria Sept/Oct '09
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We really enjoyed your tour. When we were in San Gimignano, our last day there, looking out on the beautiful Tuscan landscape from our balcony window, Bob said "this has been the best trip I have ever taken, and I don't want to go home". Believe me, that's a lot coming from Bob Jackson. We enjoyed seeing you and enjoying your hospitality in Spoleto. That was special having you there three days. You really impressed our tour group, which incidentally was a wonderful group. Again, we congratulate you and thank you for all you do for your guests on your tours. Ruby & Bob Jackson League City, Texas Tuscany/Umbria Sept/Oct '09
I wanted to say thank you for organising yet another great tour [Southern Italy]. I had a wonderful time meeting old friends and making new ones on this tour, and seeing the gorgeous landscapes and towns that the South has to offer. The scenery was very different to what I was expecting but it was truely gorgeous and I'm so glad I chose to do this tour. I've never gone back to the same tour company twice, but am glad that I did with Amber Road Tours this year! My favourite place was definitely Matera...for its sheer ruggedness and culture - I would definitely like to go back there one day...and Ravello is a town which is unmatched in beauty and prettiness and cannot be faulted. Luca was a wonderful tour manager who was very knowledgeable, fun, light hearted, patient and professional and provided great advice for our activities outside of the group interaction and was wonderful in assisting with information for trains, and recommendations and advice for plans after the tour. Thank you again.
Thank you for making it possible for us to tour this region in such style, comfort, and with great companions. We have returned to Canada with about 500 photographs of our trip, and they make us want do it all again! The Castel Del Monte got my imagination going and we particularly enjoyed Ostuni and Ravello! Keep up the good work! David and Gloria Pugh Vancouver, Canada Amalfi/Puglia Sept/Oct '09
It was another fabulous Amber Road tour & we really enjoyed it. We were so lucky with the weather - only rain on that one day in Matera. Thank goodness for Luca & all the assistance he gave us. He really is a star & we appreciated (again) how he goes the extra mile for everyone. Nothing ever seems to be too much trouble & he manages to make everything "fun". The group on the tour were lovely people & we all got on very well. It seems to be the norm with Amber Road Tours. They are something special. We especially liked the hotel in Ravello (what views from our room!) & we hope to go back there one day. We look forward to another Amber Road Tour in the future & look forward to seeing you again. Thank you for a happy, interesting, well-planned holiday. Elna & Ian Long Durban North, South Africa Amalfi/Puglia Sept/Oct '09
We loved Lucca, the marble quarries, Cinque Terre, olive groves, Portofino, etc. etc. While we thoroughly enjoyed all the meals, the evening ones you offered were truly memorable, and ones we hope to emulate for our friends here. The hotels were also superb. The staff in the hotel in Lucca could not have been more charming and helpful. Il Convento was like a fairy tale. My imagination ran wild as I wandered the grounds and building. It most certainly is a place to which I would love to return ... and stay much longer ! Last of all, and perhaps, most important was our tour manager, Mario. He was extremely helpful and made the trip so memorable. Being out of the cities gave us a better feel and understanding for what it is to be Italian. The long walks through the countryside were nothing I expected, but in retrospect are probably my favorite memory ... well, that and all those wonderful meals and all the fantastic wine and .... We are definitely singing your praises here in Massachusetts. Thank you.
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I was looking for a small group tours and specifically I wanted to see Tuscany in depth, not the big cities but the countryside. The tour was all what we were hoping for and more. There was no “big bus hustle” which made the whole experience a great pleasure. The trip was wonderful! Jonathan and Sonya did a fabulous job in creating itinerary for this trip. It was a great combination of sightseeing, personal time, relaxation and walking. There was no rush, no very early departures, everything was very comfortable. The winery and wine museums were very educational and lots of fun, especially wine tasting. All included dinners and lunches were delicious and all restaurants were very well selected. Accommodations always were excellent. Our small group got along well together. Meeting Jonathan and Sonya was another pleasant experience. Very rarely, if ever, you have a chance to meet the” bosses” and most importantly express your comments about the trip. We enjoyed very much their company. It is obvious that they love that region and want to share their love with us. Thank you Jonathan, Sonya and Luca for creating a program that gave us an opportunity to experience Tuscany and Umbria at the level that we were dreaming of. We will never travel with big groups again. We will recommend your company to everyone who wants to enjoy beautiful Tuscany, excellent wine, great food and fun Italian tour managers.
We wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our experience with Amber Road Tours on our week tour of Tuscany. This was our first organized tour and we would definitely recommend your tours to our family and friends. The pace was perfect there was enough free time and meals on our own to satisfy our need for some private time. When we were together as a group Mario kept us informed and entertained. He was very informative about the sites we were visiting and was able to answer all of our questions. We had a wonderful group and everyone got along well. We felt spoiled and well taken care of the whole week. It was the most enjoyable trip we have ever taken.
I would like to take this opportunity to THANK YOU for a wonderful tour experience in Sicily in June 2009! Our family of 16 including brothers and sisters and all the assorted families traveled together across much of Sicily with Mariaelena and Giuseppe (bus driver). Many of our group had not traveled before or had not traveled overseas and they had a great time. Even if we don't get to come back again for a long time the memories of our trip will last a lifetime! Thanks again to Amber Road Tours for a wonderful time and the care and concern you showed us when setting up the tour and making sure we got to see things we wanted to! Kasper/Kramer families Cedar Rapids, Iowa Sicily custom tour June 2009
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What a trip!! We are back home and are still very much on a natural high from two weeks of an absolutely great vacation!!! What we especially liked was: Obviously, the choice of back-road locations, including hotels and sites. The knowledge and friendliness of the local tour guides. The personality of Mario, who was a delight – so very funny, but also so tuned into each traveler’s unique needs. He gave us an insight into real Italian culture and made the trip an experience rather than a tour. We will always smile as we remember our time with him. Incredibly delicious and local settings/menus for the tour-provided meals. We really appreciate having less meals provided but of such high quality and variety. A nice selection of tasty breakfast options. Flexibility for special dietary concerns. Getting to meet both of you. Thanks to you, Mario and some wonderful new friends, we will have memories of Italy to last a long time and hopes of returning some day.
Your recipe for the perfect tour is a prizewinner! This visit to Tuscany and Umbria is probably my last overseas trip – and what a finale! The tour was beautifully orchestrated and the inclusion of Luca and Giacomo was a masterstroke. We were the happiest bunch of travelers, and these young men endeared themselves to us all. It was a great pleasure to meet you and Sonya and I wish you many blessings.
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Sicily in May was our second Amber Road Tour after doing Tuscany 3 years ago. May is a wonderful time to visit Sicily with flowers and also the snow still on the top of Mount Etna. Our guide, Mariaelena ,was the warmest, most informative and full of fun guide one could wish for. The organization of the tour was first class. Each place visited, both major and minor sites, and the wine tastings were so well picked and timed that each day was a learning experience, an adventure and pure fun. The local guides were also so good. The accommodation was excellent, great hotels in the right spot every time. Thank you for another great holiday we will never forget.
Compared to the big bus hustle of other firms we have used, Amber Roads is a gem. Our small group got along well together. Mario was always making a good time for all. Hotels were memorable (morning views from our rooms in both Pienza and San Gimignano will always be treasured). And the daily stops in cities, back roads, churches, museums, wine tasting etc did allow a beautiful glimpse of Tuscany. All in all a great itinerary. Thanks for providing such great service.
On the road again amid the rolling hills of olive trees, grapes, wheat, plums, lemons, oranges, and olive trees punctuated by olive trees and did I mention the olives? I have difficulty believing there are enough people in the world to harvest them all… We sailed into the City of Matera, one of the more interesting places in Italy. This town has a large canyon in the center of the city called the Sassi, and people had been living in caves carved in the soft limestone sides of this canyon for many centuries… We enjoyed it all! Many thanks to Jonathan and Sonya for the planning and execution.
Every day was a new adventure into areas that we would not have found without the tour. We have traveled Europe several times on our own and enjoyed it, however, having a guide each day to take us places that were filled with history and tell us the stories behind the history made our trip to Italy fascinating and completely unique. OK, honestly, maybe the unique part was Mario! He was a wonderful guide, filling everyday with laughs and fun while able to make sure everything ran smoothly. Giacomo was a great driver, polite and caring and always making sure we were comfortable. The itinerary couldn't have been better. The hotels, the restaurants and the city tours & guides were all put together to give us a look at Tuscany from very small, quaint villages to cities like Florence. We took so many pictures and have so many memories that even after being home for six months we are still talking and laughing about our trip! I guess the only bad thing is that now we have trouble eating Italian food - nothing compares to actually being in Italy, we may have to take another trip just to get some good pasta and wonderful pizza!! Again, thank you.
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We continue to reflect on the terrific time we had while on your Amber Roads tour of Sicily. We had traveled independently to Sicily during the month of May, many years ago. We both agree that May or early June is the ideal time to visit Sicily because everything is in bloom, and the profusion of colors is breathtaking. However, traveling with the Amber Road group in November was well worth every minute. The weather was perfect (only one day of rain and that while we were in the shelter of our bus). The food and wine was sumptuous; and all of the hotel accommodations were top-notch. We especially loved the Grand Hotel et des Palmes in Palermo with all its grandeur and history. Another of our favorites was Hotel Il Barocco, a new, very small & cozy, family-run hotel in Ragusa. Last, but not least, our tour escort, Mariaelena, was her usual upbeat self. She left no stone unturned to make sure that all of our group had the best time ever. Overall, what we enjoy and appreciate about Amber Road Tours is that you all do such a thorough job in covering all the major tourist sights, and then surprise us by taking us to some great out-of-the-way places -- such as that neat little "museum", Museo della Pietra, carved into the side of a hill by the owner who is a mason, a surgeon, does acupuncture, and is a fantastic host who really knows how to put together a fabulous Italian meal. And how can we forget the visit to a local winery. The owners gave us a wonderful guided tour, and then hosted a beautiful reception. Bravo! Jonathan & Sonya! You did it again.
Ralph and I want to thank you again for the care, expertise and love you both so obviously put into organizing our tour to Tuscany and Umbria.
There is nothing, absolutely nothing that did not surpass our expectations. It was the best trip of our lives. Mariaelena would not fit in my suitcase,
or I would have brought her home with us. What an extraordinary and generous soul she is. Our best wishes and gratitude to you both.....lovely,
and most appreciated that you took the time to come and meet us.
It requires a leap of faith to deal with a company entirely over the internet, but you put us at ease and we are very fortunate that we found you. Thank you both for a unique tour experience. The quality, care and attention to detail made this a memorable trip to cherish for years to come. It was a perfect blend of fabulous food and wine, breathtaking scenery, fascinating towns, history and just the right amount of free time. Each hotel we stayed at was unique and had a location convenient to all of the sites and amazing views. The opportunity to experience Tuscany and Umbria with an intimate, small group led by Maria Elena and her knowledge of the region, its history and treasures was absolutely priceless. We had the most fun mix of touring companions and met some truly wonderful Italians who made the trip incredibly personable. Maria Elena took us for wonderful walks (willingly making adjustments to our fitness level) and showed us parts of Tuscany and Umbria we never could have discovered on our own. Her warmth, enthusiasm and love of Italy are contagious, especially for Val D’Orcia, her “valley.” We could not have asked for a better guide. Carmelo was an amazing driver, impeccably dressed, courteous, always on time, and happy to make unlimited stops for “picture moments.” Your local guides were all entertaining and informative.
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I wish to thank you for the very best vacation. I especially enjoyed the small group and would like to congratulate you on your choices of Museums, Restaurants, Back roads, the personal touch was very evident THANKS!!
We cannot begin to thank the two of you and express our deepest gratitude for all the time and effort you and Sonya put into making our tour so enjoyable. Neither of us could ever imagine a trip that could exceed the previous tour we took with you to Tuscany, but we both feel the Amalfi experience was superior in so many ways. Your personal touches were everywhere, from hotel room selections, to entre recommendations, superb vintages, and of course, tour guide Luca - a treasure no one can forget. In reviewing the 700 or so photos we took during the tour, including those taken during the unexpected private tour of the villa of Gore Vidal in Ravello, the superlatives which so aptly describe this tour are endless, as
will be our memories of this trip.
It was so lovely to think back on our wonderful holiday and especially our time with Mariaelena and our Amber Road group. When asked by friends and family the highlight of our 8 week trip which included London, Ireland, Italy and Paris, I always say the 12 days with Amber Road gave us the greatest insight into the art and culture of Italy and immersed us in life in Tuscany and Umbria. It is clear that you both love to share your country with others and cater for visitors who wish to do more than just 'see the sights'. Thank you for a wonderful experience! It was a pleasure to meet you both in your beautiful Spoleto and we hope to save up and join an Amber Road tour again. Richard & Maree Camilleri Clovelly, Australia Tuscany/Umbria Oct '08
Amber Road Tours is an amazing, very organized, small tour company. I had the time of my life on this trip, and we had a great group of people; it was unbelievably terrific in every way. We stayed in the best hotels, ate the best food, and visited more things than were on the itinerary.
We were well pleased with the tour and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We found the cities we visited, the accommodations, the food and wines all to have been carefully chosen. We were also very pleased with the enthusiastic and ever conversant Mariaelena. She gives a spirit and insight many other leaders lack. She is always looking for ways to enhance our experience, and succeeds very well. We will travel again to Italy. When we do, it will be with Amber Road.
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Having had a marvelous tour with you in Tuscany in '05 we were
excited to see that you were offering Southern Italy on a new tour, we were
not disappointed. It was a perfect balance of sightseeing and relaxation, each and every location was chosen with care and offered something different and interesting. From the moment you met us in Rome to the last ride from the hotel in Ostuni every detail was taken care of we never had to worry about a thing. We were spoiled from the first day, when we arrived at Villa Maria in Ravello and saw the spectacular view and the beautiful accommodations we knew we were right in choosing Amber Road Tours again. The group was small, we couldn't have asked for a nicer group of
travelling companions, we shared many a glass of vino together, the rooftop
of Palazzo Mosco Inn in Gallipoli was a perfect setting for pre dinner
cocktails! We had some wonderful dinners, always beautifully cooked and
presented as only the Italians know how. We loved especially the Amalfi coast and when Mr. Palumbo gave us an impromptu tour of his latest venture, the villa of Gore Vidal, we were just blown away by it, that this busy gentleman would take time out of his day to entertain and show our little group around his beautiful properties was just incredible, he is right, he does have the most beautiful view in Ravello. Thank you all so much for a wonderful memorable holiday - we tell everybody about you. Grazie e arrivederci!
What a great trip this was. Ravello was beautiful! Apulia was interesting, different and charming. Choices of hotels and restaurants were excellent. Thank you for making the trip to Ravello. It was wonderful seeing you and Sonya. Luca was very knowledgeable and charming. Looking forward to trip number four with your company.
My Italian 'interlude' was enchanted - and absolutely enchanting - thanks in no small measure to the mega marvellous tours of Tuscany/Umbria and Tuscany/Liguria that I went on with Amber Road!!! I revelled in every moment I spent with the two groups, very different though they were - and relished every morsel of the delectable Italian delicacies (including the 'divine' wines - they undoubtedly qualify as heavenly libations!) that the two of you laid on for us. Superb selections in terms of venues (both places visited and restaurants in which we wined and dined) as well as consumables/'potables'! Must also pay tribute to Mario - what a pleasure
to have someone like him, with his delightful sense of humour, his infinite patience and his intimate knowledge of the country and its history, art, architecture, culture, customs, etc, as your tour leader. Oceans upon oceans of appreciations for everything the two of you did to make my time in Italy so truly memorable - an elating and utterly exhilarating adventure from start to finish!
We had never been on an organized tour before and were a little hesitant to try one - visions of large groups of annoying tourists leaving at 6 am each day for a new destination. We were pleasantly surprised that this was not at all the case. It was great to have a base from which to tour and only change hotels every two to three days. The size of the group was perfect and the individuals were very easy to get along with - as you could probably tell from the fun we had the night you joined us for dinner. We had a terrific time and we would not hesitate to recommend your company to others, or to use your services again ourselves.
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First, let me tell you how thrilled Chris and I were with the tour. We hope to return to Italy soon and take another of your tours. Luca and Ennio were a great team. I have no doubt that other small-group tours of Italy's treasures are good and available, but Amber Road will be who we turn to when we do return. I can offer no higher accolade. I can tell you we are the envy of all who we have spoken to about the trip and have been pressed for Amber Road details many times.
We all had a truly marvelous time. The tour exceeded our expectations in every way. We could not have been more pleased with Amber Road. Grazie, grazie, grazie. Again, Amber Road did a superb job. If and when Jane and I, or any of our group, return to Italy it will be with Amber Road.
What a great trip! We enjoyed every day with the help of Maria Elena and Ilario - their friendliness and professionalism made our holiday very special. Highlights for us were the cookery lesson and the Medieval Festival. Best wishes for the continued success of Amber Road Tours, we hope to join you again in the near future.
This is a heartfelt thank you for organising such a fantastic tour for us. You should be very proud of your team (Mariaelena and Ilario) as they are
a credit to you and your company. The local guides were all very interesting people who obviously love their jobs. They made it all come alive for us with their stories and contacts. We are all very pleased we chose to spend our time in Tuscany with your "family" of great people - it really was a wonderful experience and I for one will be down here singing your praises and trying to encourage all Aussies to see Italy with Amber Road Tours.
Hope to see you both again one day,
Yours sincerely (a very satisfied customer)
This was my second trip with your company and I was impressed again with the itinerary, choice of hotels and restaurants. I was also pleased to have Mario again as our guide. He is so charming, caring and so much fun. He took such good care of us and was so attentive to our daily needs. It warmed my heart to see my travel companions enjoy him as much as I did. Thank you for giving me a memorable and fantastic trip.
We have just returned from a wonderful tour of Tuscany and Umbria. Our guide, Luca, was very well informed and could not have managed the details of our travel any better. Our driver, "Uncle" Ennio, was very skillful and showed unshakable concentration behind the wheel as well as being warm and affable when he was not driving. Other tour providers we have used with complete satisfaction pride themselves on showing "backdoor" Europe. Amber Road delivers every bit of that intimate experience...and more. We have never had a better mix of comfortable--even elegant--hotels and rooms and fine food. Your "step-on" guides are second to none as to information and delivery. For us, Amber Road Tours is the ultimate in small group travel to interesting sites in Italy.
Thank you for another wonderful tour in Italy. This was so very different from other regions and other experiences. The Amalfi coast is so beautiful! And Puglia and Basilicata! The people were so unassuming and quietly gracious. The ancient towns so lacking in recognition and so far removed from "globalization". The customs so ingrained in the people and the culture so rich in tradition. It was so nice to see a part of Italy lacking in the hustle/bustle, high fashion pressure and still taking siestas without fail. I like the fact that we got to dip our toes in three different seas. Our accommodations were, as always, just great. Of course, Luca did his usual excellent job of taking care of us and endlessly correcting our Italian. Jean Paul, our city guide, with his flailing arm gestures, his pacing back and forth and his vast knowledge of the history and politics of the area will never be forgotten. You two do such a great job of putting these tours together.
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Because this was our first time in Italy, we didn’t want to have to plan our entire itinerary, find accommodations, rent a car, etc. Being on a large coach with 40 other people and staying at a different hotel each night was not an option we were willing to consider. We researched as much as possible on the Internet and typed in “small group tours in Italy” under Google. What a hit when Amber Road Tours came up – it seemed to offer the perfect itinerary and group size. The very best part of our tour was having Mario as our guide. His knowledge of Italy, passion for life, and fantastic sense of humour was infectious. Each day we were excited about what adventure he would take us on. We can’t say enough about our trip! Consider us your unofficial Canadian representatives for Amber Road Tours.
We have such fond memories of our trip and want to thank you again for making it so wonderful. The cities were great, the food was wonderful and the wine was even better. As usual, Luca was the perfect tour guide. You have really spoiled us with the past two trips to Italy -- now we can never be satisfied with another tour guide!!
We rate the April 2008 Tuscany / Umbria tour 10 out of 10! Wonderful towns and villages, hotels, food, wine and an excellent, safe and full of fun driver in Ennio helped make the 13 days so memorable and enjoyable. But best of all was enthusiastic and bubbling Maria. Her love of Tuscany was so powerful and infectious that it rubbed off on all of us. Her vast knowledge of history, culture and language was remarkable. She is a delightful, helpful and caring young woman and an absolute gem!!!!
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It has been a month since we returned from our trip and we are still singing your praises. We have told everyone about Amber Road Tours and how you have tweaked the itinerary to make it absolutely marvelous. The real tribute to your planning is that:
Words are simply not sufficient to describe how amazing the Tuscany/Umbria tour was to me. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and so much more! For many years I dreamed of visiting the small towns in Tuscany to experience the Italian culture first-hand. You helped make this dream a reality. For 13 wonderful days I enjoyed spectacular panoramic views, outstanding foods and wines, charming accommodations, lovely hill towns, and the most congenial group of people I could ever have hoped for. Add to that our adorable and gracious Ennio and our intrepid leader, our prince of Umbria, Luca, and it was pure perfection. The only downside of our tour was that it will be nearly impossible for any future tours I may embark upon to measure up. Mille grazie a tutti!
It was a pleasure to finally meet both of you in Spoleto. I had a fantastic time on this trip. The quality of hotels and restaurants were excellent. Our guide, Mario, was so charming and had us laughing every day. He even fixed my watch. What a guy! We all wanted to take him home with us. Carmelo, our driver, was very professional and made us feel so safe on this trip. He always greeted us with a warm smile. Thank you so much for giving me a memorable trip and I look forward to taking another Amber Road Tour soon.
I know you want comments on ways to make the tours better and I have really tried to find suggestions for improvements...but I can't! Everything about the Tuscany-Umbria tour was perfect. Luca was a wonderful guide, hotels were excellent, food was delicious, our traveling companions were lots of fun and the variety and pace of the tours and sites visited was just right! I would do it all again in a heartbeat!
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Your Amber Road Tour in September to Tuscany/Liguria could not have been done any better. From our timely pick up at the train station in Lucca upon arrival to our safe delivery to the Florence airport for departure, from wonderful accommodations at all three locations, delicious food, abundant and excellent wines, to the superb local guides we could not have been more impressed or better served. But unreservedly our greatest praise goes to Mario, are constant companion, our fearless leader, our source of constant entertainment. His exuberance for life and constantly cheerful demeanor made this trip, this vacation immeasurably rewarding and immensely enjoyable. Many thanks to you & Sonya, and the wonderful people who are privileged to work with you.
I just wanted to take a minute to thank the both of you for the wonderful time we had in Italy this past September. The tour itinerary was well put together and offered a very nice variety of activities for us. The size of the group (and the quality of the participants!) was perfect, and we genuinely felt sad to leave. We also felt very well taken care of by Mario, our guide: he was funny, good-natured, and consistently went out of his way to make our travels more pleasant. I should also mention our driver for much of the trip, "Zio" Alfredo, who we found to be a kind and extremely patient man. My favorite place was Lucca because of its (medium) size and fascinating history; my traveling companions preferred the Cinque Terre because of the views and relaxing atmosphere. But every place we visited was grand in its own way...and, of course, the food was always fantastic. The wine and olive oil tasting events were also quite a highlight.
Thanks again for putting together such a nice tour!
We have been home for a week now and find with the many times we are asked how was our holiday, that your Italy tour was the stand out time of the many wonderful places we visited and experiences that we had. The location and hence the atmosphere of the accommodation you choose for the tour adds so much to the whole experience.
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It seems incredible that 3 weeks ago we were in Tuscany. Full marks for the best tour. It was superbly organised & we have to hand it to you. Your choice of itinerary was excellent - how much more pleasant to go to some of the smaller, less well known towns than always the better known towns filled with large tourist groups who don't, in my opinion, get to see the "real" Italy. The hotels were well-chosen, very comfortable & always in a good location within easy walking distance of many of the local sites & shopping areas. The view from our balcony in the Hotel La Cisterna in San Gimignano had a view to die for. And oh how I miss the Tuscan/Umbrian food... I am totally hooked - please don't forget to send me recipes, Sonya! The restaurants we were taken to (as well as the ones Luca suggested when we were on our own) were unbelievably good. The joys of a small tour group is that one can go to the family owned & run restaurants.
Luca, with his delightful sense of humour which he never let slip despite our endless teasing, is a first class tour manager, very interesting & very knowledgeable. He is never too busy to deal with any situation or offer advice. Ennio is a wonderful man & excellent driver, always cautious & seems to have endless patience. We were also blessed with wonderful weather & could not have asked for a nicer (& more fun) group of fellow travellers. We enjoyed meeting both of you & hope we shall see you again some time. Your Amalfi itinerary is enticing. I am very keen on doing this tour next year or the following. I do hope Luca will still be the tour manager. Thank you for the wonderful time we had. Wish we were back there now. Look forward to our next Amber Road Tour.
It's been a week since returning from the tour and the wonderful memories keep going through my mind in sounds and pictures. Now I understand why people fall in love with Italy. The countryside is so beautiful, as are the people one meets along the way. The itinerary you planned was so unique and interesting and took us into beautiful hotels and local restaurants with great food and wine. The small group allowed us to get to know each other and what a great group of people - and what fun we had together!
Thank you for organizing a really memorable tour, it was a wonderful experience. The itinerary was a perfect balance between organized activities and freedom to explore. A special thank you to our guide Mario for his attentiveness and consideration to all. Keep up the great work.
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It was a pleasure meeting both of you. The trip was all anyone could ask for. You put together a wonderful itinerary. The accommodations, food, wine and local guides were excellent. Our guide Mario was such a delight. He was very knowledgeable, conscientious, and very efficient in everything he had to do. He was so much fun. Mario is a great asset to your company. Our driver, Alfredo, was the best. The small group of people was wonderful. You have sold me on small group tours and places where large tour buses can't go. Thank you so much for a wonderful trip.
The trip was fabulous, Maria Elena and the group made it a 13 day party and we loved every minute of it!
Having travelled a lot all over the world I can honestly say that this trip was one of the best I have ever taken. I was a bit afraid to join this "mostly couples" tour but it worked out pretty well. Tuscany and Umbria are two little jewels under the Italian sky.
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We have been home well over a week and can not stop talking about our trip to Tuscany/Lazio. We keep rereading our itinerary and remembering all of the places we visited. I cannot say enough about what a terrific tour you put together. We enjoyed the small towns so much, especially Pienza. The view from our bedroom window was unbelievable. One of the attached pictures of the valley covered in fog was taken from our window. We learned so much about the Etruscans and enjoyed the historical parts of the trip very much. The day we walked across the bridge to Civita di Bagnoregio was almost a spiritual experience. I would not have been surprised to see a winged dragon fly across the valley, it was so amazing. The cooking class with Enrico was so much fun. And of course enjoying the luncheon we had prepared was wonderful. I must tell you that what made the trip so memorable was the excellent service provided by our tour guide Maria Elena. She is a remarkable young woman. Smart, she knew her history of the places we visited so well. Charismatic, she seemed to know someone every place we visited, and they were all so delighted to see her. Maria took such good care of us, always making sure we were fine when we went solo for awhile. She patiently explained menus every day to us, encouraging us to try something new, like the wild boar, which I loved. The day we went to the medieval festival was something I never expected to see. The costumes and pageantry all so authentic, and the whole town involved. We had so much fun that day and the food and wine were great. We always felt welcome, never like a tourist or outsider, and I know it was because of Maria and her charming personality. It was like traveling with your best friend who wanted to make your visit a trip to remember all of your life. I also want you to know what a great driver and nice person Davide is. He was always so attentive to his driving and made us feel so safe. He would always jump out of the bus to give us a friendly hand out or help us in. We really enjoyed his company too. He took George and Joe out for an after dinner grappa one night which all the men enjoyed.
So all that is left to say is thank you very much for sharing Tuscany with us. We will never forget this trip. We both hope to be able to take another one of your tours in a couple of years. It was so nice of you and Sonya to meet up with us on the tour at the museum and visit over lunch. We wish you much success for the future, you have a great company.
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Just wanted to let you know we had one of the best vacations ever with you this past month. The food was one of the highlights!!!. The restaurants that you chose and the menus we had were great. We thought our group was a great mix of fun and interesting people and certainly added to the intimacy of the trip. The towns, tours, and tour guides were terrific as well. We especially liked the Olive Oil Museum. We thought that Luca was well informed and extremely helpful throughout the tour. His sense of humor was refreshing. We like the fact that he took the time to try and help us understand Italian culture and language. Ennio was equally enjoyable, helpful and entertaining - he is an expert bus driver!! Thanks again for a fantastic vacation.
My Husband and Myself have just returned from travelling with Amber Road Tours for the second year in a row. Once again the Tour [Tuscany-Liguria] was wonderful. Well organised, with still enough private time to make the tour work. All the accommodations were excellent and in areas close to the centre of the towns. Once again the coach drivers where polite and drove extremely well sometimes on difficult roads. This time our Tour Guide was Mario, who was a wonderful happy young Man, who would be there for any of us at anytime. He had or found the answers to any of our questions, but best of all he made the whole group laugh. Thank you Jonathan and Sonya for your wonderful tour and we hope to join you again next year for the 3rd in a row.
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Thanks for the best trip we have ever taken. The itinerary and accommodations were excellent. Sometimes you have to wait until you get home to realize how good a trip was but we knew day to day yours was the best. We would love to take another one of your tours and will stay in touch. Thanks for all the good memories
… what cherished memories!! We were so fortunate to have such delightful travel companions however the trip could not have been such a success without your organizational skills, thoughtful tour selections and attention to detail - a credit to you both. As we said on departure it was a pleasure to meet you, to have experienced the professionalism and kindness of Luca and to have enjoyed the happy company of Ennio. Thank you all sincerely for such a wonderful holiday.
“I need to tell you what a wonderful and fun holiday I had while in Tuscany and Umbria. I read some of the comments of other participants with your tours and just can not come up with an original thought. I have to say that I agree with every positive comment made. It was the best time and I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to be part of it all. I will be looking forward to seeing what you put together for the Amalfi Coast and hopefully that will be something I can plan for in the future. All the care and attention you put into the tour comes shining through. Thank you for making possible such a wonderful experience.”
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“Jim and I have been home almost a week and we are still enjoying our Italy trip so much that it seems to be the vacation that keeps on giving. We visited places we would never have thought of or known about and learned so much more about Italy and her history. Thanks again for a wonderful vacation in Italy.....you two are very good at what you do.”
“Our heartfelt thanks for organizing such a superb Tuscany/Umbria Tour (May 3-15/2007). Your local knowledge was certainly evident with your well thought out itinerary, and your choice of delightful accommodation and wining and dining experiences for the group. Luca, as our tour escort was a sheer joy. We appreciated Ennio's capable driving and the fun he and Luca had together as we traveled along was infectious.
Meeting you both in person made the Tour even more special for us.
“I’m sure you have received emails from everyone who was on our Tuscany & Umbria tour in May describing how delighted they were with the tour. I too wanted to pass on my warm thanks to each of you for providing me with such a wonderful touring experience. The professional, courteous and kind service you provided was second to none. I don’t think I have ever experienced such a wonderful tour or such a great bunch of people on my travels! I have only great things to say to my family and friends about this wonderful tour and the time I spent in Italy seeing and experiencing the beautiful quaint
villages and cities. I can see why you love this place and call it home.
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“We arrived back home early this morning, and wanted to send you a note of thanks right away for all that you did to make our vacation in Italy so special. Your hard work, attention to detail, excellent choices, and outstanding customer service provided us with an unforgettable itinerary, a truly enjoyable trip, and that rarest of things,... a vacation with no stress, no worries, lots of walking, delicious food, lovely accommodations,
lots of laughter, and the spectacular, heart stopping beauty of Tuscany and Umbria.
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“The tour was wonderful. We loved the itinerary and the fact that you included high quality meals and experiences that we would not have found on our own. We did not feel "nickle and dimed" ...a complaint that I have often heard about other tours. Luca is an exceptional guide. His great sense of humor and attention to detail placed this tour another cut above the rest. We will certainly be recommending your company to our friends. Thanks for an outstanding experience.”
“Our time in Italy was grand! We both felt you and Sonya had really done your
homework in arranging hotels, meals and activities for us. We so enjoyed Ennio and of-course, Luca. And....we really enjoyed all our fellow travelers. We bonded quickly. That does not always happen. I fully understand why you have made Italy your home. It is a beautiful country, very diverse and filled with wonderful art, music, food and history. Thank you for putting together something that allows people like Jim and
myself the opportunity to experience a "taste" of that!
”
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“People have been asking me about the trip, and I can't tell them enough good things about the way our vacation was handled. The only bad thing is that when they ask me for my favorite place, I have to say that each small town or area we visited had its own little gem tucked away. I really loved the wine museum, and I know we never would've found it on our own. I'm so glad that you found them and decided to share them with us. I also appreciated the free time worked into the tour, so that we had time to do our own things in the different towns.
And, Luca was great! I can't remember how many times he made Ennio pull over so that we could have a photo op. That really made the trip special, and we got some photos we never could have had without him. (I don't know if Jerry got a shot of that "terrific" view available only through the window of the public men's room in Assisi, but Luca did mention it.) Luca, Ennio and Mario were a great team to have with us on the trip. They had such great fun together and set the tone for the rest of us. And, each local guide was a joy to hear. They all obviously took great pride in their towns and special care in their work.
You also did an outstanding job selecting the hotels. We were blown away by the unique rooms and terrific views we had in almost all of the hotels. I count us as being particularly lucky in getting the room with the arched stone ceiling in Gubbio. That was so very special! And, our room in San Gimignano was just a few feet above from the posted "scenic view" on the wall below. We left the windows open most of the time and spent much of our time in the room just staring out over the hills.”
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“Your "back road" tour was First Class in every way -- the superb food, plentiful wine, 4-star hotels, a congenial group, and an unexcelled staff. Maria Elena was perfect as a tour guide. We cannot say enough good things about her. And Ennio! What a great guy and friend, not to mention an excellent driver. We spent quite a bit of time together and really enjoyed each other's company. I can' t thank you and Sonya enough for all the help you all gave us during our trip. It was one of THE best trips we have ever taken, and that's saying a lot!”
“Cindy and I had a wonderful time in Italy and enjoyed spending time with you and Sonya. You've put together a terrific tour and we're recommending it to all of our friends. We're thinking of another trip to Italy next summer; perhaps we will see each other again.”
“Justine and I cannot begin to express our deepest appreciation for all the work you did to make our tour an unqualified success. There simply are no adjectives that can describe the enjoyment we experienced every moment we were with the group. The hotels, the food and the itinerary were absolutely superb. All of the activities were well planned out, varied in scope and immensely interesting. I know we both learned more history than either of us experienced in our combined schooling. Then there was the wine! What great selections, in copious amounts, with tastings and vineyard tours to top everything off. Thanks again for everything and give our best to Luca who made our tour the most enjoyable travel experience ever. ”
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“I can’t say enough about the tour. I have come back home totally fulfilled. The tour was excellent and I shall certainly spread the word. I think the format that you have is perfect.....please don’t change a thing. I'll certainly be checking your website from time to time and who knows I just may make it for another trip someday. Thankyou both for all your care and attention and I wish you both the happiness and success you deserve.”
“We loved the tour. It was everything I wanted and more. I would return to Tuscany in a heartbeat. Thanks for the memories. Let us know about any more tours you are planning. We are ready.”
“We really enjoyed our trip with your company - it was just what we wanted. We would highly recommend it for anyone who really wants to see the best that Tuscany and Umbria have to offer. Thank you and Sonya for all your assistance”
“Our tour of Tuscany was the one of best trips I’ve ever taken. The hotels were lovely. The food was awesome. Our tour guide, Luca, was very knowledgeable, incredibly helpful, and always cheerful. Every place we visited was an adventure; I often felt I had been taken back hundreds of years in time. I can’t pinpoint a favorite city or event because I had many favorites. I don’t believe we could have experienced Tuscany with such intimacy on any other tour. Thank you for making it so special.”
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“…transported us back to medieval times in modern transportation, stopping in many medieval villages to stay in quaint hotels, have dinners in old inns, or lunch along a narrow cobblestone street. In all our many travels, my husband and I found Tuscany and Umbria to be one of the most picturesque areas. One of the most quaint villages that we enjoyed was Pienza, where we walked the narrow streets, admired the beautiful flowers, and joined in the fun of a Pecorino cheese rolling contest at a local festival. All of this and more under the direction of Jonathan, Sonya and our charming guide Luca who took such good care of us. Thanks for a wonderful scenic trip back in time.”
“In our early investigations, Ruby and I scoured the internet for a tour that caught our fancy. We found many but the tour muse always seemed to point us back to yours. Our choice was made on the aspects of small group and visits to well-known as well as out-of-the-way places. The reality of the tour surpassed anything that we anxiously anticipated from the itinerary. The mix of history, art, churches, palaces, fortresses, abbeys, castles, piazzas, shopping, food and wine provides a recipe for full days followed by the comforts of the well-chosen hotels. You have put together a prize-winning experience. Luca, our tour escort, and Ennio, our faithful driver, can't be beat for professionalism along with personality. Grazie! to you all with best wishes to each of you in all you do.”
“Arrived home yesterday and wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had. Your company does a fabulous job. Many thanks for the Tuscan experience!”
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“Your tour was absolutely wonderful. It offers everything anyone might want to see and do in Tuscany and Umbria. We experienced more than we anticipated on your tour. Many thanks for all your work and fine planning. Your special dinners were evenings to treasure. And Luca, tour escort, and Ennio, driver, added a great deal of pleasure to our trip. Luca is so knowledgeable of all the places we visited, and Ennio could drive around those curves in the mountains like we couldn't believe. They are both so professional and so entertaining. We now have great memories and pictures to share with our family and friends.”
“It may be redundant to applaud here once more the excellent professional and friendly service of Luca and Ennio. They made the tour group always feel good and every day's outing feel like a family picnic!”
“I would highly recommend the tour to anyone All in all a great holiday. Well done on your organization. Would love to do another trip with you sometime.”
“A random click on the internet fulfilled our dreams of a wonderful Tuscany holiday. Thank you, Jonathan and Sonya for putting together a well organized tour covering so many out of the way places that the normal traveller would miss. With just 15 of us on your tour it was not long before we all became friends. Luca our friendly guide and Ennio (my grandfather – private joke) who drove us safely through those winding back roads made our vacation even more special. Claire and I would highly recommend your tours to anyone who wants that little something different from a guided tour. We have recommended your tours to our friends, and we will most certainly be a return customer. Thanks again.”
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“I wanted to thank you for such a lovely trip. Since I have been home there is hardly a day that I don't think about something that we saw or something that we did on our fabulous trip with Luca and Ennio. Everyday I crave a different flavor of gelato.
Without question this was one of the most well coordinated trips I have ever enjoyed. From long before we arrived until we reluctantly left Italy behind you were a wonderful coordinator and tirelessly answered my endless list of questions.
I loved the back roads, the kindness of the people, the beauty of the countryside, the centuries old history of the area, the amazing architecture and the endearing culture of the Tuscans and Umbrians who welcomed us for an all too brief look at their day to day lives. I hope to see you again on another one of your back road journeys.
”
“David and I had always dreamed of the Tuscany adventure for years. We finally decided to make it happen. From the moment we made contact with Jonathan the tour flowed. All questions answered. On arrival at the pick up destination we met the delightful Luca and Ennio the gentleman. The tour was well planned - only having 15 guests made it manageable and an opportunity to establish a friendship with all. Hotels, meals all of a good standard Independent city guides were knowledgeable Ennio was a wonderful driver, did not frighten me once. I would recommend this tour to all.”
“From the first day, with a lunch of pasta and truffles under a spreading linden tree in San Mommè, to the fond farewells of new friends and great travel companions in the Piazza della Cisterna of San Gimignano on the final morning, we enjoyed every moment of our tour. Each event, activity, hotel, and meal was just as it should be, often perfect, but even when not, a truly Tuscan or Umbrian experience. We took over 500 pictures and nearly all were as beautiful as the countryside and towns that we visited. These are indeed memories for a lifetime.”
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“The tour was everything we had hoped for and Much more. We have raved to everyone here, shown pictures to those who were willing to look at 250 pictures, and passed out your card to several. Ennio and Luca were the best. Luca made the trip very special for all of us and went out of his way to take care of our every need - always with that wonderful smile on his face. He made the difference in a good trip and a fantastic trip. We loved all of the towns and our accommodations were exceptional. I think our favorite town was Gubbio (and we did skip the day trip to Urbino and spent the time touring Gubbio). Loved the little hotel in Pienza and we had a balcony and spectacular view in San Gimignano.”
“We just wanted to tell you how wonderful our tour was. We couldn't have asked for a nicer trip. And Luca and Ennio added so much. What a very talented and knowledgeable person Luca is. On a scale of 1 to 10 we rate our tour a very strong 9.9. We'd give you a 10 but that implies perfection and no one is perfect even though our trip seemed that way. And thank you for your tour guide recommendation for the Vatican museum. She was extremely good. Once again, thanks for a great and unforgettable trip.”
“This is to thank you again for a very well put together tour that we really, really enjoyed. The places we visited were wonderful and having a tour escort such as Luca with his nice personality, patience and energy, helped. We will be following up with your new planned tours for 2007 providing that we will still be in good shape to participate and enjoy. Until then please do stay well and continue to show the beautiful Toscana and Umbria to many more tourists.”
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“Stan and I want you to know how much we enjoyed our recent trip to Tuscany and Umbria that you organized. Your itinerary covered much more of the region than other tours that we investigated even though the amount of travel time was the same. We thought that the location of the hotels was very convenient, the included meals were very good, and the choice of attractions was varied and representative of the area. Please keep us on your mailing list, as we are interested in returning to Italy.”
“We had a terrific time on your tour. Luca was the best. It was great to meet all of you. Your choice of restaurants was really great. We hope to come back and see you again soon. Thanks again, the trip was great!”
“Quite often, Jane and I reflect on our recent trip to Tuscany/Umbria in October, with warm memories. The tour group was of a comfortable size, and with them we shared our discoveries and treasures, laughed often, and learned a bit more about the places they call home. Luca, our terrific guide, could not have been a more professional, yet friendly and humorous escort, especially as he tried to teach us some vocabulary, meanwhile tolerating our many fumbles with the accent. Always pleasant, cheerful, informative and welcoming, he is a friend in a truly special country, making sure we enjoyed his beautiful homeland.
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“I want to say how thankful I am that I was able to see Tuscany and Umbria with your tour company. I have recommended your group to almost everyone that I have come in contact with since arriving home. It was truly a wonderful lifetime experience, and Luca and Ennio were the best!”
“I just
wanted to thank you again for sponsoring such an incredible
and awesome trip. I can't stop raving about it- I have done
a lot of traveling and this was by far one of the best trips!”
“We truly had a wonderful time and we can't say enough about the entire
experience. We certainly hope to travel again and you will hear from us
when we do. It was a pleasure to meet you both and I think that special
touch you have helps to make the tour successful.”
“We had an absolutely fabulous time! I can't stop thinking about the
wonderful places we've seen, the people we met and the food we had!
I just finished preparing a Tuscan feast for my family who are coming
for dinner tonight. I wish you were both here to join us. We will let
you know when (not if ) we return to Italy, for sure.”
“…two wonderful weeks in Tuscany & Umbria. The personal touch you
and Sonya brought to the trip was a definite advantage to us tourists!
Luca was an organized, informed and personable tour guide and helped
make the trip a pleasant experience. Keep me posted on any new
itineraries and activities you plan.”
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“Marsha and I had a wonderful time. It was a revelation for Marsha who
has done relatively little traveling. We both really enjoyed the tour. Your
focus on detail allowed us to attend to our own discoveries. Luca is a gem.
He can do his job and make it fun for everyone simultaneously. I'll be
telling some friends who want to visit Italy next year about y'all.”
“I can't say enough about what a wonderful time I had on your trip. Other
than a little rain, it couldn't have gone better and Luca and Ennio couldn't
have done a better job. I'll definitely be checking out your future trips.”
“Thank you both for all your hard work putting the tour together. We can
honestly say, in 25 years, Italy was the best vacation we have ever had.
We didn't want to go home!”
“I wish to thank you for the great tour, delightful places chosen for us
to see and experience, to tour and to stay. Each one different, with meals
and wines all carefully chosen. I also appreciate meeting you both and
your personal overseeing of the trip. Your guide Luca was a great choice.
Both you and he were so very helpful and the trip was more than I ever
dreamed it would be.”
“I have to say that this was the best vacation I've had since I was a
little kid! Everything about our tour with you was wonderful.
The start times each day were very manageable. The pace also was
just right; we never felt rushed which is a good thing on a vacation! Everyone
associated with the tour that we came into contact with was warm,
friendly and helpful. You and Sonya were so very gracious and I loved
the fact that you interacted with your customers. You were people to
us and not some faceless tour operators. I highly recommend your
tours and look forward to an opportunity to travel with you all again. ”
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“I can't say enough about your tour and have been telling
everyone who is thinking of a trip to Italy that it is the best way to
go. I loved every minute of the tour and can honestly say it was better
than I had dreamed of. It was my first tour of any kind as I have always
planned my own travel so I did not really know what to expect. What
I do know is, I would not have been able to put together such a
comprehensive trip myself. It included all the sights I like, churches,
abbeys, museums and walking tours. The group was fun to be with
and just the right size. I think you and Sonya are to be congratulated
on the type of tours you are putting together and I hope they continue
just as they are in size and itinerary.…”
“Dick and I thoroughly enjoyed the unique experience of seeing Tuscany and
Umbria and touring medieval, well preserved towns. cathedrals and abbeys.
It was perfect to relax and be driven through beautiful scenery and vistas of
ancient, medieval hill top towns. The Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore,
built in the lovely forest setting, with the story told of St. Benedict in the
frescos around the Great Cloister was a delightful sight. Then the Siena
Duomo is an experience in itself, awesome! Tasting the regional foods and
the wine and more wine was delightful and fun. Traveling with a small group
not only allowed us entry into areas not traveled by others but an opportunity
to meet new people in a most charming, beautiful setting.”
“We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with you which met and exceeded
our expectations. What a joy to "see" Tuscany and Umbria through
the eyes of those who know and love it. We are happy to recommend
you to any and all. Special commendation to Luca who did an excellent
job making the tour very pleasant. Thank you all! ”
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“When deciding to join a pre-arranged tour, what attracted us to you was
your unique itinerary and small group size. Please never change your
approach - I know this is what contributed most to our enjoyment.
Everything went so smoothly, it was truly a pleasure.”
“Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed
the whole trip and have recommended your tour to several people. The
accommodations were great, the towns won my heart, and Luca was very
helpful and fun. I can't say enough and it was very hard to come back,
so if you ever need help, let me know!!!!!”
“I can not even begin to tell you how wonderful the 13 days were!!!!!
… absolutely the best ever vacation! Each day was a wonder that
ended with a great part of the Italian culture-great food and friends!!!!”
“I just wanted to let you know that the trip our group took surpassed
all expectations. I came hoping for a great, relaxing trip and that is just
what I got. The trip was well planned; the food was out of this world and
the wine was the best I ever tasted. You gave us all a wonderful taste of
Italy by going on the "back roads" and staying at the small Italian Bed and
Breakfasts. All in all it was an absolutely wonderful trip and I do thank
you for helping to make it such an experience for us.”
“Our tour guides could not have been better - very friendly, very helpful,
and very knowledgeable. Luca did a great job of herding us around and
Maria Elena, besides being helpful, was charming and her presence added
a touch of beauty. This is the first small group tour that we have been on
and we found the size just perfect. Fourteen people is a lot better than 42,
as were our previous experiences.”
“Anne
and I enjoyed your tour immensely. We have been on many tours
and yours was the best one we have been on and hope to do
one with you again in the future with our whole family.”
“Your tour completely exceeded our expectations. Complex
logistics that were seamless, almost transparent. Enthusiastic
and knowledgeable tour guides. Interesting accommodations.
Great food. A program that allowed us to experience Tuscany
and Umbria on a level that most tourists can only dream about.
You have created a remarkable experience for those that wish
to risk a 'non-traditional' tour.”
“The tour
was way more than I expected. The dinner at Bevagna, by the
way, was too much. I felt like I should be throwing bones
to scavenger dogs, and waving to peasants as they stood and
watched the wealthy eat. As the days go by, I remember snippets
of our journey that are so wonderful. It was an "over
the top" trip from start to finish.”
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“We had a wonderful time on the Tuscany/Umbria tour - Luca [our tour escort] was great!
We learned more and saw more and did more than we ever could have if we had tried
to organize our own trip. THANKS!!!!!“
“Jonathan and Sonya did a marvelous job of organizing our custom one week Tuscan
adventure for thirty people. Everything was perfect - from the comfortable coach, to
the excellent restaurants, to the fascinating sites (we particularly loved Pisa and Carrara).
I was very impressed that they had visited every place in advance, even eating at each
restaurant, to ensure that we would have a great experience. They were creative in
meeting our needs, whether finding a hike that would be near our villas or renting a
wheelchair for my mother. I highly recommend them if you want
a custom Italian adventure!“
“Sylvia was an excellent tour guide and we were very lucky to have her. We highly
recommend her. All in all, our [custom] trip was delightful. All of the planning
went well and we enjoyed every facet of the trip. Thanks for a wonderful job.“
“A lucky
click of a website and we found you! Thank you again for a
most magnificent trip! This tour was more like visiting a
family member who would take you to the best places in the
area....all the little towns and scenic spots that you would
never find on your own. We highly recommend it! “
“Thank you for our wonderful Tuscany custom tour. It
far exceeded our expectations. The special events which you arranged were highlights
of the trip; the cooking class, Brunello vineyard tour, dinner at the castle
and the special wine tasting in San Mommè. We have recommended your tours
to several travel agencies and to all our friends who may be planning a trip
to Italy.
Again, thank you.”
“Your
tour of Tuscany was the best trip Carolyn and I have ever
been on. You made us feel like we were visiting a relative. Your knowledge of
the area, history and places we visited was very impressive. The restaurants you selected
were all great. The people of Tuscany were wonderful, especially our driver. I really
enjoyed our cooking class.”
“Peggy
and I wanted to thank you both for a wonderful experience
in Italy. We've compared notes with friends that have gone and none of their
trips compare....”
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“The tour
of the small, historic villages of Tuscany was an experience
of a lifetime. Away from the bustle of large city influence, one could truly
experience the real Italy, its food, wine and people. San Gimignano is a truly “must see” and if you are lucky enough to get one of the top two rooms in the La Cisterna
Hotel, you will be provided an unbelievable view of the town square (Piazza della
Cisterna) from one side and a breathtaking countryside view from your balcony
on the other! With all windows open, a constant breeze will refresh you while you
soak up the true Tuscany countryside with a refreshing glass of wine. This
tour leaves one with memories for a life time!
“…
to the medieval festival in Bevagna. There were no tourists
in this small town for their festival which lasts a week, and this night featured
townspeople dressed up in medieval fashion serving medieval food with medieval wine.
A brief rainstorm, the first of the trip, interrupted the supper, but we managed
to commandeer a dungeon and the wine washed away all the problems while I had an excellent
duck, medieval style. We then attended an archery contest in the main square
which had probably not changed in 800 years with the priest conducting the ceremonies,
twin trumpets announcing each major event, multiple archers shooting
at three dummies in knight's armor holding ceramic plates, and much
ceremony throughout including a monk who judged the event. We were
completely charmed once again…”
“…
the night we were in San Mommè at Il Gufo. The town
was not busy with tourists, to my knowledge our group may have been the only
outsiders. The town had turned out for a wedding that afternoon and while we ate
pizza, drank wine and birra at the outdoor pizzeria and cafe', a street dance was
being set up. We enjoyed watching the entire scene and the locals were gracious enough
to allow us to enjoy the music and dance. For that moment I felt like we were part
of the San Mommè community. Though we didn't speak much Italian, we communicated
with that community, through dance, music and laughter… The second
evening where we felt like we were part of something that the average tourist
is not privy to, was the night in Bevagna. We felt part of the celebration, not outsiders
looking in...
“The guided
tour at the Banfi Vineyard was better than anything in Napa
Valley. We learned a great deal, enjoyed beautiful scenery, and the
lunch with great wine for each course was incredible. In San Gimignano we stayed
in a lovely hotel with a great restaurant looking over an amazing view of the surrounding
valley. Touring Raffaello's home in Urbino, we were struck by the fact that
it had been built before Columbus landed in America. We had such a wonderful time… Thank you so much for all of your hard work and patience.” |
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Paintings of Sant'Antimo by Pam Kennon |