The hotel in Rome was exceptional. The accommodations were wonderful, the restaurant was fantastic (both the food and setting), and the staff was very friendly, welcoming, and helpful. It was an oasis from the heat and crowded streets. The hotel in Florence was fantastic as well, just slightly more formal and less intimate. We really enjoyed staying on the residential side of Florence, and the views of the Arno were amazing! All our tour guides were great and were able to answer all our questions. Our tour guides in Florence and in Venice were our favorites. All the drivers were friendly and helpful as well. We especially enjoyed talking to our driver to San Gimignano and Siena about his life in Italy.
Our absolute favorite parts of the trip were:
1) Lunch in the Tuscany countryside. We’d all go back in a heartbeat. The family was friendly and welcoming, and the food and wine were delicious. We didn’t want to leave.
2) The boat tour of Venice. Venice was so packed with tourists that the boat tour really was the best way to sightsee and learn. We would have spent more time on the boat and less time wandering around Venice.
3) St. Peter’s Basilica. I visited in 1984, and it continues to amaze me. The art and the structure itself are unparalleled.
Thanks so much for organizing everything for us. I spent a lot of time in my 20s backpacking through Europe, and this was the perfect antidote.
Grazie!
Kristen V.
August 2022
