Bucket List Italian Trip
Italy | Mar 31 - Apr 8, 2023

A
Ann M.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Apr 15, 2023

My daughter and I have just returned from our 9 day whirlwind visit to Italy. 2 days each in Venice, Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast. We had the most wonderful time and made so many beautiful memories thanks to our Italian coordinator Lorenza who put together an itinerary that managed to include everything that we wanted to do and see. Indelible mental images of gondolas, canals and bridges; huge, beautiful churches including St. Peter's where we actually attended mass (mind blown)! The statue of David, lemons galore in lovely Positano, and new friends made on our wine tasting day in Tuscany.
All of our guides were knowledgeable and amazing. Vincenzo, Antonio, Simona, Alfonso and I know I'm missing a few names (sorry). They all went above and beyond (and brave, especially in Rome where the Easter crowds were quite overwhelming). Couldn't get enough of gelato, delicious! Trip of a lifetime - thank-you!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco
Florence

Our room was nice and clean with lovely wooden, rosetted ceilings. Terracotta roofs from our window and the sound of bells ringing and pigeons cooing in the morning. Heaven. Staff were very helpful and friendly. A very nice stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to restaurants.
Staff
Very kind
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds were comfy.
Ca' Pozzo Inn
Venice

Clean and comfy. Staff welcoming and friendly. Breakfast was very good.

Authenticity & Character
The fish market outside.
Location
Right by the canal and bridges.
Staff
Very kind.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bed and pillows lovely and comfy.
Hotel Raffaello
Roma

The elevator wasn't working and we had to change our room that was originally on the 4th floor to one on the 2nd floor which was still a bit of a hike up those stairs after walking 19,000 steps that day. But the room was nice and the staff very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Loved the fabric wallpaper!
Location
Central to everything.
Staff
Very helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Liked that they had two suitcase luggage racks as we were living out of our suitcases and were able to open them up without having them on the floor.
Hotel Mignon
Sorrento

Loved all the blue and white tile in our room and the balcony. Nice and clean. Walls a bit thin though. Could hear the family in the adjoining room. Staff very friendly and helpful and the breakfast was very good.

Authenticity & Character
The décor was blue and white and very sunny. The dining room was very pretty.
Location
Right in the middle of town and lots of restaurants close by.
Staff
We had a Good Friday procession that went past our hotel and the front desk personnel were very knowledgeable about it and explained it's meaning.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything fresh and bright and appealing.
Activity Reviews
VENICE MASTERCLASS: DOGE PALACE'S AND ST. MARK'S BASILICA AND EXCLUSIVE TERRACES WITH SKIP THE LINE VISIT
VENICE MASTERCLASS: DOGE PALACE'S AND ST. MARK'S BASILICA AND EXCLUSIVE TERRACES WITH SKIP THE LINE VISIT
Venice

St. Mark's was very beautiful and impressive. We didn't go up to the terraces or inside the Doge's Palace.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was wonderful, smart and funny.
Transport
Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery
Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery
Florence

Fantastic! Seeing the Statue of David was incredible. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
So kind and engaging.
Transport
Colosseum and Roman Forum - small group guided tour
Colosseum and Roman Forum - small group guided tour
Rome

Great! We had a little rain but walked on undeterred. I had visited this site 55 years ago and was a bit disappointed that visitors were no longer able to go down to the bottom as I had done back then. Such an iconic building.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very good. Had lots of information.
Transport
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - small group tour. Early entrance
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - small group tour. Early entrance
Rome

An amazing day. But the crowds! It was Easter week. Our guide was so brave and we could not have gotten through and seen everything if we didn't have her. Highlight was attending Mass inside St. Peter's!

Quality of Experience
Mass in the biggest church in the world and part of my faith.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Blown away with how our guide was able to maneuver her way through the hundreds of people in the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel. And none of our group got lost!
Transport
Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide
Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide
Italy

One of my favorite spots. Didn't realize how big Pompeii was. Amazing.

Quality of Experience
The surprise of how much there was to see.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Antonio, was such a wealth of information and very nice.
Transport
Fully day in The Amalfi Coast with driver assistance
Fully day in The Amalfi Coast with driver assistance
Italy

Breathtaking views. Beautiful little towns. Positano was my favorite with it's cute shops and all those lemons! We had lunch at a waterside restaurant and watched the fishes swimming by.

Quality of Experience
To have someone else do the driving!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Vincenzo was very patient and calm even though buses kept getting stuck along the route as the roads were so narrow. I was afraid we wouldn't have as much time in the 3 towns we were visiting due to the traffic jams but our guide assured us we would spend the time we needed even though we returned back over an hour late. I thought that was really kind of him.
Transport
A great driver considering the crazy road.
Local specialist: Lorenza Cannarsa