Family Trip to Rome and Amalfi Coast
Italy | Mar 6 - Mar 12, 2024

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Susan C.
Harrison, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 14, 2024

Rita planned an amazing, customized family trip to Italy for our family. Our trip started and ended with a very smooth pick up and drop off at the airport. Our favorite hotel of the trip was the Palazza Galla hotel with its modern rooms, beautiful roof top bar with amazing views, delicious breakfast buffet and superb service. The food tour we took with Marica was fun and she were able to give our celiac daughter options at every stop but one on the tour. Giovanna was able to cover so much history at the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum we would have been lost without a private guide. Our driver Giuseppe who picked us up from Salerno train station and stayed with us for the day until we arrived in Sorrento was amazing. He called local restaurants along the way to find us a perfect one that had gluten free pizza for our one daughter. He was full of information as we drove up the coast pointing out things we would have missed. In Ravello we had a private hike planned but it was a beautiful day and we wanted to explore Ravello, so our guide Gennsro, an expert hiking guide, gave us different options on how we could spend the day and we chose to explore more and hike less. He took us to the beautiful gardens at the Villa Cimbrone, and along a hike below the gardens explaining the lemon trees. After we went to Amalfi and explored the back streets there, then a stop in Positano to walk down to the beach and have a drink at Bar Paradise at sunset, it was a wonderful day. In Sorrento we stayed at La Piazzetta Guest, which had spacious room and the most amazing front desk staff, Caterina went above and beyond when our trip to Capri had to be canceled last minute because of the crazy weather in March. We asked Caterina about doing a wine tasting and in a half hour she had 2 options for us to choose from including transportation. We chose to go to Il Cantuccioā€™s brand new wine cellar for an amazing wine tasting with the most delicious food. The next day our private tour of Pompei with Gennaro was so interesting and educational. Pompei is huge and having a private guide as informed as Gennaro who could take us to all the highlights in the time we had to spend there was invaluable. The last hotel we stayed in was the Otvim, the rooms were a bit dark and the double room was small. It had a nice rooftop but the elevator was slow and when you took the stairs you ended up outside down the street from the lobby. Our favorite guide for the whole trip was Mia who guided us through the crowed Vatican pointing out all the amazing art while explaining the history of Vatican City. She knew some shortcuts to save time and explained what we would see in the Sistine Chapel before we entered so we were prepared for what we saw since there is no talking once you are inside the Chapel. Rita and her team were accommodating and flexible for our needs, we are so appreciative of her working with us on so many details. Rita and her team were extremely responsive in a timely mater to any issues that came up when we were on our trip, even on the weekends.

Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Mar 14, 2024

Hi Susan, thank you so so much for this detailed review!!! I will share your kind words with our local guides, they will be delighted to hear your feedback. It's been a pleasure working with you and your family and I hope you created lifetime memories in Italy! I wish you all the bestšŸ„° Rita