She presented information, as you would expect of a "local guide", We arrived one day, explored the next, and then left the next day. I suspect it was related to being totally surprised by what I saw and Francesca's introduction and enthusiasm. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. We couldn't have had a better experience. "fav had to be celebrating my wife's 70th at the farmhouse in Umbria! Bus: 6 hours. Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Over all, most of the provided meals had extra special touches. I can't say I like one moment better than another.". The Last Supper (before the tour), Pompeii and Paestum (after the tour ... but with Rick Steves recommended guides) were other big "wows".". "There were truly many, but my personal favorite was the wine resort near Orvieto, where the wine was very fine, the accommodations were first rate, and the views from our balcony were among the best of any place we visited in Italy.". "The beautiful views in Cinque Terre and Alterocca in Umbria stand out. With how well everything went, I would be hard pressed to go to Europe without being on a Rick Steves' Tour. I had a wonderful trip. The tour is very active not only physically but the amount of places we visited. The organization, sites and variety of experiences were excellent. It was well worth the cost. Another was the entire experience with the local retired chef in Varenna. Rainer was the consummate tour guide; organized, and knowledgeable in terms of Italian art, history and politics, he led us through each stop of the trip with excellent insights and suggestions. Gorgeous day and blue water took my breath away. "My surprise birthday singing in the gondolas in Venice. "I liked the Dolomites. Try. "This is not an easy task as there were so many wonderful sites. Skip to main content.ca Hello, Sign in. I am already thinking about my next tour and I have only been home a few weeks. This month we're featuring Poland. We were going to follow our tour guide on a hike but it had snowed and the only path available was the road. We adapted and enjoyed it. 3. Our tour was much more than we had ever expected. see our FAQ. Just magnificent!". She made the whole group gell and feel like family. In particular the guides, both local and the main guide were excellent. It felt like a postcard view and you happened to be in it. Tour Questions? "It is almost impossible to choose one wow moment. It did not disappoint. Our tour group was congenial (no grumps!) This was our third trip to Italy. I have been watching Rick Steves on my local PBS station for years. Otzi the Ice Man was a wow moment. Rainer, our guide, always had the travelers best interest in mind and he was always one step ahead of the itinerary, making sure the arrangements/tours/accommodations were in good order and ready for us. ©2020 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | What a great team the two of them where. ", "Favorite "wow" from the tour were the special demonstrations (Handcrafted Forcula demonstration in Venice, Stained Glass shop demonstration and visiting the Rhino horse district in Sienna, the group dinners and the passion of the local guided history tour in Rome.". There is so much history, culture, and art to take in. Outstanding, incredible and I could go on and on. "Surprise stop at San Zeno in Verona! Tour guides in various cities were really good (tho a few were kind of long-winded, and group could have used a break). The local guides used at each location were excellent. If forced, I think It was dancing to the battling orchestras in St. Marks square after dark.". It was as the book states a 6-8 as far as activity. We have and will continue to recommend Rick Steves Tours. This was not a scheduled event (that I was aware of), but it made a lasting impression on me.". The tour was well paced with the right balance of guided tours and free time. With Rick's strategic tips on saving time and money, you can worry less about your trip, and focus on enjoying the experience—whether that's climbing to the … This is my fifth Rick Steves tour, everyone of them I came away with special memories. While the pace was brisk, all of us were able to keep up. Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2001. He had never been to Europe and a Rick Steves' tour was on his bucket list, so he talked me into it being we were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary with this trip of a lifetime. Good experience but very strenuous. Expert advice from Rick Steves on what's worth your time and money Two-day itineraries covering Venice, the Cinque Terre, Florence, the Hill Towns of Central Italy, Rome, Naples, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast Ötzi In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The balance of planned time versus time on our own to explore was just right. "Every thing and place had it's own value. A great surprise, thanks to Trina. Sleep in Venice. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Fantastic experience! This was our very first Rick Steve's Tour and we are convinced that this was a great decision to take advantage of what this plan offers. I appreciated the tour and guidelines. The views from high up on the coastal mountain trail were spectacular. birthday. The balance between planned activities and personal time was perfect. In the Alpe di Suisi, witnessing a cattle drive down the mountain by local herders through our village with all of its festivities was like a fairytale come true, as if I was living the story of "Heidi", one of my childhood favorites. "Simply stated, I was totally taken with the statue of David. Gino the bus driver was super fun and an awesome driver. Our guide, Pallo, brought art history to life and gave me a much better appreciation of how it all fit together. I was happy that the tour used the Rick Steves' app to go through the Vatican museums since this allowed each of us to take as much time to see it as we wanted.". Our view from our hotel in Varenna, overlooking Lake Como, was definitely a "wow"! I liked that each city was unique and the balance of planned activities and free time in each location. "I think viewing " The Last Supper " in MIlan," David" in Florence, and the Borghese Museum in Rome. A great mix of city, country, resort type areas. Trying to look overall I'd have to say the Italy is just one wow after another!". This morning we'll visit a stained-glass workshop, where a local artisan will show us how he fuses traditional and contemporary stained-glass techniques. Skip to main content.in Try Prime Hello, Sign in. There was a perfect balance of structure (schedule, transportation, accommodations) and freedom (orientation). Great job to the RS team. The Altarocca Wine Resort, And seeing David in person in Florence!". Their sense of pride and joy was infectious!". "Everyone asks what was the best part. "I loved Varenna - the CinqueTerre - and Italian Alps the most ' but everything was great! At the sprawling Vatican Museums, we'll visit what seems like a limitless collection of treasures as you make your way to one of the world's most famous works of art: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. I thought there were too many churches - I suggest skipping the minor cathedrals in lieu of other local sights. To be honest, my wife & I expected to be the oldest folks on the trip (we're both ~70 -- experienced international travelers -- not cruise ship types). Hiking in the Dolomites listening to the ringing of cow bells. But I would have to say that staying only 2 nights in each city didn't allow much time to really get to "know" the place(s) and it meant a lot of moving around and a lot of bus time in between. Everything about it suited our needs perfectly. I've been to Italy 6 times on my own. The weather couldn't have been better. "While there were several highlights, I enjoyed our time in the Dolomites for the dramatic scenery. Great itinerary, sights, architecture, artwork, food! Getting to tour the stained glass shop (master craftsman) in Siena. The oval shaped room permitted standing in the middle and simply turning around to gaze slowly at it all. A somber, moving and important experience. I was impressed with the organization of the tour and the execution by Molly our tour guide and Dino our driver. We were amazed at the quality of the hotels, restaurants and food that were part of the tour. Hiking up in the Dolomites. This was the first tour my husband and I have taken. I loved this trip! Too many unforgettable moments to mention.". You'll have free time to continue your modern-day pilgrimage at the greatest church in Christendom — St. Peter's Basilica, home to Michelangelo's sublime Pietà. It was fabulous! To walk in and see the Pieta with no one else pressuring for a view was amazing. We walked into our beautiful room on Lake Como and opened our window and there was the lake right before our eyes. I have been to Italy before. She is special. We experienced all the highlights in each area as well as the culture. Sarah was a delight to be with. Being serenaded in a gondola Other tour participants often offered to assist. Rick Steves' Europe. Very moving. For example, the city tour in Venice then the guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica to the point of timing our step onto the rooftop to see the Clocktower strike noon. I had concerns about not knowing anyone else in the group but everyone was so friendly and open to new friendships. Cooking class we took in Florence (on our own). Neither of us had been to Italy so we wanted to see as much as possible. And, as also discussed below, Elena was a terrific and special guide. Walking in this very old place felt surreal and hard to believe. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect experience, from meeting everyone on the veranda of the Royal Victoria Hotel in Varenna, to the unbelievably beautiful evening when we strolled through The Forum in Rome. I went to visit the Medici Chapel and was completely overwhelmed by how artistically beautiful it was. "Alpe di Siusi meadow hike, Cinque Terre, Seine contrade dinner, Rome colosseum and forum. Our tour guide was amazing with expert knowledge and a knack of taking exceptional care of us all. From Louise & Lisa... Lake Como, the Dolomites, Cinque Terre, the art, the sculptures, the duomos....all provided WOW moments.". I was extremely disappointed by being left for the tour of the Uffizi. Several other sudden exposures choked me up. This trip was everything we'd dreamed of and so much more! I would have been better suited for a my way tour than this type of tour but know that now ... was impressed with the tour guides k knowledge about the places we went some of it wasn't necessary when we got to Florence any time a guide tells you while talking about a place in a city and says the walls looked like they had been puked on is NOT necessary! We loved this tour from beginning to end. We covered so much in our 17 days that we had something amazing every day. "Hiking the Alpe di Siusi in the Dolomites on a picture-perfect day was a highlight for me. Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you. ", Marianna made the tour for me. The sleepy Lake Como village of Varenna is a quick, easy train connection from Milan. My Account. per person + air, Single ), Siena, and most of the other stops. "To be perfectly honest there were so many I would have a hard time isolating one out. I didn't just "see" Italy, I experienced it in a way that if the trip had been a week longer and my spouse said "OK" I might have applied for a visa and still be there. It showcased art & history in astounding ways. The food was wonderful, but don't worry, you will walk it all off...sometimes up to eight miles a day. Lake Como. 4. An unexpected moving experience was at the Florence American Cemetery, an addition to our our tour. We had a wonderful experience and saw sites/locations in addition to the tour itinerary that enhanced the trip immensely. I was not expecting such beauty.". Please try again. Rick Steves Best of Italy: Amazon.de: Steves, Rick: Fremdsprachige Bücher. I learned so much more. Local Tour guides were all outstanding. Looking forward to another one. I used my own headset with 2 earbuds. Italy is a beautiful country with so much to offer. The Rick Steves films always suggest this time to visit crowded venues but to be shepherded there was great.". Great first dip into Europe. ", The Best of Italy tour was a great way to see a lot of different places across Italy. We had a great group of travelers and Marianna was pure joy. "Cinque terra was fabulous. I LOVED staying on the farm near Orvieto.". Wished we could have stayed 1 more night for relaxation as trip was very busy. Amazing views and experience, unless you are a bit claustrophobic. Too hard to pick just one but I think my favorite places were Cinca Terra and St Peter's Basilica in Rome that i went on my own to as i had already been to the Vatican...". Wow what a trip 28 people and we all had so much in in common as though they were hand selected. I loved seeing MichaelAngelo's art. From hiking up to a spectacular view in the Dolomites, to rounding a corner and seeing THE Colosseum, to uncountable outstanding works of art and architecture. Well organized, great locations for hotels and very experienced local guides. Strenuous with one wow moment after another. "St. Michael's Cathedral was our wow moment. Overall, everything was great. Our tour guide and bus driver were great, and there were lots of thoughtful surprise side trips and experiences. So, we hiked along the road to one of the "Huts" where we enjoyed a nice beverage. Cities, and their marvelous sights, are very difficult because of the crowds. "So many "wow" moments because Italy is so diverse, but Cinque Terre was a wonderful surprise! We never felt pressured to buy anything. I never expected to get such a look a a Master's process in my life. Our guide Trina was exceptional & all the people in our group were wonderful. Our wine resort lodging was the best. (How do you guys arrange for that? Little help from guide in booking other things for free time. A highlight for us was actually not on the tour. Terrific choice of cities, tours, local guides, the food and- oh - the vino. Then you'll be free to wander through the medieval old town and its shops filled with colorful pottery. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own. Very approachable. This was our first Rick Steves' tour and we didn't know what to expect but it certainly exceeded all of our expectations. The local guides were great. We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. I feel our "wow" times were when the group was together and having fun. "Not so much a wow moment but certainly a favorite experience was savoring the disparate landscapes: Alpine meadows and mountains, Venetian canals, views from hilltop medieval towns, rolling Tuscan hillsides, sunrise over the Mediterranean .". We were fortunate our guide took the initiative to offer this experience to us. The hotels were strategically placed to allow us maximum free wandering around time. I would highly recommend this tour to others who are interested in learning about and experiencing Italy. We found each destination even better than the last one. The sun rise at St. Peter's and viewing the Pieta without a herd of other tourists was a WOW!! I guess my favorite moment is in the Dolomites walking thru this incredible scenery. I've never liked the idea of a 'group' tour; this tour was my first. That was my favorite wow experience (there were others as well). Our guide, Patricia, was fantastic. My fiance is not a "tour" person, but I convinced him that it would be a good experience as he'd never been to Italy. "Hard to pick a favorite moment in this 17 day tour because there are so many. I'm a woodworker so the oar lock demonstration in Venice was very interesting (better than the mask demonstration in our last tour). Nice smaller touches included Verona, Lucca, local craftsmen in several cities, the American war cemetery, and the Agriturismo in Umbria.". We will definitely do more Rick Steves tours. We had expert guides in every place we visited. It is! Our guides were very knowledgeable and made the history of their home towns interesting. There was a lot of variety in the destinations, the food, the sights, and it totally met our expectations. From our first meeting with Elena, we felt that something memorable was about to happen. This is a very educational and enjoyable tour with a variety of interesting experiences, and wonderful travelling companions. This was our first Rick Steves tour and it exceeded our expectations. The gondola ride and Saint Marks Square at sunrise. We continually said to each other, "Can you believe we're really here?" St Peter's Basilica, the gondola ride in Venice at sunset, the view of Florence from Michelangelo Piazzale, seeing David, the list goes on and on.". Finally the unexpected stop at the American Cemetery in Florence was very moving and a wonderful experience.". the lodgings were wonderful in some instances and in all cases at least adequate. "Hiking in the Alpe de Suiss, a dream come true. Sleep in Florence. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, That’s about to change — my wife and I are signing up to be tour members on the Best of Tuscany in 2020. The ability to "go with the flow" was our mantra. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour experience. Just as explained by Rick Steves website. 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