The hotels were centrally located, and were very comfortable. One sorry exception is noted below. as well. Our bus driver Dino was fantastic and smooth rides. I had a wonderful trip. Very organized & informational. "This may sound odd, but my "wow" moment was the incredible beauty of the Dolomites. She was awesome. Our tour exceeded expectations, especially the group dinners( particularly in ones in Varenna and Cinque Terre). I was extremely disappointed by being left for the tour of the Uffizi. She was so efficient, thoughtful, and warm. I thought there were too many churches - I suggest skipping the minor cathedrals in lieu of other local sights. We'll drive straight to Rome today and spend the afternoon uncovering the heart of the Eternal City. Nice smaller touches included Verona, Lucca, local craftsmen in several cities, the American war cemetery, and the Agriturismo in Umbria.". 1446 posts. Thanks Daniela (and Dino) for the trip of a lifetime. We were going to follow our tour guide on a hike but it had snowed and the only path available was the road. As to the infrastructure - wifi was never an issue, roads and public toilets (at auto grills) were as good as home (ever better for thoughtful design with flush petals on floor, & 2 flush system and bidets at all hotels). It was a wonderful trip that will be a lifetime highlight. Both were very prepared and kept everyone engaged throughout the tour. This is our second time on the Best of Italy tour. It was a pleasure traveling with such nice people. While it may cost a little more, I think it's worth it. "Per our guides suggestion, we woke up at 5:30 and left our hotel in Venice at 6 to check out St Marks Plaza early in the morning. and we enjoyed getting to know new travelers. Osteria- A simple establishment serving mainly pasta/spaghetti. I was a little concerned about traveling with so many people for 17 days, and that actually turned out to enhance the experience. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying in the Documents section of your tour account. It was the right amount of activity vs. downtime, structured vs. free time, big city vs. nature experiences, etc. Needed the vacation from our vacation day in Monterosso. And Cinque Terra! "There were so many "wow" moments - seeing David for the first time, swimming in the Mediterranean, hiking Cinque Terre, being in the Sistine Chapel*.". Just as explained by Rick Steves website. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, Rick Steves' Europe is an American travel documentary television series created and hosted by Rick Steves.In each episode, he travels to the continent of Europe, documenting his experiences along the way.. "There were so many, it's difficult to choose! We visited all the major locations and a few that I had never heard of and all were outstanding. The Rick Steves Best of Italy tour is exactly that — the very best. Very moving.". Unreal". We were fortunate our guide took the initiative to offer this experience to us. outside the windows. Everything went smoothly. Our guide, Patricia, was fantastic. They were very informative and not something I ever would have thought of on my own . At breakfast, your guide can help you plan your day. "The tour was filled with "wow" moments: hiking in the Dolomites, the vibrant colors of the little towns on Lake Como, experiencing by chance the "witch's night" in Castelrotto, the gondola ride and evening music in Venice, the Field of Miracles, listening to Rick's podcast in the Sistine Chapel, the sunset in the Cinque Terre, enjoying a meal with the people of The Forest in Sienna, the pool in Altarocca, learning and using the language, the fresh food, the delicious wine, our group members...". Loved the bus. I would have to say the scenery in upper Bolzano and surrounding areas wowed me the most.". But I am so glad my reluctance didn't keep my sister and I from joining the Best of Italy tour. Our co-tourists made the trip all the more memorable. I was amazed at how lovely these ancient towns still are today and how vibrant--not just for tourists but for locals as well to live in and enjoy.". All of the locations were amazing and I enjoyed every single thing that we did on this tour. She was organized, thorough in her preparation, caring in meeting the groups every need! We would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see "The Best of Italy". Our total Italy stay was 5 weeks. This tour far surpassed my expectations, and my expectations were very high!! We not only enjoyed the trip but Deborah our guild was perfect for us! Sort of took my breath away for a few seconds! His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. Seriously, couldn't pick just one, but loved the Dolomites. Hiking in the hills of Cinque Terra.". I liked Lake Maggiore. I was not expecting such beauty.". Elena expertly guided us through our first trip to Europe and showed us her home country as we explored northern Italy. 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. Sleep in the Alpe di Siusi area. I also enjoyed the Tuscan countryside at AltoRocca.". Sleep in Siena. Perfect mix of educational information; direction; structured/planned activities and free time. "All the local guides added GREATLY to the tours of the churches and the art, sculpture, and architecture. "Michelangelo's David. It was really indescribable, like nothing I've seen or experienced before. He managed to get us to our destinations as close as possible in the rather large bus, and even had cold water available! 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