November 5, 2020 at 1:46 PM
Topics: travel destinations, romantic getaway, #travelwithfriends, #milestonebirthday, #viptravelexperience, travel planner, Romance Travel, travel
January 2, 2018 at 8:38 AM
Italy is one of the most visited countries and it tops almost everyone's bucket list. It's a busy tourism place all year long. The hot spots are Venice, Florence, Rome, Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre.
Positano is a precious little town with a finite number of hotels that sell out years in advance, particularly for groups of 6 or more. The same is true for other towns along the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre. If you are planning to travel to these towns in the summer or fall, it's not uncommon to plan and book a year in advance. Not only is space limited, but pricing is usually tricky. The further in advance that you book, the more accommodation options you will have at better values.
Italy is typically a destination you would not want to wait until the last minute to book.
Enlist the help of a professional when booking your hotel in Italy. A 5 star rating in Italy is not the same as a 5 star hotel in the United States, star rating in Italy may not be the best measure to go by when booking your hotel. Also, don't assume there will be air conditioning or elevators. Sometimes you may think you are getting a truly "luxury" experience, please pay close attention to the location of the accommodation. "Steps away from Trevi Fountain" does not mean there won't be a busy intersection between accommodation and Trevi Fountain. Hotels can be complicated ... wouldn't you prefer to work with professionals that have personally visited the hotels and know the staff.
Surely, you have heard that Rome was not built in a day and it can't be seen in a lifetime. Most travelers that I work with want to see 6 or more Italian cities in 8 days or several countries in 10 days. While you can sometimes fit it all in, I hope you will reconsider. Changing hotels every day or 2 days will leave you exhausted and you may well miss the most special things that make ITALY the best travel destination. Relax and enjoy the authentic parts of each city. Never underestimate how much time it takes to pack, transfer, unpack from one destination to the next--that usually takes about 1/2 day.
Tip 4: Allow enough time to book tickets well in advance to major sites of interest
Skip the line tickets to places like Vatican City in Rome, the Uffizi and Accademmia galleries in Florence and Cennacolo where Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper resides requires reservations approximately 6 months in advance, maybe longer if you are traveling with more than 4 people.
Tip 5: Private drivers and private tours
For groups of 3+ travelers, we recommend a private driver and private tours for the best experience. Many of our clients return to tell us all the tips and tricks their drivers gave them and how much it enhanced their stay.
Tip 6: Avoid the Tourist Menu
Part of the fun is finding cool little spots for dinner, but please beware. Big photos of pasta or multiple choices on a menu is a sure sign that it is a tourist trap. I would venture a couple block to the back and look for a restaurant with one main meal written on chalkboard in Italian. Where you dine, who you dine with and the neighborhood you dine in makes a big difference in your experience.
Plan on an hour or two for dinner. Scheduling in advance wine tastings and cellar tours with a "lite lunch" is a golden opportunity. You will not only dine, but have a truly cultural experience.
Tip 7: Know where to avoid driving
Some of the most popular cities are the most difficult to and dangerous to drive. I honestly can't think of any town on a first visit that I would recommend driving. Parking is very expensive (sometimes 100 Euros a day) and leaving your car unattended is not a great idea. It is very confusing getting around, even for the locals, and many areas prohibit driving, even locals. And never drink and drive, there is zero tolerance.
Tip 8: Know before you go
Cruises can be great fun, but consider what you want to see and do. After much discussion, most travelers realize they would like to have a more immersive, authentic experience while visiting one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. Consider that you may only have 5 hours in a particular town along with hundreds of other cruise passengers all trying to see the same iconic sites at the same time.
For more relevant information about your next vacation, we would love to help you.
Topics: Italy, passport passion, group travel, travel, #familytravel, luxurytravel
December 28, 2017 at 9:36 AM
Venice
Gondola Serenade: When you think about Venice, one of the first things you imagine is a gondola silently gliding on the water, and the silence of the Venetian canals at sunset. You will experience all this too, in the late afternoon, while enjoying the city from a different perspective during your 30-minute private gondola ride. This definitely is the best way to discover the enchanting scenery hidden amongst the canals of Venice, allowing you to admire this romantic city. Absorb the colors and the atmosphere, the noises of the city in the background and relax in this everyday means of transportation which has been used for centuries.
Tuscany
Amazing Vineyards: Val d'Orcia boasts some of Tuscany's most picturesque towns that have miraculously remained untouched by tourism. Your private excursion starts in Montalcino, a beautiful walled town known for its production of the precious Brunello wine. You will then continue to Pienza, a town famed for both its Renaissance perfection and its mastery of pecorino cheese. After a relaxing tasting of fine wines and cheeses, we will continue our trip to Montepulciano. There you will be able to explore distinguished wine cellars and taste the world-famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. We will also explore ancient underground Etruscan tombs and the town's medieval center, rich with history.
Rome
Papal Audience: Your expert guide will lead you through the huge crowds, directly to St. Peter's Square with individual headsets so you can hear your guide over the roar of the crowd. Once settled, your guide will provide an in-depth insight into the history and traditions of the Papacy and Papal Audience ceremony so you're fully prepared for the moment when Pope Francis I takes the stage along with his Cardinals. Understanding the rich traditions of the Papacy and background on the event itself will make this one of the most memorable experiences of your life.
Capri
Tour from Positano to Capri Island: Take a boat trip around the beautiful island you will see many highlights as we drive through Faraglioni, three peaks emerging from the blue water pointing toward the sky. Stop for swimming and snorkeling and visit of all important grottos (Blue Grotto) –Admire caves and bays around Capri at a leisurely pace with various stops for swims.
Port of Capri: 3 hours on the Island to explore by yourself – on the way back to Positano stop for swimming. Take cable car up to see - ANA CAPRI for panoramic view of island; Walk around this charming island and you will be enchanted by the breathtaking landscape, natural treasures and picturesque rocky caves. and stroll around the famous Umberto I square, also known as “Piazzetta”, where you can enjoy a drink in one of its fashionable bars or do some shopping.
Sicily
Agrigento & Valley of Temples: Almost 2,000 years ago, before the rise of the Roman Empire, Greeks ruled Sicily and left their mark with a series of important cities and sites. Where Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples are found today was the huge site of Ancient Akragas, a wealthy city of as many as 500,000 people and one of the most important in Ancient Greece. The city was founded in around 580 BC and prospered until it was conquered and destroyed by the Carthaginians in 406. Over the centuries the area was under Roman, Arab and Norman control, largely due to its strategic position overlooking Porto Empedocle and the Strait of Sicily. All left their mark at Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples shows evidence of all these civilizations.
Ireland
Driving Around the Irish Countryside:Drive along the coastline of County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher, one of the country’s most magnificent rock formations that rise to heights of almost 700 feet above the churning Atlantic swells. Pass through The Burren, an area of rocky limestone hills where a number of unique flowers thrive. This region also contains many dolmens, prehistoric monuments formed by large limestone slabs. Just outside Ballyvaughan visit Aillwee Cave, one of the most ancient caves in the Burren and perhaps in Ireland. The cave was formed millions of years ago by the melted waters of the prehistoric ice age when streams sinking underground on Aillwee Mountain started dissolving channels through the lines of weakness in the limestone.
Australia
Climbing the Syndey Harbor Bridge: Absorb a 360 degree panorama of Sydney as you journey to the summit on our original Climb experience. Like an exposed spine, the outer rim delivers you to the peak, as the sky remains just beyond your outstretched fingertips. Latching on in the Climb Base below the Bradfield Highway, you will walk on catwalks below the road-deck until you reach the South-East Pylon. Here you will ascend 4 ladders to the start of the upper arch, surrounded by the hum and buzz of Sydney’s traffic. With the summit in your sight, your journey continues along the Bridge’s outer arch on the Opera House side until you hit the top. After a summit celebration with your group, you cross the spine of the Bridge to the Darling Harbour side to make your descent to our Climb Base. This was one of the most ehilirating experiences I've been a part of in my entire life.
St. Lucia
Catamaran Tour: 1st: Zip Line viewing the two peaks of the Piton Mountains. Lunch at Ladera Resort (Oprah's favorite) -Dasheen; hike a beautiful hillside nature trail offering a picturesque viewpoint of the water & mountains; Let's go off the beaten path to bath in the Falls & Mineral Bath that is a secret held by the locals. At the end of the day, return to the catamaran, snorkel along Sugar Beach and sail off into the Saint Lucian sunset. Pass through Marigot Bay for some amazing photo ops and get ready to have fun and dance to island rhythms.
Alaska
Tour Glacier Bay: Covers more than 3.3 million acres, 18 glaciers reach the ocean, largest concentration of tidewater glaciers on earth. National Park was all solid ice, thousands of feet thick 200 years ago. Most shoreline of Alaska's 9 coastal National Park Service units with 752 miles of coast, not including islands. Home to diverse collection of wildlife, including large colonies of nesting seabirds, migrating ducks & geese, whales, and porpoises.
All of these are bucket list worthy for me, but what is your bucket list look like?
Topics: Italy, passport passion, group travel, travel, #familytravel, luxurytravel, #australia, #alaska
December 14, 2017 at 6:30 AM
Topics: Italy, passport passion, group travel, ireland, travel, new york, #familytravel, luxurytravel
October 19, 2017 at 7:30 AM
Italy is such a vast, and varying AMAZING country. From the flooded streets of Venice, through the Renaissance town of Florence & Tuscany countryside, to the romantic elegance of Rome, there is something for everyone to enjoy! In Venice everyone can enjoy an authentic gondola serenade. For those of age, wonder around the amazing vineyards in beautiful Tuscany and you will find tastings of these amazing Italian wines are plentiful. Or for the whole family, consider going to the market with a local chef and purchase the ingredients to prepare your delicious meal with a local chef. Italy is a great family travel destination with ancient ruins, parks, spooky places and even children museums. How exciting, they can be a Roman gladiator for the day or create carnival masks in Venice. Italy is a hands-on history lesson with many opportunities to bond while learning.
Ireland, it hold all things old and new and AMAZING VIEWS. Ireland is one of the safest places to travel, so if worry free vacation is what you're after, look no further. Ireland is becoming one of showbusiness favorite new locales with filming from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and the Game of Thrones series which could be fun tours for everyone to see where these were filmed. You can attend a medieval meal with authentic food and drinks in a REAL LIFE CASTLE! While there make sure you take a quick kiss of the "Stone of Elloquence" so you will be well spoken from then on. Also wonder around all of the rich history Ireland abounds. Book of Kells, Trinity College, Cliffs of Moher, and much much more for the entire family to enjoy
Topics: Italy, passport passion, group travel, ireland, travel, new york, #familytravel, luxurytravel
