Venice, Florence, Rome, Sicily and more!
Welcome to Italy! I am here to help you plan your vacation, choose destinations, sites, guided tours, lodging and dining venues. So that you can enjoy Italy the way you want it while saving your time and money. Here is what I do for you:
- Design your customized itinerary in Italy complete with lodging, public and private transportation, dining venues, tailor-made activities and experiences
- Private tours with licensed guide, PhD: Rome, the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, Florence, Venice, the Cinque Terre, Pompeii, Assisi, Sicily, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and more
- Skip-the-line museum tickets to the most popular venues: the Colosseum, the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, the Roman Forum, the Borghese gallery, Pompeii, the Accademia and Uffizi galleries in Florence, St. Mark’s basilica in Venice, the Leaning Tower in Pisa, Leonardo’s Last Supper in Milan, Lamborghini factory tour
- Private transfers with professional drivers on a/c Mercedes vehicles from a van to a full size bus
- Private gondola, motor or sail boat transportation and tours
- Special openings of exclusive private venues: palaces, gardens, villas, castles, wine estates, cheese producers, yacht builders, etc.
- Wine and food tours, market tours, shopping tours
- Restaurant advice and reservations in Italy
- Private themed tours and itineraries: Jewish heritage tours, garden tours, Caravaggio tour, Michelangelo tour, Medici tour, Quarantine tour, Tintoretto tour, local artisans tour, etc.
- Vacation rental marketing and management in Florence and Taormina
Contact me to request your unique idea – I’ll make it happen for you in Italy!
Italy the Way You Want It
Planning a vacation in Italy can be overwhelming, and for a good reason. Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world with countless offers for guided tours. Viator, Get Your Guide, With Locals, AirBnB, VRBO, Booking, Trip Advisor, or Rick Steve’s – you name it. How to choose?
After almost two decades of experience as a private tour guide in Florence, Venice and Rome, I know that each traveler has a unique set of preferences and constraints (time, budget, interests and needs) that are best tackled on a customized itinerary and a private tour. Experienced travel agents know this and often contact me not just for one tour but to develop a tailored vacation complete with private tours, lodgings, activities, special openings, dining venues and transportation. This is exactly what I do for you so that you can save your time, money and enjoy Italy exactly the way you want it.
Italy Destination Choice
Another challenge to traveler in Italy is the sheer embarrassment of sightseeing destinations. For centuries, the boot of Italy has been split into separate countries so it is more helpful to think of your Italian vacation as visiting the Republic of Venice, the Republic of Florence, the Papal States, the Kingdom of two Sicilies, the Duchy of Milan, etc. Each of these independent countries had its own royal palace or government building, the Duomo, major decorated churches, monasteries, fortifications and art collections. Each has its own distinct history, traditions, language, cuisine, and some even their own calendar! Yes, you can cover most of the famous sites on a single trip (even in just one week) or you may choose to visit one city or region, even if you stay for a year. Either way, you will discover new marvels every single day.
With 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Italy boasts the highest concentration of artistic treasures in the world. Combined with a mild climate and scenic landscapes, no wonder it is one of the most thought-after destinations worldwide! Unfortunately, this means that when you visit the most famous sites in Italy – be it the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, Saint Mark’s basilica, or the statue of David – you are competing literally with the whole world for tickets, seats on that bullet train, and nights in the best hotel. Each of the famous venues has its own opening times, ticket release times, and booking rules so even a seasoned travel agent and guide needs an agenda and reminders set to snatch those tickets on time. Plan and book several months ahead and let your vacation planner know everything that you have in mind so that your desires are duly met. Not all the venues are available on last moment’s notice!
Italy on Your Budget
Did you know that hiring a private guide is actually cheaper, in terms of time and money, than booking a group tour or touring on your own? This is because a private guide with local expertise knows the ins and outs of avoiding the crowds and tourist traps, securing skip-the-line tickets, getting the best deal on your bullet train tide, arranging unique local experiences and special openings, private drivers and private boats. With me, you go where You want to go, not where a group tour takes you. We can also adjust your itinerary on the go, make unplanned stops, pop into private spaces, see and try out things you did not know even existed.
Yes, I do have profiles on big multinational platforms and you are welcome to check my stellar reviews there. Unfortunately, big multinational platforms don’t allow you to talk to your guide before booking – and sometimes not even after the booking is made. For group tours, you don’t even know who will guide you at all. I like talking to clients – on the phone, FaceTime or WhatsApp – already at the planning stage. This way, you can be sure that you understand your guide and can tell me what you are looking for in your Italian vacation. Direct contact ensures that we design an up-to-date itinerary tailored to your budget and wishes so that you only pay for what interests you. And the best thing: a direct booking saves you – up to 50%! – compared to big multinationals, no upfront service charge.
Want to explore without a guide? No problem! I can plan your self-guided itinerary so you tour on your own like a pro, save time, money and take full advantage of my local expertise and experience on the go.