We booked our Italy tour with your company.
It was an amazing trip!!!
In fact I am making a book of our trip and I have pictures of all our tour guides with everywhere we went.
I didn’t get a picture of our last day in Venice with our guide. With her permission could you please send me her picture??? She was great and would love to have her in the book also.
All the tour guides were really good.
Thank you so much, I truly appreciate your help with all of this!
BettyHi! Wanted to drop a line to say that we thoroughly enjoyed the tours you set up of for Vatican and Colosseum. The guide, Giuseppe, was really terrific. Very nice and extremely interesting and knowledgeable. Funny too. He was gracious about adjusting the walking pace of the other couple. I would say it was a lot of detail and we loved that... but might’ve been too much for some. Lol. Thanks again and hope to be setting up another trip to Italy soon! Can never get enough
CindyThis letter is to thank you and all of the individuals (at Donna Franca Tours) that assisted us when we took our 13th year of marriage anniversary trip to Italy. Please thank your team in Boston for that in addition to the lovely gentleman who called me in Italy to re-visit our schedule - apologies for not recalling his name - he was a perfect gentleman. Of mention are: our tour guides Gabriella, Laura, Isabella and our last tour guide in Florence (who took us to the art museum, she also did a fantastic job) they were knowledgeable, made our time with them interesting, well versed in the history of their country, patient for taking pictures and just appreciating that we were in awe when we were lagging behind, we just cannot say enough wonderful things about them to describe how they treated us and how fantastic they were. Our driver Jacob (to Postojna Caves) and the water taxi services were outstanding and always prompt to pick us up. Last but not least was our favorite of all - the staff at the Hotel Ca'Nigra. They were courteous, inviting, warm, friendly and just plain awesome!! The food for breakfast was delicious. You could smell the bread before you arrived at the dining room - you had only to just follow your nose to breakfast. Fresh juice, fresh breads, pastries, bacon, eggs (to die for), fruit, cereal (with fresh cold milk) I could go on and on. Antonio and I are planning to return next year "God willing" or the year after. Please take care and oh "arrivederci" until later.
Sincerely,
Antonio & Evelyn
Dear Tammy and Leo, We are writing to express our thanks to both of you for a wonderful job you did arranging our trip to Sicily this year. The trip was absolutely fantastic; ALL our drivers and guides were courteous, professional and very friendly; they made our journey a pleasure! Overall, our trip was amazing, and we want to thank you again for all your help in planning this wonderful trip! Please feel free to share it with the companies of all those who contributed to our amazing vacation. We will not hesitate to recommend your services (and theirs) to friends and family.
Mille Grazie e Dio Benedice, Terri and NickWe vacationed in Italy for almost a month to discover and to retrace our Italian family origins. Also, we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in the famous village of Positano. Steven perfectly scheduled our air, hotel stays, luxury ground car transportation between hotels, water and air transportation between the Italian islands we visited, private and group sightseeing with English-speaking guides. The transportation provided was on time at every location we visited. And all this was for an affordable total price, all inclusive. It was totally worth the cost. We highly recommend Donna Franca Tours to all our family and friends. If you are thinking about a vacation to Italy, or anywhere else, we suggest first getting an itinerary estimate from Donna Franca Tours. You will be glad you did!
Joe & Rhonda Melbourne FL.Ciao Leo.
I just want to reach out to you to let you know we all had a wonderful time and were very pleased with all the accommodations. We fell in love with Hotel Cellai, so charming and personable. Having the drivers and guides made the non-stop touring much more bearable. Sorry to have put you through all headaches!
Till next time,
JulieI have been remiss in letting you know how our trip went. In a word, it was wonderful!!. The tours you had planned for us were as good as any we have taken before.
All of the guides were very knowledgeable and interactive. I have been to Pompeii twice before (once with a guide) but the archaeologist who was our guide this time brought the history to life. The hotel in Naples was beautiful with a view of the water and the marina. The tour of Capri made for a wonderful day. The driver who picked us up at the airport took us on a day trip down the Amalfi Coast (thru the company he worked for) which was very beautiful! Stopped at a limoncello tasting and a pottery place so it too was a lovely day.
The walking tour of Florence was very well done with lots of good information, and not having to stand in line forever to see David was great. The cooking class was fun and added to the trip. The evening at the winery outside of Florence was really special. Beautiful setting, wonderful dinner and interesting wine tasting.
Vatican visit was really special. We had an amazing guide and learned so much from her. Eating breakfast inside the grounds of the Vatican was a treat. That entire morning was fascinating.
The hotels in Florence and Rome were both well located and very nice. Old world charm.
The best for us was to watch our 22 year old grandson (the jock) ask questions of the guides and then share stories of our adventures with family. We ate the best pizza we had ever tasted, especially in the Naples area. Great food all around!
Sandi & FamilyA little late, but a huge thank you for a perfect trip.
The accommodations were excellent especially the Hotel Portugal in Lisboa and the transfers went like clock work. Sao Miguel is beautiful, pristine, untouched beauty. Definitely a destination.
Thank you again. 'Til next time.
PaulaThank you for planning our Italian Lakes/Switzerland trip. I wanted to get back to you to let you know everything was perfection. The documentation, arrangements, accommodations and reception were amazing! everything ran smoothly and was so easy!
First of all the itinerary was great. We had been in Tuscany for a week with temperatures over 100 every day so the change in landscape was a welcome change. Our first week in Chianti was wonderful but very busy with sightseeing and the wedding. If you have clients interested in an authentic Tuscan experience, the Podere Patrignone was beautiful. They do two weddings a year but otherwise run B&B or self-catering and the accommodations are nice. We had a ground floor two bedroom which was cool but the upper floors were very hot. It is a working olive farm overlooking vineyards, beautiful sunsets and they have a pool.
Villa Fiore was beautiful. We had two lakeside rooms. It is a few blocks away from the ferry to Como which runs throughout the day until about 7pm. Taxi to Como is about 25 Euros to return from dinner if you go to town. Ferry is 2 or 3 Euros. There is a great pizza/pasta al fresco place within walking distance of the hotel. The hotel restaurant was very good but super expensive as you would expect. The staff and accommodations are wonderful.
Our boat captain was Carlo and I wish I could remember his last name as he was a wonderful guide. I would ask for him.
The Glacier Express is a little touristy but the scenery and ease of travel makes it well worth it. It was an amazing experience and you are able to order dinner and cocktails. I am glad we did it that way instead of using the public train,
Zermatt was incredible. Everything is within walking distance so the hotel change was fine and again their staff was so friendly and accommodating. The buffet breakfast was plentiful and good. We found some good traditional foods. The Glacier Paradise trip will always be a lifetime experience. I was concerned about the height but it as almost surreal so I felt safe and would suggest it for everybody!
We had a little trouble with air conditioning and snippy staff at the airport hotel but it’s an airport hotel and they deal with a lot of cranky people I suppose. We weren’t looking for anything at that point so only an observation.
Again Thanks so much for all your work and input. I will give your name to anyone traveling to Europe!
MarieI just wanted to let you know about our trip with your company. The most outstanding thing was we never had to worry about one thing the entire trip. Everyone, from the tour guides to the van transfers were on time and helpful. The drivers were professional and courteous. The tour guides were knowledgeable and personable. They answered any questions we had and were interactive. The one we had in Pompeii we didn’t like as much. Even though she was knowledgeable, she wasn’t as personable. (It was in the high 90s that day so that might have had something to do with it.) The itinerary you provided was detailed and we carried it around with us to plan out the next day. We would have liked for it to be noted that a voucher was needed for certain things, such as the tours in Rome and the name of the tour company.
The hotel Romanic in Rome wasn’t our favorite but it was close to all the sights and food which was great. The rooms had a mildew smell and the curtains in the bathroom had mildew on them. We loved Hotel Cristina in Sorrento the best. It was beautiful and the views were breathtaking. The staff was overly accommodating and friendly. I wish that we could have planned maybe a walking food tour or a cooking class, which I didn’t even think of, as there was a heatwave going on and that would have given us some respite from the heat. The boat trip to Capri was one of our highlights.
Overall it was a trip of a lifetime and we enjoyed ourselves. We even were able to visit family and made many memories.
Thank you for organizing it all so well!
Karen & NazzWe had the most amazing trip. It couldn’t have gone any smoother. All of the rides and greeters where always on time. I even met a second cousin in St. Eufemia with a long ride through the mountains to a town of only 100 people!! Our driver stayed with us and enjoyed a nice lunch. He was kind and patient. He helped us connect through the town hall and interpreted for us as best he could. The bike ride through the vineyard and the cooking class in Florence were also highlights! Loved all the hotels everything was perfect.
I will surely refer your name to anyone booking a trip.
Thank you for your work. It was a wonderful experience for all of us. Hotels were lovely car services were on time and efficient. We had only one snag, our Farm to Table was at 10 our pick up was at 9, however, it was not listed separately. It all worked out. I would recommend that particular experience the host was knowledgeable and personable. The children enjoyed it as much as we did.
MaryThank you so very much! My family and I had a wonderful time in Italy the tour was amazing!! Each hotel was absolutely perfect and beautiful. Your attention to detail was great all our transfers went smoothly and with no problems. I want to commend you and Donna Franca for the vacation of a life time. Five stars all around from all of us. I will definitely be using your services again and will recommend Donna Franca to all my friends. Thank you again.
StefaniaWe had a great trip! Milan was a lot of fun and that tour was quick and hit all the hot spots so it was perfect! Hotel was modern and they upgraded us to a bigger room with the best bathroom ever! The hotel in SML was p e r f e c t…just what you would expect on the coast. Staff was awesome too!! Genoa tour very interesting; driver for that day very accommodating! Missed the 5 terre tour as garrett was not feeling well but did it by ourselves the next day so it worked out great. Monaco hotel was nice, great location. The tour guide for the day in Monaco was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry that I can’t remember his name but he was spot on: intelligent, knowledgeable, good driver, great conversationalist. Really knew his stuff! Flights were great: on time. All in all, it was another great trip!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t thank you enough for making it seamless!
Have a great summer and am saving for the next trip!
Beth & GarrettI spent a little time with Val yesterday who described the services on her trip as perfect.
She mentioned that each driver was timely, polite, and accommodating. The driver in Slovenia went beyond the requirements adding some local sights as they still had time available. He fed them pizza and drinks with the Cave entrance fee funds.
The driver to Lamborghini waited an extra hour as their son also wanted to see the factory on a 50 minute tour.
Each hotel was beautiful and she bragged about the full buffet breakfasts served.
The cooking school proprietor arranged for them to have an evening lesson, then even created a cooking station for the husband as he tagged along to watch. So the lesson ended up being for 5 people with dinner.
Thank you both for the attention to detail you provide, and the vetting of your suppliers. We scored big on this one.
With sincere appreciation - AnnaThe services on our trip were perfect.
Each driver was timely, polite, and accommodating. The driver in Slovenia went beyond the requirements adding some local sights as they still had time available. He fed us pizza and drinks with the Cave entrance fee funds.
The driver to Lamborghini waited an extra hour as our son also wanted to see the factory on a 50 minute tour.
Each hotel was beautiful and the full buffet breakfasts served was delicious.
The cooking school's proprietor arranged for us to have an evening lesson, then even created a cooking station for my husband as he tagged along to watch.
So the lesson ended up being for 5 people with dinner!
Valerie, Carissa, Kyle and DawnSafely home and back at work. I just wanted to thank you for the planning and coordination of our trip. It was great. Both hotels were beautiful and the service could not have been better. It was a great time and we would not hesitate to use your services again. The weather wasn't good but we made the best of it.
BillWe've been back for a week but we're still on Italy Cloud 9!!! Can't say enough wonderful things about our fantastic trip that you arranged for us. Every hotel, tour, driver exceeded our expectations! Can't wait to return to this gorgeous country of our parents and grandparents.
As you are aware, we were rained out of our Amalfi Boat Tour, but a day at rest was well-spent walking through the lovely streets of Sorrento.
Thanks so much for a dream-come-to vacation.
Sandy & OttavioWe had an amazing trip to Rome. Every tour was fantastic.
Gia was our guide for the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. She was my boys favorite tour guide of the week. She was extremely knowledgeable and presented information in a fun and entertaining manner. Gia is an art historian and we enjoyed her presentation of Michaelangelo and Raphael's works of art very much.
Our tour guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum was fantastic. His knowledge of ancient Roman life was very impressive.
My absolute favorite guide was Giuseppe for our private tour of Pompeii. He was a very sweet, high energy, gentleman who knew absolutely everything about Pompeii. He highlighted all of the amazing engineering and innovations by the ancient people of Pomepii, such as their advanced water system and reflectors on the streets to direct chariot traffic at night!
Luigi, our driver to Sorrento, was so nice and we really enjoyed our conversation with him. Everything and everyone was fantastic!
Thank you!
ELENAJust wanted to say Thank you for the opportunity to go on the
recent FAM to Sicily. It could not of been better. Sicily was gorgeous (now my FAV),
hotels, tours, food, and wine all fantastic. Also want to tell you that my Gluten Free
Food was out of this world delicious. I felt so pampered! You can be reassured
that if you have Gluten Free Clients going to any one of the hotels we stayed in they
will be very impressed with the food, and service.
My husband & I just returned from the most fabulous trip to Italy.
The hotels, tours, hands on pasta making, not to mention the vineyards, wine tasting and meals exceeded all of our expectations. We were part of a group on a very comfortable, deluxe minibus. We had enough time to explore the towns, churches & received excellent guided tours.
We chose to extend our stay and every part was expertly coordinated by Juliana from Donna Franca Tours. We had private drivers and guides assisting us in visiting Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast & Naples (even visited my husband’s ancestral home) and found the resting place of his paternal grandparents. The hotels were luxurious & the meals were excellent.
Donna Franca Tours delivered a 5+ star rating from us - a fabulous experience.
Mary & GuyWe just wanted to thank you so much for arranging a fantastic trip for us. We loved the hotels you selected! We especially enjoyed the one in Florence which was beautiful. We enjoyed all of the tours-our drivers and guides were wonderful. The restaurant you selected for us in Rome was great. This was a memorable celebration trip for us! Grazie Mille!!
Debbie and VinMy wife and I, with a group of our friends returned this past Monday from a two week vacation to Sicily and the Amalfi Coast.
We had been planning the trip for over a year and the planning at times became completely overwhelming.
One of the people on the trip remembered that a friend of hers had used Donna Franca a few years ago to book what seemed to be the exact trip that we had been planning.
We worked with you; oftentimes changing and adjusting the plans as requested.
To put it simply, the staff at Donna Franca did an amazing job in the planning of our trip. It truly was the trip of a lifetime.
Every aspect of the trip was taken care of with expert detail. Hotels, transfers, excursions, tour guides, etc. were all top rate.
We must make special mention of Vincenzo and his son Marco who served to transport us during our stay in Sicily. By the end of the tour, they were like our family.
Again, I cannot recommend the company more highly. You did an outstanding job of creating a truly magnificent vacation experience.
We will definitely recommend your company.
GeneThank you for putting together a terrific itinerary for our Sicily trip! The arrangements were perfect! We fell in love with Sicily--the sights, the people, the pasta, the wine!!!
Our driver and guide, Vincenzo from Casablanca, was the best! He was punctual, knowledgeable, friendly, and so enjoyable! He really took care of us and made us feel very special! The local guides were all terrific, as well.
The hotels were comfortable and centrally located so that we were able to get around easily. We had many opportunities to interact with the local Sicilians who were extremely friendly and accommodating. The pre-arranged wine tastings were so much fun. Each one had its own unique charms and the local wines were outstanding!
Once again you put together an amazing itinerary for us! This Sicily trip represents the fifth Italy trip we've booked with Donna Franca! All of our friends who have come on these various trips with us have also enjoyed them! We look forward to arranging future travels with Donna Franca.
Mille grazie!
Rita and JoeA slice of heaven. Just magnificent. The absolute perfect place to celebrate our 35th anniversary
Grazie Mille!!
MarilynJust wanted to send a short note thanking you for your effort in putting together our trip. Everything was so synced that it made it almost effortless for us traveling through the different places.
The tour guides and the drivers were awesome, especially Donatella in Cinque Terre, and our driver
Michael in Tuscany.
We all had such a great time, didn't want it to be left unsaid. Thanks again.
Susan & KevinJust got back from our trip to London, Paris, and Amsterdam - we had a wonderful time and appreciate all of your efforts. It was a great trip! We will continue to use Donna Franca in the future! Again thanks for all your efforts - you did a real nice job!
Mike & KarenI can't tell you enough what a fabulous trip we had. We were in awe everyday! And, don't know how you did it, but each day seemed to top the day before (as if that was even possible).
The attention to detail scheduling drivers, guides & flights was flawless! I can not say enough about each and every driver and guide - they were all wonderful. But as in everything - there is always one who stands out far above the rest. Rosanna Falcone, our driver (and sometimes guide) from Palermo through to Taormina, was exceptional! She was able to show us an unforgettable trip to Alia and surroundings and arrange a private lunch at a wonderful restaurant, where we were again treated like family. And, at the end of one day, we all stopped in to her friend's home for coffee (by invitation). That truly was a once in a lifetime experience for all of us - to actually go into to a resident's home! By the time we reached Taormina, we were all crying as we said good bye to her! She really did become family.
The hotels! Like I said, each one was even better than the one before... and, on a scale of 1 - 10, our first hotel was already a 10!
All the people we spoke with in the hotels and restaurants who asked about our trip - we gave them your name!
KarenWe loved Como. We enjoyed everything you had planned for us. It was like following a recipe :). Get up, do this, stir in a little lunch, walk around some more, eat again, etc. had the best gnocchi ever for dinner at Baia restaurant right near the hotel.
The private boat tour was excellent. Phillipo was our driver. He showed us so much and was so knowledgeable.
The hotel was great, just like you said. The people there were so helpful.
We went to Milan yesterday and went inside the Duomo.
I’m sure Amalfi will be beautiful too. I’m looking forward to it.
Thanks for planning such a great trip.
Rosemary and PeterHI LEO
HOPE YOU HAD AN AMAZING SUMMER! I JUST GOT BACK FROM MY ITALY TRIP IT WAS TRULY AMAZING IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!
MARIAIt is like a dream that we were on a most wonderful vacation.
It was amazing…
Grazie mille!
EMILIA & GAETANOHi Donna Franca,
My apologies but I don't think we ever told you how amazing our trip was and how much we appreciated your help and recommendations. The hotel in Moltrasio was perfect! The pool was beautiful, the food was fantastic and we did receive lovely care package you arranged for. Thank you again so much for your help. It was an amazing vacation!
EDThank you, thank you, thank you … for your diligence and detail and follow-through. Our 12 day excursion to Italy was nothing short of magical!
The driver service was excellent, on time, where they said they would be and extremely courteous. It was such a nice feeling to not to have to figure out how to get from point A to point B during important legs of the trip (especially to and from the airport)
The personal guided tours in Rapallo and Cinque Terra we’re exceptional. Both were fun to be with and provided a great tour of the points of interest to the area. As they learned our interests, they each tailored the tour accordingly. It really was informative, fun and set us up to do exploration on our own. They each gave us a little alone time for lunch and covered all their own transportation along the way. Both were so eager to help make us feel comfortable and offered to help us make other connections and arrangements during our stay.
Each component of the tour was well organized in our packet by Donna Franca, all in chronological order.
The hotels were each lovely and provided us a comfortable and inviting experience – all were expecting us and it was nice to have everything pre-paid, so as not to have to cross-check to be sure we got the agreed-upon rate.
Hotel locations were PERFECT – close to the beach and main promenade in Rapallo and Monterosso – and in Milan, it was in the center of town, steps away from some incredible sites and shopping to be enjoyed on foot.
Since our goal was to have an amazing, relaxing experience, we were hopeful that the pre-planning would let us soak up all that Italy had to offer, without worrying about where to go or how to get there – our hopes were fulfilled ten-fold! Please extend our thanks and compliments to Donna Franca (we met a lovely couple from New Jersey who travel throughout Europe every summer – they were impressed with our travel arrangements and asked for Donna Franca’s contact information, which I happily provided).
Overall – a fabulous success and you have our hearty endorsement. I will most certainly be sending other clients to you as the opportunity presents itself.
LARRYHoneymoon was absolutely awesome. Krissi had an excellent time, as well. The Amalfi coast had to be our favorite, but the excursions were truly memorable and unforgettable. Thank you for all your assistance and planning. It is a trip we will always remember.
Best.
Andrew
Prior to us leaving our son Justin, a Boston firefighter was killed in a motorcycle crash on July 4th. (It was all over the news for over a week). with heavy hearts we decided to keep our trip as planned and we headed to Italy.
While climbing Mt Vesuvius with our tour guide Ernesto, I became so hot and a little dizzy and started crying. Well once I start crying it's very difficult to stop, no matter the original reason. As we went back down the mountain I pulled out Justin's mass card to help explain my tears. Ernesto stopped right there and said a prayer and provided much needed comfort. He asked if he could do anything for us and I told him I wanted to go pray somewhere special. He took us to a beautiful Basilica right near Pompeii. A wedding was going on but he took us in and we said a much healing prayer.
On our way home after our long day (beautiful tour) he took us to his family's church where we said another prayer for our son. It was quite touching and meant a lot to us. I wanted to share this story with you because it is a great example of the top quality tour guides you have sent our way.
On Mt Etna we threw some roses into one of the craters and caught the attention of a journalist who happened to be there. It was quite touching.
Next summer Dolomites!!! Maybe rent a villa this time?
Sue Ann & MarkI just returned home from the most perfect vacation I have ever taken in my life. 3 countries, 5 cities, 3 flights, 2 trains 5 hotels, airport transfers, many tours. Everything went perfectly. The hotels were beautiful and welcoming, located in the perfect parts of the cities. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and provided access to areas that other tours
could not go. The transfers from airport / train station to the hotel was a welcome sight after getting off the plane, and without exception, our drivers were wonderful and provided excellent insights into the city where we were staying. I can not thank Donna Franca Tours enough. They set up everything for a very reasonable price, and it was setup perfectly.One can tell that the hotel, tours, and transports all have a great relationship with Donna Franca Tours and work hard to make everything great for the traveler. I will recommend Donna Franca Tours to all, and Anna Paulino at Proven Choice Travel here in the U.S. for all travel needs.
Brad
We wanted to let you know how happy we were with our trip!
Everyone, the meet and greeters, drivers, tour guides etc. were terrific!
The hotels were beautiful and the staff friendly and helpful!
As it turns out Marty's cousin works for one of the meet and greets in Rome
and Donna Franca is one of the tour groups he deals with!
Thank you for arranging the trip! We will definitely recommend you!
Have a wonderful summer!
We made it back and had a great trip! Many memories were made! We were pleased overall with the whole package you put together for us. The hotels were great and I would happily stay and/or recommend any of them. Except as noted above the tours and excursions were really great, especially the Amalfi drive tour. All the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The station pickup services were also ideal. Especially Luigi who picked us up in Naples and took us to Sorrento. He gave us some insight into Italian life!
Rachel, Scott, Savannah and Preston
I heard from the Cahill's. They had a wonderful time and thanked us repeatedly. they really,really enjoyed the cooking class, Sorrentino Winery and Pompeii.
F.S. Travel AgentHarvey and Carla have arrived in Naples and are thrilled with their hotel and transfer driver. Harvey said the driver had to wait 45 minutes on them as Delta didn't get any of their luggage to NAP. He said the driver was very kind, professional, dressed in suit and driving a new Mercedes.
The hotel has been kind also, providing them toiletries to make it until their luggage arrived a few hours ago (thank goodness). They also sent a bottle of wine to celebrate their anniversary. They said the location is perfect, love their room with hot tub on balcony and beautiful views and king bed. So far, they're thrilled with Donna Franca Tours. Thanks so much for all your hard work.
Denise, Travel Agent
Thank you for your guidance/assistance with our vacation. We had a great time in Italy. Florence and Venice were especially amazing. And, as we reflected on the vacation this week, we were surprised how much of Italy’s geography and history we experienced during our time there.
Rick & SusanI returned from Italy on November 15 and have been busy with Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations since then. So, this email to you is very delayed!
Thank you for arranging the trip. Hotel Veneto was in an excellent location. Of course, Florence was wonderful. Cold, but wonderful!
Thank you again.
Merry Christmas!
Mary and I would like to express our most sincere thanks to you and Donna Franca Tours for a wonderful culinary vacation in Florence Italy. It was so much more than we expected. The apartment at Via dei Bench 7 was great, it was convenient to everything we were going to do. The walking tour of Florence, the hands cooking classes, the Olive Oil tasting, the tour of the Mercado the tour of the Uffizi Gallery, the Mercato Centrale in Piazza San Lorenzo,and the fantastic dinners at Ristorante Cimatori.
The tasting tours to Parma,to visit the factory where the made Parmigiano Reggiano, to Langhirano to the factory were they made the Prosciutto di Parma and to Modena to taste Balsamic Vinegar were all so interesting and very delicious. The Castello di Brolio, the oldest winery in Italy, was very interesting and beautiful. The view was incredible, you could see much of the countryside of Chianti. Siena also very beautiful and seeing where the famous Palio horse races are in the Piazza del Campo, amazing .All of the tour guide,chefs, and the drivers were all wonderful The Giglio Cooking School was a real classy operation and we learned many new recipes and techniques.
Everything went like clock work, from the first day meeting the gentleman at the apartment, meeting the tour guides, the drivers and all the flights were all on time or in the case of the flight home we arrived in Boston thirty minuets early.
We thank you so much for putting together such a memorable trip.
Sincerely,
Marge & Mary
Dear Leo,
Once again you created an absolutely fabulous vacation in Italy for us. The balcony on our hotel room truly gave us views of the water and was a wonderful end of the day place to put up our feet and have some wine & cheese. Lucia- our walking tour guide the first day, Andrea-the vineyard guide were both charming and informative! This is truly a different part of the country that we loved. Terrific scenic hikes, fabulous restaurants (Miky, and the Cantina Miky), trains, ferries and best of all 70 degrees and sunny every day!
Thank you again so much!
We had an unbelievable experience!! The trip was perfect and everything went off without a hitch. The pick ups and rides were always on time and very courteous. Most spoke English well enough to get by. I do speak the language at a moderate level which helped at times, but English was always spoken at the hotels/transfers.
The hotels in Venice and Lucca were just spectacular. We would highly recommend the Lucca establishment to anyone looking to get off the beaten path and out of the busy city
Kristen and I setup on our on a hands on cooking class. It was called Cook with us in Rome, Gianni and Cesare were just phenomenal. I highly recommend these guys for anyone looking for an authentic cooking experience.
We can't thank you enough for all your assistance in planning this wonderful trip. The complementary wine was a great touch, thank you again!
We hope to plan another trip some time in the near future and we will definitely be in touch!
Thanks again,
Chrissy and I just returned from our honeymoon and we had a great time. All aspects of the trip were fantastic and we were very impressed with Donna Franca as a whole. You did a fantastic job Leo, and we had an amazing experience and lasting memories.. thank you!
Dean & ChristinaJust want you to know how well our trip to Italy went.. We really enjoyed staying at the Hotel Barocco--it's a wonderful hotel with a great staff. Positano was beautiful and the hotel Buca di Bacco is also a gem. Staff there was also very accommodating. Hotel Cavour in Florence was nice but noisy (outdoor city noise) and was the least generous with amenities. Our tours went well--our captain on the boat to Capri--Giovanni--was excellent and the driver who picked us up in Florence (Iago) was also very helpful and informative. Our guide, Pasquale, at Pompeii, was also very good. Gaetano, our guide to the Sorrentino winery, was also very nice--limited in English but very nice. Simon, our guide to Amalfi and Ravello, was limited in his English and information about the area (our least favorite). The trains, as usual, ran on time and were very comfortable. We were all very happy with our trip to Italy and appreciated how well everything was laid out. Thanks for all your work. Looking forward to making out next trip, thinking of Milan, Lake Como and perhaps Switzerland. Will let you know. Take Care.
Francine & JohnCindy and I arrived late Tuesday night after a long 24 hour day of travel! We are starting to catch up on the time lag.
Again, we cannot tell you how much we appreciate the great job that you did in helping us explore your beautiful country. You were not just a driver or a guide but a newfound friend that we are so happy to have met. I also appreciate the help you provided to me with my "broken" Italian! We look forward to keeping in touch with you and I have a feeling that we might just find our way back to Sicily.
Thanks,
Steve and Cindy
Dear Leo,
We just wanted to let you know about our recent trip to Italy. We had an amazing trip, the drivers were great.. We enjoyed the amazing architecture, food, wine & people. We had a wonderful driver & guide who took us to Catanzaro & then to a winery.
Your company is very well respected among your drivers , hotel staff & tour guides. It truly was an amazing trip!
Thank you again,
Brian & Karen
Our trip was perfect....thanks to you and Leo!
Weather excellent....loved all the hotels, especially Hotel Corallo in Sorrento and Hotel Palazzo Giovanelli in Venice. Really enjoyed Hotel Eremo Gaudio..the.view is amazing! Would definitely go back to Varenna...great restaurant there: Il Cavatappi....small ....reasonable...probably one of our best meals. Also ate at the La Buca di Ripetta in Rome, excellent. Thanks to both of you!
Lillian & Alex
Just wanted to let you know that Laura and I had a great time on our vacation in Italy. Thanks for helping us out with it.
I gave your name to a friend of mine who is interested in doing a trip to Italy next year, and I gave him your contact information.
Thanks again.
Ralph & Laura
We are pleased to report our satisfaction with Donna Franca Tours regarding our 50th wedding anniversary tour of Sicilia with our daughters & granddaughter.
Although Joe had mapped out our itinerary, chosen restaurants, and booked the hotels but one, it came together with the finalization of the itinerary and vouchers for the various entrances to the wine tastings in Marsala, the guide for Agrigento, the Greek Theater in Taormina, the Kalura hotel in Cefalu, etc. Having the vouchers & admission tickets beforehand saved us the time and discomfort of having to wait in lines, as well as knowing that eating at the desired restaurants was in place. Very important was the securing of a competent driver and guide.
His knowledge of Sicilian history and input about places we visited added to our trip. He always respected our wishes and never balked at stopping to take one more picture! His geographical ability of Sicily enabled him to suggest many spots that were good photo shoots and places not to miss. It was a pleasure to eat at his family's restaurant in Terrasini. We let his wife choose and prepare typical regional food that made us feel a great part of the culture. How delicious it was, the balmy night perfect as we ate al fresco overlooking il Mare Tirreno.
We have suggested the use of your service to Joe's sister who is visiting Sicily in October in a group of 10 people. And we will not hesitate to use your company again.
Thank you for your assistance in making our trip happy and successful and what we had hoped it to be.
Regards,
Joe, Rosary, Maria Rose, Juliana & Francesca
Hello Leo
Tom and I want to thank you for the great job you did planning our family trip to Italy.
We had a wonderful time and all the tours and hotels were fabulous.
We have great pictures and memories to last a lifetime.
Grazie Mille
Joanne LespasioWe knew Sicily would be great as we have been there before. But we were hesitant about how Italy would be as we would be traveling a lot. Donna Franca tours made it easy!!! From the minute we landed in Rome and the driver already there waiting for us with sign in hand. The Hotels were everything we wanted and more! The transfers were always on time and ready!! Traveling by train was a easy and comfortable. Even when our train was 2 hours late arriving back to Rome, the driver waited for us to get back. That's awesome!!! Again we cannot thank you enough and I will not hesitate to recommend you to anyone!!! A Plus!!!
Jack & JoanneHi Leo,I want to thank you for providing us with an amazing vacation. Everything went so smooth. I could have never made this journey without the organization you provided. I highly recommend Donna Franca Tours.We thank you so very much,
Maria, Steve and Jason
Tom and I want to thank you for the great job you did planning our family trip to Italy.
We had a wonderful time and all the tours and hotels were fabulous. We saw so many beautiful cathedrals and works of art, gorgeous scenery, ate wonderful food and met such friendly people. Sorrento took our breath away and my grandchildren loved it there. We have great pictures and memories to last a lifetime.
Grazie Mille!
JoanneOur family trip was amazing. Everyone had such a great time! Thank you so much for all your help in planning the land portion in Rome. The Romanico Palace Hotel was gorgeous, the service was exceptional, and our rooms were unbelievable! I was put in the Imperial Roman Suite which had a fascinating private terrace with a wonderful view of Rome and a semicircular mini pool, which I could not get the grand kids or Ron out of! The decor in the room, the elegant furniture, and the marble bathroom and floors were way more than I expected. It was truly breath-taking! Thank you so much for suggesting this hotel and getting us the rooms. My children's rooms were just as beautiful and very spacious. The restaurant at the hotel was lovely, the food delicious, and the service exceptional. The Vatican Tour was great and everyone enjoyed the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Our tour guide and van driver were very accommodating. All the transfers to the port and airport went smoothly and I thank you for organizing that. Your suggestion to visit Orvieto was a good one. The drive through the countryside was beautiful and so very different from the City of Rome. Orvieto was beautiful and the Duomo Church was amazing! We had a delicious lunch at the square before returning to our hotel by the airport, which was a good choice since we had an early flight the next day and the hotel had free shuttle service to the airport. Marilyn, I can't thank you enough for all your help in making this trip a truly memorable one for me and my family. Can't wait to see what I decide to do for my 75th with the family! Thanks again and hope to talk to you soon.
Laura
We wanted to let you know how happy we were with our trip!
Everyone, the meet and greeters, drivers, tour guides etc. were terrific!
The hotels were beautiful and the staff friendly and helpful!
Thank you for arranging the trip! We will definitely recommend you!
Have a wonderful summer!
We loved Rome! Just like Florence, private tour is the way to go. Tour guide was awesome! Way too much to see & hear for one day. We will definitely have to come back.
Lori
Hopefully life will offer another gift and blessing to travel like this again. All my best and gratitude to you and everyone that represents you from Sicily.
Dear Donna Franca Tours,I wanted to let you know our Italy trip was magnifico! It was a trip of a lifetime and we thoroughly enjoyed every single aspect! Thank you so much for all your patience and help putting it together, we couldn't have asked for a better vacation!
Joe
Chris
Terri, Amy and I recently chatted about our recent trip to Italy and I want to thank you for the great work you and your folks performed. From the moment we landed until the moment we left all the arrangements were perfectly in order and successfully fulfilled. In particular the hotels you selected were all fantastic and charming. Top shelf for sure. ( I got a kick out of the tuxedo service for breakfast in Lake Como.)
All tour arrangements were comfortable, historically informative and fun. The locations of the hotels was perfect as we were able to explore on our own on occasion.
We talked about our favorite spots but one chosen visit was quickly topped by the next choice. From the Vatican to Florence to Venice to Lake Como ...we had a great time.
Thanks again,
Speak with you again.
Paul, Terry & AmySteve,
The trip was better than excellent. All of the arrangements for transfers and tour guides could not have been better. Everything happened as it was supposed to. Our private tour guides were knowledgeable and just great to be with. The tours were phenomenal. Our hotels were all great. I just wish the Home Hotel in Florence was a little larger room. There was very little space to put our things but it was still a very nice hotel. It would have been helpful if it was a little closer to the Duomo. We did eat lunch at that little café across the Arno that you recommended. It was a lot of fun and we were the only tourists in the restaurant. We walked everywhere and saw everything. Everything you planned for us exceeded expectations. It was the best trip I have ever taken!
Best regards,
Jim and AbbeHi Leo,
We had an absolutely awesome time! the 3 hotels were perfect: service, amenities, breakfast, linens, beds, staff all spoke English and were very helpful! The Rome hotel was a great location: we walked to the Spanish Steps, down to shopping, to Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, and Pantheon, then cabbed to Colosseum and Palatine Hill, all in one day! The concierge made a reservation for us at a great little place with traditional food (Americans, be ready to order and be prepared for the crappy table but just suck it up and mangia!) Radda was a great town and location and we ate at Botte da Bocce: pricey but worth every penny!!! Great service, nice wines duh and outstanding food. Ricardo’s Wine Bar in Radda was also lovely: had lunch there twice and the owner is adorable and really nice Chiantis( of course) and a very nice lunch too for reasonable $!
Florence was a gem: nice and clean and all walking everywhere. Hotel there was perfect location! Minutes to everywhere! The best part was having transportation throughout, whether it be to and from air/train or Michele in Radda WAS FANTASTIC! Such a wealth of info and a great driver and great English and so polite, just perfect! We could not have done ALL that we did without him! And having guides at most of the places was also great as we were pretty clueless! Also, the vineyard visit, the olive oil farm and at he cooking lesson: spot on!!! Really helps you understand things on a whole different level!! Best piece of advice: restaurant reservations in advance and get to big museums when they first open! And get to Rome airport way way in advance.
Thank you for setting up the trip of a lifetime and really, please convey to the owner of the driving company how great Michael was!!!!!!
Thanks and will call you again and also included my interested friends on this email!
Beth & SueDear Leo,
Fran and I want to thank you so very much for the beautiful trip that you recently planned for us. Last year you planned a trip of a lifetime to Rome, Florence and Venice as we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. It was our hope this year to recreate that magical experience once again, but in Southern Italy where we both have roots. We went to Acri and did some ancestry research of Fran's family. We found documentation of his great grandfather that dated back to 1843. We were so amazed at seeing the town of Acri and came back with such appreciation for our ancestors and the sacrifices that they made to come to America. On a lighter note, we made sure we tasted the Tartufo's in Pizzo.
Again, the boutique hotel of the Piccolo Grande was perfect. It is our hope to have you plan another trip next year for us. You make traveling to Italy so easy, especially since you take care of every little detail and your recommendations are wonderful. In this trip, we met so many wonderful people.
Thank you, again.
Frances and FranI am back in CT, always good to be home but must say it was tough leaving Italy. We had a great trip, the accommodations and tours were excellent!
Many thanks,
EllenDear Leo - back from a very successful trip to Sardinia and Rome. Tours were very interesting and I want especially to recommend the restaurants where we had our group dinners/lunch - really excellent.
Thanks!
MaravanJust returned the trip was good …guides, transfers, drivers & schedule were great …glad we didn’t add that last piece as relaxing in Taormina was the best.
Good job putting the trip together.
Rick & LindaThree of us traveled to Sicily this September on the Donna Franca Sicilian Fever Tour. We give it an extremely high rating! Every part of this tour has been thoughtfully designed by the company and a local trip coordinator. Vincenzo was the very best driver ever!! and the local tour guides were knowledgeable, personable, and fun! Having the flexibility of a small group tour enabled us to get that last photo, shop an extra minute, linger over lunch, savor the gelati--in other words, make it OUR vacation, completely stress free. The sights and activities and balance of free time were well-chosen. (If we did it again, we'd probably skip the Palermo catacombs.) The wine tastings and "light lunches" were delicious feasts; the hotels were clean and comfortable, and Taormina was the best!
We realy did enjoy our vacation, and I want to thank you.
Faye, Lexington, MADear Miriam and Leo,
Dick and I want to thank you so much for the wonderful trip to Sicily you created for us. Having our very own driver made this exceptional adventure even more of a pleasure. The first driver we had (Marcos) was with us for five days. He was an excellent driver and a delight to be with. His love of playing classical music on the piano was such a joy. All of our guides were excellent. Their attempt to speak fluent English was very helpful during all of the wonderful and amazing sights they took us to. The drivers over there leave a lot to be desired. They are amazing and I thought the traffic in China was bad. I am so glad I will never have to drive in any place but the U.S.
Our hotels were amazing, and Villa Diodoro Hotel in Taormina is molto bello, to say the least!!!!
Miriam, I want to thank you so much for checking with us on Saturday to make certain we had a car for the trip to the military base. My son, fortunately, was able to come to the hotel to get us, even with his many duties that day. We were even able to have dinner with him two evenings in a row AND see him at the airport just before we were to depart for the U.S. What a beautiful celebration the Change of Command was. With all that had to happen that day, my son, took the time to get a lovely flower arrangement and present it to me at his ceremony. Needless to say, tears were shed and some of the young fellows in my son's command had a lump in their throats.
The wine tastings were wonderful and the foods - oh my, the foods. We loved all three but especially liked the ones in Noto and Tenuta Le Chiuse del Signore.
You both made this trip so special for us. Again, thank you so much for the wonderfully organized tour of an amazing place!
Sincerely,
Richard and CarolynI just spoke to the Goldman’ s who came back from Italy and you did a wonderful job. They really loved it and had a wonderful experience.
I want to say thank you so much for all your hard expertise work and time.
SheilaWe had a wonderful time in Tuscany. Cetona is charming and relaxing. The tastings you arranged have been excellent - thank you. We have been exploring many little villages along the way. It's so beautiful here! Thank you Donna, it was an amazing, unforgettable trip!
Best,
Carrie and PeterHi Steven,
Hope you are doing well! My husband and I would like to thank you so much for planning such a wonderful trip for us! Everything you planned out was so perfect and we were at such ease throughout the trip. We can't thank you enough for all your help during the process and working with changing our itinerary many times to suit our needs. You are truly a great agent and Donna Franca Tours is very lucky to have you on their team! We will definitely refer you to our friends and families when they plan their trip to Italy. Thank you once again for making our first European trip very memorable.
Sincerely,
Manish and ShreyaMy clients recently returned from their vacation in Italy which was planned by Donna Franca Tours. I just want to let you know they had a wonderful time and enjoyed everything. All of their arrangements went smoothly and they especially complimented the individual tour guides they had. All of their accommodations were very good as well. I hope to use the services of Donna Franca Tours again in the near future.
Thank you,
BethMaria,
Thank you so much for all your help in planning our Italian vacation. It was wonderful! All the tours were great. Thank you so much for rescheduling that Florence tour. It was so worth it. All the tours went off without a hitch, and they were all so enjoyable. The hotel was also great, the staff was friendly, and it was a great location. Also the airline part of our travel went very smoothly.. Thank you again and we will definitely recommend you to other vacationers. Hopefully we will use you again in the near future!
SIncerely,
Carolyn & RichardWe are back from our trip and it was outstanding. Thanks for all you did to make it such a success! I would characterize all the drivers as efficient – they got the job done with minimal interaction with us. Our private guide at Pompeii was outstanding – good English, even better content (would you believe she is a former archaeologist).
Thanks again for everything – great vacation!
Tom, Sandy, Trey and AshleyHi Leo,
I met for lunch yesterday with my customer Bill (the one who took his granddaughters to Italy and Greece). They had a fantastic trip. They LOVED all their hotels in Italy and Greece Definitely loved all the private transfers, said it was worth whatever he paid extra for the services. Every driver in every city was on time and very knowledgeable and friendly. Their trip was extremely successful.
Thank you for all you did to make this happen for them.
DeniseWe had an absolutely amazing time! The hotels you selected for us were beautiful and in a great location. All the transportation/transfers went smoothly. Thank you so much for planning such an amazing trip for us!
Best,
Liz and GriffLeo
You hit it out of the park again for my clients! They loved their trip!
Thank you.
MaryI would like to let you know about one of your agents who assisted us in Venice at the Palazzo Giovanelli.
We had requested a deluxe triple with a canal view. When we arrived last Saturday, we were squeezed into a double room with view of a wall. I asked at the desk for another room and the woman said there was nothing available and that perhaps we could change rooms the next day... No guarantee.I called your office and spoke to Leo. He was extremely helpful and called me shortly after to tell me a room had been secured. In fact, it was a lovely suite right on the canal.
Best wishes,
Joel, Barbara & MadelineDear Leo
My clients Joseph and Giacomina had a wonderful time on their honeymoon to Spain and Italy. I couldn't have done it without your expertise. Thank you for a job well done! For all my future bookings to Italy I will be calling on you for your help.
Sincerely,
BobDear Leo,
Back safe and sound from the wonderful trip that you planned for us and I just had to write and thank you!
We knew traveling to 5 cities for overnights throughout Italy and ending up in France and Monaco and visiting other towns was very ambitious to say the least! Somehow you made it happen and the plan was flawless! The actual travel plan as far as the flights and trains was perfect and we moved with ease without rushing or waiting at any time!
The hotel selections were great with special recognition of the Hotel Miramalfi! The location with waking distance to town , the courteous and helpful staff, the breakfast (including homemade lemon yogurt to die for), the view from the room, and last but not least the swimming pool! Simply fabulous!
It was the perfect beginning to our trip. I also want to say a very special recognition to our driver who picked us up in Naples. He was waiting for us inside the airport with a sign and we found him right away. He spoke very little English but was the best driver we had. It was a rainy day and as we were exiting the airport it looked like a traffic problem so he took us through the mountain through Ravello and ultimately to our hotel! He allowed us to see the most spectacular views, take pictures, and showed us the sites in Ravello! He was so warm and took such pride in showing us this beautiful part of the country. He was terrific!
In Bari our local guide Giuseppe was very knowledgeable extremely patient and laid back allowing us to ask questions and see all that was important to us! Even the shopping!
The Hotel Polignano A Mare was a great stop with great views. Our tour of Ostuni, Alberabello, and Turi was my favorite part of the trip. I think I mentioned this is where my Grandfather was from so it had special meaning to us. The people were so warm and kind it was just great.
The side trip to Maranello for the Ferrari museums and lunch was great fun! The food was fantastic at the Montana Restaurant.
The train trip heading north was filled with beautiful scenery, we really got to see a lot. The location of the hotel in Venice was perfect and in walking distance to everything. Our tour guide Monica was so pleasant knowledgeable and very interesting. In addition to the great tour we asked her for help with a restaurant and gondola ride. Both were excellent choices! She was even kind enough to take us to her bank where we could exchange money! She went above and beyond!
We ended up not going on a tour of Bocconi University where my nephew will be attending in the fall. The hotel was in a great location how did you know I was such a shopper!!!!
Off to Nice again a beautiful train ride with beautiful views! The hotel was again in a great location we were in walking distance to Garibaldi Square shops and restaurants. The hotel staff was very kind and got us dinner reservations at a great restaurant Les Garçons! Our driver to and from the race was excellent! Her name was Avia. As we drove she gave us great information and on the way back she took us to great spots for photos, a drive by of Elton John s home and also where Princess Grace was killed! She was terrific and accommodating as we asked to be picked up sooner than the reserved time. Just outstanding!
Then in a blink of an eye we were home but have great memories of a beautiful customized trip that you planned!
On behalf of the Turi s and myself thank you so much! The well planned trip made it a vacation of a lifetime! Please feel free to use this information!
Again until the next trip! Ciao!!!
Bernard and MaryroseDear Leo,
We wanted to send you some feedback on our trip to Italy. It was fantastic and wonderful. We loved it and will have memories for a lifetime. The voucher system you use is an excellent system because it was a paper trail on the different connections we had to make. We loved the papal audience and thank you for getting us the passes. Overall, it was a very good trip and we will consider Donna Franca again for another Italy trip down the road.
Thank you!
Paul and CeciliaOur clients arrived in Rome and were met promptly by their transfer. When they checked into Hotel Quirinale, they were very impressed with the hotel and thought it was beautiful and located in a desired location. In comparison to other rooms, they said that in their room the bathroom alone was bigger than many other rooms they had stayed in!
Two wonderful touring days with Michaela to Ancient Rome and the Colosseum one day with a private tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel the next. This afternoon they are headed to the Trevi Fountain to make a wish to return to Rome.
Thank you, Donna Franca tours.
Happy clients!Dear Leo,
London was great! The people were very friendly and helpful. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the food! Our hotel was near a tube station so it made it easy to get around. Breakfast was fine, hope to see you soon!
LoriThank you so much for all of your help planning the Studley family trip to Italy. The trip was so wonderful and really full of once-in-a-lifetime moments. We SO appreciated your efforts to make our trip run seamlessly. All the people that transported us from place to place made us feel welcomed, settled, and safe.
Dana & FamilyHi Leo,
Everything is beautiful in Sorrento! We have met beautiful people, seen magnificant sights, and savored the best of culinary experiences! The location of the hotel is great! You have never disappointed us with your recommendations. Thank you Again!
Jane & BobI just came back from a fabulous Italian vacation. The Sicilian Fever tour was extraordinary.
The tour guides were very knowledgeable and courteous. However, the one who made the experience memorable and special was the driver.
Angela
Luisa & MariaI just came back from my 10 day trip and had such a wonderful experience. Our group of 5 was greeted by our driver upon arrival and since that moment it was the beginning of an amazing journey.The driver was such a pleasant, kind and funny man which made our experience much better. He clearly was the icing on the cake.
All the local tour guides provided where very well informed and the different sites we saw where absolutely breath taking.I will clearly do this tour again and recommend it to all my family and friends !
Thank you,
Dear Caroline,
I wanted to thank you so much for all your splendid help in connection with our trip earlier this Fall to Switzerland and Italy. Especially, I wanted to mention how much we enjoyed our guide, Gabriella, for the day trip to Lake Como. I mentioned at the beginning of the day how much my wife enjoyed gardens, and she obviously put a real focus on the splendid gardens at two of the villas we visited around the lake.
The connections were flawless, the staff very personable, and the accommodations were superb. I've already passed your contact information on to some friends who are considering a trip to Italy.
Thanks again. Regards,
JimRon & SusanDear Leo,
Just a note to express our delight with our memorable trip to Tuscany. Thanks for making the week so special with every detail of our tour outstanding. We love staying in the lovely hotel in Cetona. Being in such a unique town with the population leading their everyday lives around us, as we were the only tourist, was delightful. Our guide, Giovanna, went out of her way with her knowledge, good humor and obvious love of her country to make sure each of us realized our dream of a very special journey.
A million thanks for a vacation of a lifetime. Its already been a week since our return, and we are still on cloud nine. This vacation was a 40 wedding anniversary present to ourselves.
Every detail of this vacation was seen to by your staff and made to be comfortable and stress free. It was absolutely perfect in every manner. Our drivers, our tour guides, the tours themselves, trains, and flights were amazing. We worried about nothing, for it was all taken care of. A special thanks to Michele, Kathia, and Anna, our guides. They were the essence of professionalism and knowledge in their subject matter. My husband and I cannot wait to book another tour with you. Thank you again for the beautiful memories.
Francis & FrancesThanks for everything you did for us. Doreen and I had a time of our lives.
From the time we boarded Alitalia, and return to Logan,I'd have to say
everything exceed our expectations. Thanks for all the suggestions and tips.
All the transfers,the train tickets, the private guides....... Flawless.
Our only regret is ... just not long enough. We could use another 3 or 4 days....we'll know better next time.
Thanks again
It was a pleasure working with you.
Silvia & ChaimI just want to tell you that we had a wonderful trip. Thanks for all your help. The hotels were very nice and the rooms very clean. Hotel Spadari is in a better location than Petit Palais but we enjoyed both. Grand Imperiale was great. We met Silvestro and he sends his regards. Porto Rocca the location is magnificent.All in all it was a fantastic trip.
All the arrangements were perfect. Exactly what we were looking for.
PaulI wanted to thank you for making these clients HAPPY!!! They stayed at the Locanda Cetona in addition to a few nights in Rome and one night Venice in Mid September.
They adored Cetona and couldn’t get over the hotel…I saw a brief video they took of the room…they loved the view, the bells…everything J , all the cooking classes and everything else…so I’d say we batted a 95 %...
Many thanks…and look forward to more bookings.
We're enjoying ourselves immensely. All going smoothly so far.
Staff was especially attentive. The tours have been fun.
Train travel was smooth.
Vicki & Bill
Dear Donna Franca & Staff,
Thank you for organizing such a wonderful vacation for my family.
Everything was perfect, guides and transfers were all on time. It is
wonderful to have someone take care of all of the details!
Ruth and John F.Ciao Leo,We just wanted to thank you for all of your help in arranging such a fantastic trip. The change at the end of the trip back to Firenze that Paolo helped arrange also worked out perfectly. Overall, we had an amazing time and look forward to going back again soon. We’ll be sure to let you know when we want to head back! Have a great rest of the summer.
Sincerely,
Rick and Leigh
Donna and Leo,
Many thanks for coordinating a fantastic trip. The entire itinerary went perfect. The hotels all worked out well including the locations. The tours and all the sightseeing was wonderful. You even planned perfect weather...no rain. It was very difficult leaving Amalfi this morning.
We look forward to many more returns to Italy and using your services again.
Thank you,
Tony, Gerilynn and Alexandra
Thank you again for all your help! Our trip was unforgettable, wonderful and beautiful!
SandraIt was, in a word, perfection. We loved every minute of every day. We felt SO lucky to have been in your capable hands with planning. Every hotel, tour, meal, transport, timing, and recommendation were spot on. Each location was unique and special. The possible stress of travel was completely removed. We just had to show up at the right place at the right time, and something magical would happen!
Kurt & AnnWe had an amazing time. Thank you for all your help. Leo went above and beyond securing intercity flights and rail connections, negotiating through all the red tape and confusing bureaucracy, continuing to follow through months after our trip. I don't know how we would have managed without him.
Adriana & PatrickGood afternoon Leo!!
Wow!! is all I can say as far as the service you provided us on our fabulous trip to Italy!!
There are no words to express the gratitude we have for how smooth every second of this trip went.We did not have one worry the whole time.
Donna Franca is a very well respected name out there that is for sure!!
From the transportation to the hotels to the tours, there was nothing I would change, except I would definitely spend more time in Sorrento!!
Our driver in Naples, Mario Calabrese, quickly became our paisano!! He even sent me home with a music CD he made. We have already emailed eachother. They go out of their way to make sure everyone is happy at all times!!
Piazza Barberini soon became my "spot" at nightime!! I belong there!!
Hotel Cellai was the best with their awesome rooftop terrace.
There are no words for Hotel Corallo in Sorrento....Magnifico!! Gennaro became our personal bartender! He knew my Bellini on the first day!!
If you ever get specials arise for next year, please keep me in mind!!! We ventured into the streets and found great little restaurants. WE hit a public pool in Florence on a Sunday and hung with the locals. The Chianti wine excursion at Il Pilagio...I cannot get enough of their olive oil!! I could go on and on but won't bore you!! Just be sure, we are THE MOST SATISFIED CUSTOMER!!
DeniseI want to thank Donna Franca Tours for organizing an amazing experience. We loved Italy! Each destination had a uniqueness of its own. We enjoyed the people, the countryside, the history, the food and oh yes- the gelato. We will for certain be goin back!
Pat & LoriDonna & Jake DannWe would like to thank the team at Donna Franca Tours for the consideration and personal attention they gave to our 28 day tour of southern Italy. Every accommodation was charming, historic, centrally located and family-owned. To the very end, we were amazed by our accommodations and the helpfulness of the staffs. Our transportation connections were guided by the Donna Franca team's experience and knowledge of southern Italy. Given the complexity of our trip, we never ceased to be amazed at how well our needs managed to be taken care of in advance. This was a wonderful trip which we shall treasure for a long time to come. We highly recommend Donna Franca Tours.
All our hotels as they were all different which made it fun-- from the castle to the Lake Como balcony overlooking the lake to our pretty Florence hotel with river views during breakfast and in the bar area.
We loved both cooking classes and will certainly be able to prepare what we learned for family and friends. What fun it was to start our trip in a earl chef's kitchen and be treated so wonderfully by the chef and staff. And we loved spending a morning with "Mamma" and her son and daughter in their beautiful kitchen of their restaurant. Such wonderful memories and delicious meals.
We loved our tours in all cities, we loved our van drivers, and our over the top pre-planned meals.
I think our favorite sot was Lake Como as most in our group haven't been there before but will definitely return with our husbands. The day of our lake cruise/tour was glorious as the weather was perfect. We didn't expect to visit such a wonderful villa and gardens. Our guide was wonderful, full of love of her area and the ladies even had time to shop. You know my ladies love to shop!
Nancy and Mitch
Leo, I am happy to report that we were treated like royalty at the vineyard!! Luca was wonderful and the location was magical, as you said. Excellent food; loved the wine.
MarilynThe itinerary was varied, we went from 5 star hotels to wine tasting and dinner at an
Hi Leo,
Yes you can use the testimonial Oh I might add and i mean this with complete sincerity. You made that trip for us a trip we will never forget and easily the best trip we have ever been on and we are world travelers. First class all the way. Hotels A+ Itinerary A+ Services A+ Guides A+ Flights A+.
We cant wait to go back and when we do it would only be through Donna Franca and you!!!!
Thanks again so much!!
RickWe loved the Hotel Berchielli. The rooms were nicely appointed, breakfast and breakfast rooms were presented lovely and the location was great.
Our guide in Florence was excellent. She went over her 3 hour time limited and didn’t seem to care. Since all in our group had been to Florence previously, she adjusted her normal tour to include sights on the other side of the Amo which the ladies thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks for all Donna Franca Tours did to allow us to have the best trip to Tuscany and Florence possible.
Denise - Madison, MSI have hundreds of e mails to get to after 10 days away from the office but expressing my appreciation to you and the tour company is a top priority. Carrie and I had a great time. The drivers you picked were excellent. Pino and Maria Rosa were so knowledgeable and considerate. The special trip to the mosaic home in the middle of Sicily was astounding. We took a side trip to Sciacca where my grandfather came from. This was very special.
We had a private car as you arranged to take us from Taormina to Marsala and we connected with my sister and cousin and took them to our relatives where we stayed for three days. The hotel in Agrigento had excellent food and service and the room looked right at the temples. The Metropole Hotel in Taormina was probably the best hotel i had ever stayed at.
After the tour of the Florio winery in Marsala we wondered what the connection was between the grandson playboy Florio and his wonderful wife Dona Franca and the name of your company?
My wife thanked me numerous times for arranging such a well orchestrated package. I took some credit for it but it truly belongs to you.
George & CarrieLeo,
Many thanks for EVERYTHING – it’s PERFECT!!!!
Patty l was very excited you were able to secure a bridge play location for her and Patrick.
Warm regards,
StephanieHi Leo,
Just wanted to send a quick note from my clients Mr. and Mrs. Ariagno. They just came back from the 2 weeks in Italy that you set up for them. They absolutely loved it all. The drivers were exceptional as well as the hotels. Especially loved the hotel in Zermatt.
There again Thank you for your help!!
DianeLeo,
Amanda and Joey got back from Italy yesterday. They said the trip was amazing.
Thanks for your excellent advice and for making all the arrangements. Buona salute!
MarioHi Leo,
Just a quick message to thank you for planning our wonderful trip. It was truly a trip of a lifetime. Everything went very smoothly and we all had an amazing time. I am happy to give you more specific feedback on the hotels and tours if you are interested, but I wanted to highlight our tour guide in Rome (Michaela), as well as the staff and restaurant at Ultimo Mulino in Chianti, as being excellent.
But those are just a few highlights in a spectacular trip.
RachelWhat a wonderful time we are having. Our Amalfi segment was spectacular. The hotel was terrific, great location, views were unbelievable, room was great, balcony perfect. We had just the right amount of time.
We were busy every minute and Bruce did super with the driving. On the way to Positano on Saturday night we stopped for dinner on our way to hotel at 11:15 pm, you would have been proud. Sunday we explored every inch of Positano, Monday we took a private boat to Island of Capri, went to blue grotto, then explored island for 4 hours, then boat back to Positano. We never climbed so many steps and roads! Tuesday we drove to towns of Amalfi and Ravello. Drive was magnificent, the drivers terrifying! Today, Wednesday we went to Sorrento for 4 hours and then to Pompeii. We had the GPS which was correct for most (not all) of the trip. We had to go around in a circle 4 times before we could get to hotel because of one way streets. It was like a bad Chevy Chase movie, but we finally got here by going down a 1 way street the wrong way!!! Arrived in beautiful Naples at 6 pm and hotel has great location and is lovely. We overlook the Naples harbor, had dinner in outdoor cafe. Will return car in am and then to Milan by train.
I love our itinerary and the accommodations have been superb! Thank Leo for us.
Lilly and BruceOur bags arrived and our driver was waiting outside with a sign for Donna Franca Tours. We loaded up our bags and off to St. Peter's we went. Our timing wasn't perfect, Pope Francis was marrying 25(?) couples during a special mass so entry was not allowed. We watched the mass from St. Peter's Square on one of the many large screens - it was awesome! Our driver waited for us then brought us to our hotel. We arrived before check-in time, but the hotel staff was very accommodating and stored our luggage while we walked up the street to grab some lunch. By the way, the hotel was perfect:) Although many people complained about the rooms, elevator, and breakfast (Trip Advisor), we found it very delightful and the breakfast was fantastic. Happy-hour was from 6-10 every night and it was the best kept secret in Rome - half priced drinks, FULL glasses of wine, and complimentary bar food that was restaurant quality. Luca the bartender was the best.
Our Rome guide (Michela) contacted me Sunday evening and apologized that she would be unable to guide us through Rome. She had a personal matter to attend to, but we were in good hands with Dominica. She was right because he did an outstanding job highlighting all the sights. He was very passionate and ensured we had a great time - all of our tours went off on schedule and satisfied all our expectations. Donna Franca Tours set the bar high and met our expectations. To sum this up - the three days we spent in Rome were the best three days ever!
Dan & Coleen, Fred & Elma, David & CarrieDionne Guerra, is one of the best guides I've ever had in my many times in Italy. This opinion was shared by all in the group: knowledgable, enthusiastic, and pleasant. She wears her learning well. Excellent, excellent farewell dinner. All all all appreciated it very muchIn any case, I look forward to the itinerary for next year.
Again, I am most thankful for the labor and detail that went into this tour. A winner with everyone.
JimI just spoke with the D B party. They had a wonderful trip! They raved about their driver, Giuseppe. – and can’t wait to book another Donna Franca Tour.
Thank you for your help!
Alana