Travel Review: Luxury Private Italy Tour...expectations exeeded!
Traveler Feedback
What are your overall comments on the trip and travel company?
Beth Rubin at Select Italy was professional and very helpful -- she really knows her stuff, and accommodated our requests and preferences exceptionally well. We would do this again!
What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?
Everything was even better than we expected -- from the hotels to the tours and tour guides to the suggested restaurants. We had a wonderful trip to Rome and the Amalfi Coast and have already recommended Zicasso and Select Italy to friends.
If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?
Stay longer! And I think now that we've been to Naples, we will take that off our list of places to visit -- but we will return to Italy. The food and wine, the history, the culture, the people, the beautiful countryside -- what's not to love?!
Photos
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 05/28/2009 Thursday
PM Depart USA
Day 2 ROME 05/29/2009 Friday
10:00 AM Arrival in Rome. Private transfer to hotel for check-in.
Lunch Independent lunch at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
PM Free afternoon with suggested itinerary
Dinner Independent dinner at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
08:30 PM Enchanting Opera Arias (at St. Paul Within the Walls)
The past comes alive in Rome with this series of concerts performed in 18th century
Venetian costumes. Very popular with international travelers, the concerts feature the
famous Orchestra I Musici Veneziani. The Orchestra consists of accomplished musicians
graduated in the Venetian conservatories and professional singers from all over the
world. Arias from some of the most memorable operas are represented in the program -
AIDA, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO and CARMEN to name
just a few. Concerts take place at the very convenient location of Chiesa di S. Paolo
Entro Le Mura (St. Paul Within the Walls).
Hotel Raphael (****)
Double Deluxe
Private Transfer
Event Tickets
Day 3 ROME 05/30/2009 Saturday
AM Free morning with suggested itinerary
Lunch Independent lunch at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
PM Free afternoon with suggested itinerary
Dinner Independent dinner at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
Hotel Raphael (****)
Double Deluxe
Day 4 ROME 05/31/2009 Sunday
AM Free morning with suggested itinerary
Lunch Independent lunch at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
PM Free afternoon with suggested itinerary
Dinner Independent dinner at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
Hotel Raphael (****)
Double Deluxe
Day 5 ROME 06/01/2009 Monday
AM Free morning with suggested itinerary
Lunch Independent lunch at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
PM Free afternoon with suggested itinerary
Dinner Independent dinner at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
Hotel Raphael (****)
Double Deluxe
Day 6 POSITANO 06/02/2009 Tuesday
AM Check out of hotel. Take local taxi to rail station for reserved train to Naples.
10:44 AM 1st Class, Rome to Naples
Lunch Independent
12:05 PM Arrival in Naples and private transfer to Positano hotel for check-in.
Dinner Independent dinner at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
Covo dei Saraceni (*****)
Junior Suite
Train Tickets
Private Transfer
Day 7 POSITANO 06/03/2009 Wednesday
09:00 AM Capri - Island of Romance
The sun-kissed island of Capri, lying in the midst of the Tyrrhenian Sea, has been
enchanting visitors for centuries. Our boat excursion takes you to the heart of this
stunning Mediterranean island and its grand, rocky coastline. The excursion departs from
Positano, heading out along the peninsula and then to Capri. Upon reaching the island's
port, you will be dropped off for a few hours of exploration. Your captain will provide you
with maps of the island, as well as information about the "must-see" stops to visit. Upon
your return to the boat, it is time for a tour of the island by water. You will visit several of
the grottoes and stunning rock formations that dot the coastline, including the famed
"Blue Grotto", the former pleasure pool of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. You will have
time for a swim in one of the island's many inlets before heading back by boat to the
Positano port. Please note that the interior of the Blue Grotto can only be visited if
weather and crowds permit, and that entrance costs €9.00 per person (not included in
the tour cost).
Lunch Independent during tour
PM Continuation of tour and late afternoon return to Positano.
07:00 PM Private transfer to Ravello for dinner and concert.
Dinner Independent dinner at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
09:30 PM Alessandro Marano performs on piano
Between May 23 to June 25, 2009, and between September 11 to November 7, 2009,
performances at Villa Rufolo will be conducted outside, weather permitting. Otherwise
performances may take place in the Auditorium of Villa Rufolo. Concerts from June 30 to
September 8, 2009 are part of a Chamber Music Festival that takes place at the St.
Rosa Convent in the charming town of Conca dei Marini, about 12 kilometers southwest
of Ravello. Ravello, one of the gems of the Amalfi Coast, is a perfect combination of
natural beauties, artistic monuments and cultural memories. It is well-known that Wagner
found in Villa Rufolo both the inspiration for the scenery of PARSIFAL's second act, and
the ideas to improve the whole musical structure of his last symphonies. Verdi stayed at
the Villa Rufolo as well. Many great musicians and conductors, like Bruno Walter, Arturo
Toscanini, Enrico Caruso, and Leonard Bernstein, stayed and worked here. This musical
vacation continues today thanks to the commitment of the Ravello Concert Society.
Beautiful concerts are organized throughout the season, most of which are open-air
performances with the magnificent coastline as a backdrop, although some
performances are inside the Villa itself. It is an incomparable combination quite difficult to
beat!
11:00 PM Following concert, private transfer back to Positano hotel.
Day 8 POSITANO 06/04/2009 Thursday
08:30 AM Amalfi Coast & Pompeii - Private Chauffeured Road Trip
This tour offers you a chance to experience the best of Campania, from archaeological
excavations to fresh air and seaside vistas. Starting from and returning to anywhere
along the Amalfi Coast, this tour is a full day of exploration. You can choose to take your
private guided tour of Pompeii in the morning or in the afternoon. Either way you’ll drive
along the scenic Amalfi Coast and visit many of the charming towns which dot this lovely
area. There is flexibility in your time, so that you can pick the stops as you go, or rely on
your driver for suggestions - possible stops along the way are Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi
and Ravello. You'll have some free time for lunch (cost of meal not included). At the time
you choose, you will stop at Pompeii, one of the most important archaeological
excavations in all of Italy. You can begin your exploration of the mystery of Pompeii and
the life of people under the Roman Empire on a three to three and a half hour walking
tour of these amazing archaeological excavations. On August 23rd, 79 AD, Pompeii
looked like any other bustling, prosperous ancient city. Just three days later, on August
26th, thanks to the fiery lava and ash of Mt. Vesuvius, the city fell silent and the place
itself had literally vanished from the face of the earth. Gradually grass and vines covered
the land where the towns had stood and the local people eventually forgot even their
names. For more than 1600 years, it remained buried until Pompeii was rediscovered in
1748. You'll gain unforgettable insight into daily life in Roman times. At the end of your
Amalfi Coast excursion your driver will return you to the Amalfi Coast location of your
designation.
Lunch Independent during tour
PM Continuation of driving tour and late afternoon return to Positano.
Dinner Independent dinner at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
Covo dei Saraceni (*****)
Junior Suite
Private Excursion
Day 9 NAPLES 06/05/2009 Friday
11:00 AM Check out of hotel. Private transfer to Naples hotel for check-in and meet up with
friends.
Lunch Independent lunch at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
PM Free afternoon with suggested itinerary
Dinner Independent dinner at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
Grand Hotel Vesuvio (*****)
Junior Suite
Private Transfer
Day 10 ROME 06/06/2009 Saturday
AM Free morning with suggested itinerary
Lunch Independent lunch at a recommended restaurant or trattoria
04:00 PM Check out of hotel. Private transfer to the rail station for reserved train to Rome.
04:44 PM 1st Class, Naples to Rome
06:05 PM Arrival in Rome. Private transfer out to airport hotel for check-in.
Dinner Independent at hotel restaurant
Hilton Rome Airport (****)
Standard Double
Private Transfer
Train Tickets
Private Transfer
Day 11 TRAVEL DAY 06/07/2009 Sunday
AM Check out of hotel. Walk across parking lot to the airport for check-in and flight back to
USA
