Kenya Safari Guide

Zicasso’s travel specialist and her team of guides and drivers provided us with a wonderful experience and tour of Portugal. Of the three companies that I received tour proposals from, this tour operator provided the itinerary that best matched what we wanted to see and do. The pre-trip information provided was comprehensive, thorough, and very useful.

Once we began our tour, it exceeded our expectations. Each day and our activities were distinct and very enjoyable in different ways. The very thoughtful and enthusiastic support of our team made the difference; made our trip special.

The guides and drivers all clearly cared about our enjoyment, safety, and happiness with our touring–they each went above and beyond the call of duty. We enjoyed our conversations, they answered our many questions, and they were very knowledgeable, and accurate (I did fact-check some of the information). Their advice and recommendations for dining were excellent; we enjoyed many delicious, classic Portuguese dishes. By the end of our time with them, we felt more like friends than clients.

I have already highly recommended them to friends who are considering a visit to Portugal next year. We have traveled extensively, to over 55 countries, and enjoyed many great experiences. This trip was among the best of our trips.

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Working with Zicasso’s tour operator and the travel specialist was outstanding. The travel specialist not only listened to what we needed, but delivered. Thanks for everything.

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It was easy and fun to plan our trip to Berlin with Zicasso’s tour company. Our guide was a subject-matter expert on Berlin's history and the current events of today. He could easily change and adapt our itinerary as the need arose.

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Zicasso’s tour company provided our group with an outstanding itinerary that allowed us to experience all of Sicily. The hotels were top-notch, the tours were all-encompassing, and the guides were a wealth of information. Their personalities suited our group well. In addition, the drivers not only provided us with safe and comfortable rides, but also added to the history and made us feel like old friends.

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Overall, this may be too much, but we were happy to have written it down as it allowed us to relive the experience. This was a wonderful trip and we absolutely recommend Zicasso and our travel agent. We are already thinking about our next adventure in Italy. Here are the details...

Planning: Zicasso’s travel agent did a wonderful job of helping us plan a trip, making adjustments and ensuring the adventure turned out perfectly. We interviewed several approaches to planning the trip and our choice with Zicasso’s tour company was the right one for us. The trip app was great and kept everything right at our fingertips. We will definitely reach out to this travel agent when we return to Italy.

Food: How is it that when we stopped on the highway to Florence for a coffee, the food was as good as any high-end restaurant in the United States—organic, fresh, and tasty. One of our crew is gluten sensitive in the United States… in Italy, it’s not the gluten, it’s the chemicals used in the United States. We ate bread at every meal and had no problems. We learned that more simple fare is better fare and just amazing. No need for exotic tasting of cheese, bread, wine, pasta, salad, olive oil, vinegar, with fresh vegetables in the sauce, is all one ever needs… until the gelato at least twice a day.

Logistics: The logistics were great and absolutely essential for first-time travelers. There were guides and drivers to meet us at every stop. They seemed to know what we looked like and were just so very helpful.

Guides: Great choices across the board! Their knowledge and love of their various cities was detailed and charming. It was clear that each city fancies itself as the origin of culture and much more. We loved the perspectives and personalities of the people, and of our guides in Rome, Florence, the Tuscan farm, Venice, the Venice water tour, and Pompeii.

Drivers: Our three drivers, especially the one who got stuck with us on the way to Florence due to an auto accident. He really had an extended day and we really appreciated his patience. We got to know him a little and he was delightful.

Travel by train: It was so easy, fast, and comfortable. We loved the time together and the scenery. The added benefit of the lounge made a big difference from the busyness of the train station. We loved this, all at 300 km/h!

Hotels: The hotels were exactly as described—centrally located, convenient, and very comfortable.

Rome: The best beds and staff!

Florence: The best location—convenient to shops/cafés and breakfast.

Venice: Great location, with window views of the canals; it was very nice, but a bit dated in decor in the lobby. We would still stay there next trip!

Planning and sites visited: Overall, each of the cities and sites were outstanding. They gave us a great insight into Italy as a country, as well as its culture and people. Everyone we engaged with (including hotel staff, restaurants, and locals) was friendly, helpful, and engaging. The pervasiveness of English speakers was incredible. Our single-language approach is something we need to work on in the United States! We always felt safe and well taken care of. The added benefit of this support was that it allowed all of us to focus on the city and countrysides, not the driving. It may cost a bit more, but we felt it was totally worth it.

Roma: Here is the only mistake we made in planning our trip. Doing the Vatican and ruins/Colosseum in the same day is too much. This was clearly our decision and our travel agent suggested that it was “a lot.” Having said that, the pre-purchase and guide is clearly the way to go in whatever city you visit. The three sites are incredible.

Pompeii: We thought this would be neat to see, but not as amazing as the other sites…we were wrong. Pompeii is an incredible site and the pace of the tour was just about right for us. This is a place where you can walk the streets where people have walked since long before Christ. The opulence of their living (steam baths, frescos, statues, and mosaics) is incredible.

Tuscan countryside: The organic farm and cheese-making visit, including a quick trip to Pienza, was an absolute highlight. The lunch was fantastic and inspired us to eat organic! We also loved that to get to the farm you had to travel on gravel roads (well maintained, by the way) and got to see working farms.

Pienza is a beautiful, small village where we could spend an entire day exploring. Next visit, we will carve out a day to shop there and spend the night. There was so much to do in a limited time!!!

Florence: It's just beautiful. The work by Michelangelo just defies explanation and leaves you breathless. The churches are a monument to the wealth and dedication of generations of craftsmen engaged in centuries of work. The cooking class was wonderful and fun, and there was so much food. Making your own tiramisu, pasta, chicken dishes, and sauces was just wonderful.

Venice: We skipped the gondola ride because the tour of the Grand Canal was just incredible. Some of us were a bit spooked by the narrow “streets” or, better yet, passageways. However, we all loved the tour and exploring. One of our crew took off later in the day after the tour and tried to get lost… successfully. But with a bit of iPhone maps and the kindness of the people, they found cafés, open-air markets, an antique shop, children playing football, and a delightful adventure.

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This was our first adventure into Africa. Zicasso's travel agent and the team put together the perfect itinerary. It provided an excellent overview of various African cultures and, of course, exposure to all the wildlife and scenery that Africa offers. This included gorilla trekking in Rwanda and 10 days on safari at three different bush camps. Prior to heading home, we relaxed in the island paradise of Seychelles.

Our travel agent handled all the details, including reservations, transportation, and communications. In addition to a printed itinerary, she provided a phone application that allowed us to access our itinerary at any time. The application included emergency contacts, airline e-tickets, and detailed information pertaining to each location we stayed.

In addition, our travel agent set us up with our local hosts to meet us at each destination, handle baggage, and provide necessary transportation. This made our adventures relaxing and completely stress-free. We can't say enough about her expertise and services. Her attention to detail and knowledge of the African continent is beyond compare. We highly recommend her when planning your African adventure.

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