Author Archives: Larry Norton

Italy Private Tour | Laurie F. – TX

“Carlo,

We’re back from the most marvelous trip to Italy. You really arranged a great trip for us. Everyone was on time at all of our stops and the guides were very knowledgeable. I wanted to especially rave about our guide in Rome. His name is Nando and is a retired professor. His connection was through a woman named Pricilla. This man of 80 years knew so much and shared his knowledge freely with us. We could have spent a week with him. It was like taking a college course in religious art and ancient Roman history. Our favorite was the hotel in Sorrento. The balcony was amazing. We loved the view from our hotel in Cinque Terre as well. The sumptuous Venetian hotel was a wonderful surprise too. We will be telling our friends about your services when they inquire about their own trip to Italy.

Thank you again for a near perfect trip.”

Laurie Fass
Austin, TX
Customized trip to Italy – May 2007

Italy Private Tour | Carol P. – NJ

“Carlo,

Our “second honeymoon” for our 25th anniversary was everything we ever dreamed of and more. The itinerary you assembled for us was just the cross section of Italy’s flavor that we had hoped to experience. My husband couldn’t believe he saw the works of art he had only read about. The guides in Rome were exceptionally good. All our hotels were fabulous especially the villa in Siena. It was a great break from the hustle and bustle of the cities to retreat there. We had a scrumptious meal every night. We also got to see a practice run of the Palio on the morning of July 2nd. In Florence, our walking tour guide was able to coordinate reservations for a table at the Rivoir in the piazza by the Uffizzi….

We cannot thank you enough and will be sure to recommend you to everyone we know. We passed your contact info to all the guides and to many travelers we met.

Grazi!!”

Carol & Bill Power
Beach Hevan Park, NJ
Customized trip to Italy – June 2007

Italy Private Tour | Bruce T. – NJ

“Carlo ,

On behalf of Myself, Barbara, Seth and Rebecca, I must thank you for the wonderful arrangements that you made for us while traveling in Rome and to the Port prior to boarding our ship. All of the drivers Marco, Joe, Mauritzio were the best.

Our guide for the Vatican, Fernando was perhaps one of the best tour guide experiences that I have ever been through.

He came to our hotel the day before to introduce himself and was willing to wait on the line for the Vatican an hour prior to us joining him in spotty rain.

Our half day at the Vatican was so informative and even though we experienced terrible rain in the afternoon “Nando” was willing to lead us and we were willing to follow through ancient Rome.

Fernando is a National Treasure.

Again our thanks and best wishes for continued success in your business.”

Bruce I. Trattler
North Brunswick, NJ
Customized trip to Italy – September 2006

Italy Private Tour | Scott K. – FL

“Hi Carlo,

I’m Scott Kanter’s father and traveling companion.
I want to re-iterate Scott’s comments to you in his e-mail this morning.
I have never been on a guided tour (and I’ve been on many) as wonderful,
great and perfect and this one. I (we) could not have asked for anything to
be changed. Your personnel were just perfect in all respects.
I (we) will most certainly use you and your company again.”

Scott and Jerry Kanter,
Coral Spring, FL
Customized trip to Italy – September 2006

 

Italy Private Tour | Robert B. – CA

“Mr. Carlo Odevaine,

Thank you for helping to arrange for such a wonderful family vacation this last month. The chauffeur, van, local guide and hotel met with our complete satisfaction. When we think about our recent vacation experience, all are in agreement that we would like to do it again. Finally, thank you for attending to the smallest of details, such as desired itinerary, travel times, etcetera, so that there were no unpleasant surprises. We hope to travel with you again!”

Robert Barone,

Irvine, CA
Customized trip to Italy – July 2006

Italy Private Tour | Jon D. – DC

Hello Mr. Odevaine,

“Thanks to your efforts,

I was able to experience the country and culture from my specific requests. The trip was short and I knew the itinerary was somewhat busy, yet we were able to accomplish this comfortably by having half days at our leisure without feeling rushed or spending too much time in a car. The trip went without a glitch and the efficiency, logistics and planning of a custom trip as ours deserves much credit. The accommodations, guides, chauffeur and car were excellent. I will certainly ask for your assistance on our next trip to Italy…”

Jon Grigsby
Washington DC, USA
Customized trip to Italy – April 2006

Italy Private Tour | Kevin R. – NJ

“Carlo, I can’t begin to thank you for the wonderful trip you helped Kevin put together to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. Everything was first rate. The Hotels were magnificent, especially the hotel in Sorrento. They were all wonderfully located close to many of the things we wanted to see, especially in Rome and Florence. The transportation and private guides you arranged were all professional, knowledgeable and very pleasant. They added significantly to the enjoyment of our trip.

The hotel in Rome was only one block from Piazza del Popola and only a few blocks from the Spanish Steps. We were actually able to walk to all of our favorite spots from the hotel: Piazza Novanna, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain to name a few. Meanwhile the hotel was beautiful and the accommodations terrific.

The private guide in Rome, Nando, was the best! He actually grew up around the ruins before they were excavated and played in the area during the unearthing of the ruins. He was 80 years old but extremely knowledgable and hard to keep up with. The next day he took us on a private tour of the Vatican and even though we’d been there three times before, we learned so much and saw things that we’d never been exposed to before. Your choice for our guide here was masterful.

When we moved on to Sorrento, the hotel was wonderful! The view of the bay was awesome as soon as you entered the hotel grounds. Also walking distance to the shopping and tourist areas of Sorrento. But when we got to our room I was totally floored. It was a duplex of sorts with the bed in a loft, but what really amazed me was the view from our balcony. We were about 300-400 feet up overlooking the bay. Truly Magnificent; again, perfect hotel, perfect location.

Our private guide and driver was fantastic. Paolo was extremely helpful getting me to my dialysis session in Pompeii, and spoke very good English.

Our private guide in Pompeii again was very knowledgeable and showed us things we hadn’t seen in two other visits.

The Villa in Sienna was typically Tuscan and the view from our private patio over the Tuscan landscape was beautiful. The Villa was magnificent and the restaurant at the Villa was so good, we ate there every night of our stay.

Our private guide in Sienna was a very proud person who lived there her whole life. She showed us a very personal side of Sienna, especially the twice annual horse race. Again, as a native she was a perfect choice to show us Sienna through her eyes as a proud Siennese.

We spent my Birthday touring the Tuscan Countryside and small villages with another ideal guide, Daniele. He took us off the beaten path during our 10 hour day through many Tuscan villages and a magnificent Abbey.

In Florence the hotel was walking distance from all of the sights we wanted to see, the Duomo, Sante Croce and Piazza del Signoria, as well as being a very beautiful hotel.

Back in Rome for our last night in Italy we stayed right in the Piazza in front of the Pantheon at a beautiful hotel. You couldn’t imagine a nicer hotel or a better location. From the front steps of hotel, you could take perfect pictures of the piazza and the Pantheon.

All in all, this was the Trip of a Lifetime and I truly appreciate all of the work you did to make it as fantastic as it was. You choice of Hotels, Guides, and Drivers were magnificent, Thank you.

I can go on and on about how wonderfully you planned everything. You arranged everything around my dialysis sessions and obviously you kept in mind my health problems and limitations. It could not have been more custom tailored to our wants and needs. You are truly a Master at your Craft.

Thank you,”

Kevin and Carol Ann Ruscio
Bayville, New Jersey
Customized trip to Italy – September 2005

Italy Private Tour | Jane W. – MI

“Caro Carlo,

There are not enough words to express how wonderful the vacation that you arranged for us turned out. It was not a small task to get 24 people together and organized in the first place. With your help, the chauffer and driver we had could not have been any better. The chauffer Salvatore was not only knowledgeable about the history of his island, but exhibited extraordinary people skills so that 24 different personalities had a great vacation. That is something I will never forget. He showed us with pride of his culture what it is to be a Sicilian.

Our accommodations on the bus was great. He ended up bringing the larger coach. It was new and clean and operated beautifully . The drivers name was Giuseppe. He joined us at our dinner table in the evenings. We had so much fun.

As you know, I was very nervous making arrangements with people that we did not know for our family group. Your arrangements have far exceeded our expectations in every way. I cannot find enough words to tell you how happy we are with the arrangements you made.

I am planning to put together a picture of the bus, guide, and driver and email it to you once we get everything organized.

I would highly recommend the Mendola family (guitano as well) as a way for travelers to Sicily to get a real feeling of what it is to be Sicilian.

I will be in touch in the future. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for everything!!!

Fondly,

Jane Wit
Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Customized trip to Italy – August 2005

Italy Private Tour | Monica L. – CA

“Carlo, We had a wonderful trip thanks to your wonderful and careful planning! Thank you. If we go back to Italy we will certainly contact you again for help in planning it! …Thanks for everything.

Our driver, Daniel was terrific. Plus our Rome driver was great too=Monti.
We also liked Simone, our Vatican guide. VERY, VERY knowledgeable and professional. Good choice.

Take care,”

Monica Laflin
Carlsbad, California
Customized trip to Italy – July 2005

Italy Private Tour | Dennis L. – MT

“Dear Carlo,
 
I am writing to thank you for the wonderful job you did in planning and organizing our trip to Italy….You can be assured that I have and will continue to recommend your services to anyone interested in traveling to Italy.Very truly yours,”
 
Dennis and Angela Lind
Missoula, Montana
Customized trip to Italy – April 2005