Anyone out there confirmed for this trip?? Thanks!

We did this tour last year and it was fabulous. Read the TTs to give you an idea of what to expect.

Be prepared to do a lot of walking - you visit lots of hilltop villages. It was either hills or steps but oh what amazing sights you will see. The optionals we were offered were also very enjoyable.

Have a wonderful time.

Happy travelling.

Not sure you received my previous reply from my home account, so, I thought I'd annoy you with one from this one.

Message from my home account: "Thank you so much for responding. I'm getting VERY excited about this trip and am comforted in hearing it was so enjoyable. How was the FOOD?? WINE?? What time of the year did you go?" Thank you!

We started our tour on 7 June and weather was on the whole very good. It rained in Orvieto and Assisi and absolutely teemed down when we did the Cortona optional. We also had some very hot days.

This is a wonderful tour which shows you places you may not know much about but are oh so beautiful. Orvieto has the most amazing cathedral and Perugia is very interesting.

Food was good but if you do the evening dinner optionals - amazing -. We also visited Il Poggio near Florence which is a winery and oil farm. The home made food was delicious beyond words and as for the wine it flowed like it would never end - how we did our walking tour of Florence that afternoon I'll never know!!! We also visited a mozarella farm, again, amazing. I have never tasted such delicious and fragrant tomatoes - sure beats the gas ripened things we get here. All the dinner optionals include wine and there is no limit - just remember you still have to get up early the next day to face the hills and steps!!

This tour truly is a kaleidescope of sights, sounds and tastes. Enjoy.

Happy travelling.

Thank you so much for the quick response. We are so busy preparing for this trip I am ready to drop. Hopefully I'll sleep on the plane but we shall see. We leave 4:15PM and arrive Rome at 8:00AM the next morning. Thank God we have a direct flight on Alitalia!

I am printing your informative messages and will re-read them on the plane to ensure we don't miss anything special. My grandparents were from Italy and my upbringing was FOOD, FOOD, WINE, FOOD.......so, I am really anxious to try the food in Italy amongst the local people. We are very fortunate to be able to do this and I am most grateful.

Hopefully I'll be able to take some good pictures to share with all my friends, family, and new contacts I've met through this site. Several people from this wonderful site have been extremely helpful with words of advice and exquisite pictures. A million thanks!! I'll follow up upon our return.....

I'm hoping you'll read this before you leave. I'm attaching the list of optionals we selected and my comments about them.

As you will see from my comment on the Isle of Capri optional don't do it. It is very easy to organise your own tour once you arrive as the booking office is at the end of the jetty to the left. If it's offered definitely do the Blue Grotto - it's a bit harrowing as you have to change from the motor boat to dingys in the middle of the ocean and lay on the floor of the dingy to get into the cave but well worth it. It's also easy to take the funicular up to Anacapri.

Have a truly wonderful time and please write a TT on your return.

Happy Travelling.

Optionals.doc (29 KB, 14 downloads)

So glad I checked into my e-mail again. THANK YOU so much. I've printed the list and will read it again & again on our flight. Trying to remain cool and relaxed by it won't be long before I explode with excitement. Will definitely let you know about our experience when we return. Again, thanks a million for taking the time to answer all my questions and offer much-appreciated advice. Arriverderci!!!!