We used See Amalfi Coast for three private tours for a group of four adults.
Naples- Tour Guide: Carmine
We originally met Carmine in Naples. He was prompt, his vehicle was clean, and he was friendly. While the company had suggestions of places for us to visit, we were also open to suggestions and the tour was customizable which we really liked. Carmine took us to Sorrento and gave us time to walk through the streets and then took us to the Amalfi coast. He kept telling us to save our appetite. We also stopped by an olive grove or farm where we tasted samples of different types of oils and had some limoncello. Next, Carmine took us to a farm to table restaurant which overlooked the coastline and it was beautiful. EVERYTHING was fresh and prepared the same day. I was a bit nervous because there is no menu so I didn't know what to expect and I'm a picky eater. The meal started with veggie appetizers (i.e. sautéed spinach, broccoli, chickpeas, eggplant) and then we had pasta (i.e. ravioli, gnocchi, etc) and then dessert. The meal was served family style, with wine and bread. Everything was delicious and fresh. It was totally worth it and it was also affordable. We didn't even know there was a farm nearby because it didn't smell and it was so clean. We were able to stop along the way and take pictures of the beautiful scenery. We also visited Pompeii, which seems to be an all day event but we were so exhausted we only stayed about an hour and a half. We really enjoyed our driver Carmine who was timely, polite, funny, and made excellent suggestions. We trusted him to do a great job and he did just that!
Rome- Tour Guide: Manuel (Manny)
AWESOME. Our guide Manny was punctual, polite, and kind. His vehicle was clean and up to date. Manny also made suggestions for us to save on time which we really appreciated. There was traffic heading into Rome due to construction but Manny was able to navigate around it and took us to the Roman Colosseum. There were so many people and the crowds were overwhelming so we took pictures for a few minutes and continued on our way. Manny pointed out different historical buildings and facts along the way and also took us to tour the Roman Catacombs. We visited Vatican city and enjoyed a nice, simple pizza lunch at a place Manny recommended. It wasn't a tourist trap and it was so good. We also had time to walk in the square and get gelato that he was kind enough to let us finish in his van. I really wanted to see the Trevi Fountain and although it seemed we were pressed for time, Manny took us and I'm so thankful he did. Manny was a good conversationalist and answered any question we had. As it was a long day, we were really exhausted because of all of the walking and activities so we all fell asleep on the ride back to the cruise port. We arrived safely at the port thanks to Manny. One of our favorite tours!
Livorno (Pisa/Florence)- Tour Guide: Giovanni (Gio)
Our final tour with the company. Again, they did not disappoint. We were so pleased with Gio as well! He was on time, polite, and kind as were the other two guides. His vehicle was clean and well kept and really up to date. From the moment we got into the van, Gio began telling us the history of Livorno and the port and this continued throughout the day. We went to the leaning tower of Pisa and then my sister asked Gio if we could go to a vineyard once we arrived in Tuscany. Honestly, I don't even remember what we had scheduled to do on this tour but Gio was able to accommodate her request and took us to the vineyard which we really liked! We were able to purchase wine and continued on our way. I really loved that the guides were able to customize the tour to what we wanted to see, which is why we paid for a private tour. It was worth it. We went to a beautiful spot where we overlooked the city and took pictures. Gio was also able to stop along the way where we took pictures with the Tuscan hills and vineyards in the backyard... so awesome!!!! We had lunch and returned to our cruise ship. This tour was really more sightseeing which we enjoyed because we were tired from the other two days. The added benefit was that although we were mostly in the van, Gio gave so much history and information which provided context to the areas we drove through.
Overall, See Amalfi Coast was probably the best decision we made when booking private tours. They took us to every place we wanted to see and we didn't feel rushed or pressed for time. Though the guides don't really go into the places with you (i.e. the Vatican or Pompeii), the company was willing to set you up with tour guides at those attractions. The drivers were safe and knowledgeable and the vehicles were clean and air-conditioned. The company was reasonable with pricing as well. We loved our visit to Italy and the tours were some of the highlights of our trip. If we ever return to Italy, we will definitely be using them again and I suggest you should to. read more