For our honeymoon, my husband and I really wanted to visit Italy, so we did some research on the…read moreplaces we wanted to visit and explore. We narrowed it down to Rome and Tuscany, and then began pricing the different hotels, tours, rental cars, etc. By happenstance I heard a radio ad for Che Bella Tours and realized that they offered exactly what we were looking for in Italy -without any of the hassle! Che Bella's inclusive tours provide accommodations in a very nice Rome hotel, a gorgeous villa in Tuscany and a combination of meals at great restaurants throughout. We could not have been more pleased with our experience.
Sandy Gregory our tour operator was really helpful, responsive and enthusiastic from the very beginning. She gave us good advice about choosing flights, and sent us a packing guide, too. In Italy, Sandy proved to be just as knowledgeable about the history, art and customs as the professional guides who led us on our private tours of the Vatican and the famous cathedrals and duomas in Tuscany.
Each day, as we headed towards another beautiful medieval town, Sandy would give us a break-down of the day ahead, and give us options for exploring, shopping and dining with a scale of being totally on our own or having her along as a guide and/or lunch dinner companion. It was great to be able to wander around by ourselves, trying our Italian out and discovering the magic of each place on our own, and also to have Sandy meet up with us at certain times to check in and give us more insights or advice about places to see.
The guides that Sandy arranged for our private tours were art history experts and they really opened up the experience of each place for us. It can be a bit overwhelming to be surrounded by so much Renaissance art, so a knowledgeable guide is really important. Plus, we were whisked to the front of the very long lines to see the Vatican museum in Rome and The David in Florence!
The hotels where we stayed were wonderful, especially the villa in San Gimignano. I still dream about it! The surrounding vineyards and olive tree groves, the beautiful pool, the wonderful breakfasts and elegant dining. I fell in love with that place. Che Bella Tours gives you a couple of days to be on your own and do nothing if you want, and we spent a very enjoyable afternoon lounging beside the hotel pool, drinking Rose' and taking in the spectacularly beautiful views.
One of the highlights of our trip was the cooking class in Certaldo that Sandy arranged for us. We learned to make fresh pasta, osso bucco and a dessert, and we had so much fun in the process then enjoyed a delicious meal at the end that we had prepared ourselves! As soon as I returned home I ordered a pasta maker as we are forever spoiled by the amazing pasta that was our daily staple in Italy.
If you have an opportunity to take a Che Bella Tour - do it! The experience offered is so rich. It is not just a tour, but a true appreciation and immersion in the culture and art and lifestyle of the country you are visiting.