When we selected Fantastica Italia to organize our tour of Northern Italy, our chief concern was…read morethat the company is based in the United States, far from where we would be should problems arise. We soon learned that MariaLaura continually monitors her clients' tours to ensure that all proceeds according to plan. A native Italian, she has comprehensive and intimate knowledge of every region of Italy, including areas quite off the beaten track where we intended to go. She has a vivacious personality and a genuine interest in getting to know her clients and understanding their travel styles and preferences. While she was charting out our itinerary, we stayed in touch by phone or email, working out all of the details. The trip she planned for us involved stays in seven cities, starting in Genoa, looping south through Cinque Terre and Florence, turning westward through Bologna and Parma, and finishing in Torino (all cities besides Florence were new to us). She booked all transfers and hotels, working with several local travel companies. The entire tour was indeed fantastic in every way, and went without a hitch. We had contact information for the local companies, and on the few occasions when we needed to be in touch with them (for example, when our boat tour of Cinque Terre had to be postponed because of bad weather), they were absolutely responsive and reliable. All of the drivers were punctual and personable, and even those who professed not to speak English spoke quite a bit and were eager to point out sites and provide interesting background information. Hotels were all first-rate and very well located (always an important criterion for us). MariaLaura booked walking tours in each of the cities we visited, and all of these tours were wonderful and essential to our experience. Otherwise, we were on our own in each of the cities to explore as we saw fit. Since we know Europe quite well and are comfortable with European languages, this worked out very well. (It's less likely that we'd try this approach in other parts of the world.) We took a fabulous day trip from Genoa exploring the western Italian Riviera and Monaco without a guide but only a driver, who took us from place to place and even to some places that he didn't know but that we had read about. On days when we were transferring from one city to another we tried to stop at points of interest along the way. For example, on our way from Bologna to Parma we stopped in Modena to tour the Casa Pavarotti, the Ferrari Museum, and the medieval city center. It's important to note that we could not have done such a tour on our own with a rental car. Parking would have been next to impossible in many of the places we visited. We were able to get out and explore while the driver waited and picked us up at a pre-appointed spot. MariaLaura also booked several excellent specialty tours, including an unforgettable private sunset boat tour of Cinque Terre and a small-group tour outside Parma (just four people) featuring locations where Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto are produced. MariaLaura was very helpful and patient with us as our plans developed. When we found out that tickets were available for a performance of Aida at the Teatro Verdi in Busseto (outside Parma) on a certain date, she reworked the schedule to make sure we would be there. This was not a trivial matter, since the timeframe was narrow and hotel reservations for the hotels we wanted were not readily available. We appreciated the way she willingly took on the challenge and got back to us quickly with a revised schedule that worked out perfectly. She is truly a gem. The cost for this trip, not inexpensive, was nevertheless a very good value. MariaLaura worked with us to tweak the program so as to keep it reasonably on budget. Our tour of Northern Italy was truly a dream vacation. Having been to Italy a number of times, there are still areas that we have not explored. If and when we plan another trip, we hope to do it through Fantastica Italia.

I contacted this company via their on-line contact…read more Months passed with no response, finally 3 months later they contacted me using computer issues as an excuse, (as to why they never responded). My request wasn't difficult, I'm first generation Italian and wouldn't have had a problem booking directly, I contacted them because my husband has some health issues and I felt they'd be able to help/advise with that. When people show you how incompetent they are, believe them.

Dave and his team have helped us plan 2 cruises! One which was last minute to the Mexican Rivera…read moreand another one to Alaska which got postponed due to pandemic. Both cruises were awesome but Dave and his team HELPED us every step of the way. Starting with recommendations and providing us many options. Additionally, since the Alaskan cruise was postponed twice.... The amount of change, information received from cruise, and my million questions ... Dave helped us through it every STEP OF THE WAY!!! Amazing care for his customers and great communication through out it all!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! We will be using again to plan another trip and Dave and his team will be our GO TO team for our vacation plans!! And if you want a trip of a lifetime BOOK A CRUISE TO ALASKA!!

We went on our trip at the beginning of July and I'm now ready to provide an update. We had the…read moretime of our lives and Jim along with Ride the Wave were a big part of making it happen. We had some issues with 2 tours that we booked through Ride the Wave and Jim was fast to respond and assist. One of the tours we ended up having to cancel due to scheduling issues. I reached out to Jim to let him know and he worked on getting the refund process started right away and I received a confirmation email from the tour vendor the same day. We're now just waiting for it to get credited back to our card. The peace of mind of our trip being taken care of by professionals is invaluable. I can't recommend enough going through a travel agency for big trips because you just never know what could happen. Ride the Wave is as good as they come and I'm looking forward to using their services again for our next big trip!

I reached out to Kristina for a trip to Arlington, Virginia/DC. I didn't know where to start. This…read morewas a very important trip where getting all of the details right was important. I can't thank Kristina enough for her attention to this. She has made me feel confident that this trip would have the best possible outcome. I'm thankful having not had to navigate this alone. And of course her availability to responding to all of my questions and requests were beyond my expectations. I will refer to her when traveling in the future.

Absolute extraordinary service! This is my new go to place for myself, friends and family! I was…read moreplanning a funeral and the person that helped was efficient, knowledgeable and most of all, compassionate. Thank you for making a difficult experience just a little bit easier!

The greatest travel advice in phoenix top of the line you just don't find people so dedicated like…read morethis any more :)

From the owner: Whether you are an individual, family or group we provide superb travel services. We specialize in…read morecruise travel and group travel but often serve those looking to book travel of all flavors. We have connections with travel suppliers all over the world and access to a network with prices often unavailable to the public.

Surfin' In The Snow By The Rue…read more 2019 Surf The Rockies has come and gone, 357 more days seems way to long, For next years end of the season trip, Counting down the days to board the ship. Telluride in April is where you should be, Heck go on any trip with John and Lee, Chili? Canada? Mammoth Mountain too, They offer enough trips to make you drool. If skiing or snowboarding isn't your thing, Go on a trip and try the hot spring, Just make sure you book it through Alpine, If you don't, I won't listen to you whine. Anvil Hammer

When I was in high school and college, I took ski bus trips every winter. I jumped back into…read moreskiing/snowboarding about 13 years ago and had that craving to start going on these bus trips again. When I heard about Alpine, I booked my first trip with them last year to Telluride. Alpine has been around since 1969. Their goal is to provide affordable hassle-free trips to some of the best ski destinations in the U.S. They offer trips to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and even a summer trip to Chile. Majority of their packages are three day ski trips that include lodging, your lift pass and transportation. They even have single day trips to Sunrise if you want to stay local. Lee and John are great to work with and do their best to accommodate your needs. They have a great partnership with Telluride and offer a fun popular trip called Alpine Daze where they will bus several people from the Valley to Colorado for a fun weekend that includes a themed party with prizes. It's their biggest trip of the season. I just recently attended their Alpine Daze weekend that celebrated their 50th anniversary and had a blast. If you are a die-hard skier like me, then I highly recommend Alpine Ski Club as your vacation planner. I've never had an issue and they have been great to me every year. Get on their mailing list to receive their yearly brochure of all their trips in the mail.

We used Kerri at Sun Lover Travel for our Valentine's Day destination wedding at the Dreams Playa…read moreMujeres property. With over 100 guests, from over a dozen states, she went out of her way to make dozens of changes in party size, altering accommodations, etc. and all done with a great attitude (and often answering emails while she was out of the office). We could not have asked for better care and personalized service. . Kerri came highly recommended by a dear friend after I had several dismal calls with other agents who were slow to respond or tried pressuring me into places we had no interest in. Kerri was always available, thorough, had great insights to so many properties, that she and Sun loved we're our clear choice from our second email exchange. . Our experience was seamless and felt very cared for every step of the way. They even sent us the sweetest most personalized gift basket during our stay from all local businesses, not to mention a show-stopping flower arrangement! It was extremely thoughtful and unexpected. We can't wait to user Kerri and her team for our next international travel adventures! So thankful for the trip of a lifetime thanks to Kerri and Sun Lover!

Updating my review after talking to the bride: I am a…read morecontent creator, so a publicist has always handled my hotel reservations--literally for a decade. I'm used to people going above and beyond. I only used Kerry because I was a bridesmaid and she was the travel agent involved. If you're thinking about using Kerry, know that she will get the job done--100%! I booked the room, paid her for it, and had no issues. The transfer went perfectly, and her emails and advice were accurate. However, I later found out she didn't get me the best price. She even offered to price match, which tells me she knew she wasn't offering the lowest rate. I feel a bit ripped off. It was a significant price difference--not just $100. So, if you're considering using her, be aware that she will get you a group rate, but not necessarily the best rate. I was also annoyed that she didn't automatically secure or offer early check-in. She knew we were arriving early and that we had a young child in tow (we didn't end up bringing her, but she didn't know that). She should have anticipated this and gone the extra mile. The wedding was at a large resort, and we were checking in on a Wednesday--not exactly a peak travel day. While I should have thought about this myself, I'm used to it being taken care of, so I didn't even think to ask. She didn't even offer! I felt like this was lazy. So, if you just want the job done, go with Kerry. She won't disappoint on that front. But, If you want the best travel agent and the lowest price, go with someone else.

We were in the Phoenix area and decided to take a Grand Canyon tour. Vaughan's Southwest…read moreCustomTours looked like it was highly recommended and had amazing reviews. They did not disappoint! From the ease of booking, to the fantastic sights of the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas, everything was designed around our Grand Canyon experience. Our guide, Princely, was an unbelievable source of knowledge on everything from history to Native American Indian lore and geology. We had a great lunch at Cameron Trading Post with a chance to shop and explore the gallery. The stops along the rim were amazing and again Princely was invaluable with his knowledge and love of the area.. I can't say enough good things about this company and would give them 10 stars if I could!

We went to the Grand Canyon today with Mike as our tour guide. First let me say....Mike is a…read morewealth of information and stories. He also knows the area extremely well. The tour was comfortable and Mike made sure we were entertained. We stopped for lunch and a little shopping. The souvenir store we stopped at was amazing and huge. We had lunch on the Navajo Reservation, the Navajo Taco is great and enough for at least two. When we arrived at the Grand Canyon, Mike took us to great locations that avoided the mass crowds. He took pics and even helped us setup some pictures. He took time to show us points of interest and give a brief history; some stories and legends. The only complaint I can give is that the seat belts in the van are uncomfortable and don't seem to release well. Otherwise, this was well worth it and highly recommended.

Over the years I have booked many vacations here. The customer service is always warm and inviting…read more I just had them plan my next vacation for this year. Big or small there is nothing they can't handle and it's always done with a smile.

From the owner: Cruises, Honeymoon Packages, Tours, Weekend Getaways…read more Starworld Travel has been serving the Scottsdale area since 1980 for all your travel needs. We are experienced in all aspects of domestic and international travel, specializing in cruises and tour packages worldwide. We also offer airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals and rail tickets.Does some quality time on a sandy beach sound like paradise? How about shopping at the best stores in Europe? Or maybe you've always wanted to discover the ancient culture of Asia? Or is a relaxing cruise your idea of getting away from it all?Well why wait? We offer cruise getaways, honeymoon packages, tours to Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, South America, The Orient, weekend getaways, airline tickets and car & hotel rentals. Also we welcome corporate accounts.At Starworld Travel Agency Inc., we provide a multitude of travel and tourism options to anywhere in the world for the past 30 plus years. Whether you're planning a week-long family vacation or are planning an extravagant round-the-world trip, we can take care of everything from flight plans to the best fitting accommodation - all for an affordable price!Come visit us at our convenient location at 10632 N 71st Place, Scottsdale, AZ.

Jen is an amazing travel advisor she helped me with a trip to Alaska she helped me book the best…read moreattractions like the train and boat from valdez I would recommend her to everyone planning to travel

Jen does a great job with finding out all the specifics I am wanting to do on my trip, budget and…read moreflexibility on dates. She will provide multiple options of different resorts to compare amenities and costs. She's fantastic and does all the leg work for you! Bonus is that it didn't cost me anything and she could even get the rates cheaper than me booking on my own! Can't wait for our next trip!